Want to replace shelter system

[Stargazer]

>But wouldnt it just be easier to spend that $200.00 plus dollars on a dome free standing tent, that guarantees the weather and bug protection...but weighs in at 2.5lbs - 3lbs...the trade off....weight vs money.

Even lighter for three-season use is something like the Tarptent Contrail -- 1.5 lbs., bug-proof, and palatially large. If I were expecting a lot of snow, I'd switch to a doubled-walled tent, but under most circumstances, it's a Tarptent for me.

Having said that, a floorless tarp is a great way of saving space and weight during the colder, bugless month as long as you aren't expecting a lot of snow. I'm taking my Gatewood Cape with me along the AT in Maryland next week. If I get a freakishly large snowstorm, I'll slog to the nearest AT shelter and then bail at the next road crossing.

In effect, there is no ideal shelter configuration. Circumstances dictate the best approach. If I only owned one shelter, though, it would be the Contrail or the Sublite Sil, which are both light, compact, roomy, and bugproof.

Stargazer

[Andy]

I made an 8x10 silnylon tarp, and it's up to around 26 oz for everything, including mesh stuff sack. I think it weighed around 18 oz before seam sealing with just 8 grosgrain tieouts (2 with grommets for pole tips). To give you some ideas for reducing weight, here's what adds to its weight:

- Way too much silicone seam sealer (forgot that stuff weighs something when applying it)
- Replaced the grosgrain tieouts with nylon webbing ones, and add a few more every year
- 8 10' long guylines (orange "no-tangle cord" from Speer Hammocks = sheathed Spectra pulse line)
- 35' nylon paracord for use as a ridgeline when tied to 2 trees
- 6 small Titanium stakes: I use sticks, logs, trees, or cut my own stakes from dead wood if I need something which anchors better
- Groundsheet is 42" x 84" plastic cut from a patio door insulation kit ($3). This appears to be polycro, and weighs 1.5 oz (if I remember right).

I'm going to have to get a tent this year though. I enjoy sleeping under my tarp (or just in the open) in bugless weather, but blowing snow and crawling bugs are difficult to keep away. Ticks are a significant health hazard. And, sometimes I enjoy sleeping out too much, and find it hard to fall asleep with all of the interesting distractions when out in the open--interesting night sounds I want to search for the source of, stars, sattellites, meteors, deer, the dwindling fire, and not to mention, UFO's and night-hiking sasquatches! The distractions don't affect my sleep after a night or two (except for the sasquatches), but most of my trips are only a night or two long. Also, my oldest kid (age 6) will be joining me this year, and I'm not comfortable with them sleeping in anything but a tent, due mainly to sleepwalking concerns. (I'm a light sleeper and always wake to the sound of a tent zipper.)

Since I want one tent which will do it all, I'm going to get a Tarptent Scarp 2 with both inner tents--mesh for warmer nights, and solid fabric for winter and cooler nights. It weighs 3 1/4 pounds, but I don't mind the extra 2 pounds for a bug-free or snow-free good night's sleep, even if I'm alone. One reason is that 2 pounds is less than 1% of my body weight. The double walls will be nice for avoiding condensation issues in very damp weather too.

[DAN]

I agree.... double wall tent is the way to go...but one that is versitle...to set up just the rain fly alone like you guys like to do. A simple 2 pole dome.
My single wall Eureka Zeus solo tent hold so much condensation...if you bump the tent, it rains on you.
In the recent BackPacker Gear Guide they have the REI half dome tall version for us taller guys at $200.00, 5lbs 8oz. and 2 person....may need to go with this tent...My son is now 6'4''.The Kelty Gunnison Pro is $250.00 that has more wall than netting for colder camping, and weighs a little more than the original at 5lbs 4oz for 2 persons.
My son and I watched our first hike together to Zaleski 4/2001 on video tape....where I put myself into heat exhaustion by not drinking enough & not eating as we hiked 5 hours from the TH to camp D in hot weather......there use to be a white mail box on a 4x4 post at water well point B then that held maps....no longer there, .....and all the carsonite point of interest markers were orange. ....Does point # 6 still have a big ''6'' spray painted on the tree?..>> DAN

[Nigal]

I honestly do admire the minimalist hiker, and the shaving weight challenge....I need to do more.
But wouldnt it just be easier to spend that $200.00 plus dollars on a dome free standing tent, that guarantees the weather and bug protection...but weighs in at 2.5lbs - 3lbs...the trade off....weight vs money.
I do feel now, seemingly, that I take too much luxury stuff like my MSR solo Hubba tent. To me, I like the comfort of the tent, and cant see any comfort or quality of sleep found in rolling up in a tarp at night, or spraying down with bug spray.
I really do admire you guys who can do this and feel comfortable and confident doing it.
My Hubba tent can be pitched with its rain fly and ground tarp alone, without the tent, for warmer weather....but for me, being a cold sleeper, there is never a ''warm'' night....when I hike in late March, and in October. Thanks>> DAN

In the years I have used my tarp the total number of times I was not protected by the weather is one time and that was because I was because I was hanging in an apple tree in the hammock with no choice of direction.  My sleeping bag has never gotten wet either under the tarp.  I never have to spray bug spray on me, only on the net.  but if I know it's not going to rain I don't even use the tarp and just sleep out in the open.  It's a magnificent feeling. 

[DAN]

Once again, I admire you guys who do it this way. I will try to peel the rain fly up more often, but when it's cold at night.....you want to use all your stuff to stay warm...including the rain fly.
Well, I have an expensive MSR Hubba solo tent I need to use....so I'm stuck with using it for some time.
Thanks >> DAN

[shoebox185]

Sorry to change subjects but   Stargazer I have a question. I am  interested in the logistics of your trip to Maryland. Do you know somebody who will come and get you if you need to bail or are you paying for the service? I suppose you can hope for the goodwill of the locals for help but this seems chancy. Also how are you returning to your car and were are you parking it. I was suppose to do the exact hike your doing 2 years ago and I found a B&B to help with all this but it was going to be a little expensive. Health issues caused me to cancel but I have an opportunity to do it in October and am considering it along with other options. Maybe you have some ideas I could use to make my trip more enjoyable.
Thanks
Bill
Maybe you would be willing to start another thread with all the logistic details for us to learn from you experience.