Shelter

S

Survivalboy

Joined
Aug 9, 2004
Messages
73
What is the best & lightest shelter for general solo overnight hiking trips.
I like tarps, but when you add gound cloths & rope should I just get a small solo tent? What is the best system?
 
Are bugs a factor? What kind of weather? When I go bicycle camping I usually use a Eureka Cirrus (probably discontinued) that weighs about 4 lbs. and packs 16" x 6" or an Early Winters Pocket Hotel (disc. 20 yrs ago) that weighs 2 lbs and packs even smaller. Tarps and ground clothes may have other advantages but saving weight & bulk aren't one of them unless you up the price point and get a Siltarp. Throw in clouds of hungry mosquitoes or blowing rain & it's no contest! Just MHO.
Gene :D
 
For year-'round use in Ohio, Michigan, an PA, I'd get a small tent. Many come in around 5 pounds with enough room for your pack. As noted above, they protect from flying and crawling nasties. They also stop blowing rain and snow. Do get one with aluminum poles rather than fiberglass. A sheet of plastic cut to slightly smaller than the tent floor will prolong the life of the tent, as will washing out the grit after each use.
 
Yep, if nasties are out and about, a tent, bivy, or screen enclosed hammock are practical additions to your gear.
 
What is your weight range? After looking at many sm 1 person tents i have decided that for an extra pound I can get a decent 2 person tent and still be under 5 lbs. as mentioned earlier. IMO a solo tent is not worth the time or weight.
If you want another option you can sew up a simple bivi with a pc of waterproof nylon fora bottom and a pc of water repelant nylon for the top. then sew a pc of bug screen completely around the open end, (you sew up both long sides and accross the foot end), add a draw string to the net and you are done. If you have the money you can substuite gore-tex fabric for the top pc.
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