Bibler I-Tent
The one that started it all. The Bibler/Black Diamond I-Tent ($579, 2010 prices), is a small, two-person mountaineering tent that weighs only 4 pounds, 11 ounces. The tent is made with ToddTex, a waterproof/breathable fabric, and has a bathtub-style floor (the bottom of the tent folds up off the ground and is sewn to the upper about an inch off the ground) made with laminated nylon. All the seams are taped to ensure the tent is waterproof. The two poles are attached to the tent on the inside, further strengthening the design so that it can withstand extreme mountain weather. The I-Tent has a single door to further save weight. The dimensions are 82 inches long, 48 inches wide, and 42 inches high. Bibler also offers the Eldorado ($595, 2010 prices), which is a slightly bigger version for larger mountaineers or for being able to store more gear in the tent. The Eldorado is 87 inches long, 51 inches wide, and 43 inches high.
Integral Designs MK 1 XL
The Integral Designs MK 1 XL ($550, 2010 prices) was originally designed by company founder Brian Gross for a 1986 trip to K2, and it remains a popular offering from the company today. The height of the MK 1 is only 39 inches, giving it a low profile in the wind, and also enabling Integral to make the tent longer, at 86 inches, and 46 inches wide, while still saving weight. The fabric of the tent is made with waterproof/breathable Tegraltex. The tent weighs 4 pounds, 12 ounces packed up. Integral also offers add-on options, such as a zip-on vestibule, a lighter weight floor that shaves five ounces, and a second door, which adds five ounces.
Marmot Alpinist
The Marmot Alpinist ($495, 2010 prices) is a two-person single wall-tent with a more traditional construction, as the tent clips to the poles on the exterior, instead on the interior. The tent uses three poles and is slightly larger than many other single-wall tents, at 88 inches long, 52 inches wide, and 40 inches high. A retractable vestibule adds 8 square feet of storage space. The tent is made with Marmot MemBrain Assault fabric, a waterproof/breathable fabric. Despite its additional size, the Marmot Alpinist weighs only 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
