This is my first trip in the fall and can't wait. I'm debating getting a Lean 2+ and use it to replace my tent and tarp. Any concerns with doing this for a fall solo? I can't wait!

Hank

I would not have one concern with that tent. Happy travels!

Up front, I don't have a Lean but have read a lot about them and wouldn't want to say anything against them. High quality and many advantages, but for late fall I'll toss this out for you to consider: fall trips mean early dark, no bugs, and cool temps - perfect for campfires. Fall also can mean extended weather front - bad weather for a day or more rather than a quick July storm. In either case, I like setting my tarp both low to the ground on one side but high above the campfire on the other. Allows me to hunker down, but enjoy a protected fire without getting too close to my tent and sleeping bag. Guess it gets down to how close you want your fire to where you sleep, and that's a matter of choice.

If it gets cold condensation can be an issue.

A Lean +2 is a big tent for one person so it will be cooler than a smaller two man.

Setup correctly you shouldn’t have any troubles though. You will probably appreciate the extra space if you have bad weather.

As Banksiana said, condensation could be bothersome; otherwise, well set up, staked, and guyed, no problems with wind or rain.

Thanks for your thoughts! As this will be my first time going in the fall, it would probably be best to just take the gear that I'm used to using for shelter: A Tarptent Scarp 1 and 10'x12' tarp. I just really like the idea of the Lean, it looks like a lot of fun to mess around with. Well, Christmas is coming and my wife always asks me what I want. Now I have an answer!

Hank

Hank, which entry are you going to in early October? I'm also thinking of doing an early October solo but can't figure out which entry point to go. Thinking of a 6 day trip.

Hi Prizes14,

I'm thinking of entering through Lake 1 and spend my time in the Kawishiwi triangle area. I will be in no hurry and will probably set up a basecamp and do day trips. So there should be lots of time to simply mess around with my gear, read, and just do nothing.

You all make me want to set m up my lean 3 in October. We haven't had any problem with condinsation yet. Had it in early spring, hot summer, foggy nights, all day rains, thunderstorms, and 34* nights.

Sound alike a great excuse to experiment :)

Canoearoo,

It's posts like yours that cost me money!

Thanks for sharing your experience. I will have one, I'm just not sure when. I like the idea of having such a large space to just sit and be while protected form the weather and bug.

The Kawishiwi triangle is a good area and you could easily do the triangle loop. I was thinking of going in just north of you at Wood Lake and base camp a couple different places. Probably 6 days if I end up going. Will be driving up from Nebraska.

The Kawishiwi triangle is a good area and you could easily do the triangle loop. I was thinking of going in just north of you at Wood Lake and base camp a couple different places. Probably 6 days if I end up going. Will be driving up from Nebraska.

The Kawishiwi triangle is a good area and you could easily do the triangle loop. I was thinking of going in just north of you at Wood Lake and base camp a couple different places. Probably 6 days if I end up going. Will be driving up from Nebraska.

I haven't been up to Wood lake. I'm driving in from Cincinnati. It is about a 14 hour drive for me. I'll stop for the night somewhere in Eu Clair on the way up. I'm only good for about 8-10 hours driving now. I'm getting too old to do it all in one day by myself.

I still want to get a Lean and play with it. I'm rethinking the size that I'll need. I will probably usually just sleep solo in it, unless I bring my dog. He is only 5 months old now and is just way too spastic to take on a trip this year. He is a Husky/Red Healer mix and just gets into everything! I don't think my wife would be up for staying in a Lean. She would like to sit and Knit there though and be away from the bugs. If I can get her to go again, I'll take a tent for us as she has a thing about the creepy crawlers.

Have a great trip!

Hank-

The Lean does have a learning curve for setup. It also has a big footprint compared to a solo tent. Even the Lean1 is 5 feet wide and should be plenty big for you and a dog, or even another person in a pinch.

If you get one, I'd suggest pre-rigging it just like the ridge line setup for CCS tarps with the ridge line stuff sack. It's a lot of material to handle solo, especially if there's any wind at all. You'll have a few more stakes and a couple of guy lines, as well as the floor to put down, but a little practice and experience makes it go more quickly.

I have often looked at the Scarp 1 and thought it would be an ice solo tent. How do you like yours - pluses, minuses?

bonnie,

I really like the Scarp 1. When Henry Shires upgraded it to the wider floor I purchased that inner as well. It will sleep two if you use the 20" wide pads. I think its maximum width is 52" but it pinches down at the ends. I have the cloth interiors, not the net ones. It does take some getting used to. You can only sit up in the center of the tent, it is too low at the ends to sit up straight. It is plenty for me, and is fine with my wife and I.

I've been in some really bad weather in it. I've had a friend share it with me when his tent (an REI Quarter Dome) broke a pole in a bad storm. He was able to fix his pole the next day so only had to share one night.

Anyway I like mine, but be aware when you are laying down, the tent fabric is only a foot or so above you on the ends. I know that bothers some people.

Minuses would be that it has a silnylon floor and it is slippery as goosesh!t. I put some lines on my floor with silnet and that keeps the sleeping bag for sliding too much. I use a tyvek groundcloth. I don't think you really need one, but use it anyway. Silnylon stretches and sags so you will have to occasionally tighten the tent after you pitch it. It can be hot in the summer if you have to close the vestibules because of bad weather. It isn't freestanding. You have to seam seal it yourself or pay Henry 35 bucks to do it. Thats about all the negatives I can think of.

I think it is a nice tent for at good price. I am happy with my purchase. I've spent many nights in mine and it looks brand new.

Thanks, Hank -

Yeah, the wider floor made it more interesting to me. Most reviews are pretty positive. It seemed it would make a good shoulder season solo in the fall (I usually go the end of September), especially with the cloth interior. I'm not a big guy, so the size should be fine for me.

Hope you have a good trip.