Big Agnes  String Ridge VST 1.5 Tent

The string ridge has been awesome! I love the extra space inside, it's so roomy! I use a wide pad and still have room for all my stuff inside. It's easy to set up once you get the hang of it. It holds up really well in wind and storms. I really like the big vent on the side, it's like a little window you can look out when buttoned down. I also like having the option to have both sides of the vestibule rolled up. The magnets work well to hold the doors open. I'm very happy with the durability. After almost 5 months on the PCT it's still in great condition. It's a unique design that works really well. Overall it's been a great tent for the trail.

This tent was super roomy for myself, my giant backpack and my husky! We slept great and could spread out without worrying about rolling on each other. The tent was easy to set up and stayed taught during the rain and wind we encountered on a 2 night trip in the Eastern Sierra. Hiking with the tent was easy peasy too, it's super lightweight.

I consider myself a pretty average thru hiker when it comes to how heavy my pack is. I'll obsess over my base weight to an extent and I love the look of a small, compact pack, but I'm also not afraid of a few luxury items and am not willing to sacrifice any necessary comforts to simply lighten my load by a few ounces. In other words - I will be bringing a stove, I will be bringing a pillow, and until recently, I insisted on using a two person tent; but after several months in the Stringline 1.5 I find myself reconsidering this last rule. I like to have some extra space in my tent and vestibule to stretch the legs and spread out whatever contents explode out of my pack after a long day of hiking. The first three months of my CDT thru-hike I used the BA Tiger Wall 2 and loved it for the lightweight frame and reliability in the windy desert. I was eager to try out the new Stringline 1.5 trekking pole tent for a few weeks at most, but almost immediately I knew the Stringline was the tent I would be finishing the CDT with. The first thing I noticed was how compact it was. It stuffs down small and there's no poles to carry so the extra space was immediately noticeable. Also noticeable was just how light the Stringline is. I'd been really pleased with the minimal weight of my Tigerwall, but the Stringline 1.5 was another level and I truly appreciated the lighter pack as I hoofed across the Great Basin and up into the Wind River Range of Wyoming. My assumption was that I may feel claustrophobic in the Stringline and not have enough space for all my things, but that wasn't an issue at all. The vestibule is large and easily covers your pack, shoes, water bottles and whatever else you might leave outside, while the unique shape of the tent floor creates another vestibule-like triangle internally for your power bank, phone, clothes, etc. I'm on the taller side at 6'1 and use an extra long pad and sleeping bag and I always felt like I had enough space to really stretch out (although this might be something to consider if you're 6'2 or taller). I also really appreciated the mesh pockets by the door that held small items like my airpods and wallet. I also have to say… the tent looks cool with an eye catching and sleek silhouette. I think it looks like a mountain range or a witches hat. The walls are pewter grey and the floor/mesh door are a beautiful emerald green - my favorite color. More than aesthetics, it's an extremely effective tent. I had no trouble setting it up and the trekking poles & guy lines formed reliable tension that held all night, even in windy conditions. I was especially impressed with how it performed in the rain. There were some stormy nights on the trail where it really dumped on us, most notably, my last night on the CDT in Glacier National Park when it poured a cold, late-September rain all night and into the morning. The tent held up great and kept me safe and dry. The bathtub floor was effective in preventing water, dirt and critters from getting inside. Tents are very personal business for backpackers and especially thru-hikers who need to live out of them for months on end. They're our shelter and home and it's SO important for them to function effectively. I'm happy to say I give the Stringline 1.5 the CDT thru-hiker seal of approval for its shockingly light weight and reliable performance. I've grown really fond of this tent and I'm excited to take it on many more adventures for years to come.