Bibler Tents Ahwahnee

Review Date
June 11, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: EBasil ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $350.00 at Bibler

Summary:
I bought my Ahwahnee "1" in the early '80's for a lightweight, 4-season tent that I could use backpacking in the summer and for my dreams of hopping a transport to the Himalayas. Due to my height, Todd Bibler suggested the Ahwahnee and assured me it could handle all but the most severe high altitude weather.

He was right and, 25 years later, my Bible tent still breathes, still works great and is still an excellent tent. Repairs due to inevitable wear or mishaps have been simple, and the excellent construction pays back for the investment. The "ToddTex" material just plain works and quite well, in fact. The internal poles are strong. I've been in this tent and had it nearly flatten under an insanely hard gust...and it popped back to shape without incident.

I have had 3 persons in this tent when another tent failed during a storm below Vogelsang, in Yosemite, and that's quite "snug" but possible. For two, this is roomy for a backpacking tent, with plenty of room to sit up or move around a little. The yellow interior is bright and pleasant.

These are expensive tents! If you're backpacking and want a spacious two-man tent that's light, breathes and will be reliable in weather from heat to cold to rain, then take a serious look at this one.

Similar Products Used:
Eureka Timberline, Sierra Designs, North Face VE-24, Moss.

Review Date
May 28, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: geoffmallo ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Paddy Pallin

Summary:
After reading many reviews like the ones one this site I took the plunge and got the Ahwahne 2. I wasn't sure how strong it was but in the store it seemed to be quite strong for snow loading etc. I was tossing up with the Fitzroy for more strength or an MSR or Mountain Hardware.

Well the tent works pretty well. I love the living space and the single skin. It's quite nice as others here generally say.

However I have just returned from a trip at 6000ft up Mt Bogong (Australia) where there was a lot of wind. I paid carefull attention to the position of the tent and guying it and the vestibule out tightly etc. The tent held quite well for a while without too much shaking. The other tent in the party was put in the lee of the Bibler, and it could be heard flapping around. At 00:30 in -5 degree weather a pole snapped in a gust and ripped a nice big 15cm gash in the roof. We then put a pole sleeve over it and had our back supporting the windward side of the tent while we worked out our options. We couldn't really move off the mountain due to the weather etc so decide to use the tent as a big bivy. So we pulled the poles out and tried to lie on the loose top part of the tent and hold it down. We did this for 5 hours then got up packed up and got off the mountain.

The conditions were bad. The wind we estimate was over 100km/h. This I thought is not unusual for alpine Australia in Winter or when a front is coming through. I did think that a 4 season tent would be able to handle this. Perhaps the better design for wind is the tunnel (which I have had up there in similar blizzard conditions). They move a lot, but they stay up.

I think that the tent is great if you aren't going to be in an exposed locaiton.

Customer Service:
I'm about to find out!

Similar Products Used:
Macpac Olympus
Wilderness Equipment First Arrow

Review Date
March 22, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Johnboy L(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Kansas City,KS,USA

Price Paid:  $650.00 at Moosejaw

Summary:
I bought this tent to take on a solo trip to RMNP last fall and it has since replaced my Mtn Hardware Lightwedge as the first choice for sleeping. I most often camp at riverside on gravel bars which are inherently damp and usually have some rain in the evenings. It is such a treat to awake without that clammy feeling. My MH tent was a great tent, roomy & waterproof, but the overnight insensible evaporative loss vapor inside was much more noticeable. With the Bibler it often feels less humid inside the tent than outside in the mornings wakening along the river. I have taken my kids & friends several times & used both tents with consistently noticeable differences. Sleeping bags & groundpads air out more quickly as well. Just a great technology and a fine tent. Pricey, though it can be found on sale if you have patience.

Customer Service:
Never had to call

Similar Products Used:
Northface, Mountain Hardware, Jansport tents

Review Date
July 24, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: RichardG(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Dallas, Texas USA

Price Paid:  $625.00 at Black Diamond Equipm

Summary:
I bought the Ahwahnee last winter to replace a (pre-MSR) Moss tent that I believed was too heavy, after my high satisfaction with a Bibler Bombshelter. I have used it in spring and summer in Montana high country on backpacking trips. Strengths: very roomy, much better than any other two-person tent I've ever seen; easy to set up (and you can do it from inside the tent); lightweight; breathable (no condensation, although with the window and door shut it gets warm). I haven't used it enough to rate durability but the Bombshelter's been great. Weaknesses: only one encountered so far -- the (optional - extra charge) vestibule clips on, and it's difficult to attach when it's needed. And if you expect heavy rain or frequent showers (when it's needed for ventilation) or if you are on an extended trip with two adults (when it's needed for storage), you'll wish you had it. Otherwise this tent gets very high marks. I think it's good value, even though with a vestibule and ground cloth the list price is about $900. Look for specials on Black Diamond's web site.

Customer Service:
I've never had to send a tent back, but the Black Diamond folks in Salt Lake City are very helpful over the phone. They have done timely and good work on skis, and I expect the same will be true if I

Similar Products Used:
Moss Stardome; Bibler Bombshelter (which is a two-person tent for an expedition, despite Bibler's claims to the contrary); The North Face

Review Date
December 14, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by: pluntboy(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Louisville, KY

Price Paid:  $380.00 at Bibler Tents

Summary:
So far, I've only had the opportunity to use my Ahwahnee II in the fall and winter, however I do plan on summer camping, too. Let's start from the top.

Setup: Take a few times to practice at home before hitting the trail. I'd say it takes me about 2 minutes max to set it up. Two equal length poles and one small awning pole. You'll be especially thankful setup is from the inside when that rain starts to drop AS you're setting up camp.

Breathability: Recently I camped in sub-freezing temperatures, and I wanted to test the tent's ability to eliminate water vapor (from our breathing) without any vents open. The next morning I looked for moisture, and the only place I found it were on the Easton anadized aluminum poles, and in the corners opposite our heads where the poles met the tent floor. I was amazed because besides me were my girlfriend and 60lb dog.

Ventilation: Very good, but I would imagine the tent gets very warm if used in the summer during a downpour. I think I'll bring along the vestibule at those times so I keep the entire door of mesh. I'll update at a later date on that issue.

Durability: Absolutely the finest. Floor is virtually puncture proof, and the tent body has shown no signs of failure. Also, there's a feeling of security inside this tent. It pitches very taut, no flapping rainfly. You can sense that this tent IS bombproof. Even the tent stakes are top quality Y-pegs--no worry of bending.

Living space: They say it's about 33 sq ft. Well, it's perfect for 2 campers, but gets a little cramped when I bring the dog. But...we manage. There are only mesh pockets for securing small items. I purchased the gear loft and it has made things much nicer.

Vestibule: I did purchase this item (for $70). Bibler claims it adds 12 sq ft. It's made of nylon and requires it's own pole. Like I mentioned before, I'm sure it will be nice to have on when it rains to have better venting options on those hot days.

Complaints: ONLY ONE. I don't like the way that the vestibule fastens to the tent. Basically, there's a loop on the tent body, and a plastic hook on the vestibule. I'd much prefer something that buckles for quick fit and release. Only a minor flaw. I called Bibler Tents and they said to send it back and they could work something out. I haven't yet, but these guys are good.

Customer Service:
Absolutely the finest I''ve had to deal with. These guys will bend over backwards to meet consumer requests. Especially want to thank Mike in the warranty department. I had originally purchased a Pino

Similar Products Used:
Eureka K2-XT--very nice, but heavy
Mountain Hardwear Horizon 3--summer use
North Face Tadpole--lots of mesh 3season