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Alpine Tents - Advice please 18-Feb-2008 At 10:43:18 AM JBM

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Right, after some prodding to respond I've finally gotten around to sitting down and hammering out my .02c

A bit of background, first.

1) I own, have owned or have expedition experience with the following tents:
-Bibler Fitzroy
-Bibler Bombshelter
-Bibler Tempest
-Marmot Area 51
-Vango Spirit 200+
-WE Dart 1
-The North Face VE25
-MacPac Minaret
-MacPac Olympus
-Marmot Thor

2) I've used these tents in true mountaineering settings both at base camp and a hgh camps up to 5700m. I've also used these tents in winter settings backcounty in New Zealand on ice climbing trips to Bush Stream and Wye Creek.

So, that being the context of my experience - if you can afford the $$$ and you are really going to use this tent in true mountaineering settings (you should stay in huts in NZ anyway), then get yourself a Bibler Fitzroy or Tempest.

These tents are a little heavier than some of the others, but they are well worth the weight in providing you additional security in the hills.

I've slept for 10 days in an Olympus with one other and it was one of the more claustrophobic and noisy experiences I've had in hills. Tunnel tents are noisy!

Conversely, I've lived in a bibler fitzroy for 5 weeks and was quite comfortable, dry and warm. I've had my fitzroy for 8 years now and it has been through some serious use in NZ (winter), mulitple trips to the Cordillera Blanca in Peru, the rockies of NA and some shit weather on Kossie. It's still going strong but I have recently added a Tempest to my quiver because I like the attached vestibules.

If you are really worried about weight - get yourself an Eldorado - but they are not as strong as the geodesic dome designs.

That said, if you are going to use a bibler for anything else other than mountaineering or heavy duty winter camping -they are overkill.

Cheers,

Brad