For cold tenting, with backpack only, I decided to get the Black Diamond Mega Light and use it with my ski poles or a tree line. Got that last week and it seems like it will work OK. But if I have an ice auger, then I really need a sled. And if I have a sled anyway, then I can get something bigger and warmer for a shelter. Having thought about it a bit, I'm pretty sure I want to get a double wall 4-season tent, even though that seems like overkill for MN. I've narrowed it down to North Face VE-25, or Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1, or Mountain Hardwear Trango 4. Anyone use these and have a recommendation? Or, anything else? (I'm not interested in other tipis or heated tents for this particular purpose) Thanks. (If I look at tents on Everest and McKinley, I see lots of VE-25's paired with mega lights used as cook tents. Perhaps overkill for my back yard - but, I'm thinking something like that anyway. Maybe that's not the right idea?)

Just my two cents worth, but tents like the VE-25, which you have seen used on McKinley and Everest are built for precisely that, hurricane force winds and no trees.

Unless I read you wrong you don't need a tent like this unless you are going mountain climbing. As long as you are pulling a sled, make yourself comfy. Come to the Winter Camping Symposium on the weekend of Oct 24, 2013 and see all sorts of winter tents. It's being held in Amery, Wi, not far from where you live.

I'm a big proponent of hot tenting. You are warm, comfy and can dry your clothing and gear. But diversity makes it interesting. One maker you may not have thought about is Hilleberg. They make amazing four season tents.

I concur that these are overkill for conditions in Minnesota. The things driving up the weight (and cost) on these tents are being able to stand up to ridiculous winds and snow loads, which we just don't get on the same scale as mountain peaks. What we do have is very cold temperatures and not much exciting going on around it, so you can be very uncomfortable quietly. :P

With that in mind, I would suggest that a tunnel tent with a ridiculously large vestibule for hanging out sheltered from any breezes is more useful than triple-strength pole structures. As such, I'd suggest looking at any of the "GT" versions of the Hilleberg tents (Keron, Nammatj, Kaitum, or Nallo) or the Andromedia II and Venus III DLX PLus from Exped. These are still marketed as "4 season" tents, just with somewhat rearranged priorities compared to the ones you mentioned.

I use the trango 3 on late season trips and love it. Sure it is on the heavy side but it is the most well built tent I have ever seen. Stays dry under any conditions, can withstand gale winds, and is very warm on even the coldest of nights. The 2 vestibules add a ton of storage room. I have heard complaints on it being to warm and hard to get adequate ventilation, but I have not had a problem with that. I used it in mid Sept. with some pretty warm nights and stayed very comfortable. Overkill, probably but a hell of a tent.

quote walllee: "I use the trango 3 on late season trips and love it. Sure it is on the heavy side but it is the most well built tent I have ever seen. Stays dry under any conditions, can withstand gale winds, and is very warm on even the coldest of nights. The 2 vestibules add a ton of storage room. I have heard complaints on it being to warm and hard to get adequate ventilation, but I have not had a problem with that. I used it in mid Sept. with some pretty warm nights and stayed very comfortable. Overkill, probably but a hell of a tent."

Two questions: For summer camping, can you open both vestibules and unzip the doors so that each door is just screen material? About how long does it take to set up vs other tents you've used? Thanks!

quote awbrown: "Just my two cents worth, but tents like the VE-25, which you have seen used on McKinley and Everest are built for precisely that, hurricane force winds and no trees.

Unless I read you wrong you don't need a tent like this unless you are going mountain climbing. As long as you are pulling a sled, make yourself comfy. Come to the Winter Camping Symposium on the weekend of Oct 24, 2013 and see all sorts of winter tents. It's being held in Amery, Wi, not far from where you live.

I'm a big proponent of hot tenting. You are warm, comfy and can dry your clothing and gear. But diversity makes it interesting. One maker you may not have thought about is Hilleberg. They make amazing four season tents."

I am hoping to make it on the 24th. I am thinking about a hot tent eventually for ice fishing. But this year and next I know I will cold camp and be moving most of the time. Will you have "cold" tents at your symposium as well?

Yeah, I don't need a mountaineering tent for cold camping in MN. What I think I want is a double wall tent, with a full fly, and a big and adjustable top vent. The problem is, I can't find any three season low cost tent that fits that bill out of the box. The closest thing I could find is the Hilleberg Jannu, which is a mountaineering tent, and $800. I also looked at their $800 Nammatj3 GT, but, some reviews on that said you would get condensation in a Nammatj in no wind conditions. I also found the REI Arete but it seems a bit small.

So what I was thinking is that I might be able to find a demo/used/sale VE-25 or Trango, because they are much more common, and my price point would be closer to $400. I was hoping to then use that tent not only as a winter tent, but also as the 4 person and/or really bad summer weather tent that I don't have right now. But, yes it just doesn't seem like the right decision - hoping for a better one.

quote NotLight: "

quote walllee: "I use the trango 3 on late season trips and love it. Sure it is on the heavy side but it is the most well built tent I have ever seen. Stays dry under any conditions, can withstand gale winds, and is very warm on even the coldest of nights. The 2 vestibules add a ton of storage room. I have heard complaints on it being to warm and hard to get adequate ventilation, but I have not had a problem with that. I used it in mid Sept. with some pretty warm nights and stayed very comfortable. Overkill, probably but a hell of a tent."

Two questions: For summer camping, can you open both vestibules and unzip the doors so that each door is just screen material? About how long does it take to set up vs other tents you've used? Thanks!
"

Yes you can open both ends and both ends have screen openings. The first couple times took me about 10 minutes, can do it in less then 5 minutes after some practice.

quote NotLight: "

quote awbrown: "Just my two cents worth, but tents like the VE-25, which you have seen used on McKinley and Everest are built for precisely that, hurricane force winds and no trees.


Unless I read you wrong you don't need a tent like this unless you are going mountain climbing. As long as you are pulling a sled, make yourself comfy. Come to the Winter Camping Symposium on the weekend of Oct 24, 2013 and see all sorts of winter tents. It's being held in Amery, Wi, not far from where you live.


I'm a big proponent of hot tenting. You are warm, comfy and can dry your clothing and gear. But diversity makes it interesting. One maker you may not have thought about is Hilleberg. They make amazing four season tents."

I am hoping to make it on the 24th. I am thinking about a hot tent eventually for ice fishing. But this year and next I know I will cold camp and be moving most of the time. Will you have "cold" tents at your symposium as well?

"

Last year there were some "cold tenter's" and also a number of hammockers at the Winter Camping Symposium, but the majority were hot tents.

That being said, it was interesting to see how inventive some people were in adapting different shelters into winter tents.

" I've narrowed it down to North Face VE-25, or Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1, or Mountain Hardwear Trango 4. Anyone use these and have a recommendation? Or, anything else?"

Mountain Hardwear EV3
on E-Bay
VE-25's and Trango's also show up. I'm now up to 3 used tents purchased thru E-Bay, all in good to new condition.

butthead

PS: Missed the part about double wall, EV3 is a single wall. bh