What do you Carry for Shelter on the Trail?

[highway]

It would be interesting to discover what the predominate shelter preference is, the one we carry in or on our packs.

[ez-does-it]

I answered the poll but need to tell you what I use, it is the Nomad-Lite hand made by Wanderlustgear and a guy named Kurt Russell.This year on my second thru-hike I saw more and more of his tents showing up on the trail.And even though I once had a HH I sold mine and returned to my trusty Nomad-Lite.
You can't beat the weight of the tent and how simple it goes up.If anyone would like to check them out then go to
www.wanderlustgear.com
In closing I love mine and have used it for two thru-hikes and the tent is still like new.

[highway]

Originally posted by ez-does-it

I answered the poll but need to tell you what I use, it is the Nomad-Lite hand made by Wanderlustgear and a guy named Kurt Russell....
In closing I love mine and have used it for two thru-hikes and the tent is still like new.

I will go out on a limb and put it into the "tent" category as it has a floor. But when I looked at it on the net some time ago (couple of years?)I did not think the floor would last long.

From what you say, I was wrong. Perhaps you should do a gear review as I would like to hear some first-hand info about it. Two thru-hikes is a lot of use and maybe there are more like me who, at first glance, immediately discounted it.

And why did you choose to use it over the HH? The only advantage I can see is that you keep your gear inside, with you, including the pack, which is what I like to do, but crowds me in my HH. What is your view?

[ez-does-it]

Answer to Highway's qoestions:
I had owned the HH ultralight backpacker and loved it for not sleeping on the ground.But as time went on I found the Hamock to be to much touble for sleeping in the cold weather.I was on all kinds of web sites and found all kinds of answers to sleeping in the cold.However when it was all over and done the weight of the Hamock and the cold that surounds you out weighted using my Nomad-Lite.Plus as you have stated I like being self contained and having all my gear in with me.
(1) Tent is easyier to set up.
(2) I sleep much,much warmer
(3) Tent weight much ligher then Hammock
(4) Tent weight compleate with all stuff sacks,poles, 5 Ti. pegs,tyvek ground sheet-29 oz's
(5) Tent goes up in about 2 minutes

Two draw backs to using the Nomad-Lite tent over the Hennessey Hammock are:
(1) you must have a good flat spot
(2) you must use you hiking poles to put up the tent or make your own (see web site for wanderlustgear)

In closing I hope I have answered your questions.The above is my opion only.
Let the fun begin.

[Jeff]

The Wanderlust Tent is a single walled type. How much condensation did you experience??? Does it require lots of TLC or is it bomb proof?

[Peaks]

with 15 votes cast, 40% claim to be hammock users. Hiking the trail, I didn't see anywhere near that number using hammocks. Although I saw more this year than last, hammock users are a diffinate small number.

[ez-does-it]

Hello Jeff,
The Wanderlust tent as you call it which is the Nomad-Lite had very little condensation,and as with all sil-nylon material you have to be careful with it as you would have to be careful with any type of shelter.Again I have used my tent for two years now and it shows no signs of wear and tear.I hope I have answered your questions.

[Choo Choo]

Depends on the location of the hike and season. I regularly use all of these types of shelter.

[Jack Tarlin]

I have used the same tent, a Mountain Hardwear "Laser", on my last 6 thru-hikes, and have spent almost 1,000 nights in it. Each year I've had the opportunity to replace it; each year I've decided I've no need to do so. Regrettably, this model is no longer on the market, but they make several comparable products (see www.mountainhardwear.com) With the exception of my packs (from Osprey), my boots (almost always from Merrell), my stove (MSR), and various accessories (Outdoor Research), I cannot think of a company I think more of than Mountain Hardwear.

[stranger]

I use a custom made tafetta tarp, it's about 9 feet long, 8 wide on one end, six on the other. For the little bastards I have a home made bug net that fits over my Thermarest and guys to the top of the tarp. A co-worker of mine made it for me, it only weights 3-4oz. Thinking about scoring a Tarptent though.

[Dirtyoldman]

Being as I follow LNT and set up camp well away from the trail I doubt you would ever find me swinging from the trees... Unless you followed the snoring

[Nightwalker]

The Wanderlust Tent is a single walled type. How much condensation did you experience??? Does it require lots of TLC or is it bomb proof?

Different tent, but I use a Wenzel Star Lite single wall, and though it does have condensation issues, those are ameliorated by pitching the tent first when making camp the next day, and leaving the door tied open until you get ready to climb in for the night.

Unless folks are dead-set against not paying an arm-and-a-leg, this is a really nice backpacker's tent, and worth a try. I've used it for quite a few nights now, and have zero complaints.

Frank

P.S. I have reviewed the tent on the Oshman's site if you are interested in following the above link.

[firefly]

Hammock in the spring and summer...GoLite Hex 3 in the fall and winter

[Crash]

with 15 votes cast, 40% claim to be hammock users. Hiking the trail, I didn't see anywhere near that number using hammocks. Although I saw more this year than last, hammock users are a definate small number.

Thats because most of us stealth camp. You wont see me most of the time in PA because I want peace & quiet and not the slums of the shelters and tenting areas.
Most of which have too much broken glass, mud and partiers in PA.

[asmtroop3]

I have yet to ever be comfortable in a hammock and lately find I dislike tents as well.

Last few trips, rain or shine, Gortex Bivy. Extra weight? not really if I am not using tent or other shelter and the extra 10degrees help at 25f

[kncats]

My wife and I just recently switched over to a Tacoma-For-Two shelter. 2# 5 oz and it packs down smaller than my sleeping bag. 40 square feet of floor space and two doors. Have to add in the weight of stakes too, about another 5 oz.

[nero]

According to the poll it would appear that bivy's aren't all that popular. I've been thinking about ways to shave weight, and scrapping my tent in favor of a bivy is starting to sound like a good idea (I don't think I would mind the small space)

Even though popularity is low I'll ask anyway (you guys have had such good ideas for other stuff) Has anybody used a bivy on their thru-hike or an extended hike? Do they help much in the way of keeping you warmer than say in a shelter or a tent?

Thanks

-Nero

[Footslogger]

I guess I fall in with EZ-Does-It when it comes to shelters. Started off with a HH Ultralight, prior to my thru last year. Slept OK in warm weather but just never got comfortable once the mercury dropped and wasn't willing to go the extra mile and build in all those "extra" maneuvers to stay warm.

Based on a lot of research and a desire to get my pack weight down as low as possible (which was a real feat for me at first), I went with the Wanderlust Nomad Lite. In fact, in 2003 we (EZ-Does-It and I) ended up together at a campsite and it looked like a Wanderlust showroom. Anyway ...the Nomad got me all the way to Katahdin with flying colors.

To be honest though ...I did have some condensation issues, especially on the cold/damp nights. I just made sure my sleeping bag (goose down) was away from the walls of the tent on those nights and never had any damage due to moisture. Another point I'd like to make ...and this may be true of other single wall tents as well ...but you have to be carefull how you set them up with respect to wind direction. The awning of the Nomad is pretty high off the ground and a good wind can get underneath it. One night in the Smokies the wind shifted 180 degrees and I awoke to find my tent trying to take off like a kite. I pulled up the line that secured the awning and it blew completely over the top of the tent, exposing the no-seeum mesh on the front half of the tent. Thank goodness it wasn't raining. I slept a little cool that night but otherwise no damage done. Just wanted to mention that since one post on this thread asked about the "bomb-proofness" of the Nomad.

'Slogger

[Mice]

Can't beat it, it may be hard to get into but I can fit my pack and all gear inside. pack is used as pillow. The whole shooting match with emergency blanket as ground cloth 2 lbs 12 ounces.

[Jaybird]

i always carry a TENT!(bivy-style:"Dart-2"...3lbs)
i love to stay in shelters..for the camraderie...meeting the interesting people & hearing of trail experiences,...for me, thats part of the "excitement" of the trail...but, sometimes....its a bit crowded & you have to TENT.
hehehehehehe


i'm gone May 1st-May 8th section-hiking Clingmans to Hot Springs!
(with "Jigsaw", "Model-T", "DragonFLy" & "TooTall")


If you see us....stop & say "HOWDY!"