Thanks so much! We actually built the site custom from scratch.

What you're referring to is called the Minimum Trail Weight, which only includes the tent body, fly, and poles (no tent stakes, guy lines, stuff sacks, footprint, etc.) Comparing Minimum Trail Weights between tents can be misleading because each manufacturer calculates their MTWs differently. That's why we use Packaged Weights for all of our tent weight comparisons, which is more accurate because it counts all the things almost everyone actually brings on the trail (tent stakes, guy lines, stuff sacks, etc.). So the weight I'm talking about in this video is still accurate and my analysis is still the same. That said, this tent does come with a footprint, and you can subtract about 8 oz from the Packaged Weight by leaving that at home when you backpack (which I would recommend). The Half Dome weighs more than others, and that's definitely a downside for long/hard backpacking trips, but it's also a fantastic tent. Super roomy, durable, comfortable, and it provides excellent weather protection at a fantastic price. For many backpackers and car campers, the Half Dome is an excellent fit.

@CleverHiker thanks for the detailed explanation! To ensure a fair comparison, are your tent weights configured consistently across the board? For instance, if one of the lightweight tents on the list is evaluated without a separate footprint and the REI Half Dome doesn't necessarily need one, shouldn't we subtract the 9 oz (the weight according to REI) when comparing their "light weight" figures? It seems like REI shouldn't be penalized for providing an optional footprint. Additionally, if some of the lightweight tents rely on trekking poles and we don't typically hike with poles, should those weights be added to the tent weight for an apples-to-apples comparison? Thanks for your insight!

Thanks so much! Good to be back.

Thanks so much for the support!

Thanks for the kind feedback! Much appreciated. We've tested the NEMO Dragonfly as well and I agree with your assessment. We like it better as a one-person tent, but it feels a bit cramped for two. That's why we opted for recomending the other NEMO products on our list, though I know many really like the Dragonfly as well. Thanks again for the comment and happy hiking!

Thanks so much! I truly appreciate your support and the kind feedback. That really means the world to me. Have a great day and happy hiking!

After hands-on testing dozens of the top backpacking tents in the US, I'll have to respectfully disagree with your take on the Copper Spur. It's also worth noting that most of the other gear review websites I trust agree with our opinion and rank. As far as the Durston X-Mid goes, we did not miss that tent. We've tested it extensively and published our findings in one of the most popular Durston reviews online: www.cleverhiker.com/backpacking/durston-x-mid-pro-2-tent-review/

Thank you!! Good to be back and I appreciate the love.

Thanks so much for the kind feedback! Much appreciated. And what a steal on the FreeLite. That’s an unbelievable deal. Happy hiking!

@@CleverHiker Yeah. Total steal. I'm big in to deals and this one is at the top. :) Keep up the work dude. You and OGL are where I find the gear takes I pay attention to.

@@teejay3272 Thanks so much! I truly appreciate it.

Haha! Fair. I just escaped the birds and I’m back. Just published a video on our favorite backpacking tents. Thanks for checking in on me!

You are so very welcome! Thank you for the kind words.

You’re welcome! Thanks so much for the kind feedback.

For real. I’ve been there myself as well. Things can get very scary very fast. Always good to be prepared and know what to do.

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate the kind words, that means a lot to me. Have a good one and happy hiking!

Agreed, very good advice. Thanks for the input!

You’re very welcome! Thanks so much for the kind feedback.

Thank you! I truly appreciate that.

Washing your clothes is usually fairly easy to do if there is clean water around, but drying clothing is very tricky in long prolonged rainstorms where there is a lot of moisture in the air. Usually your best bet is to keep a dry set of clothing to wear only in your tent at night. The next day, when it is time to hike, put back on your wet clothing from the day before, so you can keep your tent clothing dry at all costs. Make sure to line your backpack or use waterproof stuff sacks and be very careful to keep important gear and clothing dry inside your backpack.

@@CleverHiker thanks! That was very helpful!

You’re very welcome! Happy hiking.

You’re welcome! Thanks for the kind feedback.

CuZ they don't lool cool haha. Honestly pochos beat jackets any day when you are trekking. However for more active activities like skiing or climbing a jacket is a must. For trekking however pochos are king. Also you don't need that high Water collum on a poncho. 3000-5000 is enough because there is no pressure on the material from your backpack to push Water through. If it is windy I also use a small rope to tie around my waist to keep it in place.

Thanks for the comment and feedback. I agree, ponchos can be a useful tool, but I also don’t see them being used very often on the trail. I think this choice, like many things backpacking, comes down to personal preference. One key downside to ponchos is that theirbillowy nature tends not to fair very well in heavy wind. And I also agree that they look a bit dorky. But hey, who cares if it works well! Thanks again for the comment and happy hiking!

Haha! Very true. Thanks for the kind feedback and happy hiking!

Haha! I’ll take it. That’s a handsome dude.

Good point, I agree. Thanks for the input!

You are so very welcome! Thank you for the kind note.

You are so welcome! Thanks for the kind comment.

You are very welcome!

Interesting question. I am not an expert in that subject and I always carry the food I will need into the backcountry. I would be very careful about eating any bugs, plants, or mushrooms in the wild. In general, you really want to know what you are doing if you are foraging in the wilderness. Things can go wrong very quickly if you don’t know exactly what you are doing and you could be put in a very dangerous situation.

Yes, that is true. Generally speaking, the more noise you make in the wilderness the less wildlife you are likely to see. That said, in grizzly country, that is often a wise trade-off to make.