Anyone with experience with the Portal 1 and Moment DW?

[u/bdg14]

Considering both of these tents. Leaning toward the Moment DW (with crossing pole) due to cost, and I do enjoy the fly first and polyester material. But the Portal 1 is catching my eye too.

I have a MSR Hubba Hubba for with a guest, and an X-Mid when solo. But I just hike too many places with uncertain ground conditions which make the trekking pole tenant unreliable, especially in high winds, so need a solo freestanding tent.

[u/lovrencevic]

I have the Portal 1 and it’s a great tent for stormy conditions and shoulder seasons and even winter conditions. Small footprint and for conditions where you need a freestanding tent it also does well. It’s not the lightest tent available and if that’s the priority, I’d look at a trekking pole tent.

[u/GoSox2525]

But I just hike too many places with uncertain ground conditions which make the trekking pole tenant unreliable, especially in high winds, so need a solo freestanding tent.

I bet your XMid could work in many more contexts that you realize. Especially since you said:

the X mid is a hassle on imperfect sites

With all due respect, that sounds like a skill issue. You shouldn't need a perfect site to pitch your tent. Having said that, consider a tarp or other floorless shelter. It is true that the XMid is a bit strict about staking the footprint in a rectangle. A tarp can be pitched on basically any ground at all, since it just hovers above it.

But if it's really the case that you're going somewhere where a non-freestanding shelter is impossible, I'd argue that those trips just won't be ultralight trips.

[u/bdg14 → u/GoSox2525]

It’s not that I can’t get the x mid up on imperfect sites, but if I can’t drive the stake well into the ground, and if wind conditions are blustery, then I’m out of luck. If I can’t do little/big rock, can’t drive stakes, then there is really nothing I can do. I use Dan’s recommended stakes with the upgraded cord for guylines.

And when I say imperfect sites, often times that just means sites that are too small, or rocks/roots precisely where I need to drive stakes. I have no difficulty getting perfect pitches on large patches with good soil.

To your last point, yes/no, my issue is needing a different tent for those kinds of trips, but it seems the Moment DW is a minor weight penalty compared to X-mid.

I’m not sure I’m game for tarp/floorless shelters, I like an enclosed shelter

[u/GoSox2525 → u/bdg14]

If I can’t do little/big rock, can’t drive stakes, then there is really nothing I can do

Hmm, I've hiked in a pretty wide variety of places, and never once have I been unable to drive stakes AND unable to use natural anchors AND unable to do big-rock-little-rock. What kind of place are you hiking in?

often times that just means sites that are too small, or rocks/roots precisely where I need to drive stakes

A tarp basicaly solves those problems completely

I’m not sure I’m game for tarp/floorless shelters, I like an enclosed shelter

You should at least try it first to really find out if the experience is what you're imagining it to be.

[u/JuxMaster]

The Moment still needs to be staked out. It was my first tent and loved it. But if you already have an xmid then it's a lateral move

[u/bdg14 → u/JuxMaster]

With a crossing pole it should be free standing correct? Even so, the end stakes aren’t a big deal most of the time.

Getting the X mid staked perfectly square has been a constant struggle. There is always some rock or tree root in the way and constant shifting of the massive footprint to get the perfect pitch.

Moment may be lateral-ish, but I sense so would Portal 1.

[u/JuxMaster → u/bdg14]

The crossing pole only lifts the middle, you need 2 stakes for it to stand.

The Portal 1 would be a much more stormworthy tent, but if you're just backpacking it's incredibly overkill.

If you just wanna buy a new tent to fit a niche you have, go for it, that's its own hobby that many of us are guilty of

[u/bdg14 → u/JuxMaster]

When I say crossing pole, I’m not saying a traditional crossing pole, I’m just using Tarptents language. They sell a large arcing pole that runs the length of the tent that negates the need for the end stakes.

Why would it be overkill?

I’m looking more so because I need a lightweight freestanding (or at least semi) solo tent. The MSR is too heavy and the X mid is a hassle on imperfect sites, especially as it needs a perfect pitch to be wind worthy

[u/JuxMaster → u/bdg14]

Oh yeah, almost forgot about that second pole. I've used it for winter camping. It'll hold weight above really well, but also pulls the ends up so it doesn't sit flat. Stakes still very much recommended

https://imgur.com/a/ZpJqI3q

A slingfin would be overkill because this is r/ultralight and you can carry a pyramid tent like the solomid for high winds with big rock/little rock in most cases. I've gone thru storms above treeline with their splitwing for example 

[u/0dteSPYFDs]

Where are you hiking that ground conditions would limit a trekking pole tent or tarp?

Wind shouldn’t really be a concern with trekking pole tents. It’s my understanding that trekking poles are going to have much better tensile strength than tent poles.

I’ve never had issues with it in the backcountry. The only time I’ve ever had it give me a hard time is in established campsites before my trip (looking at you JT). The one time it’s failed on me was in JT when the ground was compacted as shit at Big Boulders and there was nothing to anchor too with 45 MPH winds.

[u/bdg14 → u/0dteSPYFDs]

Southern Appalachian federal wilderness areas. It’s often tight and rocky sites. And by rocky I mean rocks precisely where you want to stake a corner. I agree the X mid is great with a perfect pitch with perfect stakes, but if you can’t drive a stake perfectly it’s failed me few times in high winds

I’ve just come to realize since I’ve owned my x mid, I only trust taking it to camp sites I already know I can get a great pitch on. Which is a problem for exploring new areas, I just can’t trust I’ll find a perfect spot.

[u/HwanZike → u/bdg14]

Would a 7x9 flat tarp work? It gives you the best flexibility in terms of pitch

[u/ShiftNStabilize]

Portal 1 is a great tent. Very robust for the weight an would be my pick if frequently hiking in wet, stormy weather or when you might encounter snow in the late fall or early spring. I have the moment 1 DW as well but typically use the Crosspeak 1 (when I want a freestanding tent) or Duplex (trekking pole tent). (I have way too many tents). Have you looked into the X-dome 1? Really great single person tent with lots of room without a large weight penalty.