View Full Version : Shelter!!
Dirty Feet
07-29-2007, 23:36
I cannot seem to make a desicion on this one!! What are your experiences or your opinions on the matter? I've thought about making the tarp tent for 2 - but it seems so HUGE. I've also thought about getting just a simple minamalist bug netting shelter - and then just throwing the tarp over that in case of bad weather. I understand the blood sweat and tears of a thru-hike, but it's my first one so I've only experienced so much as a section hiker and cross country travel bum at times. I have the Fanatic Fringe pack..so weight is a serious concern. I'm working three jobs to be able to pull this off so money is an issue of not trying to spend too much before I get out there and have to de-trail because I spent too much on gear. Any ideas, experiences or suggestions about lightweight shelters you all have used, hated or loved?
firemountain
07-30-2007, 09:58
On my thru hike last winter I used the Black Diamond Betalight which is a fancy tarp with a zipper that weighs just over 1lb after trimming the frills. It worked great but was huge, and I plan on bringing something much smaller this year. By huge I mean the interior space when set up, it packs reasonably small. For myself I have been considering the MLD tarp and bivy combo for about 8-9oz combined weight. Not cheap though. I would reccomend the BD Betalight to others as it worked very well for me, I think that it was overkill however and could be trimmed down.
Join the club Dirty Feet, I have most of my gear list picked out except for the shelter. I just can't decide.
I know I want a simple rectangular tarp, such as the oware 1.5 (8x6) or JRB 8x8, as it will give me the most pitching options. These are all in the $70 price range which I really like. However, I am on the fence when it comes to material. What I really want is a Cuben Fiber tarp but this comes at a much higher expense (close to $300) for only 7 oz. of weight savings but with added durability.
I'm not the type, normally, to squeeze every single ounce out of my gear. However, on the shelter I am clearly trying to do this for some reason. I just wish Cuben Fiber wasn't so expensive. Who knows, I may just bite the bullet and go with a CF tarp. If I had the space to tackle such a project, along with a sewing machine, I could do this myself.
- Tobias
What's your camping style?
Do you plan on camping:
1. near people or away from people?
2. near shelters or away from shelters?
3. near towns or away from towns?
Given the options:
1. open field, or under a tree?
2. out of sight, or in plain view?
3. open sky, or in a tent or tarp even on a clear night without bugs?
My own preference is just a poncho tarp and a simple bivy and full sized closed cell pad to protect my sleeping bag, tucked away under a tree or even a small shrub, but with a view of the sky. Basically wherever a deer might camp. I prefer to avoid people once its time to sleep, so I guess in a way I am always stealth camping, though it is very easy to do up here. I am not sure I could handle the traffic of the AT. Off season maybe. Then again, the challenge of stealth camping mid season might be interesting. If the deer are able to manage, so should I.
Dirty Feet
07-30-2007, 14:35
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble trying to decide on the best shelter Tobias!
I will definetly look into the Betalight, however I do at times prefer the solitude of ninja camping it. I reflected on a Hammock for a long time because of this but decided against it due to weight. Stupid FF pack. :cool:
I like the idea of sleeping out under open sky, like the deer so to speak. I'm interested in seeing how camping off trail will be this year, I've heard the AT is becoming quite populated.
Something light, packable and not so huge when all set up. I'm such a penny pincher - I won't pay anymore than 100$ MAYBE for a shelter.
Which fanatic fringe pack is yours?
http://www.fanaticfringe.com/page5.html
How big of a blue foam pad can you fit in there, wrapped around the outside?
I like going full length on the blue foam pad with no ground sheet. Its big and bulky, but not heavy, and it makes it easier to crash anywhere. If you use a poncho tarp, which takes up zero space, there is plenty of room for a big cheap pad. I would go as wide as the pack is tall, up to 28". Of course in summer it does not need to be so wide, and the pack does not need to be so tall. Then there is the bivy bag. I have a Canadian Forces Gortex bivy that works really well, though it is heavy at 2 pounds. At 30" wide it fits nicely on top of a 28" wide blue foam pad. I have thought of cutting it in half and taping it on one side and at the feet to the blue foam pad to save weight. Cheers.
socalhiker
07-30-2007, 18:08
I was in Sports Authority yesterday looking for freeze dried food on sale and came upon a cheap two man tent by Alpine Designs for $19.99. This tent could not have weighed more than 2 to 2.5 lbs. For that kind of money I would be hesitant to make modifications to it. Since money is an issue I don’t see how you could go wrong. It is lightweight and cheap.
Gray Blazer
07-30-2007, 18:19
Trash hiker checking in. I'm finally happy with my sleep system. It's heavier than I would like but it keeps me safe and dry. I inherited a cheap pup tent after all the kids moved out and I found a tarp that fits over it so I don't get that condensation thing going. I picked up some titanium stakes at the trail shop. The thing runs 5.5 pounds, but when I guy it out well it doesn't come down in storms and thanks to the Everest air mattress, the little bit of water that does get in from a huge storm doesn't even touch me. Like I said, it's heavier than I like, but I have woken up safe and dry to find several thrubies soaked and discouraged.
socalhiker
07-30-2007, 18:30
in Sports Authority yesterday looking for freeze dried food on sale and came upon a cheap two man tent by Alpine Designs for $19.99. This tent could not have weighed more than 2 to 2.5 lbs.
from Trailspace.com:
The original Alpine Design, of Longmont, Colorado, went out of business in the late 1990s.
More recently, the name "Alpine Design" has been used by The Sports Authority for its house-brand camping gear. Sports Authority Alpine Design tents are manufactured by NorthPole USA (http://www.trailspace.com/gear/northpole/). Other Alpine Design products are likely made by various other companies.
NorthPole, a multinational company based in Hong Kong, is the largest tent manufacturer in the world. Tent brands currently manufactured and supported by NorthPole include:(list is too long to list)
The point is that these are not only lightweight but cheap tents but at those prices modifcations could be done without worry of desecrating primo gear.
My own preference is just a poncho tarp and a simple bivy and full sized closed cell pad to protect my sleeping bag, tucked away under a tree or even a small shrub, but with a view of the sky. Basically wherever a deer might camp. I prefer to avoid people once its time to sleep, so I guess in a way I am always stealth camping, though it is very easy to do up here. I am not sure I could handle the traffic of the AT. Off season maybe. Then again, the challenge of stealth camping mid season might be interesting. If the deer are able to manage, so should I.[/quote]
Hi JAK ! I'm a deer too :D
Yeah sorry. I should have mad that more clear. I am a deer.
On the internet nobody knows if your a deer. :D
Dirty Feet
07-31-2007, 04:26
AhAhaaH!!! Keep em' coming! Thanks for all the advice!!! JAK I have the Thompson Peak FF Pack. I have a z rest foam pad but would prefer something more durable and wider to frame around the pack better. A two person lightweight tent for 20 bucks? Really? That's so crazy! I was thinking about the Wild Oasis from Six Moon Designs, pricey, but I plan to use this stuff as long as it will last me, possibly after thru hiking if it holds up!
hopefulhiker
07-31-2007, 09:55
For the weight you might consider the tarptent Contrail if you can find a good deal on it...for the bugs you know...
I don't have a lot of experience with tarptents, but the little that I do is very positive. My brother and I just did Unicoi Gap to Dick's Creek Gap two weeks ago. Mike has two Tarptents, the one man Contrail and two man Squall II. He's had the SII for a little while and just purchased his Contrail for his upcomming 2008 Thru-Hike.
I Carried and slept in the SII over the 2 days(3 days out; 1/2 day the first, full day the second and 1/2 day to Dick's Creek) it took us to make the section.(BTW Kelly Knob is a female dog) We didn't get much in the way of rain, a little sprinkle here and there but quite a bit of wind. I had no problems and was very comphy in the tent. Mike reported the same results with the smaller Contrail.
The tents have excellent construction and took all of 3 minutes to pitch. The design is simple, elegant and above all functional.
Again, this was just a short section hike, and as I said, it was my only experience with Tarptents but it was an overwhelmingly positive one. I highly recommend them!
Dirty Feet
08-01-2007, 02:44
Yeah - I saw these and considered getting them but the price was steep for me. I'm thinking about the Wild Oasis by six moon designs...what do you guys think?
Dirty Feet
08-01-2007, 02:45
with shipping I guess there isn't much of a difference...damn.
Have you looked on ebay? Every once in awhile a tarptent will show up there. I have an '03 Squall and love it. You can find deals on them if you're diligent in your search and are patient. I bought mine here on WB for only $75! Call Henry Shires, perhaps he may have an old one or a returned one that he'll give you a deal on. I've been in some pretty heavy thunder boomers in mine and have always stayed bone dry. The condensation is something to deal with, but it has never been a worry that my bag would get soaked. My footbox has gotten damp a couple of times, but nothing to be concerned about.
boarstone
09-03-2007, 22:02
I cannot seem to make a desicion on this one!! What are your experiences or your opinions on the matter? I've thought about making the tarp tent for 2 - but it seems so HUGE. I've also thought about getting just a simple minamalist bug netting shelter - and then just throwing the tarp over that in case of bad weather. I understand the blood sweat and tears of a thru-hike, but it's my first one so I've only experienced so much as a section hiker and cross country travel bum at times. I have the Fanatic Fringe pack..so weight is a serious concern. I'm working three jobs to be able to pull this off so money is an issue of not trying to spend too much before I get out there and have to de-trail because I spent too much on gear. Any ideas, experiences or suggestions about lightweight shelters you all have used, hated or loved?
Try the Byer of Maine hammock--Moskito Traveler...16oz, $30
Silnylon tarp, 8x10....15oz....$65
40 deg. sleep bag not more than 2lbs...
All can be found at campmor.com
Then welcome yourself to the hammock hangers group!
Dirty Feet
I really like the home made 'tarptent' that Mike in FHAZ made. He posted a thread about it at Practical Backpacking, but essentially he attached a No See Um net with a floor to a commercially made tarp.
In his case the Zpacks tarp @ $55.
This seem to me like a clever and almost simple way of doing it.
Franco
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e389/Francophoto/odds/TARP_0011.jpg
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-04-2007, 06:55
The dinos haven't found or made the perfect shelter just yet either. We currently use a cheap & tiny, two person bivy / tent (similar to the Alpine Design tent mentioned by socalhiker) with a 10' x 12' sil-nylon tarp (I recommend the Campmor silnylon tarps for low cost and high quality). The total cost comes in around $100 and the total weight is 3 lbs, 4 ozs. This gives us a cozy bug-free area for sleeping and a lot of space out of the elements for cooking, lounging, etc. I would not trust the cheapo tent to keep me dry alone, but it has worked well in combination with the tarp on several nasty nights out - blowing rain and hail.
Take a look at these by Six Moon Designs
Gatewood Cape - 11 oz
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=45
Oasis - 13 oz
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=48#
Lunar Solo - 23 oz
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36