I have read with interest the threads describing the 'tricks' in pitching the TN Laserlite/Competition. However, I did not notice any advice as to the best way to pitch the tent in windy conditions. I recently pitched it with the 'foot end' into the wind and it seemed fine (with a backpack in the porch at that end as well, which helped heep the outer from being blown onto the inner). Is this the most stable/comfortable pitching arrangement, or is a side-on pitch the one to go for when the weather gets a little more 'exciting'. I'd value the advice of all those Laserlite/Competition/Akto experts out there.

Many thanks!

I was thinking about that after my post about pitching lightwaves. I remember reading about pitching akto's side on into the wind, which made sense at the time as I use to use a Saunders spacepacker. But I was thinking earlier that with the smaller poles supporting the foot end wouldn't it be maybe be best that way as the three poles would take the strain then?

Hmmm.. I think it depends too if you're going to use all the extra guy points on the Laser or not. Without the extra guys, the outer is more likely to be blown against the inner, especially if side on. My instincts are to pitch it end on in this case as it's not the tightests of flysheets (not the way i pitch it!)

But, in slightly grottier weather recently, i found that i needed the extra pegging points to make the tent more stable. Like this it might be ok sideways. I'd like to know if anyone pitches the tent with the side to the wind and how they've fared with that. As i said, instinctively, i'd pitch end on, but there's so many tricks with this tent, i'm probably wrong ;-)

I'm never quite sure.

Having said that, I pitched my Competition recently by the side of a lake with the door facing the water, so that I could look out onto the lake in the morning. With the Competition, that means I had the hoop facing towards the water. Not long afterwards a fearsome wind with torrential rain blew up, and I turned the tent round so that the door (and hoop) were side-on to the wind. The tent felt more stable that way, and opening the door became slightly less interesting.

<fx: settles back to see what others do>

RobP

I've got an Akto and always pitch it end on to the wind i.e. the wind coming in at 90 degrees to the pole. As far as I'm aware all tunnel tents perform best when pitched with the wind at 90 degrees to the pole(s), I can't see how the laser/competition is any different in this respect. Pitching this design with the pole in line with the wind is asking for a bent or broken pole if the wind really gets up.

Presumably that's because the pole is under less stress if pushed sideways as a whole than it would be if all the pushing was at one end, Steve I? (I've not expressed that very well, but hopefully you see what I mean.)

I always have a problem working this one out, because intuitively I somehow expect the tent to have an easier time if the wind is blowing over the pole from end to end. I think, though, (and as you said above), that the reality is the opposite.

When I had my Phreeranger I also pitched tail end into the wind, I pitch my Nallo tail into the wind and the same with the solar.

I`ve had problems with the solar when the wind has changed direction in the night and the wind has been coming from behind.

My mate also pitches his Akto tail into the wind.

BW

Which way round do you mean by 'tail end', Bad Wolf? Do you mean with the wind going over the pole from end to end, or striking it from the side?

Can't find them now, but I bought an TN Argon 900 this year and the instructions were common to all TN tents.

It mentioned in there that in strong winds you may want to pitch the laser pole parallel to wind.

Like La Petite Porcelette says, intuitively this looks stronger and many people get confused and set up their tunnels that way anyway.

oh, found them now says (in high winds) 'pitch with the pole in the direction of the wind to provide greater stability'

"pitch with the pole in the direction of the wind to provide greater stability" I find that a bit vague by Terra Nova and people could interpret that different ways. Probabaly better shown by a diagram in addition to words. La Petite Porcelette, that's right, at least that's how I see it. I've had absolutely no problems with my tent pitching it that way despite some really wild weather.

in the direction of the wind

I agree - that's not at all clear. I'd actually have read it as meaning that the wind should blow over from end to end.

Which way round do you mean by 'tail end', Bad Wolf? Do you mean with the wind going over the pole from end to end, or striking it from the side

Pictures probably help explain better :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26344130@N00/228581539/
Nallo with tail into the wind (red arrow)

Akto and Solar tail into wind (red arrow) if the wind is blowing for the blue arrow direction the pole tends to get pushed forward and the tent and pole deform.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26344130@N00/228581541/

The solar fly is away at TN at the moment having some new guy points added, to hopefully stop this problem when the wind changes direction during the night.

BW

Ahaa, I see what you mean now. Thanks for clarifying :)

Interestingly, though, it looks as though you have the wind going end to end over the Solar pole, but side on to the Akto and Nallo poles. Do you feel, then, that it's more important to have the wind striking the narrow part (the end, in fact) of the tent than it is to have the wind approaching the pole(s) from a particular direction?

With the solar the wind needs to run along the pole.

With the Nallo I always put the tail into the wind as the inner doesn't go right to the end of the fly and it also helps with the condensation.

I`ve never used the Akto but my mate also pitches so the little vents at the end get the wind to help with the condensation too.

I think with both the hillys you can get away with the wind striking the sides but it not ideal. I have hhad this happen a few times but don't worry to much with the hilly but the solar is a story.

I`ve had to get up a couple of times and re-pitch when the wind has been strong and flatten the back, I`m hoping the the new guy points will stop this.

I had my first wild camping experience in ten years on Monday night in a Laser Comp in the very windy North Yorkshire Moors. On the short walk up I was considering which way round to pitch the tent. Because of a lack of time and limited places to pitch I ended up pitching with the wind coming at a 45 degree angle to the pole.

Imagine sitting inside looking out of the door with the wind coming from over your right shoulder. Anyway using the extra guys on the pole the structure of the tent hardly moved during the night (thank goodness I replaced the carbon fibre pencils with the Tike pegs from AlpKit).

The structure being sound was very re-assuring, however if flapped like a Mavis (Old Corry reference alert) all night. Which way of pitching reduces the flapping, if any?

Unfortunately if its really windy you`ll get flapping. My Nallo can flap like its going out of fashion on really bad nights.

I always take earplugs :)

The least flappy tents are either Geo`s or ones that pitch inner first IMO.

BW

Many thanks for all the advice. It seems that (more by luck than judgement!) I had made the correct guess of pitching the Laserlite lengthways into the wind (ie transverse pole at 90 degrees to the wind).
Although the outside of the tent didn't look too clever, it was pleasantly surprising that the inner maintained its shape perfectly even in the stronger gusts. The flapping is a bit distracting, but at least there isn't the 'shudder' that I recall from an experience with a semi-geodesic in strong gusts (due to a more rigid structure?)

An interesting idea ...

I havent tried a Laserlite, but have a Macpac Microlight (the old grey one without the sideguys), a Nallo 3 and an Akto.

The Microlight is a single-hooped design, with the hoop lying along the length of ones body, and have had to repitch sometimes after a windshift, as the tent was tugging and tearing at the pegs, preventing sleep.

Have never had the Nallo 3 in a strong crosswind (where the wind strikes the side of the tunnel), but in a Force 4/5 with the wind between side and end-on it was pretty stable (I had the side-guys out as well).

Have always instinctively pitched the Akto so that one end faces the wind (usually the foot end to encourage any exhalation to leave the tent directly), but have twice had the tent side-on after a windshift. On both occasions, I had the guys out at the side, and pole movement didnt worry me (wind about F4 and F6 iirc). I imagine without the sideguys, pole movement could be a concern.

Have had my Akto in several gales and 2 storms, and so long as you tie the thing down properly, its impressively stable.

My belief is that one is best minimising the area presented to the wind.

Judy

Total agree Judy.

The Akto is one of the best single hoop tents for taking the wind side on.

Early in the year with my solar I had a nightamre night on the south downs when the wind changed direction during the night.

My mate was in his Akto and although the wind was hitting his Akto side on he had a reasonable night sleep, this is mainly because he had the side guys pegs out.