Pup tents

P

Pyre

Joined
Jan 6, 2009
Messages
43
This may or may not be a silly question but has anyone ever used one of those standard issue military type pup tents? How sturdy/weather resistant is it? I found some inexpensive ones online and was wondering if it was worth it to pick one up.
 
I've used one quite a bit, I would rather have a blue poly tarp from wally world.

On the good side I love the spark resistant canvas but I hate the tiny size and most of all, the weight. Chris
 
When it rains, they leak anywhere you touch them. We used them in Basic and AIT in continual rain and mud. I've had no desire to see one since.
 
Used one when I was a kid -- leaky, terrible condensation, and a propensity to cave in.
 
I used one for a bit...in the Army. Burn it and get a plastic trash bag to sleep in. You'll be better off.
 
I used one extensively for three years in temps down to -30F. Remember first that you only had half of a tent. We each carried half of a tent called a shelter half.

It is heavy and like mentioned if you touched it when raining it could and would print through. Good things were they did work pretty well and I remember using just a single naked candle inside (something I would never do in a nylon tent) bringing the temp above freezing inside. I also remember wrapping myself in the shelter half inside my sleeping bag and being protected from the rain when I didn't have a partner to set it up as a tent.

Saying that, there are too many better alternatives to the shelter half, especially for camping were you are carrying your stuff rather than using a shelter half.

Spend a couple of bucks more, save the wear and tear on your body and get a decent backcountry tent or as a shelter half you are better off with weight and alternate setups with a poly tarp like has also been mentioned.

KR
 
Pup tents are great, because you can get them cheaper than most canvas tarps. They are pretty unpleasant as a shelter. I do use a canvas tent when I car camp, but its huge, and has a floor. The pup tent is not worth it's weight, but it does make a great awning for my Sheridan teepee.
 
I used one A LOT in the Marine Corps and it is a total piece o' ****! If you just touch the material in the rain water will seep right through for the rest of the night. One of the worst pieces of equipment I've used. Buy a nice set up from Kifaru! They make several types and sizes and they're built to last.
 
I useed one often in the army, from Louissianna to Germany to South Korea and the High Mojave desert and they work when they are pitched properly and will sleep two soliders and thier gear . I have a complete set and it easily can be configutred as a Whelen style tent and I have added a bug net . when pitched in the whelen manner (open side or front a banked fire will keep you toasty which is not going to happen with most modern nylon tents.
 
mkhop said:
I have a complete set and it easily can be configutred as a Whelen style tent and I have added a bug net . when pitched in the whelen manner (open side or front a banked fire will keep you toasty which is not going to happen with most modern nylon tents.
Click to expand...

Pics?? I would love to see how it is pitched in this configuration.
I would like to have a cheap fire resistant canoing shelter, there is no way I am carrying one on my back unless forced to. Chris
 
The shelter half is a POS shelter. It's tiny, requires two halves, comes with horrible wooden poles, isn't weather resistant at all, is heavy and non-compressable, and super heavy when it's wet, which is all the time. It does make a nice "floor" next to your cot, though.

If you're not in the military and don't have to hump one all over the place, don't. It's the worst shelter idea I've ever heard of. Someone please tell me they still don't issue those damn things.
 
Cons
#1: no floor
#2: heavy
#3: better stuff made nowadays and cheaper.

Pros
#1: Good kid backyard tent that will outlast cheap plastic tent.

Older ones have buttons (mine), newer ones have snaps.
Can you button one to a snap? Or snap to a button?
 
I have extensive experience with the old Marine Corps shelter half's. A lot more experience than I would like to have, actually. Due to this extensive experience, I can say without reservation THEY STINK AS TENTS. As has already been mentioned, almost anything is a better choice, including a trash bag.

Sure, they're cheap, but any price is too much for one of those things nowadays.
 
I was just thinking, you could probably make a pretty cool looking haversack out of the canvas.
 
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