Trekking Pole Tents VS Freestanding Tents (With Dan Becker)

What's the best type of tent for backpacking? A Trekking Pole Tent or a Freestanding or Semi-Freestanding Tent? Well, we did a little experiment to find out. In this video, Tayson and Dan Becker decide what tent is the best for backpackers and sleep in both a Dominion and a Fortius tent on back-to-back nights for reference. The major pros and cons are discussed, and in the end, Tayson and Dan Becker choose which style of tent they prefer, and which of the two ultralight options provided by Outdoor Vitals is the best.
Fortius Trekking Pole Tent:
bit.ly/3zIFTOZ
Dominion Freestanding Tent:
bit.ly/30dCJDJ
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Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Backpacking and Fishing
01:08 The Discussion Begins
01:23 Space, Usability, and Comfort
02:10 Condensation
02:46 Weather
04:06 Ease of Setup
05:30 Weight and Packability
06:10 Which Tent Do You Take Home?
06:55 ALL Freestanding Tents Vs ALL Trekking Pole Tents
08:25 What Tent Should YOU Buy?
08:46 Outro
#danbecker #outdoorvitals #trekkingpoletents #backpacking #ultralightbackpacking

[@dormin9795]

Got my Fortius 2P yesterday, can’t wait to get it on the trail. I will be setting it up many times at home before use 😉.

[@jonathanspilger]

I’ve been using a trekking pole tent for almost 2 years now… definitely my choice! My Fortius comes tomorrow and I can’t wait to get it out on the trail!

[@dennisfoster6866]

An omitted category here is the difference in these two tents when you are day hiking from a base camp. I use my hiking poles on day hikes and the idea that I have to collapse a trekking pole tent while I am out and about doesn't strike me as an advantage.

[@dannydinthemountains]

I went car camping the other day with my gosmer gear tent and when I went hiking I collapsed it and it worked like a tarp over my stuff while I was out without looking like a whole tent was setup. Even rained hard and I thought for sure it was going to seap through it didn't so I was happy.

[@boopernator]

I started with the Dominion tent from outdoor vitals and loved it, also got quite a few compliments about that tent. Now that I have my Fortius trekking pole tent I feel like it will replace my Dominion tent pretty quickly.

[@tamiboelter5491]

I love the two of you together!

[@beyondtherapy9817]

I'm a huge trekking pole tent fan, i can't wait to get my new one person in the mail, I will have it on the AT in December/January as I finish up North Carolina and get to the start of the Smokies. I currently have the cheap 2 person "amazon model" and can't wait to compare this new one to it, granted I'll be going from a 2 person to a 1 person. Now I'll say this also, i am also a huge hammock fan but as several of my friends learned during some extremely ruff weather, i stayed dry and they walked away soaked the next morning. and yes i also reminded them about how dry my tent was. looking forward to getting the new one

[@freddonelson5505]

Great video guys! And totally love the humor too. Still staying in my hammock and tarp as long as I have trees! 😎😎

[@j3hikes444]

love the vids when you team up with other youtubers, keep em coming

[@kylepec]

Brutal video plugging new tent

[@journeyman7189]

Good video guys. Dan makes a good point about the freestanding being the most versatile and in my mind the easier to set up for the beginner. The weight saving and packability of the forties is awesome though and i you break your poles you can make some while your out there. Not so much with the pole system from a freestanding tent. My biggest complaint about the Fortius and its completely subjective but I liked the green that you used Highline trail. It just looks better to me. Nate

[@greasemonkey4god]

Another manufacturer says in their set up video of the trekking pole tent- “it’s an art form, not a science”. I agree!!! I feel like it takes a few more times to get proficient on a trekking pole tent (mine is tipi style floorless) then the old dome shelter. But I do like it a lot!

[@thetaysonwhittaker]

Definitely agree! I hope that doesn't scare people away from all the upsides of a Trekking Pole style tent!

[@TaysonWhittaker]

Great point!

[@ms7fam433]

We've not had the pleasure of using either of these two tents... we switched to trekking pole tents for all occasions about 5 years ago. Due to the weight and ease of setup, we don't plan to go back to freestanding tents. Keep up the good work.

[@markheming3507]

100% could not agree more

[@K9River]

My 6 Moons trekking pole was awkward to set up the first few times, but now it is easy. I don't day hike from my tent. Never been in the sand or overly rocky ground, so the trek pole tent is what I like.

[@lakorai2]

So.... how about a X-Mid vs OV Trekking pole tent comparison video?

[@generalinformation5284]

Just back from a 250 mile hike in the upper peninsula of Michigan on the NCT. On at least two occasions, we had to pitch in (gravel/paved) marginal areas because there just weren't any other sites within reasonable hiking distance. Portions of the NCT just aren't hiker-friendly. Simply, a free standing or semi-free standing tent was the only option. I own and have used a trekking pole tent and my major problem was getting in and out of it. The pole and line securing the pole would constantly get in the way because it split the entrance to the tent in two. I really like the simplicity and light weight of the trekking pole tent, but my BA Tigerwall UL2 is almost as light, and a better design all around. I'd like to give the OV tent a try, but don't think I'm giving up the UL2 any time soon.

[@gregoryoutdoors]

I bought a cheap Trekker 1.0 one from amazon and its awesome as the others Ive seen here in Uk or Europe are quite expensive. 300-400+ dollars. Your tent seems very cool. Price is reasonable, space inside and pockets and using 2 trekking poles to make it strong in winds, would love to tent it, maybe one day if its ever available to get to Scotland haha Dan had a good point when he said about only one tent if he had to chose for the rest of life I wonder if he meant Hilleberg ones coz they are bomb proof lol All the bets pal!

[@bigguyshiketoo3732]

I just did an overnight trip with a friend and my border collie Red. He slept in a ozarktrail single person dome tent from Walmart and I used your ULTRALIGHT DOMINION 2P BACKPACKING TENT. It was 96 degrees and 100% humidity with a few wind gusts but not much. We set up in a stand of tall pine and oak trees. I used a wide Nemo tensor sleeping pad and my dog used a foam pad. I rolled up both sides of the vestibules for air. I had no condensation issues. I did sweat most the night but around 2am it seemed to cool down enough in high 70s. This was my first time in the woods with your tent. I set it up in the yard a few times and slept in it a few nights in the backyard with my kids. It was easy set up and take down. Fit back in sacks easily. If I had to criticize anything I would say I wish the ends were marked better along with the pole ends. Maybe red for one end in the tie down cords pole tips and black at the other. The grey was hard to notice in the evening which was the time we set up. Also maybe a different color for the two longer stakes. I placed one of the longer stakes in one of the corners before I realized it then had to go back and pull them all to find it. But I was impressed by the room inside. Plenty for me , Red and our gear. Over all I would give in 4.5 out of 5.

[@JesseStOnge-px8hg]

I’ve been wanting to try a trekking pole tent and I was curious as to if there are different kinds of trekking pole tents and what to look for when purchasing one… such as with a freestanding you look for footprints or bathtubs or double walls obviously but with trekking pole tents there’s a lot of grey area there… so maybe in the future tell us more about what to go with when looking for a trekking pole tent?

[@bermo61]

I would probably have chosen the dominion. The reason is that while there is obviously an advantage in weight savings to a trekking pole tent, they usually slope down more gradually meaning that you can’t sit up everywhere in the tent so less usable space on days when you are stuck in your tent due to weather. I also have a bit of claustrophobia so I like the more spacious feel of a freestanding tent..in fact I carry a Two person tent for my adventures…not exactly what an ultra lighter would do. That Fortius does look like a nice tent though!

[@brennan77]

I labored over this question recently. Ultimately i decided on another freestanding vs trekking pole, in part because of a ridiculous price reduction at the right time. I have been in too many spots that were very difficult to stake a tent properly. I have also had occasion to leave my tent for the day while i hike, and i like to use my poles. If i were able to backpack more often and justify the expense, Id have both for sure.

[@JasonSatterwhite]

I would choose neither and go with my hammock!

[@natlovell122]

What hammock?

[@InsightsFinancial]

Thanks for the insight on the tents. Very helpful. Can you tell me the pants you both have? They look like be great for hiking. Thanks.

[@TaysonWhittaker]

SATU ADVENTURE PANTS:outdoorvitals.com/products/adventure-pant

[@Silkstep]

My Fortius arrives Wednesday according to the tracking #. Looking forward taking it out, and unlike Dan Becker, I'll set it up myself. 😆

[@TaysonWhittaker]

😂😂

[@mojavewanderer7719]

Freestanding tents for me. There are plenty of places where you can’t drive in stakes, such as sandy desert, or on my last trip at trail camp on Mount Whitney, where I was only able to get 2 stakes into the ground because it was so rocky. I do lots of desert trips, and found many campsites that aren’t stake friendly. I’ve never broken a tent pole, even in high winds, but I have broken a trekking pole on a hike before. That being said, everyone has their own preferences, and the world would be a very boring place if everyone had the same!

[@dennisfoster6866]

Good point about a broken trekking pole and how that would impact you ability to use that tent. That has also happened to me.

[@goldpop5001]

Totally agree with this. I have used both extensively and the free-standing is a more versatile, dependable option. It can also be set up in a pouring rain with minimal moisture getting inside during setup.

[@papadawg3172]

Ive used a trekking pole tent for a couple years and love it for its weight and ease of set up. My real question is what to do when there are wooden tent pads that do not allow for staking directly into the ground. Is the only answer to bring cordage and stake it down with that?

[@johannesalexandrius5749]

You'll probably end up holding the tie-outs with a rock or lumber. If it's not available, you just drape it over your sleeping bag like an emergency bivy

[@kmadamsable]

I pre ordered my fortius 2 person trekking pole tent and should be delivered by Wednesday. I'll give it a review after some use.

[@lakorai2]

Do you also own an X-Mid?

[@kmadamsable]

@@lakorai2 - I do not. This will be my first trekking pole tent. Currently I have the LightFighter 1 person tent which i like.

[@andrewkounas4433]

@@lakorai2 I own a first generation X Mid and love it! Easy to set up ! Would love to compare it to Fortius to compare room and set up.

[@thetaysonwhittaker]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Fortius when you get it!

[@christophdollis1955]

So you're saying this new-fangled technology is not all its cracked up to be, and a simple tent with poles, like in olden days, works like gangbusters.

[@dannydinthemountains]

You're totally right brother

[@tom_olofsson]

Did you just use "new-fangled" "olden days" and "gangbusters" in the same sentence? Props to you.

[@jeremiah1528]

I'm only watching this cuzz of Dan Becker....I just wanna put that right out there.

[@nflolo2388]

As a newbie to backpacking...I've heard the weather / moisture on the east coast is way different than out west. How would the single wall trekking pole tent fain in more humid and rainy climates regarding the condensation issue? Thanks for all the great videos!

[@Dave_Outside]

Definitely not as good as a double wall tent. You can get some very lightweight double wall tents. Basically the inside wall being mesh is probably the most common thing now.

[@garrycollins3415]

I love my Durstan. I REALLY miss my Copper Spur.

[@kennyness8881]

I’m a BIKEpacker with a Dominion 1-so I don’t use trekking poles. I like my Dominion, but would consider bringing a trekking pole tent if it was lighter/easier to pack……but I might just go hammock and tarp too.

[@phildo87]

Camped in a trekking pole tent just off the beach and our camp neighbors had a free standing tent. Huge storm came off the water and we were fine other than every couple hours I had to re tension the poles. Our neighbors rolled down the beach and ended up having to sit pressed up against the wall.

[@chuckmetten3183]

Does your weight comparisons include the weight of a trekking pole that is needed?

[@drivingmissmolly]

Love my trekking pole tent (Lanshan 2) but I’ve encountered a few scenarios now where it was almost impossible to setup my tent because it was solid rock with no loose rocks around to replace the stakes, or in very loose and sandy soil where, again, there were no rocks to help stake my tent out and even with using stakes in sequence for extra strength if I had experienced anything more than a light breeze, my tent would have came crashing down on me lol. I’m seriously considering making a switch, I just need to think on it a bit more.

[@piche090391]

Trekking pole tent for me. They only downside to it i have experience has been the debris coming in during high wind days. I was probably user error for not staking it lower to the group. During rainy days I use a foam pad and put my inflatable air pad on to and I’m gtg.

[@christopherparisi9396]

I choose free standing tents on Vermont’s Long Trail because of the plethora of tent platforms.

[@CindyClough]

I don't typically use trekking poles, therefore I would have to add the pole weight to the trekking pole tent weight. So, it would probably not be any lighter...

[@lesstraveledpath]

Did the weight include the trekking poles...???

[@okispearo]

When do they ship if you pre-ordered one awhile back?

[@TaysonWhittaker]

They are actively shipping now! All preorders have been shipped out already, so yours should be arriving soon.

[@thehikingcounselor2289]

I still tell my scouts to get a Eureka Suma2. Very fast and simple to set up, trail weight just under 4 pounds, can handle high winds and rains, and at only around $150 it won't break the bank.

[@GdF420]

Is there such a thing as overanalyzing ? Which ever you decide to take, both are excellent ultralight, can't go wrong, just hike!

[@FrancoisBoucheros]

I never tried a trekking pole tent... What's the experience like with bugs? Nothing fancy just black fly, mosquito, and "crawlers"?

[@ozedude7082]

I'd say if the treck pole tent is of suvh height that head space wasn't much of an issue (not all trek or free standing tents are equal) then yes i think trek pole tent every time. The likelihood of breaking a pole is far less and if you got desperate, could fashion one out of a tree branch. Can't do that with free standing and in high wind breakages free standing can often have more than one break point.

[@GooglingSteve]

So this whole video is a fortius promo. Gotcha lol.

[@Dave_Outside]

I think freestanding is better overall. You can put it up pretty much anywhere. Even inside shelter. Requires less space. Faster to erect. Not going to fall down if somebody accidentally pulls one of the steaks out of the ground. You can literally pick it up and relocate it if you want to. Trekking pole tent have none of these advantages. Their only advantages, possibly lightweight depending on the tent.

[@jimihenrik11]

I think this comparison is very weird. I personally own a trekking pole tent. This is mainly for one reason: they are much cheaper! (Comparing freestanding tents to tp tents with similar weight, you're paying 5 times as much for the freestanding). I honestly think a freestanding tent is more versatile and due to the shape offers more room, but just isn't worth the extra cost. Also, I have to mention, that I don't carry a trekking Pole, but always cut a stick in the evening.

[@JasperJanssen]

That might be true on the budget end, but at the high end the poles just don’t cost that much.

[@GoodkatNW]

This isn't anti-Outdoor-Vitals (just yesterday I subbed to their membership, and bought a shadowlight60/some clothing), but this isn't a very good comparison and feels rather biased towards trekking pole tents. Freestanding tents are significantly more convenient in areas without good ground to stake in (beach, peat moss or shallow soil, lava or other rock, etc). Also, if you are into other sports (dinghy camping, bikepacking, motocamping), in many of those cases you aren't carrying trekking poles around. I understand that OV is primarily a hiking company, but a lot of that gear I buy for parallel outdoor activities. And a well made freestanding tent should handle high winds quite well, flexing instead of giving. In the same situation, one little bit of loose holding or poorly placed stake could let go and leave a trekking pole tent flopping. Vertical headspace also matters more than this video suggests; not everyone camps alone. Being able to face your significant other and not both be forced into the exact center of the tent in order to sit upright is a big deal. Same goes for changing clothes or storage. Love you guys, but it sounds like you made your decision even before making the video

[@antduke2361]

They want to sell the trekking pole tent and that's obvious, they hired the most notorious Gear PR guy in Becker to plug it too. It's all business! Becker is the Micheal Jordan of the hiking world in the marketing department.

[@aaronfuentes5919]

bivy is the clear winner. lol

[@twocross]

Commercial for the brand, ok just say so.

[@cameronshaw599]

It’s… the brand’s KZbin channel. Did you get lost?

[@Pablo_Shofu]

Tarp is the winner for me. No more tents

[@Andy-Mesa]

Trekking poles will always be beefier than tent poles, so it's no wonder they handle storms better.

[@antduke2361]

Also heavier are trekking poles a lot of people have then inside their back or tied on and don't use them. Like me if had them I wouldn't use them

[@kristymoore7052]

I’m watching this for 1 minute and your experiment is already flawed. I live in the Sierra granite. Compare in situations w/o dirt, smooth granite and little to no rocks to help support.

[@bradbauer9984]

Why is Dan always so angry. I thought he was going to freak out for awhile. I mean chill out man.

[@antduke2361]

They didn't pay him enough !

[@bcbslc6942]

"Protect plant and wildlife habitat by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams." I know there are lots of lakes in that area, but, to protect fish habitat, and reduce condensation. Please don't setup on the waters edge as shown in this video.

[@andrewmacaulay1585]

ZZ Top and mr comedy….reinventing the wheel again….running out of ideas for videos🤔

[@antduke2361]

Charging three times more than a text which is A lanshan 2 pro. That's why they have to buy Dan the PR Man Becker to flog it!....a tent as old hat as that for that money needs the spin and they hired the most sellable guy on KZbin to do it

[@slydogg616]

Dude cut that beard it’s awful

[@TaysonWhittaker]

No