Do you prefer shelters with bunks or bare floors? Which packs in the hikers more efficiently? Which style gives you more sleeping room? Are loft for overflow sleeping a good idea?

If you want to hold a crowd once in a while, full width shelves are the way to go. And they are great in the winter as you can, with the help of a tarp, block off your own "mini-shelter" below the top shelf. Like the "new" Icewater and Peaks Cornern shelters in the smokies.

Though the full-height 2nd floor like Thomas Knob shelter is kinda neat as well. But with that design the 2nd floor needs a few vents to let out the heat in the summer.

..."i prefer a loft for 2 pleaze!"....hehehehehe ;)


if i have my pick...its nice to have a choice of up or down or loft or floor.

the shelter @ Deep Gap (NC) was built this way....large floor with loft on both sides upstairs to accomodate overflow. very nice. had a nice front porch too.






see ya'll UP the trail

Though the full-height 2nd floor like Thomas Knob shelter is kinda neat as well. But with that design the 2nd floor needs a few vents to let out the heat in the summer.
I agree...VENTS! Plumorchard (my first shelter experience) was *really* hot and outside the temps were in the 30's! We were on the top tier and there was only Snowman and myself.

my vote is a hammock,shelters suck,i cant understand why hikers like shelters
crowded shelters even suck more,i wished they would tear down all shelters:cool: neo

my vote is a hammock,shelters suck,i cant understand why hikers like shelters
crowded shelters even suck more,i wished they would tear down all shelters:cool: neo
Ah neo, you blew it! The thread had stayed on topic for four whole posts! :)

Doug

i like the bare floors ,double deckers for more room ,I know alot of people who depend on shelters,I like the fact that there out their my self ,something to look foward too.But i always bring a tent now just when i want to be alone from people,:cool: ky

my vote is a hammock,shelters suck,i cant understand why hikers like shelters
crowded shelters even suck more,i wished they would tear down all shelters:cool: neo
Whereas I was leaning towards tearing down all the hammocks. :bse

i cant understand why hikers like shelters. crowded shelters even suck moreBecause hikers (thru-hikers in particular) are very lazy folks.

Doug,

Welcome to the age of discovery...thread topics around here morph with the frequency of wind direction changes...Wisssshhhh. ;)

Pan

I enjoy the bunks...it's nice to have my own little personal space that no shelter hogs can steal!

thread topics around here morph with the frequency of wind direction changes
Okay. In that case...

Should I seam seal my JRB tarp? I thought it might not be a big deal over the hammock, since the seam is across the top. I am more concerned about it in an a-frame configuration.

Doug

Bunks or bare floors? Hmmmmm....

Here's a novel concept: Some folks actually choose neither and prefer to sleep in the woods.

Think outside the box.

I prefer any shelter that will hold the most people so there is more ground space for my tent.

Bunks or bare floors? Hmmmmm....

Here's a novel concept: Some folks actually choose neither and prefer to sleep in the woods.

Think outside the box.

damn right, jack :)

Bunks or bare floors? Hmmmmm....

Here's a novel concept: Some folks actually choose neither and prefer to sleep in the woods.

Think outside the box.

Baltimore Jack is no Jack in the Box.

In addition to bare floors, no roof, walls or foundation.

damn right, jack :)


No self-respecting lone wolf would sleep with a pack of dirty hikers.

I suspect that bunks are a tab bit less grungy than floors that everyone tracks their dirty boots over.

She-Dino gave up sleeping with rodents when she divorced her ex - no shelters floors or platforms for us.

Bare floors and lofts - let everyone sleep on the floors - it's easier for the mice to count noses that way!:eek:

Bare floors and lofts - let everyone sleep on the floors - it's easier for the mice to count noses that way!:eek:
Yeah, weird how mice count noses with their butts.

:D

actually neither, if I can tent usually do that

I only prefer "clean" shelters. The rest I coudn't care less about...

I rarely sleep in shelters any more unless the person I'm hiking with refuses to tent, tarp, or hammock.
I used to prefer bunks, for the illusion that they'd keep you away from the crawling critters. That isn't the case. Skunks may not be able to get up into a bunk, but just about anything else you'd want to avoid can.

Neither, I prefer my tent/tarp.

none of the above. I'm a light sleeper. Snoring and farting and night peeing are inevitable in shelters (even by me, but then it's alright<G>) and intrinsically evil.

I hang in the trees in my hammock.

Miles of Smiles
Tom

mountaineer shelter was built recently. lots of room, covered eating/cooking area, benches, great close water supply, 3 levels, right off the trail & only about 15 miles south of kincora. one of my favorites

mountaineer shelter was built recently. lots of room, covered eating/cooking area, benches, great close water supply, 3 levels, right off the trail & only about 15 miles south of kincora. one of my favorites


Quarry Gap just North o Caledonia State Park is also one of the "Cadillac" Shelters on the trail (IMO)

I perfer swinging between trees myself!:jump

It would take an act of God to get me to sleep in a shelter again. I've only slept 3 times in a shelter and that's enough for this lifetime. :)

neither for me,will stick with the HUBBA:)