Has anyone used a Marmot Fortress 3p or a Marmot Tungsten 3p tent? These tents seem to be basically the same except that the Tungsten has mesh canopy where as the Fortress is full fabric. The main use of the tent would be for spring (right after ice out) or fall (early September) canoe trips in Quetico. Other places and summer trips are also possibilities. Questions I am hoping to find answers for are:
1) Is the Fortress hot in summer?
2) Are there condensation problems in the Fortress?
3) is the Tungsten cold in early spring or late fall?
4) Is the Fortress better in heavy rain and winds?

LarryS48: " Questions I am hoping to find answers for are:
1) Is the Fortress hot in summer?
2) Are there condensation problems in the Fortress?
3) is the Tungsten cold in early spring or late fall?
4) Is the Fortress better in heavy rain and winds? "

Not a Marmot but I use a BSI Chinook with fabric interior and an interchangeable mesh interior. The Chinook is a modular tent and is similar to, but a solo version of the Marmot.

Mesh.
Fabric.

No interior or4 "Fast Fly".

1. Can be as it offers less ventilation.
3. Can be as it offers more ventilation.

I got to the point the mesh is only used in warm to hot weather, solid fabric is more 3 season, shoulders and cold.

2. Condensate forms on the fly not the interior body. The fly will be damp on both.
4. Yes, even with a full length fly, wind driven moisture will blow thru any open crack. A solid fabric interior stops the leakage at the fabric body.

I bought my Chinook to camp in year round and in stout wind, wanted a true solo, and light weight but strong frame. I wonder if Marmot would sell an interior of the tents separately to accomplish similar goals? Might be worth a call.

butthead

I bought my Chinook to camp in year round and in stout wind, wanted a true solo, and light weight but strong frame. I wonder if Marmot would sell an interior of the tents separately to accomplish similar goals? Might be worth a call.


butthead
"

I called and Marmot does not sell only the interior of the tents. Too bad, it would make some business sense for them.

I have both Fortress and Tungsten.

With all the mesh the Tungsten is cooler in the summer, especially if you leave the fly off. You will be cold in spring/fall if it gets into the low 40s, especially if a wind is involved. We used it on a night that had frost, and were definetely cold. The fly ends a few inches off the ground so a stiff wind will go right under the fly and thru the mesh.

The Fortress is good for spring/ fall. I'm not sure how hot it gets because we don't take it along over summer. It does have a fly vent, and another vent near the lower portion of 1 wall. Condensation does form inside the fly but not the tent itself.

Overall we have been satisfied with both tents ( I would like it if the vestibules were just a little bigger).

4keys: "I have both Fortress and Tungsten.


With all the mesh the Tungsten is cooler in the summer, especially if you leave the fly off. You will be cold in spring/fall if it gets into the low 40s, especially if a wind is involved. We used it on a night that had frost, and were definetely cold. The fly ends a few inches off the ground so a stiff wind will go right under the fly and thru the mesh.


The Fortress is good for spring/ fall. I'm not sure how hot it gets because we don't take it along over summer. It does have a fly vent, and another vent near the lower portion of 1 wall. Condensation does form inside the fly but not the tent itself.


Overall we have been satisfied with both tents ( I would like it if the vestibules were just a little bigger).


"

4keys,
I have now purchased a Fortress 3p. I am still hoping to find a way to get Marmot to sell me a Tungsten tent body without the rest of the tent. It might not happen, but just in case I would like to confirm that the poles for both tents are the same and I could use either tent body with the Fortress poles and fly. Do you have the Tungsten 3p or the Tungsten UL 3p?

You could always try to pick one up at an REI Garage Sale.

Both my tents are 3P. While I have never tried it, I believe the poles are interchangeable.

As I said before Marmot does not sell just tent bodies. I talked to management and was able to get the body of a Tungsten 3p to use in hot weather with the poles, fly, footprint and stakes from the Fortress 3p I recently purchased. I feel like they they went out of their way to make me happy. I now have a system that will work in the heat of summer (Tungsten body), and in the spring, fall and maybe for light winter use (Fortress body). So, thumbs up for Marmot helping their customers.

Their management thought the idea of modular design was interesting and is thinking about marketing these tents that way. No decision yet, but they are thinking about it.

They are making me a happy camper year round.

Great, and glad you got what you wanted!
Shows what can be accomplished with direct communication.

butthead