Lightweight tent recommendations?

Bug nets to allow me to leave window open slightly for ventilation

This idea was introduced to me years ago, it makes all the difference in the world - you have a big enough piece to allow you to close the door over the whole thing? That way you can move the windows up and down as the weather/your comfort dictates. I’ve also sewn magnets into a piece that goes on the outside of the window, much easier for getting in and out, uses less material and lasts longer too.

Lip balm and sunscreen maybe too?

I always carry lip balm day to day, though not sun protective.
I also prefer to wear clothing instead of sunblock, but it’s generally moot since I hate going out when the sun’s up anyway.

Fair. I'm just suspicious of electronics when actually remote, I use them but assume they'll fail at some crucial moment. It's not actually happened to me, but I live in fear of the one time it does being caught without a paper option.

Walking is basically an excuse to get paper maps out for a lot of people.

I'm the same. That's why in almost all my races you'll see me in arm sleeves and/or knee coolers. It's also why I look like Lassie from behind...

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They will fail. But that's why I have 3 reasonably well tested/weatherproof ones and they run off different power sources. Paper maps can get wet or blow away too so I wouldn't just rely on those.

I’m at a genetic disadvantage when it comes to hirsute abilities.
Though maybe it’s just a matter of motivation.

Like most things, I just yell at it until it does what I want.

Holy shit that's a lot of replies. Thanks everyone.

Okay.

@hippy - I have a Rapha merino neck warmer thing with me but the window covers are like mesh condoms for the whole upper half of the door if that makes sense. So I can do the windows up and down and nothing will get in. Good shout on the stove thing! Looks like my butane stove will in fact not work at altitude. Will try to find an alternative in that case, but may just sack it off entirely. 'Butane does not operate well at higher altitudes and is no longer liquid below (28 – 32 degrees Fahrenheit)' Oops...
My bag (Big Agnes Echo Park 20) is designed to be used sans liner, so probably won't bother.

The inReach Mini is just a sat communicator/SOS machine, so there's no navigation. I do carry my Wahoo Bolt with me though which has all of the trails that I need loaded onto it.

@withered_preacher - yep, always hike with a cap on anyway because sweat. And yes, as mentioned to Hippy above, I have a mesh condom thing that goes over the whole door so can move windows up and down freely.

Yes - also have SPF, forgot to list that. I'm also carrying pepper spray as I'm not gonna carry a gun but want to feel like I have some way of protecting myself in case of a confrontation - ha.

@AWu-Tang - not overstepping at all. Ah yes, I forgot to list First Aid Kit on my pack list. It stays in my pack permanently and has everything I'd need including emergency space blanket. I always carry paper maps with me but I've literally never used them, but yeah, I guess it's not a bad idea to pick one up for the local area when I'm in Santa Fe - as there is an REI there. Another thing I had not considered is iPhone use in the cold - I forget it fucks with battery and drains it quickly and/or stops the phone from working entirely. I will buy a paper map :-)

So, we're now the Fly Creek experts. If we wanted a warmer tent, like a 4-season thing that isn't stupid heavy where would you look? I like the idea of a single skin one for faster setup/teardown in the rain but do they have enough breathability to not fill with condensation? Looking at MSR, BigAgnes and Lightwave kinda stuff and not that crazy £1k+ shit for going up mountains. Also would like a little more room and in particular a larger vestibule for kit and/or cooking within/under. 2 entrances nice to have too.

£700 / 1500g
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/two-person-tents-c26/s22-sigma-tent-p11001
(https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/uog-review-lightwave-sigma-s10-tent-i1556)

£650 / 2kg
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/three-person-tents-c89/2021-access-3-tent-p12888

£600 / 2.2kg
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/two-person-tents-c26/southern-cross-2-tent-p5348

£360 / 1200g 3-season single skin, needs poles so + x grams
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/two-person-tents-c26/lunar-duo-explorer-2p-tent-p3325

Swiss Army Knife or similar? Apologies if mentioned elsewhere...

Keep the phone and backup batteries close to your body. Sleep with them too (it's not weird, they like it, they really like it)

Nope, you're right. I didn't. Will be taking my leatherman :-)

I got a hilliberg nallo off ebay

Yeah, those expensive bastards were the ones I was thinking of. I bet it was still expensive off ebay though, right?

I guess I'll keep an eye on ebay and marketplace stuff and see what comes up. There's no rush for this but we've now tasted some miserable camping in Scotland and want some even colder, wetter camping in Scotland over winter. Or at least a tent that will go up quicker and be a bit warmer than the Fly Creek with a bit more room for kit/cooking.

You doing Taos or Albuquerque? 4 Corners?

I do miss NM. Beautiful, beautiful part of the US.

If we wanted a warmer tent, like a 4-season thing that isn't stupid heavy where would you look?

I used Terra Novas in N. Wales and Scotland during the 1980s and 1990s, including winter. Their Voyager might suit your needs. These days I use Hillebergs as they are faster to pitch and lighter, but I do miss the quiet of the taught inner-pitching-first designs of the Terra Novas.

MLD make larger pyramid designs that are rated as 4-season; their Supermid with inner is light and would have reasonable space for 2 people. It could also be used in warmer months with just the outer and a Tyvek floor. There is also the Nigor Wickiup 3.

Forget single-skin designs for winter, it is too damp in the UK for these designs to function without dreadful condensation. Plus they are colder as they lack the layer of air trapped between the inner and outer tents. I have a Hilleberg Rajd and I would only use it in dryer climates/periods of the years. Some folks have been experimenting with Lightwave Sigma single-skin tents and their 'breathable' X-tex fabric. This material uses activated carbon in the coating to reduce the formation of droplets and improve breathability, but under certain conditions it is reported to get very damp and take a long time to dry out.

I am leaving Pasadena tomorrow afternoon and am driving to Blythe CA to get some mileage out of the way. Staying in a motel (I could've camped in Joshua Tree but I want to be further along than that). Then on Wednesday morning I'll be getting up really early and will drive to Santa Fe via Flagstaff. I had planned to camp near Flagstaff for a night, but it's NM that I want to spend the bulk of my time in and I want to feel very disconnected from everything and everyone - I hear Flagstaff and Sedona are rammed all the time, hence missing them out. Same reason I'm not going to go to Bryce or Zion.

I will mooch around SF when I arrive and then go camp near Taos. Thursday morning is the most reasonable weather to do Wheeler Peak - weather wise - and then after that I'm just gonna play it by ear. I have BLM camping spots mapped out so I should be fine in that regard. I want to hike but I also want to go to museums and galleries and stuff in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, also. One place I definitely want to go is Ortega's weaving shop in Chimayo.

I had planned to drive home from Taos on the 64 which does pass near 4 corners. Not sure how much I'll really get out of going there, but I may consider it.

I have to (unfortunately) be back in Pasadena on Monday evening, so I don't have a great deal of time.

Thanks I'll have a look into the stuff you mentioned.

This sounded promising re: the X-Tex stuff: https://microcosm.app/out/XbPzi

Love Santa Fe. I see Ten Thousand Waves still exists, see if you can book an outdoor soak in a hot tub. Highly recommended.

https://hilleberg.com/eng/tent/yellow-label-tents/helags-2/#link_detailsLink

This does look kinda neat. We grabbed a bin bag from a hotel we camped next to to keep the wet outer away from the inner. With this Helags you can leave the outer up and pack the inner - you might be able to do this with our one but I think most of the lines are joined inner/outer and there's hardly any vestibule space anyway so you'd be getting wet.
The Hillebergs are all at least double the weight but they do seem to be built for much harsher conditions compared to our "3 season" tent.
Pitching looks quite a bit slower than the Big Agnes with the 3x poles to insert and tension and lines to peg and tension before it's "up".

Looks like my butane stove will in fact not work at altitude. Will try to find an alternative in that case, but may just sack it off entirely. 'Butane does not operate well at higher altitudes and is no longer liquid below (28 – 32 degrees Fahrenheit)' Oops...

I don't know if the same holds true for altitude, but a butane/propane mix works better in cold temperatures than just butane.

If you have space in first aid kit, I'd consider a SAM splint. Especially if you think you are going to be isolated.
A water filter too?

Are you looking at a 4 season tent because expecting some snow load?
There won't be much difference warm-wise between 3 and 4 season tents.

My stove is butane only. If I get to my destination and realize it doesn’t work where I’m camping, I’ll go to REI and get something propane instead.

@kurai - hadn’t seen those. Thanks. Worth considering. No water filter, the biggest hike I’ll be doing is I think about 6 hours at a very casual pace. It’s gonna be cold so I won’t be drinking gallons of water. My bladder is 2.5L and I’ll be carrying a Nalgene with me too just in case. I’ll have many liters of water with me in my car :-)