A Gear Off! - Tunnel vs Geodesic.

First off let me state; I'm a gear geek through and through. Please take that as one part warning and one part apology before reading on. I am a Gear Geek. I will periodically look over reviews and write-ups for new items for my kit. Periodically being once or twice a week. New items being anything that bests my current gear by a measure that justifies the purchase (and that isn't much!)

I have also had the good fortune to be a part of the larger outdoor community for a few years now. I have access to a range of gear. And, when the information contained in different reviews become contradicting or confusing, access to knowledge accumulated from years of experience that surpasses my own. When ever I head into a area or set of conditions I am not accustom to I will call and arrange a coffee catch up with such a person "pick their brain".

Sometime this year I hope to attempt the Overland track in Tasmania. I have two standing offers (I didn't think I was that popular) and both wish to make the hike towards the seasons end when the snows will threaten and the crowds will run home to the shelter of warm lounges and Netflix. I trust the kit I have. Good boots, good sleeping bag and mat, a great pack and tent. But are they good enough?

I sat down with a guiding mate in the New Sydney Hotel in Hobart and asked what the guides walking Tasmanian tracks used. Canvas packs and Tarp or Geodesic tents remain the staple for many. Knowing what I did about canvas and hybrid-canvas and the additional weight involved I was surprised but Andy simply stated they were proven and trusted in Tasmanian conditions. Would my own 600 denier nylon pack be ok for the hike? He reassured me it was fine. His own preference for canvas packs had been tested more then once after his first failed in the field. My Yukon has proven solid in all conditions I have thrown it in.

Geodesic tent in the Alpine Range, VIC. source

And my tunnel tent? Again, the guides use mainly Geodesic tents due to high winds and snow fall. So is my Tunnel suited to hiking the Overland track in Winter? Tunnel tents are used through out Europe in both high wind and deep snow conditions. Many tent manufacturers carry tunnel tents as the core of their Expedition and Apline range. So why do the guides in Tasmania back Geodesic? He explained that some don't and in fact choose to use tunnel or tarp tents.Its all a matter of personal choice. Both styles offer different pros and cons as listed below:

GEODESIC DESIGN TENT PROS	TUNNEL DESIGN TENT PROS
·         Higher stability in windy conditions ·         Free standing (Almost) ·         Roomier internal area due to dome shape ·          Can be moved easily due to construction	·         Lighter due to design ·         More usable vestibule ·         Inner tent is protected with vestibule open ·          Can be erected in wet weather due to inner being suspended inside outer fly (In most models)
GEODESIC DESIGN TENT CONS	TUNNEL DESIGN TENT CONS
·         Higher weight due to extra poles and tent size ·         Small vestibule (Not really usable) ·         Inner not protected from weather when door is open ·          Set-up in rough weather leaves inner exposed while attaching outer fly.	·         Needs stakes to achieve minimal pitch ·         Additional staking needed in high wind

So, how does my tunnel tent fair in all this? Well pretty good actually. Additional discussions with others who frequently do back country skiing and hiking proved the tunnel tent design was used almost exclusively through Europe. Geodesic tents were used but only by those doing specialist mountain climbing in areas where pitching guides was near to impossible. The added advantage of my Tatonka Kyrkja tunnel being external pitch with a suspended inner meant once pitched the inner was dry. So my tunnel will continues to serve me well in all conditions.

Tunnel tent in exposed snow peak. source