Why Does This Tent Cost $2000?

[@uTubeismyTivo]

As a mosquito I approve this tent

[@justmyself1000]

First thing I thought when seeing the open vents at top. But....guessing the target audience is rich people that hike in the mountains and not may mosquitos and that altitude and temperature. Most of the places I go...I'm afraid the unzip the door because just as I start to open...a squadron of mosquitos flies in!

[@KajunMs39]

Lol!!!

[@Alan-l]

As a mosquito you would be unable to fly (or survive) in the environment this tent is intended for

[@rolandwheeler4842]

Best reply to any video EVER!

[@Faykayray]

😂😂😂😂😂 I’m stealing this joke it’s now mine 😅😅😅

[@desertfox486]

They should raise the price to $3k...people will want it more.

[@Gizziiusa]

I am curious about the price. Is the fabric patented and/or expensive to manufacture ? Seems awful expensive for such a small, simple designed tent. smh

[@43supermark]

No, it's one of those products that people purchase simply because they feel it gives them cred! That's it. They are pretentious a holes. I'd bet my Northface ski suit on it! Lol 😂

[@jeremyaltom1303]

Yuppies will, people tend not to be that dumb 😂

[@DivergentDroid]

Yeah for er.. all the extra Pockets you get that cheaper brands Obviously cannot make. Pockets.. you know those areas of empty space are Really expensive to make! Good thing there are Really Dumb people who will buy them!

[@SophisticatedDogCat]

That’s not how economics work, my guy.

[@markgoodlad4613]

Love Samaya gear. However, the tents do have specific use cases: high alpine, mountains, snow, when general backpacking features are not required, but snow loading and wind shedding are critical. This is my go to winter backcountry shelter - crazy light for a 4 season tent as compared to other domes with similar capabilities. Cost is subjective when minimising risks for severe winter conditions.

[@theoriginaldashriprock]

If you spent $2,000 on a tent, you're a moron.😂

[@wobblysauce]

4 seasons add weight.

[@wisenber]

@@wobblysauceNot with this tent. Not including 3 season features saved weight.

[@MrXyonyx]

cost is only subjective if you can afford it xD

[@wisenber]

@@MrXyonyx Mountaineering expeditions are inherently expensive. A climb in Alaska or South America is going to run north of $7k. Himalayas, 6X that. If a $2k tent is out of range financially, so are those climbs.

[@markwilliams1680]

Hello Darwin! I find it interesting that our trajectories are diametrically apposed. I climbed Denali and Aconcagua in the early 90's. I have done a lot of rock climbing, ice climbing and general moutaineering and loved every minute of it. Since then, I have raised a family for 25 years and just started through hiking in the last two years. You have been very instrumental in my learning how to through hike Darwin, and I thank you. Good luck in your mountaineering adventures.

[@wisenber]

" I climbed Denali and Aconcagua in the early 90's. " Climbing is how I slid into backpacking too. Did both of those in the early 90s after cutting my teeth in the Alps and Sierras in the 80s. Kayaking followed backpacking. Now it's sailing...for now.

[@markwilliams1680]

There will always be something to keep us challenged. I see myself as a professional whellchair racer in my 90's. 🤣@@wisenber

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Similar. Went from family camping and hiking, some backpacking, but then in the mid-late 90s deep into mountaineering of all sorts, all over, international, waterfall ice, etc. Took a big break. Now older and back into backpacking learning new details from videos like this.

[@steverich571]

You should buy one of these tents....sucker

[@RKBock]

would you say that this tent is worth the price? or would you say that there are good competitors that cost a fraction of it?

[@Stampistuta]

What an interesting tent. Clearly made for a very specific set of circumstances and not something I would use but I must say I wish more tents had a gear loft.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Agreed! I really dig the loft!

[@TwoFingeredMamma]

Needle + thread + ribbon material + mesh material + time + brain All materials are readily available except brains. Unfortunately these are in extremely limited supply.

[@Stampistuta]

@@TwoFingeredMamma Did I say it couldn’t be replicated? Jeez, such a smart ass.

[@maximilianeissner4759]

@@TwoFingeredMamma sounds interesting. could you point me in the direction of some learning material? im a cheapskate with too much free time and that seems like something i'd wanna try my hand on

[@doctorkayak]

LOL a "gear loft" LOL!!! My $500 Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bar tent came with a gear loft. I tossed it in the garbage.

[@locomotivebreth1910]

I've been using the Stephenson Warmlite 2R and 2X tents since 1972 for both hiking and mountaineering and a few times winter skiing trips. Both tents are 2 person tents with room for tall people. The 2X weighs around 2 lbs-4 oz including poles and stakes.

[@richardbragstad2381]

I wish Darwin would review these great tents!

[@wisenber]

That's a name you don't hear often.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Wow! That name sent me back. I remember their catalog (and early web) having photos of models with little to no clothing on. Great days!

[@edwardneronha1593]

How much$?

[@KevinRStrauss]

Early in my backpacking career I was planning to get into mountaineering and I bought a Hilleberg tent. There are many 4-season options and they are extremely high quality. They aren't quite ultralight and only a few freestanding options but they are notorious in the Himalayas and Antarctica. When epic storms are a reality, I'm ok with the extra weight for comfort & protection. IMO

[@boyzinthewood1]

Not quite ultralight, they're 2.4 kilograms for the Soulo... they're really heavy.

[@KevinRStrauss]

@@boyzinthewood1, for sure. 👍 For me, I'd sacrifice weight for a serious high altitude shelter.

[@boyzinthewood1]

@KevinRStrauss to be fair they are bomb proof. I like that you can double pole them too

[@wisenber]

@@KevinRStrauss " I'd sacrifice weight for a serious high altitude shelter." That's just it. For some portions of climbs, they're too heavy. They're good for base camp tents and in between an ascent tent, but they're too heavy for an ascent tent. There are reasons climbers bring an elephant bag instead of a sleeping bag for the last push.

[@KevinRStrauss]

@@wisenber That makes a lot of sense, for sure. I feel like it's only realistic that there's got to be some compromise compared to today's 3-season, 1-2lb tents. If it were me, I'd be considering the Hilleberg Nammatj 2 (6lb 10oz), Allak 2 freestanding (7lb 4oz), or the Nallo 2 (5lb 5oz). But hey, there's a reason I chose not to pursue mountaineering. More power to you all who do!

[@David-Craig-76]

Have a look at Trekkertent Soar - its a scottish company and is essentially a DCF Hilleberg Unna... Double wall tent thats pretty much the same weight as the Samaya. The guy can customise your tent too.

[@devacore477]

I like the simplicity of the Soar; easier to set up than the Samaya, if and when in a storm.

[@doctorkayak]

no

[@David-Craig-76]

@@doctorkayak Well aren't you marvelous

[@MightyMidgey]

I've picked up a couple of Hilleberg tents over the years and I cannot recommend them enough. They are far from ultralight, but for what you get, durability and safety, it is always worth it for me. Some of the tents have mesh inners you can purchase as well, which makes them very versatile for multiple conditions.

[@raylau7656]

There's a reason Hilleberg tents are used on Arctic expeditions, tried and proven in severe conditons. They also cost a fraction of the price, I think if I win the lottery I would stick with Hilleberg.

[@cgnicolis]

All tents are compromises, so I have probably 8 tents in various sizes and styles, all from different makers. If I had to keep just one, it would most likely be my Hilleberg Anjan 2. It definitely has its drawbacks but overall I have complete confidence in it.

[@nibun]

I would totally pay $2K if this was actually 2.6oz.

[@6030jdr]

Lol. The reason prices are so ridiculous

[@plutoplatters]

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Yep.@@6030jdr

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

🤣

[@CreekDiggerAdventures]

I too noticed at 2.6 oz. With carbon rods I would be all over it for that price and features

[@chriskelly6559]

I would totally not pay $2K if it weighed zip.

[@plutoplatters]

It costs $2,000 dollars because humans will buy it. Only reason.

[@3nertia]

"Things are worth whatever idiots are willing to pay for them"

[@IsopodActivities]

It's part of a very niche market; Hardcore alpine climbers are willing to pay quite a lot to save weight in their packs, moreso than backpackers. This is on account of often carrying additional equipment like ropes, helmets, ice axes, crampons, and a full rack of heavy metal cams, nuts, and carabiners. This all adds up faster than even a backpacker's kit, and saving weight on a 4 season tent when the competition weighs up to four pounds is a big selling point.

[@alexandre3227]

It is french made, design by meticulous person, each details is viewed one by one, every little metallic stuff is titane because of weight and every adjunctions and seperation of the tent is burned precisely so that it's sticked perfectly.

[@erueru2014]

If you want a tent that can be used for 4 season high elevation mountainering and also useable for more normal camping then Hilleberg Soulo red label is a good option, the only downside is it weighs 2.4 kilo, it was designed for the scandinavian mountains so it can take some heavy storms, and you can get a full mesh inner tent to give more breathability on the less extreme summer trips.

[@gregm901]

I second this.

[@mukkaar]

Honestly it doesn't really make sense to have just one tent in this situation. Just get regular 3 season tent and mountaineering tent. Use cases for both are very different and you don't want to compromise for versatility especially for mountaineering tent.

[@drewwatts2803]

I make a lot of my own backpacking gear, so seeing odd and specific pieces of kit like this always gets my pattern-making juices flowing

[@justinw1765]

Yeah, I would love to make a tarp out of that membrane DCF fabric.

[@wisenber]

DCF isn't a forgiving material at all when it comes to stress points. The wrong curve, fiber orientation or seam can yield a catastrophic failure.

[@zavman109]

Looks very similar to my Black Diamond Firstlight 2p. That one is 400ish new, got mine used. Pretty light too. Has mesh.

[@matthiasm6802]

I‘m absolutely not in mountaineering and I probably never will but learning about this stuff is really fun and interesting. So please keep doing this kind of videos

[@namelessone5200]

I suggest you take a look at the Salewa litetrek 2 pro tent. It is tested at 90 km/h in wind tunnel. And has minimal vestibule, but you can unclip the front of the inner tent and make more room for cooking. I use the non pro version and I am happy with that tent for high elevation winter camping. There is condensation inside outer layer, but if the tent is oriented so the wind blows at the back of the tent, and the vent window is opened, the condensation is minimal to none. Sorry but my english is not very good 🙂 Happy searching for the winter tent 😊

[@marnig9185]

and Salewa micra II .for solo, i love this Tent for years now❤

[@rkatrails]

I'm enjoying your new interest in mountaineering. It's good that you had an opportunity to try out that very expensive tent without having to pay for it. Backpacking in the summer and shoulder seasons is still my primary interest, though I've been considering exploring bike packing. We'll see how that goes.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Yeah, I would have NEVER paid $2K for a tent 😅

[@freddyfourfingerz9126]

Appreciate the honesty! This tent is very tactical, and if can save your life just 1 time, it's definitely worth the price.

[@THEUPSTAIRS100]

By that sound logic, if it cost a million dollars it would be worth the price. smh

[@mmedved5567]

Nothing about this tent will save your life any more than a number of other tents.

[@whatjake7898]

This tent is for Dentist that spend way too much on a hobby and use the most expensive crap because they think it makes them more hardcore.

[@romanokrastek77]

😂😂😂

[@ryanb3908]

Or people that actually do mountaineering and need a tent that can save your life.

[@better.better]

most of that price is the custom Dyneema fabric I would wager. I've never heard of a breathable version of Dyneema composite fabric (although Dutchwares cloud fabric might be Dyneema I remember him doing a weight test of a hammock made from it). DCFs are expensive to begin with, then add in the fact that this is custom woven, and that's going to skyrocket the price further

[@jeremyaltom1303]

@@ryanb3908you definitely don’t need a 2000 dollar tent to do that 🙄

[@ryanb3908]

@@jeremyaltom1303 Decent gear you can count on to save your life is expensive. 🤦🏻

[@sqreon9401]

Really psyched so hear you’re getting into alpinism, outside of thruhiking it’s probably the most weight obsessed community with the modern fast and light strategies. Looking forward to seeing more alpine adventures from you!

[@wursthaar9760]

hey. i did not use it by myself but i know some people who use a slingfin portal 2 for high elevation/wind/snow.

[@RobertSmith-up9rz]

Mountaineering gears are crazy expensive because things can go South very quickly, unlike hiking whether long-distance or not. So designs and processes are more costly than for backpacking gears. I bet that tent is also expensive because they don't reach the volumes of Zpacks and other DCF tent makers.

[@mikekraut7643]

That is some pretty special DCF fabric that is pretty hard to come by. They don’t make a lot of it, and if you think regular Dyneema fabric is expensive, that stuff is easily twice the price.

[@guitarhiker4449]

Kinda reminds me of the Lotus Djedi tent. That tent is pretty amazing too because its made of dyneema backed with e-vent material to prevent condensation. Its a very hard process to manufacture but the benefits are worth it. It also has a removable vestibule you have to purchase seperately but allows you the option to stay out of the rain with your door open. Im not sure if its 4 season but it is freestanding. Worth a look Darwin! Good luck man! Nice tent!

[@jjmcwill2007]

When I first started watching this video I thought he was gonna talk about the djedi

[@carl8568]

That Locus Djedi 2P is *much* cheaper at $900 USD, and lighter I believe.

[@tc227]

Locus Djedi has a similar design to Samaya. From what I have heard it has mesh openings and an optional vestibule. It's also VERY expensive like the Samaya. The only problem is Locus discontinued the tent because the material they used was discontinued.

[@kayasper6081]

Hi Darwin, do you know Hilleberg Tents? For example their model called Enan, weights exactly the same as the tent you review in this video (1,2KG) but has mosquito panels, a vestibule and offers more comfort in terms of lenght. I use the Hilleberg Unna, which has the same two pole construction as this Samaya tent. The quality is really outstanding. I am very curious about your opinion!

[@nicholaslafferty3928]

I made a myog pyramid tent and it worked very well on a good long trip for a season. Was checking out gear and honestly did not see a tent anywhere that I would prefer. With the tyvek groundsheet it is 2lbs it would fit two people and its 8ft long on the inside. Keeps the water and snow off of me!

[@NickLivingLife]

Reminds me a lot of an older Rab Latok tent which was made from E-vent. The entrance is still a design flaw for me, because of snow rain coming inside if you need to open the door for any reason. I think it's a niche product at a crazy price. Nice video as always :)

[@Dreoilin]

What I'm doing is trying to work in my local community to fix our conservation trail. It connects to the finger lakes trail which connects to the ATC

[@scottyplug]

I am soooo glad you are back, man. Always such real, true and honest reviews.

[@brianrathgeber7775]

Always enjoy your videos Darwin. I am heading to Campo next month for my first PCT section hike!

[@Didismack]

Oof, I'm no mountaineer, but I've been building up to it. The no mesh is a no-go for me. The peaks I want to climb might be above the mosquitos, but the starting points sure aren't. I cant remember the last time I got in a tent and didn't see tons of the little bastards trying to get at me through the mesh.

[@fuzzybuddywizard]

I hate those little bastards too.

[@johncheeseman6764]

Thanks for the video, wife and I are using big agnes tiger wall 3. I'm 6'4" and it has plenty of room, and less than 3 lbs. More than a few nights under 32 ° and always was warm.

[@Lifesvagabond]

There's a tipping point where the benifits dont match the price.

[@BxBxProductions]

i dont know, niche tools are usually pricy and out of reach for the usual person. things like backup chutes for example arent cheap btw

[@camilocarrillo2132]

when life or death is on the line, that tent is fairly cheap.

[@Lifesvagabond]

@@camilocarrillo2132 I stand behind my statement.

[@camilocarrillo2132]

@@Lifesvagabond Ofc you do, now ask pople who actually get the intended use of this tent like Colin Haley. Winter high altitude climbing, alpine style, anchoring to whatever marginal ice/snow ledge you manage to chop. This tent makes posible what was thought imposible before, piolet dor ascents. For everything and everyone else, it sucks.

[@Lifesvagabond]

@@camilocarrillo2132 You assume I don't understand the intended use, is what you're implying?

[@watsomd]

I have been testing the Gazelle T4. So Far I love it. It has some trade offs, but for ease of up, down, headroom, and footprint I think it is a great choice when you can find it on sale like I did around the $280 mark.

[@gregm901]

You should look into Hilleberg Soulo Black or Red Label.

[@arnoldkotlyarevsky383]

Ive gotten into ski mountaineering in the last couple of years and it is so much fun, I cant even explain. I do want to build up my skills and work up to a multi day ski tour. The gear is so diverse because the variability between objectives is so high. There is a lot of room for specialization. Boots, poles, bindings, skis, skins, radio, avvy gear (beacon, probe, shovel, & possibly an avvy pack), and a backpack to carry it all - plus room for extra layers, snacks, water... It is A LOT. Super fun to think about and optimize though.

[@giuliofranza292]

hi Darwin! What do you think about this double layers dyneema membrane on a normal single wall trekking pole tent? like the altaplex It would solve the condensation problem, theoretically. It could be a game changer!

[@luciano.a]

If you can wait the lead time, you can go for the Locus Gear Djedi. Symilar to samaya but a litle more versatile (and half the price)

[@helpfulcommenter]

Thanks for the honest and well done review video Darwin.

[@neonsamurai1348]

Personally I prefer Hilleberg tents. They are heavier (and can command similar prices depending on the size of tent), but they are unbelievably tough and well made. They work well on the mountain and off it too (and are used in places like mount Everest). They do have vestibules, even pretty large ones, but the outer wall goes down to the ground to prevent spindrift.

[@tracygenereux959]

It's great that you are taking us on your new adventures :) I've been branching out as well. A lot more winter camping, ice climbing, ski touring. Hopefully some alpinism in the future!

[@debbilermond1553]

Thanks, Nick for sharing this unique tent with all of us gear nerds. I'm not into mountaineering so I wouldn't be looking at taking out a loan to purchase such a pricey tent but for what it's designed for, it is well thought out. Living in the Pacific Northwet (not a Freudian slip), we have a gazillion hungry mosquitoes waiting for some unsuspecting backpacking newbie to offer their bodies to feed them. The Samaya tent without any netting would be like a neon sign for the bugs to make a beeline for the opening. I'm sure at high mountain altitudes, the wind is so strong that it would blow away any bugs venturing that high, LOL!

[@mrnobodieswildcampingadventure]

Darwin I'm going to have to Evolve financially before I can justify purchasing this wonderful tent to my wife! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@matthewtraver2895]

Super cool to see this channel take a stroll down the mountaineering lane. Been a fan for years (as well as a climber/mountaineer) and I have always wondered if you'd ever catch the climbing bug! I've played around with a variety of setups in the past for trips into the deep backcountry/alpine...and honestly the worst time I've ever had was when I tried to UL everything.... I'm of the school of thought that the unforgiving weather in the alpine certainly demands a more forgiving setup when starting out in this discipline. And forgiveness is heavy haha I'm sure this tent rocks for the right climber, but usually a full rack of gear is heavy enough that worrying about every gram really just goes out the window for my shelter. But that's just me. HOWEVER, I know you're an enlightened equipment fan...and I rocked my 20 degree down quilt high up on Mt. Rainier a few years ago during a mid June climb with a friend...it was great to know some UL hiking gear works up high..... but I certainly felt like I was gambling if for some reason I needed to wait out bad conditions high up on the mountain and my EE got wet. My solution is to carry a mid-weight tent and an extra lightweight/cheaper tarp as my UL emergency shelter high up...saved my bacon one year in the PNW when we had to wait out a blizzard for a couple hours at around 12,000 feet...once we dug in and got the tarp up...the jokes started rolling, snacks were eaten and we warmed up enough to hold out for a safe descent. All that being said, I've seen almost every brand of tent at a lot of common base camp areas...really experienced climbers/alpinists tend to have a jack of all trades kit...but until you learn your climbing style and ensure you won't poke holes in your clothing/tent with a lot of the new pointy toys you may or/may not have experience with...having a solid/reliable option for basecamp and the ascent is way more important than super pricey UL gear. Not trying to overshare or preach. I've only been an avid rock/snow/ice climber for the last few years...but I'm just stupid excited to see this channel include my absolute favorite outdoor passion. And the learning curve is super fun. Stoked to see all the future content! Cheers & Climb on!

[@Lvvcassss]

A good ultralight 2-person tent todayis Natruehike Cloud up 2 UL. Sub-1kg and at a fraction of price of this one. Got one for 3 seasons and going strong.

[@addictedtobass8232]

Check out the locus gear djedi dome. Similar construction but has a vestibule available and mesh doors.

[@m.aaronbossert7202]

If you want to check it out, samaya also makes a 3-4 season tent called the inspire 2, which has vestibules, mesh, is nice and light, single wall design. The inspire 2 is much more generally useful.

[@winterlightstudios4340]

I'm itching to get back to mountaineering... when my budget allows it again. It won't be much longer... and when I do start getting back up into the high alpine I might spring for a Samaya... but it's too far out for me to decide that now. That said, you are actually mistaken about the vestibule; Samaya tents DO have vestibules, they are optional, available in either sinylon or DCF, and pretty pricey. The point is that you can deploy the vestibule if you need the sheltered area, leave it home if you know you won't be using it, or keep it stuffed in your pack if the wind is too much for the vestibule.

[@neologian1783]

For $2,000usd this had better be made of the same stuff as Perkin's Tent from the Harry Potter books: Standard looking tent on the outside....fully furnished three bedroom flat on the inside......

[@carl8568]

😂

[@philsmith2444]

I have a Marmot Hammer that’s pretty light, a little over 3lb without the vestibule. It’s as cramped as the Samaya, I’m 5’11” and even sleeping diagonally in my 6’ FF Eider the bag’s loft pushes against the corners. It’s not breathable at all, so I’m glad both my FF bags have Pertex Shield fabric. And that they’re warm enough I can leave the door unzipped halfway for ventilation. Plus if I bring the vestibule I can stick the foot of my bag into it so my head doesn’t touch the wall. 84” inside length is nowhere near long enough for a good winter bag.

[@carl8568]

Yeah I have the same problem with my Nemo Kunai 2p tent, it's too short and the front door is at an angle where you lose some room and my down bag always gets damp by morning 😕 I've had my 3 season MSR Hubba Hubba 2P in the Indian Himalayas at 5000m and had less moisture issues because the side walls are basically vertical so you can keep your bag dry.

[@mikeyhikes]

Crazy expensive! Hey, forgive me if you’ve talked about it, but have you tried the Zpacks freestanding kit for the Duplex? It is TEN ounces, so could be too heavy for some… but it really does increase the headroom substantially. Not sure it’d work for your length tho!

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

I haven’t, but currently testing their Full Freestanding tent “The Free Duo”

[@mikeyhikes]

Can't wait to hear your review on that! @@DarwinOnthetrail

[@joeycontois6290]

Used an MSR Access 2 for most of my winter backpacking. Very solid tent and being a double wall tent that is all season and around 4 lbs is nice. I would check it out.

[@RsklnkvX]

...ultra-lite myself... love the 2.6 oz weight!... like packin' air! ...

[@carldwyer6058]

There is a 600g add-on vestibule for the Samaya Assault available.

[@johnhelmuth9718]

I picked up basic mountaineering gear for a banner peak summit attempt several years ago...got more for mt shasta last May. Gear needed for camping on snow in the wintertime is more extreme. Did an overnight snowshoe trek in desolation last month...pulled a sled too. Anyway, a solid 4 season double wall 2-person tent weighs ~9 to 10 pounds and costs 800 to 1000 bucks! Have to break up the load w/ a partner or best to use it at one basecamp. 4 season single wall options are ~4 to 5 pounds and 500 bucks, but often have major condensation issues. This tent is definitely intended for mountaineers on multiday trips in the high elev alpine zones during the shoulder seasons. It won't rain, it might snow. It will not be windy, it will be extremely gusty. There are no bugs. A minimalist survival dome. Lowering the tent weight is huge for those lugging along cold weather and moutaineering/climbing gear. If the condensation issue is mitigated with that special fabric, then that price tag makes sense. Def not for me.

[@billheckman5937]

I am sure that's a great tent for its intended purpose. At 70 years old my backpacking adventures have obviously changed and are more age appropriate yet still enjoyable adventures. There are lots of us old geezers out there. It is enjoyable watching younger folks like you, however the way in which we now choose new gear is quite different. We consider, weight, cost, and comfort when making a new purchase. (I guess that really is different) I am surprised that the outdoor industry ignores us us gray, wrinkled backpackers. There are many of that prefer trail shoes (with more cushion 😂) over a 40 foot 5th wheel RV. Now that I 0:01 think about it, a quality $2000 tent is pretty inexpensive. We love you too Darwin.

[@tc2156]

I don’t mountaineer, but live in Colorado and like to winter camp. I’ve been looking at Slingfin for when I need a freestanding tent. I haven’t made up my mind yet, and am hoping that’s the tent you will be trying out next month. 🤞🏼

[@justinw1765]

You are a rare woman. I can't get my partner to even go out in winter in the mid Atlantic region where the winter temps rarely get very cold. The coldest I've ever been out here is -5* F and that was quite unusual. Fairly often it is slightly below to slightly above freezing, and even more often it is 40's to 50's (for me, the latter are shorts weather).

[@tc2156]

@@justinw1765 I used to avoid going out in the winter as much as I could. I don't know why it took me so long, but eventually I bought warmer gear and warmer layers. Now I love going out in the winter! I naively thought that a coat was a coat, and I was miserable. Turns out I had crappy jackets. I can't believe how different I feel about winter now! We are supposed to get 12" tonight and I am excited. I don't know if that example is applicable to your partner, but maybe warmer stuff would make a difference??? Oh, I also started taking quality Iron and that has made me feel warmer also. Again, I naively thought Iron was Iron, and it turns outs I was taking the cheap crappy stuff. Quality Iron has been amazing for me.

[@darkshaman7087]

Get the Nortent Vern 1 New, it’s very water proof also it’s just as good as a £1000 tent and sells for just over £500 and worth every penny as it’s a 4 season tent

[@carl8568]

​@@tc2156 Do you mean the Sligfin Portal? The only thing that concerns me is the inner is *very* meshy. It would have been much better if they had put some solid panels in there to cut back on the wind that may reach you whilst sleeping. That would literally add only 40-50 grams to the overall weight. A full nylon inner probably 70-80 grams. My Nemo Kunai 2p has a full nylon inner and it feels bombproof and cosy as even when it's snowing and windy outside. Unfortunately I find it a bit too short. Quality iron, beef liver & spleen is super bioavailable and you can get it as a supplement.

[@carl8568]

​​@@tc2156 Do you mean the Sligfin Portal? The only thing that concerns me is the inner is *very* meshy for cold weather. It would have been much better if they had put some solid panels in there to cut back on the wind that may reach you whilst sleeping. That would literally add only 40-50 grams to the overall weight. A full nylon inner probably 70-80 grams. My Nemo Kunai 2p has a full nylon inner and it feels bombproof and cosy as even when it's snowing and windy outside. Unfortunately I find it a bit too short. Quality iron, look in to a desicated beef liver & spleen supplement. It's super bioavailable.

[@RedPawPacks]

Nice video. Had been curious about these for a while, but obviously it wouldn't get any use for me here in FL. The white Dyneema membrane fabric was what HMG used on their "The Shell" rain jacket. Great breathability rating. The WP/B dyneema fabric was something like $80-$100 per yard before it was discontinued.

[@rachescakes]

I know nothing about alpine camping. I have seen the mesh wall pockets in our car camping tents and in a couple 90’s era backpacking tents. They are very handy for keeping things organized. I’m really curious about the durability of this tent for the price, I’d feel sick if I tore a hole in it.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

No kidding! 🤢

[@doxielain2231]

They add the word "assault" and that adds 1k in cost

[@brains84]

My Hilleberg Nallo 3 has served me well for over 10 years. Now costs twice what I paid but the thing is bombproof. They have freestanding options too.

[@waxler2]

You should look at the Locus Gear Djedi. Really Expensive and very similar in design.

[@carl8568]

It's expensive yeah, but it's more than half the cost of this tent displayed.

[@RickMorrow-p8h]

Interesting gear! I love mountaineering footage. While I start my to thru hike the AT on April 16 at 70, I will unlikely ever again enjoy the brutal beauty of the mountains in winter. Thnaks!

[@PedroNord]

Good to see you’re moving into outdoor activities more interesting and challenging than just backpacking. Most of your current audience will be incapable of keeping up and will be critical. My advice is to walk away laughing. You are the one living the interesting life.

[@BluegrassBackcountry]

Hey Darwin, you should check out the Nemo Kunai 2p 3-4 season tent. It’s super versatile - can act as a backpacking tent or a mountaineering tent with unzippable solid/mesh vents amd walls, and same dome style poles as the Samaya. 4lb. Waaaayyyy less than $2000 (~$400 used).

[@carl8568]

It's a good tent for sure, only reason I'm selling mine is that my head and feet are touching the tent fabric and I have the older version. The newer version is even shorter! If you're over 6' I'd say forget about it. The front entrance door is at an angle where you lose some room.

[@davidhall8874]

Why? Because that is what some people are willing to pay. If nobody would pay that, they would sell for less. Nothing is worth more or less than what someone is willing to pay.

[@tmysty]

moisture control is huge in my opinion. A tent the doesn't breath very well is annoying when the "snow" starts falling on your face at 4 in the morning. LOL. bomber tent with great breathability is a good thing. thanks for the review!!

[@AnselmWiercioch]

Excited to see more mountaineering specific content. Would love to see some comparisons and your opinions on things like Hilleberg and Slingfin.

[@bill8384]

Interesting tent designed for a very specific purpose.

[@DemiGod..]

The reason for not having a vesitbule is that the wind gets under it and turns your tent into a sail? Odd, never had that happen with any of my 4 season tents in winds upto 90mph. The porch groundsheet goes down to the ground like the flysheet round the rest of the tent. Would't fancy having no mesh atall as any snow coming into a vent will go right into your sleeping area . The cost of the tent will be for the fabric. Attaching your tent with an anchor is a good idea, but other than that looks alot weaker than the Hilleberg Soulo BL (£1000) I use with 3 poles, which can be double poled, only bother doing so to the side pole myself though. Your tent though being quite a bit lighter.

[@stevenpeterson659]

Have used a Black Diamond First Light all over the world in all for seasons for backpacks, treks, as well as climbing with high camp at 18,000 ft on more than one occasion. Seemingly never hear about it in hiking/backpacking forums but sure see it out there a lot in the alpine.

[@TimWrite]

Darwin, you are a legend! Great job experimenting with something new, love your re-ignited passion!

[@eric55406]

I got a new Durston Xmid Pro1 that I'm looking forward to trying out this year.

[@glenloewen7507]

I’m currently thinking about buying the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra, and since it’s only offered in the US, with all the options I’d like, it would cost me well north of $1000 CAD (delivery, exchange and fees). That price blows my mind a bit and is why I haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet as well.

[@pritchoutdoors]

Hi - have you tried the Durston X-Dome 1+ yet? Plenty of other reviews out there, but interested in your views on this

[@sveineriksen4194]

I love general purpose equipment and to me this is extremely close to the ideal tent. The problem with this one is the lack of bug net in the door and openings. I used a similar tent (and maybe an inspiration for Samaya) - a Black Diamond I-tent on most of my PCT thruhike. The big advantage with this basic design is that you get a roomy 1 person (or very cramped 2 person) tent that need a small area for setup. It will fit almost anywhere, only a bivy bag and a few one person tents needs less area. Footprint size is also an advantage on snow where the area you need to compact is small, and the design is very sturdy, handle snow and win fairly well etc. The I-tent was my "luxury item" on the PCT as it weighed over 2kg, but worked extremely well in most situations. The fabric was also a waterproof breathable. I had lots of nights with rain and only slight damp surface of the fabric. BD tents have poles on the inside though (no sleeves) and in wet and/or cold weather I'd get condensation on the poles. Nothing major, but Samaya have (IMO) improved on the design with the poles in sleeves on the outside. A bit more complex design, but it also makes setup slightly easier. Getting in and out in rain is one disadvantage with the door design. Both Samaya and BD offer optional vestibules that fix the problem, but add weight and pack volume. Good solutions when minimal weight isn't essential but using a tiny tarp fastened to the top of the tent and over the door is much lighter and work well unless it's really windy. Just wiping of the floor with a pack towel also works fine. The Samaya saves at least a third of the weight compared to an I-tent and also packs much smaller making it much less of a sacrifice to carry, just a pity with the lack of bug net. Samaya has other options though with designs that will work better with bugs and rain (if you're lucky with the wind direction), but also add weight. What I'd really like to see is the same basic design with the door in the end, but maybe a foot longer creating a tiny vestibule and just enough cover to make entrance in rain easier.

[@malibubiatch]

whats the book ay 0:54 please?

[@hope2someday691]

Did you get a chance to check it out in the rain?? My bet is it wets out and soaks the inside of the tent. Maybe it’s just made for snow??

[@Team5TL]

In the 80’s and 90’s there was a tent company called Moss (the head designer went to work for MSR). Their tents were heavy, but not for the time, could withstand massive snow and wind. They were also absolutely beautiful, at one point one was on exhibit in the Louvre. Mountaineering tents are expensive and purpose built for dangerous situations. If you play in that realm they’re worth every penny.

[@artysa.blackwood4261]

I was wondering a couple of years ago why you didnt do the jump to mountanniering, and now here you are, NICE.

[@daryldixon2030]

Maybe you should try out the Lightwave g15 raid. Its not ultralight but with 1.6 kg for a semi-geodesic, 4-season, 1-2 person tent still quite lite.

[@billhemingway5558]

good mountaineering tent and there are no metal conductors it may be safer in lightning ?

[@cameronford4330]

Very glad to see you back 🤘🏻

[@patrickday4206]

I have one that is actually 2 lbs from big agnes i love it not free standing never had a problem setting it up it was expensive but like 500

[@eli.furgeson]

In the fall I got into professional tree climbing and now I'm teaching a course on it at Cornell! Crazy stuff

[@helpfulcommenter]

You’re teaching a University course in something you just learned yourself a few months ago? I’ll take things that didn’t happen for $500 Alex

[@DryBonesOutdoors]

What are your thoughts on NEMo and the OSMO material?

[@TheLDunn1]

I enjoy landscape photography. A camera, couple of lenses & tripod are not that light to drag up hill / mountainsides. Combine that with wanting to wild camp over night to double your chances of good light at dusk & dawn, drove me down the road of light weight tent etc. being UK based, condensation tends to be an issue. I don’t think of myself as a hiker, it’s more a means to an end for me, to get to where I want to take photos. I researched tents a couple of years ago, and ended up buying a Tarptent Stratospire Li, it was stupidly expensive for me, as I work full time and don’t get out much, BUT crucially this tent ticked many boxes for my wants/needs. Sleeps 2 (snuggly) if my wife wants to come Light weight, DCF so set taught with no sag Twin wall Bathtub floor Doors both sides Vestibules both sides, but you can pitch without using a vestibule on one side. You can even buy an extra insert for one vestibule to adapt it for a baby/small child, or a dog. Choice of mesh or solid inner tent (I went solid, as Uk seldom gets that warm!) Trekking pole setup (weight saver, & can improvise if pole snaps) It’s long enough for taller folk (I’m 6’ 3”) The tent design is very flexible for uses, you can just pitch the outer if you wanted as a tarp. It’s also flexible when it comes to purchase, you can buy just the parts you want. Two negatives: Very expensive for ‘just’ a tent. Not free standing.

[@andreasweber7828]

You can get lucky and find it as a „re-used tent“ , used but refurbished by the manufacturer. Got mine as a present but in fact I know it was 600€ purchased at the manufacturer. The previous owner had it customised with extra mesh. But have a look at the BlackDiamond Highlight. Not as light as the Samaya but pretty good and it’s about 400$

[@michelebouvet8074]

I just paid $89 for a sand scoop for metal detecting. I dont have to bend down because it has a long pole handle. Just had 2 knee replacements so i hope this works. I will start testing tomorrow.

[@JosephDye-p5l]

Darwin: have you considered the free-standing kit for the Zpacks Duplex? It doesn’t add much weight at all and works well in desert conditions or on slick rock. I dont always use trekking poles and it really opened up many options for me here in Utah. And since you have a duplex it’s a great cost saving option

[@johnhelmuth9718]

Those poles might break under snow loading and high winds. A cool add-on to make it free standing tho! Oh, it can't stop freezing drafts out either.

[@JosephDye-p5l]

All good points. I’ve used mine in the snow in the high Uintahs, but not under high winds or heavy snowfall. And yes, the vestibules do have to be staked down (or anchored with rocks in the desert)

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

With this mountaineering you'll have to rename the channel to "Darwin offthetrail". 😄

[@scottpettitt5173]

I have an older mountain hardwear tent. a predecessor to the Strato UL2. after making it my own, it weighs a little over 2 pounds. I've used it on humphreys in the snow and wind, i've used it on whitney in the winter. I bet the newest version is even better. if you want to check it out, you could borrow it. I could meet you downtown somewhere and pass it off to you. Let me know

[@vasiliifilippenko1677]

That kind of tents are not only high alpine, but specifically for use above 7000m, as you said, just to make it through the night. and there are other options like msr advance or bd eldorado. somewhere between 3000 and 7000 I would choose something like Nemo chogori.

[@asm826]

4:11 Okay, since it weighs 2.6 ounces, I think you can justify the price.

[@AverageBishop-]

😂

[@wolfeadventures]

I like this kind of video Darwin. I don’t plan on mountaineering anytime soon but the gear is very interesting especially when the stakes are so high..

[@DJ-Illuminate]

Your eyebrows are amazing. They need their own channel.

[@tyy7760]

I’m always checking out products for the outdoors. Came across your vid. $2k for a tent is definitely out of my price range. I’ve been using HykeandByke tents. They are made of high quality materials and at an affordable price. Everything in the package is thought out for the user. My opinion is that

[@sao9995]

$2k for less of everything is like nouvelle cuisine. Plenty of ultralight tents manage condensation very well. Flexibility means a lot to me. Great job, Darwin!

[@ryanleaming2103]

Not sure if you've seen it but you should watch "the high route" cool mix of mountainieering and fastpacking