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Shelter
Dec 24, 2015 13:15:52 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2015 13:15:52 GMT -8
I am new to backpacking and I have some questions about selter. I want to get as close to ultralight as my budget allows (15 years old and no job as of now) but i'm not sure what to do for shelter. From what i've seen i could do either a hammock and tarp or a ground setup which is supposedly lighter. However i'm not sure what would go into the ground setup. Can someone give me an example of a lightweight and somewhat inexpensive setup?
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Shelter
Dec 24, 2015 13:56:19 GMT -8
Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 24, 2015 13:56:19 GMT -8
Shelters are somewhat determined by the conditions you'd be seeing when you go out on your trips. So where and when are you thinking of going out? (there are people from all over who are members here so it's likely someone will have experience for where you'd like to go)
Also what's "inexpensive" for you? As that too varies and there's things out over a wide price range. though in general "inexpensive" is great, it tends to mean "simple" and simple leaves more time for enjoying the destination instead of fussing with some complicated structure.
Flying bugs require some sort of netting, though that can be either just over your sleeping bag ("bugbivy") or something bigger that allows room to do stuff. Then it's often called an "innernet" for a pairing with a tarp or other flourless shelter. Also tarps work better, as does hammocks, with trees so they're better for routes with trees available. Some places. like the alpine west, don't have trees...
The other general thing is it's easier to gamble with a minimalist shelter when the trip is shorter and the weather a bit more predictable: I'd take something minimal for a long weekend while bumping the setup up a notch or two for two weeks out for instance.
The hammock, if you're thinking of carrying a tarp, seems a bit repetitive to me, though I don't use hammocks so maybe not. A tarp and a sleeping bag and sleeping pad (for insulation from the ground plus a bit of comfort) would seem the lighter setup, adding the hammock gets you off the ground but at a weight (and cost) penalty it seems to me.
Nice you're starting early, lots of time to figure things out for yourself as you go out there.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2015 14:06:39 GMT -8
Well i leave in the chattanooga area, and my father works in knoxville so that should give you an idea of where i am planning to hike. ive done a little day hiking around signal point, but i really want to hike the smokies to see all the wildlife
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Shelter
Dec 24, 2015 16:58:28 GMT -8
Post by cheaptentguy on Dec 24, 2015 16:58:28 GMT -8
I know the least of anyone on this board, but there seem to be loads of videos on YouTube and other sites with various tarp setups for various conditions. I'm planning on trying a couple in the backyard just to make sure I can recreate them and test them on a short trip, as High Sierra Fan suggested. Seems like it would be handy to know a few different ways to pitch to fit your site.
From the reading and viewing I've been doing, it appears that there are tons of possibilities that seem to boil down to the person's comfort level and skill, if not wallet.
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Shelter
Dec 24, 2015 17:33:30 GMT -8
Post by dirthurts on Dec 24, 2015 17:33:30 GMT -8
I'm not far from Chatanooga. What I can guarantee you, condensation will be a problem for any single walled setup, year round. A double walled shelter is one with a rain fly outer, and a full mesh/nylon body. This goes for tarps too, as they'll collect condensation too. This can result in you getting wet just by touching it as it builds up moisture. Also, we get lots of nasty biting insects, so I recommend something with full netting.
What's your budget anyway?
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reuben
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Shelter
Dec 25, 2015 4:16:54 GMT -8
Post by reuben on Dec 25, 2015 4:16:54 GMT -8
Greetings and welcome. I have a MLD Solomid. It's a true one person shelter, so if you think you're going to cook in a vestibule when it rains, you're probably wrong. However, if you're OK with that, read on. It's a pyramid. It's supported by trekking poles (140cm - usually they're 130, so be aware of this if/when you buy poles). It's very light, and is modular. In the summer I combine it with the bug net/bathtub floor to keep bugs out. In non-buggy weather I use just the floor (I like a bit of protection against wet ground). Now, it's not the most inexpensive thing you can buy, but it's definitely light. Note that the pyramid, bugnet/floor, floor, and poles are all separate expenses. So while you can take only what you want, the expense can add up. I found some 140cm poles on sale, so I saved a bit there. I mention this not so much to recommend the Solomid (which I love), but to give an example of a tarp-like shelter. The new Solomid is a bit larger than the one I have, and MLD makes larger versions such as the Duomid as well (maybe you could cook in the vestibule). The other tent option is a more integrated style, like my Tarptent Double Rainbow (which I also love). It comes with an integrated bugnet and floor, has two doors (great air flow), and you could cook in a vestibule. Fabric - cuben fiber is lighter than silnylon, but also more expensive. Cuben is also more susceptible to either tears or punctures, I can never remember which. Personally, I'm fine with silnylon. Then there are hammocks. I have one but have never really used it yet. Lots of people love them. You should have plenty of trees in your area so no problem finding a good spot to hang. They're cooler than tents since the airflow underneath robs you of some insulation - a lot of people start insulating the underside when the nighttime temps get to 70 or below. For this you can get a double layer hammock and slip a thin pad like this between the layers, or if it's really cold buy an underquilt (more money). Hammocks are definitely light. You'll need to learn a few ways of hanging them, and there are many. In your area you'll certainly want to invest in a bug net. Note that similar to pyramids, the hammock, tarp (rain/snow protection), and bug net are generally sold separately. We have some hammockers here, but for tons of great info and a great group of people check out the forum at Hammock Forums. So, as you can see, some shelters are "all-in-one", while others are more modular or may require additional purchases.
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Shelter
Dec 25, 2015 6:51:30 GMT -8
Post by Lonewolf on Dec 25, 2015 6:51:30 GMT -8
This really depends on what YOU can afford and tolerate. Mind some bug bites? No? Maybe the wind blowing some rain in? No? Open tarp. However note that with rare exceptions, closed tents are also a rather good deterrent to animals (as long as you don't have food inside). There are many many options between the extremes of sleeping out and full-on tent. I'm originally from VA and backpacked much of your area. I often used just a tarp or nothing at all if the weather was good and I spent many years using just a bivy even in severe winter conditions but now that I'm older I prefer a tent.
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Shelter
Dec 26, 2015 7:29:47 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2015 7:29:47 GMT -8
Fabric - cuben fiber is lighter than silnylon, but also more expensive. Cuben is also more susceptible to either tears or punctures, I can never remember which. Personally, I'm fine with silnylon. Punctures. Cuban and pine cones do not mix well. We are careful to pick through the ground we are setting up on for pine cones.
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Shelter
Dec 26, 2015 13:59:59 GMT -8
Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 26, 2015 13:59:59 GMT -8
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Shelter
Dec 27, 2015 7:42:01 GMT -8
Post by JRinGeorgia on Dec 27, 2015 7:42:01 GMT -8
You can think of your shelter options as falling into a few categories:
- Free-standing tent. Typically heaviest but easiest to set up. Includes on outer rain-resistant fly and a built-in floor, and probably full-around insect protection.
- Non-free standing. Includes a lot of shelters that use one or both trekking poles for support. Also includes a fly and a floor.
- Tarps. Think of these as just the fly from a tent. Lighter weight, requires more skill and time to pitch, often provides less weather protection on the sides from wind-driven rain or splash, but not necessarily. You pair it with the ground cover/floor of your choice. Some can be hung with an inner bug netting. There are shaped tarps, which generally can be pitched only one way/shape, and flat tarps that provide multiple pitch options.
- Bivy. Like a big bag for your sleep system and you. Can provide rain protection, bug protection or both. Often paired with a small tarp in case of heavy/sustained rain. Can be claustrophobic, but also allows you to plop down in small narrow places that a shelter could not accommodate. Good for cowboy camping.
- Hammock. You need trees. A really good option if camping below treeline on ground that has no flat spots. More fiddly to set up, with the hammock, tarp, possibly underquilt all adding time/effort.
There are heavier and UL options in all of the above categories.
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idahobob
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Shelter
Dec 28, 2015 9:16:46 GMT -8
Post by idahobob on Dec 28, 2015 9:16:46 GMT -8
I did a lot of hiking with a tube tent when I started out. The goal when starting out is to get as many nights out as possible, and have enough shelter for when it rains. Tube tents are plastic tubes that form a triangle when a string is run through them. My early hiking was in the Sierra where it seldom rained. If you were going to spend some money on a tent, I'd look at a tarptent Squall II. Its so light and versatile you won't have to upgrade to a better tent.
Another version of a tube tent is a blue plastic tarp strung in different ways. Its cheap and works.
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