SlingFin - Portal 1

Thanks. To expand on what I mean by 'greater skill' that refers to a few things: 1. WHERE IT IS PITCHED. If someone knows the tents limits and suspects the conditions may exceed them, then going down to a more sheltered site is a good option. One camper carries a heavy tent and gets to camp on the summit, the other carries a lighter then but occasionally camps lower when the conditions are risky. Aside from macro site selection like this, there is also micro site selection (e.g. camping on the summit but finding a bit of a wind block or building a snow wall). 2. WHEN IT IS PITCHED. It is risky pitching a tent during severe conditions because there can be steps where the tent is more vulnerable, and this is especially true for an ultralight tent. 'Macro waiting' (standing around for an hour before pitching the tent) is not fun, but 'micro waiting' can work well. This refers to listening and noticing how you can hear the gusts coming up the hill side, and then quickly completing a vulnerable step between gusts. | 3. HOW IT IS PITCHED. A standard user steadily proceeds through the normal pitching sequence irrespective of the conditions, while a more advanced user may do things differently to avoid vulnerable step. This could be starting at the upwind side first, pre-installing stakes into the ground to shorten a process, pre-adjusting the guylines to almost the right length, adding guylines before the tent is fully assembled. There are many opportunities to tailer pitching a tent for the circumstances. A more skilled user will also know the recommended ways to pitch a tent for tougher weather (extra guylines, extra stakes) and have things like appropriate stakes for the conditions. Advanced users also avoid common problems like guylines rubbing on rocks. In the break that was mentioned in yesterday's video, there is no footage to know exactly what happened but the user reports breaking the crossbar when that area was hit by a wind gust before they had added the supports recommended for the conditions (cross bar guylines and trekking pole supports) and when they were also not manually supporting the crossbar area. Essentially they were caught in a vulnerable step, which I would call user error because the tent was put into a state that was vulnerable and avoidable. Maybe the winds were so severe the tent still would have broken, but there would have been opportunity to better protect the tent because it is very difficult to break the crossbar when the trekking pole supports are in place. Those supports can be put in place pretty much instantly with good technique and even added *before* the cross bar is connected. Trying to use an ultralight tent in severe conditions does require more advanced skill like this. I totally understand if someone prefers carrying a heavier tent for a larger margin of error and/or lower skill requirements rather than try to use more skill to have a lighter tent, but also I still wouldn't blame the tent because it breaks when someone tries to use it in severe conditions without the methods recommended for those conditions. For the SlingFin Portal, I have one here with both regular and heavy duty polesets. The HD pole set absolutely is much stronger. Big difference. The Portal 1 is about 150g heavier and with those poles it is about 350g heavier, so the weight is fairly different (0.98 kg vs 1.33 kg) but certainly it is a nice option. The X-Dome compares in strength to the regular poleset so it is not as strong as the HD poleset, but also the optional trekking pole supports remove some of this difference and the X-Dome has some other benefits in stormy conditions like a native fly first pitch.

I haven't used a CS but per the photos it has a decently long crossbar but not all the way to making the sidewall vertical like the X-Dome. It looks like it stops about 4" shy. The bigger difference is that the CS is shorter (interior height of 38" vs 42"). So approximately the comparison is a vertical 42" door versus a sloping 38" door. That would likely be a noticeable difference. Something better than the CS for ease of access that is in stock now is the SlingFin Portal 1. That has vertical sidewalls and a 41" tall interior, so it would be almost as tall as the X-Dome.

Thanks, that goes on to the list! The Portal 1P looks ... quite similar to the Dome 1P, to be honest. With the HD poles, some headroom is lost though right, because it lacks the swivel at the top? Or can the one from the regular poles be reused? The 2P looked nice (much more space, 7cm more head room, only +180g!) until I noticed that they have shortened the floor :-/

I think the Slingfin portal is worth every penny. You can also get the heavy duty pole set if the winds are really high. If you can find a reseller or order directly it’s worth it.

You can pitch fly first if you have the footprint. I just pitched it inner first and did so quickly and I didn’t have much of a problem. The tent did extremely well in Iceland and has done well for me here in the states.

I had 14 hours of rain in Iceland this year with zero issues. The sil/sil fly handled it extremely well. The fly dries quickly as well. Had winds of 45 mph as well and it was a rock. Bomber tent

I did. I’m sure it would have been ok with the standard poles but I opted for the piece of mind. My tent didn’t move.

Slingfin portal 1p (get the heavy duty pole set for bad weather). I used it on the Laugevegar trail and the winds were consistent 50mph and the tent was bomber.

I don’t notice any difference in headroom. With the design choices they made it’s a rock solid tent and the interior guylines are not a gimmick, they stabilize the tent. Outrigger attachments do exactly what they are intended to do. It all works together very nicely. Obviously I am a Slingfin fanboy but it’s seriously a great tent.

Slingfin Portal 1p is above the budget but is bombproof and still lightweight. Buy once cry once as you said

Worth every penny. I’m a huge Slingfin fan

SlingFin Portal 1P or 2P. Designed specifically to be lightweight (close to, but probably not quite UL) but with a bias toward bomber. :)

Second the Slingfin Portal! Easy setup, comfy, effing bombproof!

Check out the sling fin portal. Not ultralight but not much different than the hubba hub a

It’s pretty bomb proof, especially with trekking poles for the weight. I had it in a bad storm in AL a couple weeks ago and it handled it well. Taking it out in bears ear on Tuesday. Expecting high winds. Glad I have it

I've been using slingfin portal and love it for harsh winter and wind! To get lighter you can go with just the fly. Or fly + they sell a bathtub. They even have an optional thicker set of poles. AND there are connectors to add your trekking poles for lateral mid support! Genius... Inside of primary inner there are guy line cross support (you need to remember to use the connectors from inner/pole/outer to actually transfer that load though) Tested the heavy poles for first time a few weekends ago in what was supposed to be insane wind. But then it was actually kind of nice out. Did pick up at night but still probably gusts under 40. Tent barely moved though shit was locked down. Made stick + rock dead man anchors it would be like idk maybe 12+ stakes for all the guy lines I've tried my dcf Hexamid. But snow just sticks on it doesnt slide down. And obviously it's a greenhouse for moisture and small enough that you WILL touch the side and get wet. But if it's really dry and not actively snowing.. My Hexamid has held up in what forecast said was 55 gusts. Took me 30 minutes to pitch. Blew out the door anchor/guy line in the middle of the night. And since it's open got totally covered in dirt and leaves and shit. But it didn't blow over ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and a falling tree didnt kill me. scary af. I'm contemplating the Durston x dome for winter... It would be like 20-30% lighter than slingfin tub + outer i think. BUT if you add on enough guy lines to be similar to slingfin it maybe wouldnt be worth it? IDK i have a consumerism problem for ul lol

The xmid 2 is pretty solid if you use all guy points. If you want something sturdier that you can take into the mountains, look at sling fin.

I love my Slingfin tent. Dual doors, they make a lightweight option. Company started from the MSI tent designer who wanted to change the expedition designs and MSI said no.

Slingfin. Bombproof, and thoroughly wind tested.