Hi all, just been thinking about not using the inner tent in our Airbeam Utopia 400, reason being weight reduction and roominess etc. but most of all packing away as it is a poly cotton and very heavy. The option of removing and reattaching the inner would prove to be hard going each trip, and age is not on my side. Do any of you ditch the inners and benefit from not using them.
I think most use them as they add privacy, a light on the side wall of any tent will end up with your silloette, and inner tent will help stop that happening
The actual reason people use inners is as a method of keeping warm, and condensation control. If you've ever nipped out to the loo at 4am you will notice the temperature difference between the sleeping compartment and the single skinned living area, it is not pleasant! That two layer configuration of the sleeping compartment acts like a chunky knitted jumper, it's the air gaps that keep the heat in.
Secondly the inner tent with it's breathable fabric wicks the moisture from your breath and sweat (I heard a pint per person per night - not sure how true that is) otherwise that moisture will gather in places like a puddle in one corner or the underneath of your bed.
This is one of the problems with air tents, they are very heavy. In a way you'd nearly be better with three light-weight poles to thread through a sleeve.
You may find it colder, and get more condensation. Remember with no inner the condensation will drop on you. Though as your tent is poly cotton that may not be such an issue. On a practical level, you may need to be more organised to keep things looking tidy. Also no privacy when changing. Not a problem if you camp solo though. I'd say give it a try on a short break and see how you get on.
We've slept outside of our inners, ie in the living area of the tent, many times and not had any condensation issues - like the OP's, our tent is polycotton.
How much does the inner weigh? Is it worth the saving?
Have a read through the Karsten Club thread - no inners over there so far as I know, and no condensation either.
Many thanks everybody for great feedback. As you say trekkin tekkie, the karsten is a good example. I think like RTS5 suggests I'll give it a go locally but keep the inner to hand in the car.
I have a 6 man tent with 2 rooms (2 man and 4 man) I only put up the 2 man room if I need to sleep in it, while someone else sleeps in the bigger room. Not using a room increases living/mess space.
Quote: Originally posted by juandi on 07/3/2015
Many thanks everybody for great feedback. As you say trekkin tekkie, the karsten is a good example. I think like RTS5 suggests I'll give it a go locally but keep the inner to hand in the car.
That would have been my suggestion.
Don't think we would have fancied it in our polycotton(s), but having said that, we didn't appear to get much, if any, signs of condensation on the (single skin) living area, even through winter (and we didn't leave the fan heater on through the night).
Knowing what we know now, having the aforementioned single skin Karsten, albeit it 100% cotton, I'd be very tempted to think you may just "get away with it", so it's at least worth a try... with the inner stowed in the car, just in case!
I guess there'd be a considerable difference between a solo sleeper, and a family of 4 of course.
If I read the OP question right, your main concern is reattaching the inner each time you use the tent. Unless your tent is different to any other tunnel tent I know of, just leave it attached when you pack up, then its there ready for next time. The weight issue I would have thought is minimal as inners are normally lightweight material.
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Topic: Inner tent
