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Is a heavy tent actually more durable than a light one, or is that old-school thinking?
Last month I took my 6lb canvas tent through a storm in Shenandoah and it held up perfectly, but my buddy’s 2lb silnylon shelter got a tear from a small branch. I’m wondering if we’ve traded too much ruggedness for weight savings - has anyone else seen a lightweight setup fail on a rougher trip?
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wesley_adams28d agoMost Upvoted
Honestly feel your pain on this one man. I've had a similar thing happen with a buddy's lightweight setup and it just makes you wonder if we're pushing things too far lol. That 2lb silnylon stuff is amazing for weight but man, one sharp twig or a gust and it's game over sometimes. Your 6lb canvas tent sounds like a tank honestly, especially handling that Shenandoah storm without a scratch. I don't think it's old school thinking at all, some of us just need gear that can take a beating without needing a repair kit every time. Weight matters but so does not waking up wet or patching holes on the trail lmao.
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wells.olivia28d ago
Your 6lb canvas tent sounds like a tank honestly" - man, but what if that tank breaks your back before it even saves your skin? I used to think heavy was better too, swore by my old 8lb poly tent through some nasty weather. But after switching to a 3lb Dyneema setup last year, I'm never going back. Sure, it takes more care with site selection and stake placement, but I'm moving faster, covering more ground, and not dreading the hike out. There's a trade off between being a turtle with a fortress and a rabbit with a shelter you treat carefully.
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kellys7828d ago
Your 6lb canvas tent sounds like a tank honestly" - yeah, and a tank's useless if you can't drag it up the mountain.
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