MAK

I'm focusing on the MSR Hubba Hubba NX and the REI Quarter Dome. One thing I really like about the Quarter Dome is that you can open and close the single large fly vent from inside the tent through a zipper in the tent wall. I'm just not confident in the 15 denier fly and worry about durability (the MSR is 20 denier). I ruled out the BA tents because the floors are 10 denier thinner than either the REI or the MSR. I'll use a footprint or Tyvek, but durability is a big issue with me. The Half Dome is just too heavy.

Is this a big deal or not? I can't find any tents, other than the REI Half Dome which accesses the vents because they are near the top of the vestibule, that allows for inside adjustment. At least no tent descriptions make a point about this.

Does anyone know of other tents in the 3-4 lb. range that have inside accessible vents?

I'm thinking that I wouldn't want to exit the tent in the rain to close vents.

But...Is this even necessary? Aside from wind driven vertical rain, do tents "leak" if fly vents are left open in the rain?

Thank you and I'll try to keep my promise in the title.

mev

I am familiar with both the older hubba/hubba+hubba series and the REI Quarterdome T2 plus - and spent >100 nights in each:
- Took a hubba across Russia and switched it for hubba hubba part way through. One tent pole broke but I was able to keep it working.
- Took a Quarterdome across Africa. Had some holes in the floor and the zippers stopped working by time I was finished.

My overall summary:
- Opening and closing vents is not a big deal for me. Not sure I remember to do so and certainly didn't have to go out in the rain for it.
- Overall both are reasonable tents, the hubba series had more complex poles so that was slight drawback, but after sandstorms my zippers stopped working on other tent, definitely having a floor repair kit is good.
- Probably can't go too wrong with either. Nice dimensions, weight and double doors in both cases make them nice tents overall.

Right now my next big trip will be with a Quarterdome.

treebound 

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...questions.html

Sometimes it is best to stick with one thread to help people follow your sorting out process, especially months or years from now.

Since you're down to two then probably just visit a local store and set one up, and buy the one you set up since you'll have also verified it is complete and good to go.

I've got a little bit older HalfDome2 and an even older HalfDome and am fine with either for my past needs in a tent. The only times I leave the tent in the rain is to check lines and such or to water a tree.

Enjoy whichever tent you get, I suspect either one will be just fine.

fuzz2050

I wouldn't let the ability to open the vent from inside of the tent be a major selling point, In all but the worst conditions the vent should be open.

Don't worry too much about the denier rating of the fly, treat it nicely and the fly should never have to deal with abrasion. Honestly, neither should the floor. A few punctures, maybe, but those are easily fixed with something like Tenacious Tape.

Buy based on other, more important features, like space, ease of set-up, or even color.

prathmann

Wouldn't rate it as a big deal, but my Eureka Spitfire tent also allows the fly vent to be accessed through a zipper at the top of the tent. It's a nice idea but I've never had to close the vent yet. It would take a pretty strong wind from just the wrong direction to blow rain through the vent.

Marc40a

The Hubba Hubba NX was on my short list and I ended up going with a Marmot Pulsar 1p. That particular tent is discontinued but the Force 2p is currently available and is a refinement of that design.

It has a more robust fly and floor than the models you were looking at with only a modest weight penalty. It also has head/foot room for days the way the end walls are pulled out by the main support pole.

Squeezebox

I'm hoping the the Tyvek ground sheet will do it's job of protecting the Big Agnes tent floor. Just a thought, maybe if you close the vents you might get moisture from condensation, than you wold from a bit of rain coming in with vents open?

It's hard to argue with someone who's been across Russia and Africa.

gauvins

I know (and own) a tent in the 1-2 lb. range with ventilation easily accessible from the inside. The design may look odd, but other than not being freestanding (which is not such a big deal in fact), it performs admirably.

Both sides are mesh hemicircles. You regulate ventilation by adjusting the storm doors. Have camped in heavy downpours -- the fabric (cuben fiber) is water-tight. Just be careful with how you set the guy lines and you'll stay dry.

Squeezebox

Do you have anything to say about condensation? The Duplex is a dream tent.

gauvins

(I assume that this is a follow-up to my post)

None really. The side walls provide enough ventilation. Storm doors extend outwards such that air isn't trapped inside the tent.

Condensation has not been an issue for me. (Much less than with the more conventional tent + rainfly combo.)

PedalingWalrus

Same with me. Have vents on my tents and they stay always open. Never had an issue or a thought that I wanted to close the vent.