Bogley

DiscGo · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 3128 Location: Orem, Utah

My wife has finally signed off on letting me get a sweet tent.
Which of these tents would you get if you were getting one?
EV 3
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=218&cat=21&viewAll=False
Trango 4
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=192&cat=21&viewAll=False

The Trango 4 is listed as more of a "base camp" and the EV 3 is listed as mor of a summit tent. The EV 3 weighs half as much but the Trango 4 is roomier.

Anyway, what do you think?

Summit42 · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 1937 Location: 127.0.0.1

whatever tent you want discgo...... I would say it really depends on what you need it for. You also may want this post moved to the camping and backpacking forum.

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2370 Location: SLC, UT

What exactly are you looking for?

Looking at both those tents I'd tell ya, I never liked the "front" door entrance to tents. I always liked the side entrance. Getting in and out of the "front" door tents is always a pain and you have to know yoga to drag your ass out.

Also, if you are looking for a backpacking tent, look how small the package is when it's folded up. That came as a priority for me, since you can fit so much into a backpack.

Another thing if you have a kid, pay attention to the door itself. My kid kept tripping himself on the bottom part of the door lip. I got another tent that the lip was low to the ground so he could easily clear it.

Make sure there is good ventilation at the top of the tent and the rain cover doesn't touch the body of the tent. That is what makes the condensation on the inside.

Jaxx · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 1477

I vote Ev3 because my favorite color is orange.

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2370 Location: SLC, UT

Jaxx wrote: I vote Ev3 because my favorite color is orange.

Oh come on! Men don't pick tents because of the color!!!! :eek1: :puke8:

Jaxx · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 1477

Alex wrote: Jaxx wrote: I vote Ev3 because my favorite color is orange.

Oh come on! Men don't pick tents because of the color!!!! :eek1: :puke8:

I am 13% gay according to the online test I took. :roflol:

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2370 Location: SLC, UT

:roflol: Jaxx, I loved the come back!!! :2thumbs:

Jaxx · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 1477

Alex wrote: :roflol: Jaxx, I loved the come back!!! :2thumbs:
Thanks!

OK in all seriousness I like the Trango 4 because it is a 4 person. With your wife, baby and gear you will probably want the room. If its for backpacking then the EV3 is almost half the weight and it's pretty!

Edit: I just noticed that the fly on the Trango is yellow/gray. Yellow is my 2nd favorite color :2thumbs:. The Fly on the Trango looks awesome too. The next tent I buy is going to have a full fly, it makes a big difference.

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2370 Location: SLC, UT

Jaxx wrote: and it's pretty!

DUDE!!!! :eek2: :nono:

Jaxx · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 1477

Alex wrote: Jaxx wrote: and it's pretty!

DUDE!!!! :eek2: :nono:

I did that just for you :2thumbs:

madsjim · Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Salt Lake Valley

I don't personally own a Trango, but I know that they are bombproof. The Trango is one of the most popular tents for Himalayan climbing and if they weren't so expensive and heavy I would have one myself. I expect the 4 person Trango is very spacious and comfortable.

The Ed Viesturs version is a very technical tent. It is single walled so it would be lighter and easier to set up, but I believe it would not be as spacious as a Trango.

Both tents are awesome, but I would go with a Trango.

Jim

DiscGo · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 3128 Location: Orem, Utah

Thanks a lot for the feedback.

I have wanted a four person four season tent for years. My big thing is that the Trango is twice as heavy, so I'd have to carry a lot more weight.

denaliguide · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 522 Location: new zealand/alaska

i've spent several nights at 17,200 on denali in a trango and can say that it is a bombproof tent. while its not light i think if you go with the wife and kids you will fiind the roominess a plus. definitely not a solo tent though. but if you go backpacking with a couple of others it divides 3 ways easily (tent, poles, fly).

benlittle · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 31 Location: SLC, Utah

This may have been covered but..........What are you going to use it for?

Decide that then go forward.

Brian in SLC · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 431

DiscGo wrote: I have wanted a four person four season tent for years. My big thing is that the Trango is twice as heavy, so I'd have to carry a lot more weight.

If you want double walls, 4 person, and a 4 season tent, 12 pounds is about where it shakes out.

Are you going to use it just for backpacking and/or winter camping? And not, say, a climbing expedition to a place where you'll be stuck in bad weather?

Reason I ask is, you can plunk a ton of cabbage down on a bombproof tent when you might never actually take advantage of it.

Most 4 season backpacking use seems like you could get a pretty good weather forecast and prudently bail if severe weather was going to happen. Also, in winter, with snow, you have other shelter options.

Single wall tents are going to be lighter, but, they're also more prone to gettin' destroyed in bad weather, especially heavy snowfall. If you need to shovel a tent out and you hit the sides, you'll knock a bunch of holes in it. With a double wall tent, all you need to do is repair the fly. Single wall, its tougher.

Also, I think for sitting out prolonged storms in nasty weather, double wall tents are more comfy. Somewhat personal preference though.

And, if you had to cook in the tent (always not recommended but it happens), the single wall tents all seem to be more prone to bursting into flames than a double wall. Some of the single wall tents can't be sold in the U.S. and/or certain states due to flammability concerns.

Anyhoo, if you want to save weight and bulk, single wall is where its at.

http://www.bdel.com/gear/tents_overview.php

Double wall, these guys are worth a look (I think MSR bought Moss, and, I've had a couple of large Moss tents and they are the most bomber tents out there):

http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/expedition.asp

One thing I'd consider when buying a four person four season tent is its footprint. Ie, how many stake out points does it have. 4, 6, 8? For me, less is more. A square tent seems more efficient for space, and, it only takes four points to hold it down. Which means, when the poo hits the fan and you need to move, you only have to unhitch four points.

Mountain Hardware tents seem great. They are popular. Its interesting, in the 80's, it seemed that North Face and maybe Wild Country dominated the expedition tent market. MH really went after the market and pretty much nailed it down. I've seen them in use a bunch and they would be pretty highly recommended.

Burliest tent I own is a Bibler Fitzroy...followed by my Moss Little Dipper (which is currently in pieces due to givin' er all in a bad storm).

Favorite current tent is a BD Lighthouse...

Anyhoo...cheers!

-Brian in SLC