Bunks or Bare Floors

[DebW]

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?

[tlbj6142]

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.

[Jaybird]

..."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

[Icicle]

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.

[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 neo

[dougmeredith]

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 neo

Ah neo, you blew it! The thread had stayed on topic for four whole posts!

Doug

[kyhipo]

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, ky

[Two Speed]

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 neo

Whereas I was leaning towards tearing down all the hammocks.

[tlbj6142]

i cant understand why hikers like shelters. crowded shelters even suck more

Because hikers (thru-hikers in particular) are very lazy folks.

[peter_pan]

Doug,

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

Pan

[jackiebolen]

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

[dougmeredith]

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

[Jack Tarlin]

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.

[digger51]

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

[Lone Wolf]

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

[maxNcathy]

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.

[NICKTHEGREEK]

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

[maxNcathy]

damn right, jack

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

[Peaks]

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

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

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