I have been asked many times about the differences in the weight listed on some tents. The good manufacturers list 3 weights, those are the the Trail Weight, Packed Weight, and the Fast-Fly Weight.
Lets start with packed weight. This is the easiest one to understand. The packed weight is what it weighs when you pick it up on the shelf at the store. That is the tent, poles, stakes, rain fly, instructions, and any accessories that might be included like a tent pole repair sleeve or some seem sealer.
Trail weight is the weight of the tent, the rain fly, and the poles. That's all. No stuff sack, no stakes, no accessories, nothing else. The one thing I am not sure about this is the guylines. I would assume that if it does not include the stakes that it also means the guylines have been removed from the tent if possible.
Finally the fast-fly weight. This one the one most people have questions about. The fast fly weight of a tent is the weight of the poles, the rainfly and the footprint for the tent, but not the tent itself. It should be noted that the footprint is almost always an addition item that needs to be purchased separately. The footprint is similar to a tarp that goes on the ground to protect the floor of tent and provide extra protection from ground moisture. So it is setting up the tent without the tent, that is where most people struggle to understand this, why setup a tent without the tent?
Well the fast fly option is normally geared towards UL backpackers for the weight reduction. The Copper Spur UL2 is 12oz lighter in the fast fly mode that trail weight. To most people that does not seem like very much but many in the UL crowd count grams, often cutting tags out of their clothing, and carrying minimal supplies so they can move quickly and efficiently. Cutting 12oz or about 340 grams is a BIG deal. I know guys that do 30 miles in a day and carry 12-15 pounds with them. I cant do that and really do not have the desire to do so, I am just explaining that the bigger outdoor gear companies want to create products that can be used by the various groups that like to get into the woods.
Ok so I hope that helps clarifying the differences. The packed weight is the on the shelf in the the store weight. Trail weight is the tent, rainfly, and poles. Which also means the tent is a freestanding structure. And the fast fly weight is the rainfly, poles, and the footprint for the people that want something to keep the rain off them and carry minimal weight.
Don't
