Hi,

I'm in the market for an alpine tent for big wall, light mountaineering, and snowshoe trips.

I'm interested in the BD I-Tent and ID MK I XL.

Interested to know of users opinions of:

-Weatherproofness
-Ability to handle sustained slushiness / rain
-Handling of wind
-Anyone used either for big wall or narrow ledges?
-Condensation
-User experiences, taunts, complaints and praises?

Not too worried about space, since my sfo and I are about 5'8 120-135 lbs

We originally looked at the BD firstlight, but heard mixed reviews about the shedding of prolonged slushiness (convince me other wise!), and durability issues.

Any other recommendations? (Would like to keep the tent light, doesn't have to be ultralight, but has to have good "breathability", tough, easy to pitch and relatively light)

Cheers and thanx!

From what I know(little )many use the Firstlight(though it's small), and are happy with it. Depends on the conditions you're using it in, as it goes with other tents, especially single-walled. Can't comment on the other tents you mentioned, though they're good as well.

I own an Integral Designs MK1 Lite and have used the Bibler I Tent. They are both great tents and do exactly what they were designed to do.

I have ID MK3 which is the same as MK 1XL, just slightly larger. My tent has light floor which seems pretty heavy duty and a second door which is great for cross-ventilation and added convenience. I also have an optional vestibule which is a brilliant design - large, pitches very tight and close to the ground.

Don't know if I like the main door deisgn - I had a zipper leak once in a heavy rain. Maybe it was just strange circumstances/rain direction.

I don't know if 2nd door and lighter floor options are available in Bibler.

I have an I-tent, and have used it in very constrained spaces. Love the tent. Lightweight durable and does exactly what it was designed to do. (though I do have a hole in it from rockfall now).

I'd expect the Intergal Design tent to be very similar since they are basically the same design (I think different fabric)

Both of the options you're looking at there are great. I'd also seriously consider the Rab Summit Superlite. http://www.prolitegear.com/rab-summit-superlite-bivi.html
It's listed as bivy because it is very low profile, but has enough room for two alpinists. The biggest benefit is the awesome breathability of Event.[/code]

The firstlight is more fragile (thinner fabric and skinnier poles), but I use it for light mountaineering and snow-camping. It sheds snow and light rain quite well, though you do have to seam-seal it yourself.

Then again, I also have an EV2 if I'm really worried about conditions. I'm pretty much a fair-weather mountaineer these days though.

I'm not gonna try to convince you otherwise, because I know who else you will have to convince

I'm also looking for a tent. I've checked out the ones already mentioned plus these:

Stephenson:
http://www.warmlite.com/start.htm

Marmot:
http://marmot.com/fall_2009/equipment/t ... lpinist_2p

The Stephenson is very interesting since it is super light. No vestibule though, which I wonder if I really need. This tent is also really big, even the new shorter version is big compared to the tents you guys are looking at and it's much lighter.

We have a Bibler I tent with the vestibule, but it's heavy compared to the Stephenson. I could get carbon poles to drop the weight 1/2 lb. but that is not very much.

Opinions?

I presently own Bibler I-tent and the Firstlight. In the past I also had the Integral Designs MK1 XL (left it in Nepal for a Nepalese friend).

The Firstlight is really a 3 season tent. It is very light, thin, and much better than two bivi sacks. The fabric is thin and requires some care. The tent leaked on me quite a bit (along the sealed seams, might need a second coat) in a late August's heavy downpour in the Sierra

The main difference between Bibler and Integral Designs (beside fabrics) is that you can get second door for the Integral Designs MK1. I do not think you can get it for the Bibler. I found the second door very usefull in snowy conditions, you don't have to try to figure out from what direction the wind will blow later at night. The price might be a bit different too.

That RAB tent looks sweet, I've always liked the look of rab gear, never bought any though.

asmrz wrote:I presently own Bibler I-tent and the Firstlight. In the past I also had the Integral Designs MK1 XL (left it in Nepal for a Nepalese friend).

The Firstlight is really a 3 season tent. It is very light, thin, and much better than two bivi sacks. The fabric is thin and requires some care. The tent leaked on me quite a bit (along the sealed seams, might need a second coat) in a late August's heavy downpour in the Sierra

The main difference between Bibler and Integral Designs (beside fabrics) is that you can get second door for the Integral Designs MK1. I do not think you can get it for the Bibler. I found the second door very usefull in snowy conditions, you don't have to try to figure out from what direction the wind will blow later at night. The price might be a bit different too.

The Bibler I tent with 2 doors is the Eldorado (which technically is what I have).

CClaude wrote:

asmrz wrote:The Bibler I tent with 2 doors is the Eldorado (which technically is what I have).

So your Bibler Eldorado has 2 doors? I wonder why spec says 1 door...

bdynkin wrote:

CClaude wrote:

asmrz wrote:The Bibler I tent with 2 doors is the Eldorado (which technically is what I have).

So your Bibler Eldorado has 2 doors? I wonder why spec says 1 door...

The I tent and Eldorado are actually two different tents. The Eldorado is slightly larger and can be ordered with a second door (or used to be able to be ordered with a second door).

ExcitibleBoy wrote:

bdynkin wrote:

CClaude wrote:

asmrz wrote:The Bibler I tent with 2 doors is the Eldorado (which technically is what I have).

So your Bibler Eldorado has 2 doors? I wonder why spec says 1 door...

The I tent and Eldorado are actually two different tents. The Eldorado is slightly larger and can be ordered with a second door (or used to be able to be ordered with a second door).

The Eldorado is slightly larger (I think its 4-6" longer (haven't looked at the spec lately))

thanx for the quick replies!

wow the Rab Summit Superlite Bivy adds to the comp, decisions decisions! (maybe price might convince me...)

Eldorado has the option of 2 doors and the I- tent doesn't?

Epic vs Todd-tex (I have an ID Salathe Bivy, phenomenal!). haven't tried Epic materials out yet...how doees the material compare to Todd-tex?