I was trying to help an obvious newbie see that hauling a backpacking tent for [2-3 ppl] which weighed in at 9.5 lbs made no sense given the Top Rated Tents in this class are all 5-7 lbs lighter:

The Black Diamond® Skylight is a 3-person, single-wall hybrid tent that weighs less than 5 pounds

Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL2 Tent 4 lbs. 3 oz.

Marmot® Aeolos 2P tent 5 lbs. 5 oz.

Black Diamond Lighthouse Tent 3 lbs. 3 oz.

Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL3 Tent 5 lbs.

REI Cirque ASL 2 Tent 5 lbs. 2 oz.

Big Sky Evolution 2P 2lb 11.5oz

The reasons that I urge lighter tents, as most of us use, is that a tent has to primarily keep wind and rain/snow off you. There are numerous lightweight fabrics that achieve this objective.

What unnecessary weight means is the increased burden on you and others is amplified. It leads to exhausted hiking and that leads to accidents.

Every time I end backpacking trip, I look at gear and see what can I lighten-up. I don't enjoy hauling a lot of weight.

But people get fooled by claims of wind resistance, Himalayan-tested, and "the best money can buy." That is advertising nonsense. What keeps a tent from blowing over is good design, but once the wind picks-up, no tent will last. You need to find shelter or lower your profile. No wind tunnel test is going to help because we all have been in blowing wind and it is never just in a single direction.

Himalayan tested is such a crock, it was made fun of on Seinfeld and everywhere else. "Oh, I'm exhausted. I've been on this street a thousand times.
It's never looked so strange. The faces...so cold.
In the distance a child is crying...fatherless...a bastard child, perhaps.
My back aches, my heart aches, but my feet...my feet are resilient!
Thank God I took off my heels and put on my Himalayan walking shoes!"
[Elaine from a J.Peterman episode]

As to best money cab buy. "Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." Warren Buffet

So it is all about the weight and decent quality. Then comes the personal questions can I sleep in one either alone or with another person. Is it easy to pitch, etc.

I think the backpacking motto should be weight kills. Kills you back, you legs, your feet and those people who have to risk their lives going in to save your broken down body.
My2cents,
Dave

On the other hand, if that's the tent you have... May not have the $$$ to buy a new ultra light weight tent.

Sagebrush,

Then I can recommend a Tarp used like Whelen. That would cost you very little maybe 3-10 bucks and is good for 3 seasons.

You could also look to buy used tents right now after Xmas and near the end of big game hunting when guys get new gear.

If that fails, then you should limit yourself to short distance hikes 2-3 miles in at the max. Weight takes it toll on us all with every step and every hour.

If you are lucky enough to harvest an animal, you have to you, your gear and your game out. It all adds up. There is an article in Field & Stream on making and using a Whelen tarp out of plastic sheeting. Check their archives.
Happy New Year,
Dave

Field & Stream is not exactly on the cutting edge of reporting L, UL, or SUL, backpacking trends.......

Joe

It all depends, I have an old Sierra Designs VE23 I purchased in 1982 that weights about eight pounds complete with fly, poles, and stakes. While heavy for a solo tent, it is really nice for two or in a pinch three people. It has about 200 days of use over 25 years in the Rockies and the Sierra, and is probably good for another 200 to 300 days. While I agee that a lighter tent would be nice and is now likely possible, this one is nice for longer trips because it is a bit bigger which can be a real sanity-saver when you are weathered in for a few days with two or three people.

Hey don't trash good ole F&S. LOL. If you can't afford cutting edge technology, there are plenty of resources on the net. Ray Gardine has a site and some tarp-making directions as well as others.

You can haul whatever you want. My advice is to go light in the area of tents. I base it on my experience and I do not know of any backpacking magazines that argue against that.

Those tents listed have been praised by experts at most major magazines, but those are just examples. You could find similar tents in that weight range that make sense.

Nothing saves your sanity when you are weathered in. LOL They don't make tents that big for me. I get cabin crazy in a big house. I have powder-hiked out of more than one place to get a little peace of mind.

Right now I am packing up for some steelhead fishing and bird hunting. A little cast & blast to get out of the house.
Happy New Year,
Dave

You are right Dave. It seems like everytime I go out now I just keep thinking " I got to drop some weight from this pack" Nothing worse than being exhausted way too early in an endeavor

I get a great oportunity putting some of the best gear to the test in my home state of alaska. If you are looking for the lightest,most duarable,breathable four season tent on the market. look at Hilleberg tents. Check out the free standing design model Jannu. Great tent. Single wall tents do not breathe and will get condensation inside of them. Trust me.Look for something that has it all breathability,quick set up,vestibule(important) and rugged. Prepare to pay for what you get.