IN THE HATCH PHOTOS: VIRGINIA MARSHALL OCCUPY.
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SHELTER Four tents for camping comfort in any weather 3 4
GIMME
We lay starfished in the tent, our outstretched limbs tenuously anchoring the embattled Eureka! to Red Rock’s pea gravel beach. Out of the dark, a menacing northwesterly swiped at our shelter like a hungry bear, briefly pancaking the canopy against our faces. “Do you hear that?” Vaughn asked. Screams. We fought our way through the vestibule and sprinted toward the campers’ tents. Kids and counselors squirmed be- neath the wreckage of mangled department store domes—Rodin’s The Gates of Hell cast not in bronze, but in cobalt blue taffeta polyester.
[1] MSR
Hubba Hubba NX
www.cascadedesigns.com
• $389.95
MSR redesigned their best- selling Hubba Hubba ultralight two-person tent for 2014, shav- ing weight to create the 3-lb, 7-oz NX. This shelter packs small without sacrificing livability— there are two large well-protect- ed doors with roomy vestibules, vertical sides for generous head- and elbowroom, and an ideal blend of mesh and fabric so you can stargaze without living in a sandbox. The full-coverage silnylon rainfly keeps everything dry, and the single spider-hub pole makes set-up a cinch. Breaking camp is also a breeze, thanks to the duffle-style com- pression stuff sack. Who will like it: Space-conscious paddlers traveling solo or with a friend.
66 | ADVENTURE KAYAK [2] Easton
Kinetic Carbon 3P
www.eastonmountainproducts.com
• $469.95
Improving on Easton’s award- winning Kilo 3P tent, the new three-person Kinetic delivers ri- diculously light one-pound-per- person performance through state-of-the-art materials and design. Carbon fiber poles are stronger yet 48 percent lighter than aluminum, and the Kinetic’s single door, small vestibule, full mesh body and silnylon fly further reduce weight and pack size. Still, this isn’t a tent for ascetics. The interior is roomy and well ventilated thanks to clever mid-body guy lines that simultaneously tension the inte- rior walls and pull the fly away from the mesh. Who will like it: Paddling pairs who want more space without more bulk.
[3] Big Agnes
Copper Spur UL3
www.bigagnes.com • $499.95
Updated for 2014, this three-per- son, 3-lb, 11-oz shelter is a marvel of engineering. Ultralight yet robust; easy to pitch yet rock- solid in heavy weather; excellent ventilation yet superb protection from windblown rain and sand. The Copper Spur embodies contradictions without conces- sions. Vertical mesh and fabric walls, 44 square feet of interior space, pop-out roof vents and dual doors and vestibules make this tent a pleasure to inhabit. Nifty hubs, pole connectors and fly clips make it equally fun to set up and tear down. Who will like it: Pairs and trios who ap- preciate premium features and construction in a do-it-all design.
[4] Mountain Hardwear
Optic 3.5
www.mountainhardwear.com
• $285
The innovative Optic’s coolest features are its two huge adja- cent doors, which provide an incredible panoramic view from inside when the spacious vesti- bules are tied back. Those who appreciate a bit more breathing room will love this tent’s airy architecture—45 interior square feet and a 48-inch ceiling height mean you can move around with ease. The largest tent in our line-up, the Optic 3.5 features robust construction and weighs in at 6 lb, 5 oz. Who will like it: Parties of two or three who want a sturdy shelter with loads of living space and a great view. VIRGINIA MARSHALL
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch video reviews of the tents.
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