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Ask Us Anything: Dan Durston

By Katie Gerber / November 29, 2023 /

Last night Andrew and I hosted an Ask Us Anything with Dan Durston. Dan is best known for designing the X-Mid tents through his company Durston Gear. He’s also a five-time fastest finisher in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Open and the first person to yo-yo the Great Divide Trail. This is the first of three…

Backpacking shelters for the BIG & tall, and those who sprawwwl

By Jesse Liesch / August 11, 2020 /

Backpacking tents and tarps are generally not designed for the big & tall and for those who love to sprawl. Many designs are cramped and claustrophobic for these users, which may hinder a night of quality sleep and lead to a soaking-wet sleeping bag from condensation-covered walls. If this sounds like your nighttime experience, this…

Long-term review: Big Agnes Tiger Wall Carbon Tent || $1000+ fragile guilty pleasure

By Andrew Skurka / August 17, 2019 /

Over dinner at The Pump House in Fairbanks, I read to my co-guides — Alan Dixon, Flyin’ Brian Robinson, and Justin Simoni — the disclaimer-filled email about the Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 Carbon Tent, sent to me by BA’s PR firm: “The [Tiger Wall Carbon] is intended for only the most advanced users. Although…

Preview: Sierra Designs High Route 2.0 || Smaller, but now just 27 oz for fly + inner

By Andrew Skurka / August 1, 2018 /

The Sierra Designs High Route 1FL was launched in fall 2016, and a second-generation will arrive in spring 2019. Its name will not change (i.e. not High Route 2.0 or High Route II), and the existing design will be phased out. MSRP remains $300. Most notably, the updated High Route is smaller than the original. Instead of being…

Preview: Black Diamond Distance Tent || Got ventilation?

By Andrew Skurka / July 31, 2018 /

Nearly all backpacking shelters from cottage manufacturers use trekking poles for support, e.g. MLD SoloMid, TarpTent Notch, and ZPacks Duplex. The explanation is simple: This saves weight over geometries that require dedicated pole sets, e.g. Big Agnes Copper Spur, REI Quarter Dome. Some of the weight must be given back to achieve a minimum of…

Preview: Big Agnes Carbon Tents || Dyneema for the (rich) masses

By Andrew Skurka / July 30, 2018 /

Update: Read my long-term review of the Big Agnes Tiger Wall Carbon. My coverage of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018 begins with Big Agnes, which revealed new editions of three existing tent geometries: Fly Creek 1 Carbon ($800, 1 lb) and Fly Creek 2 Carbon ($850, 1 lb 2 oz) Tiger Wall 2 Carbon ($1000,…

Review: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 & UL3 || A “couples trip” tent

By Andrew Skurka / May 14, 2018 /

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL is new for spring 2018. REI has been the exclusive distributor so far, but more retailers will have it starting next month. It’s available in two sizes: Tiger Wall UL 2 ($400, 2 lbs 3 oz) Tiger Wall UL 3 ($450, 2 lbs 11 oz) With its semi-freestanding pitch, crossover roof pole,…

Reader Q: Recommended guyline lengths for backpacking shelters

By Andrew Skurka / May 3, 2018 /

A client on one of my 5-day guided trips in Colorado recently asked: In this case, the client has a 8′ x 8′ flat tarp. But I’m going to expand my answer to include all common backpacking shelters: tents, mids, A-frame tarps, flat tarps, and hammocks. These recommended lengths assume that you’re using my recommended guyline…

Preview: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2 & 3 || Best of Fly Creek + Copper Spur

By Andrew Skurka / February 6, 2018 /

New from Big Agnes for Spring 2018 is the Tiger Wall UL tent. Through May 31 the Tiger Wall is available exclusively from REI, and is available in two sizes: Tiger Wall UL 2 ($400, 2 lbs 3 oz) Tiger Wall UL 3 ($450, 2 lbs 11 oz) The Tiger Wall UL sits between BA’s extraordinarily…

Review: Sierra Designs High Side Tent || Light & packable, but small

By Andrew Skurka / October 3, 2017 /

The most interesting new shelter from Sierra Designs in its spring 2018 lineup is the High Side. I previewed it in my summer Outdoor Retailer coverage, and recently used it on two 5-day/4-night backpacking trips in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra-Nevada. Testing conditions were varied. We camped in forest, at treeline, and in…