Shelter Hopper Seeks Cheap Tent for Emergencies

[displacedbeatnik]

Am I crazy for thinking that a cheap (around $150) four pound tent like the ALPS Mountaineering Mercury 1 or REI Passage 1 is an appropriate tent to take on my flip-flop hike starting in May in New York if I plan on shelter hopping most of the time?

I mainly plan on staying in shelters. Except for possibly catching the northbound bubble in Pennsylvania in June, I think I'll be going kind of against the grain as far as crowds go. So I don't want to spend a lot on a tent but I want it to be comfortable in a pinch if I do get stuck out of shelter range (and I did notice the shelters are sometimes further apart in New York than I'm used to in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia so I will have to camp some nights).

I'm looking for easy setup for a tent that will generally sit in my pack almost every night lonely and unused and some of the ultra light tents are a lot more than I want to pay. So would a four pound tent be too much for my purposes (since I'm hiking in the summer, my sleeping pad and bag are both under two pounds a piece) if I'm trying to keep my pack between 30 and 35 pounds?

Would you all say weight or funds is more important in a case like mine?

[Studlintsean]

Why not consider a 8x10 tarp which can be had for much cheaper? Bring a cut piece of painters plastic also. If interested in the idea, I might have one I can sell to you. Would need to see what I paid for it plus line but should be <$50. I'm in NoVA

[displacedbeatnik]

Why not consider a 8x10 tarp which can be had for much cheaper? Bring a cut piece of painters plastic also. If interested in the idea, I might have one I can sell to you. Would need to see what I paid for it plus line but should be <$50. I'm in NoVA

I hadn't really thought about tarping it but that makes sense too. I do want some four sided protection though so I would prefer a tent I think.

[Slo-go'en]

Yea, tarps aren't that great without bug protection on the AT. But you can get something like the SMD Serenity net for $120 and couple that with a cheap tarp and come in well under 4 pounds and little additional bulk.

That's basically what I'm doing for my 1/2 flip from HF to home. Serenity net with Gatewood Cape instead of the tarp, since I already had the Gatewood. I can use the Serenity net inside a shelter if it's real buggy out and when or if I need it, the Gatewood cape gives more protection then a 8X10 tarp and is easier to set up. Plus it's a poncho for waiting out thunderstorms. The only down side is it's pretty cramped quarters for anyone near 6 foot tall or taller.

[displacedbeatnik]

Yea, tarps aren't that great without bug protection on the AT. But you can get something like the SMD Serenity net for $120 and couple that with a cheap tarp and come in well under 4 pounds and little additional bulk.

I like the Serenity Net looking at it. It definitely saves a lot of weight. I noticed the Skyscape Scout on that same site. Have you looked into that at all? I can't see if it's freestanding or not.

[jimmyjam]

Yep you're crazy if you carry a 4 lb shelter, and crazier still if you want to primarily stay in shelters- you'll see why.

[soumodeler]

Go a few more bucks and get a TarpTent ProTrail at $225 and 26 ounces. Full bug protection.

[Franco]

The problem with heavier tents (4lbs was sort of light but is now heavy...) is that often they also take up a lot of space inside a pack so it can mean a bigger and therefore heavier pack.
As a comparison, for example, that Mistique 1 packs to 6"x22", the Pro Trail packs to 4"x12" if you use trekking poles.
(if not you can get for about 3oz 2 "substitute" poles that will do the job.
BTW, if going the tarp plus bug net way, don't forget to add stakes and the weight and size of that lot.
franco@tarptent

[displacedbeatnik]

Yep you're crazy if you carry a 4 lb shelter, and crazier still if you want to primarily stay in shelters- you'll see why.

I actually enjoy shelters. I have to deal with snoring at home too.

[displacedbeatnik]

Go a few more bucks and get a TarpTent ProTrail at $225 and 26 ounces. Full bug protection.

This looks perfect! $225 is not bad at all. Any downside I should know about in advance before I purchase it?

[rafe]

This looks perfect! $225 is not bad at all. Any downside I should know about in advance before I purchase it?

It's a Tarptent, you'll be fine. Also consider the Tarptent Rainbow.

[Slo-go'en]

I like the Serenity Net looking at it. It definitely saves a lot of weight. I noticed the Skyscape Scout on that same site. Have you looked into that at all? I can't see if it's freestanding or not.

I have the lighter weight Trekker and it's a hard decision to make whether to take that or not. The Trekker takes two hiking poles to set up but that's not an issue. Weight wise, it's about the same as the Cape + Serenity net. Volume wise, the Trekker takes up a little more space in the pack, but provides much more living space.

Heading NOBO from Harper's Ferry April 18th, the shelters should be pretty quiet for the most part and I will take advantage of them as much as possible. I will quite likely run into lots of mosquito and Black Flies up towards Mass and Vermont, so having the net to use in shelters is a big selling point for me. Using shelters saves a lot of time and effort.

[soumodeler]

This looks perfect! $225 is not bad at all. Any downside I should know about in advance before I purchase it?

Only "downside" is the space, but as you are not planning on using it daily, not a big deal.

TarpTent makes great products. I have owned 2 of their tents, the original Virga and the Notch which is my current tent of choice. Light, reasonably priced, and well made with great customer service.

[Franco]

Any downside I should know about in advance before I purchase it?
It needs to be seam sealed. ( some hate it , others like me enjoy doing it...)
It really only has the ridge seam to do something that can be done in 10 minutes with the $6 kit TT sells.
However if you have some spare time , I do the door panel seams and coat the ribbons/loops that hold the built in tie outs.
As for size you can see how a std 20" mat looks like inside (it can take the 25" version) but as a modified A frame shelter the sit up area is at the front only.
pt_3.jpg

[capehiker]

Go a few more bucks and get a TarpTent ProTrail at $225 and 26 ounces. Full bug protection.

Or for $10 less, the side entry Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (same weight).

[left52side]

Or for $10 less, the side entry Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (same weight)

Yes I would say check out six moon designs tents and shelters.
There are lots of better options in roughly that range for far under four pounds for something that is primarily going to sit in your pack.
I would suggest checking out antigravitygear.com carolyn is great people and they offer alot of six moon designs shelters ,the deshutes plus shaped tarp might be a good idea for you at 16 ounces and 175.00 with a sewn in bug net.
If ordered through antigravity gear you get the tyvek ground sheet and six titanium stakes for free as well as free shipping usps priority send out usually the same day.
If you dont like the idea of the floorless shelter,then SMD also makes the lunar solo for 215.00 or another option is the SMD scout skyskape that is only 125.00 and at two pounds.
I have the scout and the deshutes and like them both,hope this helps

[Dogwood]

Have one of these that was in storage for awhile. It's used but maintained and certainly has much life left in it. Could be a good emergency tent for cheap! I just washed it in a bucket with McNetts Mirazyme just for my own sake. I'm sleeping in it tonite in the backyard. I have plenty of length and sit up height at 215 lbs 6'4". I permanently patched two small pin holes inside on the tent floor with a few drops of Seam Grip and repaired two small holes about 1/2 long in the Nanoseeum netting with Nanaoseeum patches. One could drop the wt down to a sub 3.5 lbs with aftermarket Al "Y"stakes which I'll include and removing the zip pulls and cord replacing with light fabric pulls like made by McNetts or just make your own.

http://www.divers-supply.com/mcnett-...FdcagQod6-oISQ

$60 shipped CONUS

[daddytwosticks]

Check out the Eureka Spitfire solo. About $120 bucks. Weight about 3 pounds if you ditch the steel stakes and get some ti stakes. I used this tent for many hikes several years ago. Great bang for the buck.

[bigcranky]

The SMD Skyscape Scout is 34 ounces and only $125. SMD makes good gear.

I would not carry a 4 pound tent even if it were my primary shelter, let alone as a backup for shelter-hopping on the AT. That's way way way too heavy for that purpose, and you'll dump it in the trash within the first two weeks.

[displacedbeatnik]

I have the scout and the deshutes and like them both,hope this helps

It does. Though my decision is infinitely harder now. The scout is a nice option.