Tent makers trim weight, add comfort

Sometimes, you want to shed pounds without losing inches. Especially with tents. Several tent makers have figured out how to get the weight off your back without making you sacrifice comfort in camp.

Lighter materials in all aspects of the tent, from poles to rainfly, coupled with computer-assisted designs, mean modern backcountry shelters can be lighter than yesterday's tents, but also roomier and even more weatherproof. (Note: Weights include tent, fly poles and minimum number of stakes unless otherwise noted.)Kelty's new Corrie 2 tent offers perhaps the best combination of price, weight, features and function of any tent we've tested in the past few years. We used the Corrie 2 on the snow of Mount Rainier, on sand around Ancient Lakes (Eastern Washington) and in the forests of Olympic National Park.

The free-standing tent uses a single pole system, though that pole sports multiple "legs" linked via hubs, or rigid junctions. This design creates a stout shelter that stood firm in 40 mph winds during early spring storms. It also shed water like a duck's back and, with vast sections of mesh on the interior walls, the tent vented well, preventing condensation from forming inside even when two hikers huddled together to escape drizzling rain for hours at a time.

The floor space is maximized by steeply pitched walls, but the narrow design of the tent means two occupants are pressed shoulder to shoulder when stretched out to sleep. The tents feels a bit tight if you have to while away long hours inside, but as a basic sleeping structure, it's perfect (unless your partner is an active sleeper; then the close quarters will ensure jostling throughout the night).

The modest living space, though, is a fair trade-off for a tent that is stormproof, weighs under 4 pounds (3 pounds, 13 ounces) and costs just $280. More information: www.kelty.com.

If you'd rather carry a bit more weight and have a little extra elbow room in your backcountry shelter, check out the Sierra Designs Anu 2. Sierra Designs has a well-earned reputation for building tents a bit bigger and roomer than competitors', and the Anu 2 carries that reputation forward.

With 33 square feet of floor space (compared to 27 for the Corrie 2), the Anu 2 means two large hikers can stretch out without jostling each other too much. This tent also boasts a high ceiling, letting a couple of 6-footers sit up to read or play cards without developing awkward neck kinks. The two-pole design is stout enough to withstand gusty windstorms, though it's not as wind-resistant as the Corrie 2: There was a bit of wall-deflection on the Anu 2 when the wind gusts around Ancient Lakes grew stronger than 35 mph.

For the average three-season use in the Cascades and Olympics, however, the Anu 2 is ideal for hikers who want to maximize their living space. The trade-off for the extra room, though, is extra weight. The Anu 2 tips the scales at 5 pounds, 7 ounces. It costs $199. More information: www.sierradesigns.com.

— Dan A. Nelson, special to The Seattle Times

Freelancer Dan A. Nelson, of Puyallup, is a regular contributor to Backpacker magazine, and an author of outdoor guides with The Mountaineers Books. For the purpose of review, gear manufacturers lend products, which are returned after a typical use of four to six weeks. There is no payment from manufacturers, and they have no control over the content of reviews. Contact Dan with gear-related questions at gearguy@adventuresnw.net.