The most versatile tent for backpacking and lightweight winter camping

Some of the gear I use:

Eddie Bauer Sandstone Backbone Grid Hoodie Softshell - 16.9 oz / 480 g
Mammut Alugator Light Shovel - 16.6 oz / 475 g
MSR Front Range Pyramid Tent - 28.7 oz / 814 g
Thermarest NeoAir XTherm MAX ground pad - 25.8 oz / 731 g
Marmot Lithium -18C Sleeping bag - 47 oz / 1333 g
MSR Whisperlite International Stove - 13.7 oz / 388 g
MSR Titan 2L Kettle - 6.8 oz / 193 g
Fenix HM50R Headlamp - 2.7 oz / 77 g
Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Communicator - 3.4 oz / 96g

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I was testing an MSR Front Range pyramid tent on a recent alpine trip and decided to talk a bit about why I like them so much. They are an important part of my winter gear system and a great option for ultralight summer backpacking.

Arctic 1000 images courtesy of Ryan Jordan, used with permission.

6 pieces of winter camping gear that you need in the backcountry

How to pitch a tent in the winter:

One of my hardest trips:

What it's like to camp in the spring with winter conditions up in the alpine environment of the Canadian rocky mountains:

Check out my sub 20 pound late season/early winter ultralight gear list:

Check out my cold wet weather backpacking footwear and boot system:

One of my recent "failed" trips in winter conditions with wet snow and below freezing temperatures - these are when you really learn what you and your gear can handle!

#backpacking #hiking #wildcamping #ultralightbackpacking #gear

[KaneDoesOutdoors]

Thanks for all the great discussion!

[flt]

On the poles, I've found that just about any stick will do - it's being compressed lengthwise so doesn't really need to be strong. In fact, any two sticks will work if you have ski straps or rope or whatever. I usually use my ski poles unless I want to ski around while the tent is still up, in which case I either just drop the tent or find a stick.

[drytool]

I hiked the Appalachian trail in 1989 with a Chouinard Pyramid as my tent, and my stove was a Trangia. I was waaayyy ahead of my time, haha!! I'm pretty sure the only people using alcohol burners back then were the Swedish military and chemists. Before Dyneema was ever heard of I had a Kelty White Phantom in 100% Spectra. At $600 in 1991, It was the most expensive pack in existence, by double, I think. It certainly was ultra light, but there was a problem. Being all spectra, I couldn't keep it cinched on my hips, no matter how tight I made the hipbelt. Not only was it slippery on my waist, but the webbing was even slippery in the buckles.

[tomsitzman]

Back around 1970 miner tents were available. Gerry's of Bolder Co made their own equipment. they made a three person Minner tent with a floor and rain fly. Gerry's also sold kits to make your own equipment. Instead of one interior pole the Gerry tent was 6 foot high and had two poles on the outside that connected at the top. and most adult can stand in it. It was light weight enough that my wife and three grade school children used it for back packing. REI sold a double wall miner tent with a floor and center pole as well as a zippered cook hole. I had several of them. This is a style of tent that need to see the light of day once again. so simple to put up: stake the four corners and open the door and put up the center pole. No standing in the rain or getting rain in the tent. In the 80's The North Face made a 3 season single pole tent that slept 2 or 3. It was 5 foot tall and 9' x 9feet. Single wall with great ventilation weight 2.3 pounds. We used it in our wilderness travel business. I found one back ion a shelf several weeks and it is still very usable after years of service. With todays fabrics it would be possible to make a 9x9 foot tent 6 foot high under 3 pounds. The center pole is a great place to hang gear and a LED solar lantern.

[wisenber]

I get what you're saying about hiking poles. I generally carry mine on my pack and use them for my tarp (and the occasional stream crossing). I found it easier to just bring hiking poles than trying to find something like a hiking pole that can't be used as a hiking pole.
I gave up using hiking poles when I discovered that they just slowed me down after I dropped my pack weight.

[KevinSmith-wrsy]

I've got quite a few tarps, pyramids and tents and for me nothing replaces the experience of using one of my Hilleberg tents. I've got 2 mids - HMG Ultamid 2 and also a MLS Solomid. I just camped in the solomid for the first time last week and the condensation was pretty bad and I am not a fan of cold breezes under the bottom (was not on snow). Great videos.

[satoshiborishi]

Thanks for the review man. I just got mine and can't wait to test it out here in CO

[david_onthetrail]

I can see the advantage with weight, but I would be concerned about midnight visitors, bugs and little scampering critters. I am always looking for ways to lighten my pack, thanks for sharing.

[peterjohnson]

Well done videos, concise and clear. Thanks.

[ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Nice tent! I like pyramid tents. Well done. Crow✌️

[HikerBobOfficial]

Nice vid mate, this helped me with my decision when purchasing 👍Great footage

[MyMotorcycleObsession]

No floor? Up here in the mountains we have had plagues of mice that get into everything, in your car headliner, in the walls in the house... I'd never go camping without a floor in my tent, way too many small animals that can get in and tear things up. Plus in the summer it keeps out the bugs and snakes.

[nguyenhuyclblinedancebuilu]

Ôi cát hay tuyết hả bạn tôi ? Đẹp quá tôi thích 👍👍👍❤️

[mikew]

Hey Kane, I have this tent as well. Plan is to get some snowshoe mileage this winter. There is a lot of talk about how badly Nylon tents sag when wet. Have you experienced any sag in the Front Range? Thanks in advance!

[markm]

Hey, I recently picked up this tent and heading out for first trip with it next weekend. Do you stack snow up along the bottom edge of the tent or do you leave it so that there is air flowing in from along the bottom? Thx

[davidd]

Hello Kane, got the same tent as mentioned before. What is the max wind speed you've been facing with this tent? I am trying to find data on the wind limit for the front range as I may use it in more engaged alpine hikes in the swiss alps.

[JohannesDalenMC]

Hello there Kane! Great video. I have a few questions for you I hope you could help me with. I camp off my motorcycle, and currently using a hubba hubba with an inflatable mattress. Works okay but I’m not happy with either the comfort or how long it takes to setup the tent. I just ordered a Helinox cot and I’m looking for a tent without floor (because the bed will chew holes in it) and recently came across pyramid tents. Pyramid tent + a cot, do you think that sounds like a good idea for mostly summer camping? I’ve looked all over but the content on pyramid tents is quite little. Thanks a lot!

[bonpecheur]

Hi, nice piece of gear . Is there any guyline loop on the shelter in case of windy situation ? Thanks for the video

[nguyenhuyclblinedancebuilu]

Rất tuyệt vời chúng ta là bạn nhé ! Bạn ở nước nào vậy ? 👍❤️

[kidMedia]

A Durston hardly weighs anything more and is an actual tent.