Originally Posted by
MassiveD
Obviously all else equal, and a freestanding (FS)tent has to be better. But all else is rarely equal. The most bang for the buck is in a-frames and tarps. But FS tents, are better for campsites, some of which even put you on platforms that have nothing to drive a peg into. FS tents are better for people who are not very mechanical, and couldn't find an anchor in a maritime museum. And the space in a lot more useful, elegant, and creative. Some of these tents are just beautiful. For camping with a buddy or wife FS dome or a hoop tent that takes minimal stakes. But by myself, I use a tarp. Get the Tarp book by Ray Jardine. Tarps are superior. Stay away from campsites.
Total crock. What's "mechanical" about sticking a pole in the ground and running a bunch of guy wires out to keep the pole from falling over? And then hoping that the wind doesn't come up and blow the whole thing down?
I've used a non-freestanding tent exactly once and ended up rebuilding the damned thing in the middle of the night when it collapsed. That makes the night go ever so much better
On the other hand I've used freestanding tents for hundreds of nights without any issues in all kinds of weather from wind storms to thunderstorms to 4" of snow in all manner of locations. They can be used in as many places as tarp tents and offer some niceties that are often missing in tarps tents like double walls to reduce condensation and insect barriers.
And each freestanding tent I've owned has come with anchors...they are called tent pegs.