Mountainsmith Mountain Shelter LT

Best price on the web at the time I bought it.It was kind of confusing to figure out the length of the poles the first time using the diagram, but just read the directions to confirm the lengths. For my folding carbon REI poles, it was the shortest, and longest setting on the top telescopic section by the hand grips.I would definitely advise that you get confident setting this up during the day in your back yard or nearby your house before you go and rely on this as shelter in the field.First time I used it (car camping), it blew away in 20 mph winds because I had no clue what I was doing (it is not a normal tent, all the video review people must have an ego to protect because they make it look easier than it is). I later figured it out, it is more of an art than a science, and it has held up in 50 mph gusts during a blizzard while elk hunting the 4th rifle season in Colorado. I can honestly say that this tent has provided reliable, and secure shelter for me, I would have been totally screwed without it.Because this shelter has such poor ventilation, the best recommendation that I can provide for you if you intend to use this in the winter or subfreezing temps is that you buy yourself a sleeping bag bivy. My breath condenses on the ceiling of the tent, and freezes, then when the wind blows it snows on your face and on your sleeping bag. So for a few extra dollars you can prevent your sleeping bag from absorbing that moisture and it will keep you even warmer.Also pick up a tyvek ground cloth, keep in mind that the poles will be the middle so you can cut slits in your tyvek and tape the edges.

The Mountain Shelter LT seems pretty nice. Not the best, but for the price and weight, not a bad deal. It was somewhat awkward to put up, though oddly enough I set it up better the first time than the second. It was bigger than I expected(roughly 6x10). I think my tarp was 6x8 and it left the vestibule area uncovered. I carried a tarp as a footprint, but a tent material footprint would be more ideal(more compact and lighter weight). With the right material, you could store it directly in the pouch that the shelter goes in. I have not had it in the rain, so I cant say how waterproof it is, but it should keep you dry unless you are in a driving rain given the material. It is a very roomy 1 person shelter or a moderately cramped 2 person(depending on your style of camping). I slept by myself one time and with my wife the next. The poles got in the way just a little. Both nights were cold and when I woke up, the inside of the shelter was beaded up with tons of condensation, so the little ventilation hole didnt help at all(one night the sides were on the ground and the other I left a gap). The condensation was annoying since the slope of the shelter leaves you without headroom as you sit up on the side. I ended up getting wet trying to get out. Condensation is going to happen in any tent unless it is all mesh and the it will still be on your fly. I have not set it up with the shockcords, but may do that at another time to see how that affect headroom. I took some of the heavy duty tent stakes with me that added some weight. I probably could have gotten by without using them, but we always camp in the mountains so there are always rocks galore and didnt want to take the chance.Overall, for a lightweight shelter it is not bad. I like it better for one person, but I am not a hardcore backpacker that likes to sleep in cramped shelters, so others may think it is awesome for two people compared to some of the other shelters out there.Pros:Price is good compared to a lot of other lightweight sheltersPlenty of room for gear in the vestibule areaCompactLightweightCons:A little awkward to set up(with practice it may be easier)The sloping walls while sleeping doubleCondensation was a big issue in cold weatherPoles MAY be in your way.Still need to carry a footprint to stay out of the dirt.All the cons except the foot print issue are minor or trivial to me and I knew about the footprint issue when I started looking at this. It is still a very light, compact shelter that does what it needs to. It is what it is, though. I gave it 4 stars because it did what it was supposed to and there really werent any surprises. Seems like a good buy if you dont mind not having a footprint built in or using trekking poles.

I absolutely consider this shelter a five star product. After putting it through a good evaluation on the Uinta Highline trail, I feel like I can accurately describe it's usefulness.Often times a traditional, double wall tent provides a feeling of security that would seem hard to replicate with an ultralight tarp. This Mountainsmith shelter helps bridge that gap by providing full weather protection combined with a significant weight savings.The shelter is provided with all 13 stakes, which covers all corner reinforcements and guy out points. Stake quality is good, but not great. The stakes are v shaped aluminum with notches. During my testing I had one bend at the head (notch) after being forced into the ground against a hidden rock. I would recommend replacing with much stronger y shaped stakes such as the MSR ground hog.The shelter fabric is not lightweight silnylon. It is comparable to a tent fly in fabric weight and feel but is nonetheless lightweight. Overnight condensation is nearly impossible to prevent in some situations, but should not always be a concern. Pitching should be done on well drained ground (meaning away from the tent along all sides or in spots where runoff is minimal). The best spots should have no plants (eg. meadows), preferably on soft pine duff or even straight dirt. Rainy days will nearly guarantee condensation from humidity, but clear days with a proper pitch should keep everything nice and dry. If you bring along a lightweight towel, sponge, or chamois, you can wipe down the interior walls and keep water from beading and dripping.I found that a good tight pitch was best when the selected site had plenty of room. Stake out the three back corners, insert the short trekking pole. Next stake out the two front side corners (not the door) and insert the long trekking pole. At this point, stretch out one side of the door and stake it securely. Evaluate the each of the staked corners and restake as needed to pull the entire shelter taut. Once the middle stake points are pulled out, you'll find that the guylines won't necessarily add more tautness, but do provide stability from wind.This shelter has a lot of space for one person plus gear. Two people have plenty of room, but with gear you'll find that the space will be mostly used up. The best position within the shelter is with your head at the door (tall) end. This can make it difficult to enter and exit the shelter, but it is ultimately a more comfortable layout for sleeping. My buddy and I didn't really find the trekking poles getting in the way, you will forget about them soon enough.During my testing period, I experienced approximately 16 hours in rainstorms inside the shelter. One night had 8 straight hours of rain, plus a significant windstorm. The shelter performed admirably and felt as secure as a double wall tent.This shelter is an incredible value. At more or less $100 dollars you can outfit your base weight with a tent like shelter that weighs no more than 2lbs. It rocks, and it works. Lots of ultralight shelters are on the market, but they are much more expensive and may have more significant trade offs. if you you've been watching this product trying to decide if it is worth it, the answer is YES!!!

The printing on the fabric is on the INSIDE of the tent and REVERSED. (making it hard to set up trekking poles) I am not sure if the entire fabric is reversed or they just printed...

I’ve been wanting a small floor less shelter and this is an excellent option. I’ve really enjoyed this shelter.

This thing is awesome. I have used it twice now. The last time, I used it in freezing weather and it actually stayed a bit warmer in there.

This is part of my bike-packing sleep system. Lightweight, durable and easy to set up, I just flip my bike over and drape it over my tires.

I didn,t want to pay an extra $20 for the green so i ordered the nice, bright cheery yellow. i was surprised to find the color to be in between yellow and green, the color known...

Very nice tent. I like the size to weight ratio. some of the stitching is a little loose at the attachment points, but not bad (nothing a little seam sealer couldn't fix).

Haven't used yet. My only concern is insects coming under the edge of the tent.

The tent itself is incredible! There are very few floorless shelters in this price range, but this one could pass for a $300 shelter, EASY!

Used this shelter on an quick trip. I wanted a light weight weather cover with some amenities using my trekking poles for support of the structure. I must say I was impressed.

Really nice shelter my son and I use for hunting. Lightweight, stands up to storms and high winds with no issues so far. Good amount of guy out lines.