Inner pitch first tents vs outer pitch first… in terms of great debates, this is one to divide opinions among the camping community, with one side passionately declaring allegiance to their MSR Freelite, the other is on the side of the Terra Nova Helm. Which side will conquer? Well, put the tent stakes down and we’ll help you pick a camp.
Pitch Perfect
When considering your perfect tent, there’s a lot to think about, from weight, durability, size, ease of pitching, use in weather conditions… Something often overlooked but can play a big part in these factors is how your tent pitches. Double skin tents traditionally have a mesh sleeping vestibule (inner) and a waterproof flysheet (outer) and have two pitching options- inner first, or outer (and usually, outer means the fly sheet and inner together). Both options have pros and cons.
Inner pitch first
Imagine… a warm summer night, cloudless sky, stargazing but also bug-free. An inner pitch tent means you can forgo the outer fly if you want, your tent structurally doesn’t need it. You’ll get a somewhat naked-looking tent but unrivalled ventilation and views. Alas, it’s the U.K., and the opposite is usually true with regards to weather. Setting up an inner pitch first tent in the rain is its biggest downfall as the rain will come through the mesh inner before you’ve whipped your flysheet over the top. However, if you’re particularly adept at pitching, the time in between is minimal, and a small microfibre towel can mop up any puddles. If the weather does catch you out, the next day you can keep your soggy flysheet separate and dry it, as opposed to packing down a wet outer pitch tent with the inner and the outer connected together, potentially soaking the inner too.
Inner pitch tents are often roomier inside as the poles tension the inner tent before the flysheet goes on, and for the same reason, stronger than having a tent where the inner is simply suspended from the outer. They’re also usually a bit lighter. All good ticks in the ‘pro’ boxes. However, back to weather… trying to attach a flapping flysheet while the wind just wants to yank it out of your hands and yeet it off the mountain is a significant tick in the ‘con’ box.
Outer (and inner) Pitch First
In poor weather, a tent which pitches outer first (with the inner attached) is the quickest and easiest way to set up a dry, cosy shelter. Inners can be stored separately and clipped to the outer as you pitch, but most people leave them attached for ease of pitching. Just wiggle the tent poles through the sleeves of the flysheet and your tent comes to life, fully formed. Most 4-season tents are outer pitch first for this reason.
Being able to seek shelter from the elements as quickly as possible to burrow into your sleeping bag nest is the biggest ‘pro’ for outer pitch tents. However, what you win in convenience you lose in stability, as outer pitch tents are more flappy in the wind. You may think you’ve staked that outer taut, but the wind mocks your efforts. A ‘con’ if you don’t want the inner doing Mexican waves all night. A way of combining the stability of an inner pitch tent and the durability against the weather of an outer pitch tent would be a single skin tent. By definition, there is no inner to pitch, they’re just one layer, and a lot of single skin tents are quickly assembled with trekking poles, making them extremely lightweight and minimalist.
But, they need to be guyed out well- trekking pole tents offer fewer points of contact with the floor, and a lot of fabric to offer as sacrifice to the wind gods. Condensation is also an issue in single skin tents as moisture can’t escape through a mesh inner; time to get out that trusty microfibre towel again. Pros and cons. Feeling tent-active? (Sorry) Really, tents are subjective and everyone has different needs, so the winner will be down to your preference. I’ve tried outer pitch, inner pitch, and single skin tents over the years and every time I crawl into one of these tiny homes, I declare it my favourite tent- I’m fickle like that. But I would say that I’ve spent this year in my beloved MSR Freelite 1, watching sunrises through the mesh or sleeping well through windy conditions, and despite mopping the floor with my t-shirt one wet night, I’m leaning towards crowning the inner pitch first tent champion. Until I change my mind again.
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