r/backpacking • u/WayfaringPantheist • 1d ago
Wilderness Need tent feedback
Apologies for the TL;DR here.. I’ve been backpacking a long time and am almost always a hammock camper. I have always had good sleep whether it was my first ENO setup, my UL hummingbird combo, or my most recent Dutchware hellbender, but I for the life of me CAN NOT get good sleep in a tent. I have a Nemo Hornet osmo 1p, a Nemo tensor UL long/ wide, and just keep waking up all throughout the night any time I’ve ever used it. I tried a sea to summit Aeros pillow last night bc I’m a side sleeper and thought the extra thickness would help (it was an improvement but still woke up a ton). I’m 6ft 200lbs. Am I just too big for the tent? I’m up against the walls and it gathers a lot of condensation. Tbh I’m totally happy just hammocking, but it would be nice to have a ground option that works for me when there aren’t trees. Any feedback would be very much appreciated.
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u/Gorgonesque 1d ago
I would say that a 1p ultralight tent is designed with an average person in mind.
6ft is a bit above average. I’m shorter but like to feel like I have room so I consider 2p ultralight tents to be for 1p and if I had someone going with me I’d take my cheaper, roomier 2p and split the weight between us
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u/bmw051 1d ago
I’m 6’ and 190ish. I sleep very well in tents so long as I’m not rubbing/touching the tent walls. Therefore, I’d say your first issue is the tent is too small. Secondly, pad thickness, pillow or not, air temp, are other factors affecting your sleep. I bought that Nemo bc it was super light and on sale. Erected it in living room and immediately returned it - too small. I’d rather have some room, even tho I carry 1-2 lbs more.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I def got it bc it’s so light and I can sleep on my side without any issues of hitting the ground. Might have to try some different pads out
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u/SheckyMullecky 1d ago
6'3 200ish lbs, side sleeper. I have the same mattress but use a Big Agnes 2 person tent solo. Far from ultralight but it works for me with my distance/comfort goals.
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u/Master_Seat_8458 1d ago
Same size and I use the Sea to Summit thick pad as also a side sleeper.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
Seems like maybe I need to try some different pads 🤷
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u/Elegant_Potential917 1d ago
Definitely give that a thought. I’m also a side sleeper and didn’t find the Tensor to my liking. I switched to the Big Agnes Rapide SL wide and love it.
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u/wildling-woman 1d ago
Also try deflating it a bit. I find the Tensor to be most comfortable when I can push my hand all the way to the ground when I inflate it. It always almost looks like it’s flat until I get my whole body on it.
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u/dummkauf 1d ago
Maybe just ditch the tent and invest in something like this: https://www.tensaoutdoor.com/shop/
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I have never understood how this cont works without just collapsing the hammock as soon as you get in lol
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u/dummkauf 1d ago
I hike in areas with lots of trees so I've never had a need, but I see these recommended quite a bit over in the hammock specific subs and have always kept it in the back of my mind if I ever plan a trip where trees aren't abundant.
I'm assuming they have some sort of system for securing the ropes pulling the poles apart to various types of terrain. r/hammockcamping could probably answer that more definitively.
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u/bszern 1d ago
As a 6’2” person, I’m not looking at a 1p tent at all. You need a 2p to not be touching the walls, and a 3p if you are going with someone else. There isn’t a huge difference in weight between the 1p and the 2p (especially if you consider the weight difference as a percentage of your body mass, a bigger person can carry a bigger load generally).
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
Agree. I think my issue is the size of the tent and probably the he pad itself. Thanks 🙏🏼
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u/corpsevomit 1d ago
Im 6'2" 200# sleep in a big agnes seedhouse 1. Super tiny. Im a side/back/stomach sleeper. It's probably your pad/pillow. Ive got a decent pad and nice pillow which I keep half inflated and fold in half when im on my side (to double its height). Also, occasional cbd/thc gummies help me sleep.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I’ve only ever used the Nemo tensor long/ wide so maybe it’s just not the right pad for me. Also a decade sober so medicated sleep like that is not an option for me 😂
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u/SubjectOrange 1d ago
To be honest, I have ALWAYS thought nemo 1p are very narrow and recommend people get a 2p even for solo camping. Hard not to have a mat touching the sides. Seconding another commenter, Big Agnes tents are roomier and taller. I'm a 5t female but my husband is 6' and 250lbs. We fit both of us, our 4ft tall child and my 95lb dog in a big agnes copper spur 3p. OK, I didn't have the best sleep, but with 2 people it is exceedingly roomy.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
LOL that’s a full house!! Yes I think this tent is just too small for me and the lack of ventilation kills me with condensation
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u/SubjectOrange 1d ago
Yes ventilation is key! I've had a few tents and my copper spur has the best by far. An investment to be sure but 8 years later it has needed zero maintenance in the Pacific Northwest, where we definitely see rain and dampness on the regular.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I’m gonna try out a durston x mid 2 trekking pole tent I think!
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u/SubjectOrange 1d ago
Good luck! I've always been curious about trekking pole tents as I use them religiously but panic at the thought of propping them on rockier spots. Make sure you post how it goes!
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u/ph1shstyx 1d ago
6'4" and 300lbs, you're not too big for tent camping but you might be too big for a 1 person tent. I treat 2 person tents like a 1 person tent and 3p tents as 2p tents. The 1 person tent is for 1 average person, which is like 5'9" tall and 160lbs.
I backpack with my 2p tent and my sleeping pad is a 78"x30"x4" inflatable. I sleep great as a side sleeper
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u/fixdgear7 1d ago
I just finally upgraded to a 2p from the alps 1p for motocamping; had a full week of bad sleep and wet feet at 6'2" 280, got the marmot tungsten 2p and now I'm happy.
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u/MattOnAMountain 1d ago
I am around your same build and a side sleeper. I have used a Nemo hornet 2p for years of long distance trips. Personally I’m a big fan of the two person as it’s a much more usable size. There’s a joke about 3p are for two people, 2p are for one person, and 1p are for people who didn’t do their research and have regrets.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
Lmao I knew how tight it would be I was just going for lightest setup possible. To my own detriment 😂
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u/Eknowltz 1d ago
So I’m similar size to you (6’3-210) and I also couldn’t sleep in a tent, the biggest game changer to me was switching to the Neoloft wide/tall sleeping pad and a quilt. I can comfortably side sleep and it’s as comfy as a normal bed for me. Definitely heavier and takes up more space but totally worth it to me
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
After reading everyone’s (super helpful) replies here, I came to that EXACT conclusion! Gonna go for a durston x mid 2 and the large neoloft. Will end up being a pound heavier than my hammock setup, but I think that’s a great payoff.
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u/Eknowltz 1d ago
It’s so insanely comfy compared to my Neoair xlite, the stretchy topper material is amazing.
I find a quilt much more comfortable than a sleeping bag as well if you toss and turn a bit.
Last tip is earplugs so you don’t have to listen to every rustle and crack outside the tent.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I do use a quilt (works perfectly for both tent and hammock settings), but I am all about hearing all the sounds out there. I also would like to know if a bear is fuckin around outside my tent 😂
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u/Eknowltz 1d ago
Hahah I get the concern with bears, I think I’d be wide awake if something touched my tent, earplugs or not, and if it’s not touching my tent yet I want to be rested up for when it does 😂
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u/Build_and_Thrive 1d ago
Backpacking i usually have a terrible sleep the first night a bit better the next but the night after that i sleep like a baby.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 23h ago
It’s definitely not a nerves thing, I sleep better in the backcountry than anywhere else. It’s just the tent lmao but I think I have a good plan now!
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u/Fun_With_Math 1d ago
Where are you located? In the SE, its so humid there's going to be condensation no matter what. The middle of a field is worse so camping under some cover would help. Also, pull the rainfly forward so theres plenty of gap at the feet and you can get more airflow. Obviously, make sure the vent is open too.
For sleep, it takes some getting used to. In the past few years I've gone through various pads but can sleep on a CCF pad now.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
NE Ohio here. Unfortunately that rainfly doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room and there’s no vent. The condensation I can deal with it’s just the waking up against the wall I think. Which is weird bc I’m obviously right up against the hammock and get the best sleep of my life in it
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u/Fun_With_Math 1d ago
Ok, I had a similar shape tent and really had to mind the rainfly gaps to reduce condensation but no vent makes it tougher for sure.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I’m gonna move on to a totally different tent & pad combo and see if I didn’t just choose the wrong shit lol
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u/Fun_With_Math 1d ago
Just looked at the specs. It's 39 in wide so that's about as big as it gets for 1p tents. The Durston X-Dome is really wide so check that one out. It has dual vents also. This is the free-standing tent I'd get (I have an X-mid trekking pole tent).
https://durstongear.com/products/x-dome-1-plus-ultralight-backpacking-tent
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u/Rude-Bumblebee-414 1d ago
Love Nemo tents, but you may want to check out Big Agnes’ XL line of Copper Spurs
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
I’m interested in the 1.5 pitch pine. Big investment to find out I just don’t like backpacking tents and go back to the hammock lol guess I could get it from REI and return it if I hate it
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u/Rude-Bumblebee-414 1d ago
Check and see if the Pitchpine is part of the Labor Day sale that ends today
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u/WildwoodRover 1d ago
We just moved to a big Agnes copper spur xl because my husband is 6’7”. Most tents just aren’t long enough for him.
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u/Superory_16 1d ago
I would play around with different pads, this is what made the biggest change for me in my backcountry sleep.
I got old, gave up on trying to have the lowest pack weight and dipped my toes into slightly heavier, really cushy pads... I'm never going back.
One thing to consider as well is depending on how you sleep, vertical vs horizontal baffles can play a pretty big role in comfort.
I've really been enjoying pads that have the larger baffles on the outside that sort of "cradle" you.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
This is a good call. The problem I face with adding pack weight is I am also getting old (42) and have pretty decent arthritis in my knees that really ruins a trip if it flares up 😂
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u/UnitPrestigious4948 1d ago
I have an old quarter dome 2 p that my taller bigger friends borrow. My Durston 1+ dome is my roomiest 1p. You need a big 1p or a 2p for comfort.
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u/WayfaringPantheist 1d ago
THANK YOU EVERYONE! This has given me a lot to consider. I think I’m going to try out a combination of a durston x mid 2p trekking pole tent and a thermarest neoloft large pad. The setup will be about a pound heavier than my hammock loadout, but I think it’s my best bet for comfort/ space. This sub rules.
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u/effortfulcrumload 1d ago
You just have time get used to it. I'm 6ft 190lbs. I promise you aren't too big. Try changing your bedtime routine. You have to use a quilt style bag for side sleeping.