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- Mountain Hardwear Viperine 3 Tent 3-Person 3-Season - 2009
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Mountain Hardwear Viperine 3 Tent 3-Person 3-Season - 2009 BCS
Available Colors / Styles
After a long day on the trail, the last thing you want to mess with is a confusing tent pole configuration. The Mountain Hardwear Viperine 3 Tent simplifies things by using one (yes, one) pole with a hubbed design that wraps the whole tent.
- Evolution Tension Arch uses low-stretch fabric around the poles for added structural support
- Guaranteed Watertight Construction is ideal for everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to the desert Southwest
- SVX window lets you check the weather without opening the tent
- Poles and rain fly work with optional footprint to make a pitchlight shelter
- Large vestibule keeps weather out of the tent and stores extra gear
Bottom Line: Simple setup and roomy dimensions for three-season backpacking.
Talk shop with all the gear freaks out there: ask 'em questions, upload/browse photos, and give your 2¢.
Does backcountry also sell the footprint? I don't see it
Does backcountry also sell the footprint? I don't see it listed on the site and it says "optional" so I'm assuming it doesn't come with the tent?
By: AlexL
November 22, 2010
I don't believe that backcountry sells the footprint for the Viperine 3. However, you can find it on-line (from several retailers) for $35-40.
By: RockyMtnHigh
November 22, 2010
Perfect
By:
sau4098533
November 18, 2010
The tall entrance makes this tent really nice. It is easy to set up and has a ton of room for 2 people. 3 would fit, but I could see it getting tight. I had the tent up in 5 minutes and it packs down pretty light.
Questions regarding poles: 1. The specs say one pole, yet reviewer
Questions regarding poles:
1. The specs say one pole, yet reviewer Perkinator mentions "poles" in his review. What gives? Is it one pole, more than one pole, or many segments that join together to make a crazy pole system.
2. Perkinator also mentions "inserts" that aren't attached to the poles. What's up with these? Also, are the pole(s) held together with bungee, or are they free.
3. How's the strength and durability of the pole(s) and the inserts? Are the inserts plastic, and if so is there any concern about durability in super low temps? I realize this isn't a 4-season tent, just asking.
4. How complicated is the setup/teardown for this tent?
By: Christian Tuttle
October 16, 2010
I don't actually have this specific tent but I've used several of MH's tents so I think I can explain your questions regarding their pole system. I apologize too because like Perkinator said this is hard to visualize while explaining it.
1. MH has been using a unique system with most of their tents where all of the poles are attached together to essentially make one pole. I attached a picture that I copy and pasted off of their instructions. Essentially the poles pull apart into sections like normal tent poles and the end pulls out of the little circles but they are still attached to each circle by the elastic cord inside each pole. So how that turns out is that the poles still fold down to relatively the same size as they would otherwise however when you pull them out of the bag they start to come together into the preset shape because the elastic cord is pulling them into the shape.
It is basically a way to make the tent poles idiot proof. With only "1" tent pole and it being in a preset shape it is practically impossible for someone to put the wrong pole in the wrong spot.
2. The insert is even harder to explain. Essentially in between two pieces of pole there is a little piece that fits into the end of each pole that allows them to fit together. On most other tents one end of the pole is slimmer so that the end of the next can fit over it. In this method it is just not permanently inset in either pole. The inserts are still connected because they have the elastic bungee running through them. I think when he says keeping it on the right piece he means that if it is on one pole it gets to long to fit in the bag but if it is on the other piece or pulled out of both it will fit.
3 and 4. I've used several tents with this pole system and setup/teardown is among the easiest I've ever had to deal with. Durability is as good as any other system. I've never had a problem with this pole system at all.
By: Donald Schmit
October 17, 2010
THE ONLY TENT TO HAVE!
By:
taw3829281
May 23, 2010
My husband and i have done lots of camping over the years, all different shapes and sized tents.... Let me tell you that this tent is the best we''ve used sofar. The set up time is super fast to erect once you get the pole geometric shape structure. Amazingly easy, will take no more than 10/15 mins to put up. The no see um mesh was fab, sleeping under the stars with no little critters inside, excellent ventilation and deisign. lots room to sit up and move around easily... spacious for two and some gear.... Definately recommend to everybody as a summer mid season tent.
Is there another 3 person tent out there that's as tall as
Is there another 3 person tent out there that's as tall as this one, ie 57" or so?
By: Perkinator
August 28, 2010
The tallest tent I know of, besides this, is the Mountain Hardwear Hammerhead 3. You're not going to get the one tall door in the end, but it has a max height of 54", and even though it does weigh about a half pound more, it will pack down to it's specified size in the supplied stuff sack (just measured mine to verify this). It's a really spacious tent, with lots of interior volume and two doors and vestibules that I think really add to the functionality of just that single door in the Viperine. Also, if packed size is a big concern, you can always use a compression sack for all the components except the stakes and poles. Hope that helped.
By: Phil Maher
August 28, 2010
Great Tent
By:
rpo3155530
July 27, 2009
Bought this tent to upgrade our 2-man backpacking tent. We also have a 4-man old car-camping tent that started leaking 2 months ago while in Moab, UT.
We took our 2 1/2 year old son back-packing for the first time in the Colorado back-country with this tent. He loved it. We love the length and height of this tent. It even rained during dinner, so I sat in the vestibule in a therma-rest chair and ate, while my wife and son sat in the tent. Plenty of room for all three of us to sit and eat in the rain.
I was amazed at the small size and light weight of this tent. Perfect for our Colorado family of three.
After reading some North Face tent reviews, the condensation
After reading some North Face tent reviews, the condensation factor has raised some questions for me on this tent. It says it has mesh walls for ventilation, has anyone used it and had condensation issues? Does the mesh cause any seepage from outside? We do a lot of camping in Washington and Montana so the moisture is definitely a factor.
By: bubabootie1055033
August 24, 2010
As with any tent, the separation that you keep between the fly and the shell is what's going to make to difference in how well the system works in terms of controlling outside moisture and most condensation. This is true in all cases- all nylon, all mesh, or a combination of the two. If this means you have to set a few of the guy lines when you stake it out in bad weather, it's just part of the territory. While I can't speak to the Viperine specifically, I can speak to a few Mountain Hardwear tents that I've always had few/no issues with as far as durability and performance. One such tent is our own 3-person, 3-season Hammerhead 3 (item# MHW 1086). Never gotten wet for any reason, tons of space and volume, two doors and two vestibules (instead of just one), had it for years, been in all sorts of environments from the Olympic Peninsula, to some fairly heavy freak snow storms, to the Desert. It's not our lightest, but it's definitely one of our best. Hope that helped.
By: Phil Maher
August 24, 2010
innovatively tall and vertical
By:
Perkinator
August 28, 2010
The good - Lots and lots of mesh for ventilation. Super easy setup. Even more - I've never seen a packable tent be so tall. I'm 6'2" and hardly have to duck to get in. It's also long; neither my head nor feet touch, unlike the Sierra Designs Zeta 3 I tried. Walls are very vertical and it easily pitches tight.
The bad - Have to be careful folding-up the poles. The inserts that join them to each other are not attached to the poles, so you have to ensure you keep the insert connected to the right pole piece or the folded length of the "single pole" gets longer. That's probably hard to understand without seeing it; sorry!
The ugly - Mfr specs said the packed size is 5x21, but it's not. The tag in the tent says it's 5x26, and it is. Also, the "one pole" unfolds into a crazy huge metal spider web before you hook it into the floor.
Conclusion - My first impressions were poor, but after using it a couple times I grew to really like it. Sadly, my #1 goal was pack size, so the mfr spec inaccuraccy caused me to return it. Now, I must admit, I miss the height.
Change me.
Out of Stock
2009 Model No Longer Available
We have a lot more 3-Season Tents than that
3-Season TentsResearch other out-of-stock versions:
Perfect
The tall entrance makes this tent really nice. It is easy to set up and has a ton of room for 2 people. 3 would fit, but I could see it getting tight. more...
THE ONLY TENT TO HAVE!
My husband and i have done lots of camping over the years, all different shapes and sized tents.... Let me tell you that this tent is the best we''ve more...
- Material:
- [Fly] 40D nylon taffeta; [Floor] 70D nylon taffeta
- Freestanding:
- Yes
- Poles:
- 1
- Pole Material:
- Atlas 7001
- Doors:
- 1
- Clip / Sleeve:
- Clip
- Floor Space:
- 72 x 94in (183 x 239cm), 43.1sq ft (4sq m)
- Interior Height:
- 57in (145cm)
- Vestibule Space:
- 14sq ft (1.3sq m)
- Packed Size:
- 21 x 5in (53 x 13cm)
- Ventilation:
- Mesh walls
- Weight:
- 7lb 8oz (3.4kg)
- Recommended Use:
- Backpacking, camping
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- Lifetime