I also have Gossamer Gear's The One tent, which I started using two summers ago after being a pretty die-hard Fly Creek fan. I love the smaller size and weight, and like the tent's orientation, with the door on the long side. I find that it's plenty tall enough for me to sit up inside / change / read a book for several hours while a torrential downpour unleashes its fury (ahem).
My longest stint with it so far was a 9-day trip during which it stormed and hailed for several days. The gnarliest day involved setting up on a bench above Helen Lake, well above treeline, during a very windy torrential downpour with bonus hail. Still set that sucker up in 5 minutes with a good pitch (I was highly motivated).
Do I have to think a little harder about campsite selection? Sure, but honestly, I experienced plenty of condensation with my Fly Creek over the years, so I'm used to being thoughtful about where I place my tent. Is it a wee bit more annoying when you're dealing with using guylines and rocks rather than stakes on occasion? I guess, but really, I've never wished I had my Fly Creek instead (yes, even in that monster storm). Am I worried about snapping a trekking pole? Not really; I carry duct tape and can MacGuyver if need be!
My general tips to making The One work for me, rather than against me, in the Sierra:
- avoid camping too close to water or in depressions / swampy areas
- get to the area where I want to camp before dark, just in case I have to putz for a minute figuring out the dreamiest site
- leave the tent flaps (I usually do both, but even 1 is better than nothing) rolled back for max ventilation and the least amount of condensation
- try to center yourself in the tent (or sidle up on the door side), so that you're not rubbing directly against the walls
- if it rains while I'm in the tent, I get out afterward and re-tighten lines to ensure it bounces back; this is less of a problem if you have the fancy cuben fiber version instead of silnylon
- I always use the guylines at the head and foot of the tent, which pulls the wall further from my head / feet
Basically, I love this sucker and plan to take it with me this summer when I'm in the Sierra for a month doing guidebook updates & research!
@sambieni - I wrote pole height on my tent's stake bag with permanent marker so I don't have to think about it when setting up camp, and just hike with my poles at my preferred hiking length during the day. I prefer adjustable poles unless I'm trail running and am using lightweight Z poles, so they work just fine for me!