Duplex Zip Tent

How much and for what are you gonna be using your tent? If it'll just be for occasional weekends where you're backpacking for short distances in good weather, that Dick's tent oughtta be fine. But if you'll be backpacking frequently for longer distances in questionable weather conditions, it might be a good idea to spend up. I say that because I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2023 with a shitty silnylon Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent that was maybe $350, then rode an ebike across the US in 2024 with a high-end Zpacks Duplex Zip dyneema tent that cost over $600 I had sticker shock at first, but unlike the Big Agnes tent, the Zpacks tent was rugged, quick and easy to set up, and totally waterproof. It packed down to practically nothing. And since dyneema doesn't absorb water when wet, it stayed much lighter in the rain than silnylon would've. I have at least fifty nights in it and it still looks brand new. Edit: there's also the avoided cost of hotels and/or hostels to consider. A tent can pay for itself in just a few nights that way.

We’re hiking the PCT with a Zpacks Duplex Pro, and it’s definitely not bombproof, or even fully weatherproof. When it rains, water hits the ground and splashes inside through the mesh. If it’s windy, you’ll get wind and sand blowing into the tent. The bags also get wet in the vestibule, and even with all the airflow in the world, you still wake up with a ton of condensation in the morning. Also in strong winds the tent loosing its shape and the walls are hiting your head and feet. And yet, for 95% of the time on the trail it worth the weight. If you’re looking for something bombproof, I’d go with the MSR Hubba Hubba. It’s a bit heavy, but it will handle anything and is roomy enough for two people and their gear.

try r/ULGearTrade for deals. as for the tent - If it’s for 2 people def need to get a 3p tent, im 6’5” and have a zpacks dupleXL, and there most certainly is not room for another person in it lol

ZPacks Duplex. You can pay extra for the frame if you like to make it freestanding. My favorite after many brands over the years.

I’d forget those heavy options - save yourself the equivalent of (considerably) more than a glass bottle of wine in weight on each tent and consider getting Durston trekking pole tents. They are proven options for 3 season UK hiking, reasonably-priced, and way way lighter! Nobody needs a Hilleberg or equivalent for a summer C2C! Truly! Edit: By the way (and out of budget for you), my personal shelter preferences for hiking in 3 seasons anywhere in Europe (Scotland, the Alps, the Med and anywhere in-between) are the ZPacks Plex tents - a Plex Solo Lite for me on my own, a Duplex when I'm out with the Mrs. No need for an even more expensive 1.3Kg - 3.5Kg Hilleberg when you can take a 332g or 507g tent to cover the same conditions. Hillebergs are great if you want a 4 season shelter for exposed environments, and even then I'd only have one for actual winter trips. It's like buying a Ford F150 Truck to go shopping or to take trips down the M4 from London to Bristol - total overkill!