Stalon GT

I bought a Stalon GT 2 back in 2001 for around $600 and is still in great shape. Taken it all over the Sierra. You feel invincible in one in rough conditions but I would buy a new one if you’re going to spend $600

Any good 4-season tent will have no issue holding up to strong winds on exposed beaches. I recommend a sealed 4-season model not just for the stronger poles, but because it will keep blowing sand out of the tent, which can become a huge issue in big storms. I once endured a 20hr, 80km/h+ wind storm on the Nahanni River in my 3 season Mountain Hardwear Aspect 2 tent, and while the poles miraculously didn’t break, the entire inside of my tent was full of sand when it finally let up. Like, a quarter inch of sand everywhere, and I’d been breathing it all night. With every gust the tent would fold down onto my chest, and I’d get peppered with a fistful of sand at my face. It was probably one of the most intense, miserable nights I’ve ever had in the backcountry. Several of my friends had heavier 4 season tents and slept through most of the ordeal, and had zero sand in their tents. Something like a Mountain Hardwear Trango, Marmot Thor or Hilleberg style tunnel tent would be your best choice if you’re expecting serious wind. They’re not cheap, but they’ll take whatever you can throw at them.

While I don’t have experience with the specific tents you’re looking at, my advice would be to go with Hilleberg if price isn’t a differentiating factor. I’m sure either would work great for you - beautiful products from both companies.  I have a Slingfun Portal and I absolutely love it, but Hilleberg design is in their own class. I’ve spent probably 40-50 nights in a friend’s Hilleberg, vs. maybe 30 in my newer Slingfin, and the small details of the Hilleberg win the day. Slingfin’s design is top notch and they have great attention to detail, but Hilleberg takes the same care, attention, and no holds barred approach to quality but you know that every detail has been refined through an order of magnitude more cycles of use and abuse in absurd conditions. All the cool details that sound like a great idea on paper but don’t fully pan out in the real world have been weeded out by Hilleberg leaving an absurdly refined design.  A hardware product developer by trade, I can only aspire to that level of design quality. 

Hilleberg is solid but damn those prices hurt. If you're not doing serious mountaineering the MSR Hubba series is way more reasonable and still built like a tank

People shit on hilleberg prices till they use a hilleberg in less than ideal weather. I’ll tolerate the price for the long life and ability to handle some nasty weather. Most places in the states below tree line don’t need one though.

Came here to say this… I get the ultralight thing, but if I’m going somewhere that’s a possibility I’m just gonna take my Hilleberg.

That can happen in any tent. Happens in both of my Hillebergs.

Hilleberg, TarpTent, SlingFin, Samaya. Real expeditions are more likely to choose Hilleberg. Their strongest tents are not super light, but they are made to withstand serious weather.