SlingFin - Portal 2

Haha. We did 3 weeks bike packing in the Highlands last year with our Portal 2. It rained and stormed for like 15 of 18 riding days. The stock tent was super solid, even in wind that was hard to ride through. We love it, and the livability is very high as well.

I only set it up once in hard rain. I was able to put out the fly first and work underneath it to get the tent erected. It didn't get very wet, but the operation was pretty awkward and I wouldn't do it if it could be avoided. Other days there were breaks in rain long enough to get it set up.

Thanks. To expand on what I mean by 'greater skill' that refers to a few things: 1. WHERE IT IS PITCHED. If someone knows the tents limits and suspects the conditions may exceed them, then going down to a more sheltered site is a good option. One camper carries a heavy tent and gets to camp on the summit, the other carries a lighter then but occasionally camps lower when the conditions are risky. Aside from macro site selection like this, there is also micro site selection (e.g. camping on the summit but finding a bit of a wind block or building a snow wall). 2. WHEN IT IS PITCHED. It is risky pitching a tent during severe conditions because there can be steps where the tent is more vulnerable, and this is especially true for an ultralight tent. 'Macro waiting' (standing around for an hour before pitching the tent) is not fun, but 'micro waiting' can work well. This refers to listening and noticing how you can hear the gusts coming up the hill side, and then quickly completing a vulnerable step between gusts. | 3. HOW IT IS PITCHED. A standard user steadily proceeds through the normal pitching sequence irrespective of the conditions, while a more advanced user may do things differently to avoid vulnerable step. This could be starting at the upwind side first, pre-installing stakes into the ground to shorten a process, pre-adjusting the guylines to almost the right length, adding guylines before the tent is fully assembled. There are many opportunities to tailer pitching a tent for the circumstances. A more skilled user will also know the recommended ways to pitch a tent for tougher weather (extra guylines, extra stakes) and have things like appropriate stakes for the conditions. Advanced users also avoid common problems like guylines rubbing on rocks. In the break that was mentioned in yesterday's video, there is no footage to know exactly what happened but the user reports breaking the crossbar when that area was hit by a wind gust before they had added the supports recommended for the conditions (cross bar guylines and trekking pole supports) and when they were also not manually supporting the crossbar area. Essentially they were caught in a vulnerable step, which I would call user error because the tent was put into a state that was vulnerable and avoidable. Maybe the winds were so severe the tent still would have broken, but there would have been opportunity to better protect the tent because it is very difficult to break the crossbar when the trekking pole supports are in place. Those supports can be put in place pretty much instantly with good technique and even added *before* the cross bar is connected. Trying to use an ultralight tent in severe conditions does require more advanced skill like this. I totally understand if someone prefers carrying a heavier tent for a larger margin of error and/or lower skill requirements rather than try to use more skill to have a lighter tent, but also I still wouldn't blame the tent because it breaks when someone tries to use it in severe conditions without the methods recommended for those conditions. For the SlingFin Portal, I have one here with both regular and heavy duty polesets. The HD pole set absolutely is much stronger. Big difference. The Portal 1 is about 150g heavier and with those poles it is about 350g heavier, so the weight is fairly different (0.98 kg vs 1.33 kg) but certainly it is a nice option. The X-Dome compares in strength to the regular poleset so it is not as strong as the HD poleset, but also the optional trekking pole supports remove some of this difference and the X-Dome has some other benefits in stormy conditions like a native fly first pitch.

Second on the HotBox. Although I end up using the Portal 2 (with pole upgrade) more often. It's a "3.5 season". Got hammered on Shuksan last year with 18 hours of wind/rain and it held up better than the BDs.

A friend used the Portal 2 on the PCT, and I have a Portal 2 as well. The Portal 3 is basically the same thing, just scaled up. It's a terrific tent. For what you're going to be doing, it will effectively be "weight neutral" if you each had individual 2P tents at ≈2lbs each. As a general rule, getting a tent "one person larger than will regularly be sleeping in it" is a good idea. So 2P for 1 hiker, 3P for 2 hikers, etc. So I've got no issue with your considering this, or pretty much any, 3P tent. Now, do you have other options? Yes. Do your homework. This is going to _be_ your home for months. e.x. BA Tiger Walls's are terrific. And **you can save 1lb of weight** with a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3. Ignoring money, don't prematurely dismiss semi-freestanding double-wall tents. You'll see a lot of them on trail, and for good reason. The Tiger Wall is a perrenial favorite. - - - - - - - **INDEPENDENT KITCHENS & INDEPENDENT WATER FILTRATION** Even if you are planning to share a tent, there is another area couples are often inclined to share gear, but you really shouldn't: * Carry indpendent kitchen set-ups. * Carry indpendent water filtrations. Because even if you hike together, independent systems will save you _time_ (because you can cook and filter simaltaneously...and that will probably give you 1mi-3mi of additional range every day). - - - - - - - **SEAM SEALING** If you do get it, seal the seams or seal them yourself.

A member of my tramily used a Portal 2 on the PCT. Unquestionably a great tent, but yes, it was "more tent than was needed" and he didn't have anyone to share the weight. * If he did it again, as a solo hiker, he would have gone with something lighter. (Obviously, plenty of space for 1 person.) * If he did it again, with another adult hiker, he would have gone with something lighter for the same square footage, or larger for the same weight. Folks don't appreciate how much a lower base weight translates into day-to-day ease until they're already a few weeks into a thru and value "that extra 6oz" differently than pre-trail. - - - - - - - OP (u/Loose_University_945): You get to the point where you and your wife would prefer to carry an extra 6oz of water or snacks rather than "more tent than you need". Even for couples sharing a tent, you're going to be spending vanishingly little time _inside_ the tent. Your time is going to be spent (a) walking or (b) preparing camp. By the time you get _inside_ your tent, you're just falling asleep. Your inquiry is really good. If you take anything away from the comments in this thread, let it be to avoid "taking more tent than you actually need". (And, really...on my PCT, in the first 700mi (desert section), I used my tent probably <10 days. You cowboy instead. You save time not having to break down camp (which lets you walk sooner in the cooler morning weather) when you cowboy and it is cooler too.) Good luck; it's a terrific hike.

Check out the sling fin portal. Not ultralight but not much different than the hubba hub a

It's pretty bomb proof, especially with trekking poles for the weight. I had it in a bad storm in AL a couple weeks ago and it handled it well. Taking it out in bears ear on Tuesday. Expecting high winds. Glad I have it

I have the portal 2 and it is so worth the extra weight and money!

Second the Slingfin Portal! Easy setup, comfy, effing bombproof!

I was just going to recommend Eureka! Tents but they no longer exist. My family had those when I was growing up (90% BWCA trips) and I had one recently that went through the wringer and never caused any trouble. Big Agnes and Northface have been very good for me over the years. I've moved on to Slingfin but they don't make a four person other than a dedicated hot tent.

I didn't see it mentioned in your post or other comments. But take a look at the slingfin portal. They have it in a 2 and 3 person model. Me and my partner use this in Washington and it stands up to downpours pretty well, and is a solid all rounder for 2 people to share and split the weight.

What would you like to know about it? I bought it (Slingfin Portal 2) and have done a couple of trips with it. Luckily they were mostly good weather (or drizzle) and I haven't used it enough to give a review on it (not used it long enough for a proper review, and I'm not someone who does first impression reviews) but I might be able to answer some questions. Mowser on YT made a review on the slingfin portal 3 so you could check that out?

Used my Portal 2 in the Gobi last year and yeah, some fine sand does get through the mesh when it's really windy, but pitching with the vestibule doors facing away from prevailing winds helps a ton.

I had 14 hours of rain in Iceland this year with zero issues. The sil/sil fly handled it extremely well. The fly dries quickly as well. Had winds of 45 mph as well and it was a rock. Bomber tent

Slingfin Portal 2p is an excellent choice for Scottish weather

Depending on the number of people you need to fit, the latest version of the xdome 1 would likely be the best fit for windy/rainy conditions - fly first pitch, silpoly for minimal water absorption, and has a ridiculous number of guy out points. The Nemo and Copper Spur are missing one or more of those features. If you need even more wind tolerance a Slingfin portal 2 with reinforced poles is the next step up, albeit heavier and it's fly first pitch is a pain to do in comparison to the xdome. I have the portal and, with reinforced poles and fully guyed out, is a bunker. After that you are looking at 4 season tunnel tents.

How about a slingfin portal, those hold up really well in worse weather. If thats your priority.

We have a Nemo hornet and a slingfin portal 2. No comparison between the two. The slingfin is definitely bomb proof, and I never have a moment's concern when sleeping in ours. We've used it extensively in northern Ontario canoe country and canoeing in Yukon.

A friend used the Portal 2 on the PCT, and I have a Portal 2 as well. The Portal 3 is basically the same thing, just scaled up. It's a terrific tent. For what you're going to be doing, it will effectively be "weight neutral" if you each had individual 2P tents at ≈2lbs each. As a general rule, getting a tent "one person larger than will regularly be sleeping in it" is a good idea. So 2P for 1 hiker, 3P for 2 hikers, etc. So I've got no issue with your considering this, or pretty much any, 3P tent. Now, do you have other options? Yes. Do your homework. This is going to _be_ your home for months. e.x. BA Tiger Walls's are terrific. And **you can save 1lb of weight** with a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3. Ignoring money, don't prematurely dismiss semi-freestanding double-wall tents. You'll see a lot of them on trail, and for good reason. The Tiger Wall is a perrenial favorite. - - - - - - - **INDEPENDENT KITCHENS & INDEPENDENT WATER FILTRATION** Even if you are planning to share a tent, there is another area couples are often inclined to share gear, but you really shouldn't: * Carry indpendent kitchen set-ups. * Carry indpendent water filtrations. Because even if you hike together, independent systems will save you _time_ (because you can cook and filter simaltaneously...and that will probably give you 1mi-3mi of additional range every day). - - - - - - - **SEAM SEALING** If you do get it, seal the seams or seal them yourself.

Check out the sling fin portal. Not ultralight but not much different than the hubba hub a

6.1 myself and its totally fine

I went with a tent which I got from the US (can get it from a supplier in Australia but they don't send it seam sealed). The tent is called Slingfin Portal 2. I've used it a bit in normal conditions, but have been lucky to not use it in bad conditions so I can't say how well it stands up in bad conditions. It has been great so far (had it for a year) but it doesn't stand up to the mighty kea's. One pecked a tiny hole in the tent when I tented next to one at a DOC campsite.

A member of my tramily used a Portal 2 on the PCT. Unquestionably a great tent, but yes, it was "more tent than was needed" and he didn't have anyone to share the weight. * If he did it again, as a solo hiker, he would have gone with something lighter. (Obviously, plenty of space for 1 person.) * If he did it again, with another adult hiker, he would have gone with something lighter for the same square footage, or larger for the same weight. Folks don't appreciate how much a lower base weight translates into day-to-day ease until they're already a few weeks into a thru and value "that extra 6oz" differently than pre-trail. - - - - - - - OP (u/Loose_University_945): You get to the point where you and your wife would prefer to carry an extra 6oz of water or snacks rather than "more tent than you need". Even for couples sharing a tent, you're going to be spending vanishingly little time _inside_ the tent. Your time is going to be spent (a) walking or (b) preparing camp. By the time you get _inside_ your tent, you're just falling asleep. Your inquiry is really good. If you take anything away from the comments in this thread, let it be to avoid "taking more tent than you actually need". (And, really...on my PCT, in the first 700mi (desert section), I used my tent probably <10 days. You cowboy instead. You save time not having to break down camp (which lets you walk sooner in the cooler morning weather) when you cowboy and it is cooler too.) Good luck; it's a terrific hike.

Rock solid. The design is exceptional. You can even get heavy duty pole set but honestly that's overkill unless you're in Iceland, Patagonia or the Scottish Highlands.

I did. I'm sure it would have been ok with the standard poles but I opted for the piece of mind. My tent didn't move.

There isn't anything I would actually change. I'm coming from trekking pole single wall tents and this feels like luxury without crazy weight compromises. I will say I know it isn't cheap but it is definitely very well constructed. I haven't had any issues with any part of the tent, zipper, guy lines, netting, fabric. It's all held up super well and I've used it in a variety of conditions without really babying it.

It's pretty bomb proof, especially with trekking poles for the weight. I had it in a bad storm in AL a couple weeks ago and it handled it well. Taking it out in bears ear on Tuesday. Expecting high winds. Glad I have it

I have the 2p and 3p portal. The 3p sleeps my wife and I, and 10yo and 14yo kids. I find the 2p plenty big for 2 adults, and it's smaller and a pound lighter. It will be more tent than you'll *need* for pct, but I really like it when I'm getting heavy winds and rough weather.

I have one. It handled Iceland driving wind and rain fine. We had it in very exposed conditions and 50mph (legitimately, probably gusting to 60) a few times with no problems. There's so many tie outs. And we also liked the x tensioners inside the tent. We're planning a hike in Tombstone TP in Yukon and I'd take it. What I don't like is that the floor tapers. I sleep weird and if I switch to a rectangular pad that'll be curtains on the slingfin unless I go to a portal 3. I think the x dome is a tiny bit lighter, like 2 oz. I have not used it. I will likely at some point because of the floor being 52 all the way down. I'm not sure how to compare the poles on each tent. Durston is carbon Easton 3.9 and slingfin is aluminum 8.7 with a thicker set available if you're expecting bad weather. Idk which is better for wind.

I think the Slingfin portal is worth every penny. You can also get the heavy duty pole set if the winds are really high. If you can find a reseller or order directly it's worth it.

I think it is roomy, but context is required as to why I think that. I bought my first tent (just a random 1p tent that somehow never leaked in 1.5 years of heavy use). It was heavy and barely enough space to fit me - I could touch both sides with my arms and the inner net was less than 10cm from my head when I lied down. I couldn't even unpack my pack because there was no space to fit anything. Now that I have a 2p tent, I think it is a PALACE. I've never owned a big tent like this so I LOVE how much space it has. Keep in mind the SP2 is the 2nd tent I've ever owned. I'm also shorter than you so it is enough space for me, although sometimes if I'm camping at a slight angle, I do slide down whilst sleeping and touch the bottom of the tent. If I was a tall person, I can see why people have concerns whilst lying down, but I think there is HEAPS of space when sitting down (but once again I'm comparing to the only other tent I've used and that one constantly touched my head if I was sitting down)

I love my Slingfin tent. Dual doors, they make a lightweight option. Company started from the MSI tent designer who wanted to change the expedition designs and MSI said no.

\~6.2, fits well but sometimes if you either fill the head pockets, or if you add the internal guys on the head end they can get in your face. Isn't really an issue unless you are sleeping fully rigid like a plank.

You can pitch fly first if you have the footprint. I just pitched it inner first and did so quickly and I didn't have much of a problem. The tent did extremely well in Iceland and has done well for me here in the states.

I've been using slingfin portal and love it for harsh winter and wind! To get lighter you can go with just the fly. Or fly + they sell a bathtub. They even have an optional thicker set of poles. AND there are connectors to add your trekking poles for lateral mid support! Genius... Inside of primary inner there are guy line cross support (you need to remember to use the connectors from inner/pole/outer to actually transfer that load though) Tested the heavy poles for first time a few weekends ago in what was supposed to be insane wind. But then it was actually kind of nice out. Did pick up at night but still probably gusts under 40. Tent barely moved though shit was locked down. Made stick + rock dead man anchors it would be like idk maybe 12+ stakes for all the guy lines I've tried my dcf Hexamid. But snow just sticks on it doesnt slide down. And obviously it's a greenhouse for moisture and small enough that you WILL touch the side and get wet. But if it's really dry and not actively snowing.. My Hexamid has held up in what forecast said was 55 gusts. Took me 30 minutes to pitch. Blew out the door anchor/guy line in the middle of the night. And since it's open got totally covered in dirt and leaves and shit. But it didn't blow over ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and a falling tree didnt kill me. scary af. I'm contemplating the Durston x dome for winter... It would be like 20-30% lighter than slingfin tub + outer i think. BUT if you add on enough guy lines to be similar to slingfin it maybe wouldnt be worth it? IDK i have a consumerism problem for ul lol

Slingfin. Bombproof, and thoroughly wind tested.

SlingFin Portal 1P or 2P. Designed specifically to be lightweight (close to, but probably not quite UL) but with a bias toward bomber. :)