Freestanding vs Non-Freestanding Tents | Outdoor Life

One of many first choices it’s a must to make when deciding on a backpacking tent is freestanding vs non-freestanding. Freestanding, means you don’t must stake out the tent so as so that you can shelter inside. Non-freestanding tents use trekking poles or static poles to boost the tent, however in addition they depend on the strain from staking to remain upright.

There are execs and cons to each sorts, and we took prime tents from every class into the sphere this spring on our annual backpacking gear check. Two of our favorites are the Zpacks FreeZip and Search Outdoors Daylight. This premium semi-freestanding shelter and USA-made trekking pole tent spotlight the most effective qualities of every class.  

Staking

Alpine and desert environments the place uncovered rock and onerous floor abound are notoriously tough to stake into. It’s a aid on the finish of a protracted day to have the ability to arrange your shelter with out worrying about discovering a patch of stake-holding floor. If as a rule you’re organising camp on too-soft or too-hard surfaces, the peace of thoughts of a freestanding, and even semi-freestanding, tent can’t be overstated (semi-freestanding means that you may erect the tent with out stakes, however you’ll lose actual property inside). 

For those who’re utilizing a non-freestanding tent on onerous floor, it’s a must to get extra artistic. You possibly can tie your guyline to a rock or leverage your stake in opposition to a rock. Macgyvering your setup does take time, and it may be irritating when your mountaineering associate is already cooking dinner exterior their freestanding tent.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re often tenting on dust, sand, or in any other case stake-friendly terrain, a trekking pole tent is a good way to avoid wasting weight and house.

Weight

Freestanding tents are heavier than trekking pole tents as a result of it’s a must to carry tent poles, as an alternative of counting on the trekking poles you’re already carrying. Some non-freestanding tents supply an possibility to purchase poles if you happen to don’t all the time carry trekking poles. Based mostly on the typical weights of freestanding tents vs non-freestanding tents in our backpacking gear check, going with a non-freestanding tent will prevent about half a pound.

Construction

There are a pair execs to the structured design of a freestanding or semi-freestanding tent. You possibly can arrange the tent, after which resolve on a location based mostly on the way it’ll match. Or if it is advisable to transfer spots, it’s a lot simpler. There’s additionally the opportunity of shaking out your tent on the finish of the evening. Dumping particles out of the within of a non-freestanding tent is more durable with out poles holding the tent open.

Inside House

Throughout testing we discovered that the two-person trekking pole tents had a formidable quantity of inside house due to the A-frame design. Some semi-freestanding tents then again tapered to a single excessive level. Inside house varies tremendously by particular person tent design, nevertheless it’s value evaluating the size.

Value

Non-freestanding tents often price lower than freestanding tents since you aren’t paying for poles. Assuming you have already got trekking poles, it’s a good way to save cash. 

Sturdiness and Climate Resistance

The sturdiness and climate resistance of your shelter relies upon extra on particular person tent design than the construction class. In heavy winds a freestanding construction might need a normal benefit as a result of a non-freestanding construction has extra fail factors. Whereas very sturdy, if a guyline snaps or turns into unstaked on a trekking pole tent, the entire thing may come down extra simply.

Whereas it’s most typical to see double-wall freestanding tents and single-wall non-freestanding tents, that’s not all the time the case. Double-wall tents have the added weight and setup time of a rain fly, but additionally supply one other layer of climate safety. Single-wall tents require extra air flow to keep away from condensation in your shelter as a result of there’s just one layer of climate resistant material. 

Freestanding vs Non-Freestanding Tents Discipline Check

Right here’s a take a look at two of our favourite ultralight tents from Out of doors Life’s 2024 backpacking gear check to provide you an thought of how freestanding and non-freestanding tents carry out within the subject.

Freestanding Tent: Zpacks FreeZip 2P

• Dyneema Composite Cloth
• Weight: 2 lbs. 2 oz.
• 44 x 86 x 43 inches 
• Two doorways
• Two yr guarantee
• Worth: $900

One of many stand-out freestanding tents from Out of doors Life’s 2024 backpacking gear check is the Zpacks FreeZip 2P. It gained the most effective improve award in our check of ultralight tents as a result of it’s bombproof in heavy winds, and weighs solely 2 kilos.

The only-wall and semi-freestanding design make it straightforward and fast to arrange and take down. This shelter is safe, homey, and maximizes a small footprint with out the stress of discovering stake-able floor. The only-wall design does invite the opportunity of condensation in humid or moist climate and the ultralight supplies come at an extremely excessive value.

Non-Freestanding Tent: Seek Outside Sunlight

• Ripstop silnylon
• Weight: 2 lbs. 15 oz.
• 99 x 60 x 50 inches
• Two doorways
• Restricted lifetime guarantee 
• Worth: $450 

There’s a studying curve to setting up non-freestanding tents, however the Daylight’s easy setup and modern door design made it stand out to us. When you get it pitched correctly, it’s impressively sturdy. Throughout our testing it outperformed a freestanding tent on a windy ridgeline the place staking was a chore. For those who’re new to trekking pole tents, this one is simple to get the dangle of. And it’s made within the USA. It simply weighs greater than most trekking pole tents, and the elective poles aren’t as efficient as trekking poles.

Try our subject overview of those freestanding and non-freestanding tents in our video: Top Ultralight Tents

Remaining Ideas

Backpackers will all the time debate the deserves of freestanding vs non-freestanding tents, however the actuality is that they’re each succesful classes of shelters. For those who’re the kind of hiker who needs to cowl as many miles as attainable and spontaneously arrange camp on the subsequent flat-ish spot you see in a snap, then a freestanding tent makes essentially the most sense for you. On the flipside, if each ounce counts and also you’re prepared to be pickier along with your websites to avoid wasting half a pound, then go along with a non-freestanding design.