Shelters. Specifically the poncho/tarp kind.

[tradja]

For the past several hundred nights in the backcountry, I've been under our 1lb homemade silnylon tarp, sometimes using the "bug house" to hang inside it. We built it in 2005 from the Ray Jardine kit, to replace another very similar but slightly less refined silnylon tarp that I wore out bike touring. The poncho tarp idea is pretty cool, but the utility, size, and strength of a dedicated shelter is good when it weighs 1lb.

I'd really never go back. Planning to xc ski around Crater Lake with it in March.

On the CDT thru-hike. Cooking under shelter, from inside the sleeping bag if needed, really never got old.

CDT thru-hike - the Wind River range:

PCT thru-hike in northern WA - only flat spot for miles in either direction!

That's actually about 30lbs of food hanging on the trekking pole to keep it up out of the mice. Once it's staked out, it's very strong. We've been in blizzards up to 18" with it.

Trying out an aftermarket Granite Gear Dodger tarp vestibule on the PCT near Mt. Jefferson in central OR:

Pitch it high, or pitch it low:

Great ventilation on wet nights. Much drier than a clammy tent body in prolonged wet weather:

Bug-house-only setups on buggy dry nights:

On an especially windy night 4 days into the PCT near Mt. Laguna, CA:

Other thru-hikers tents this past year. Some of these weigh as little as 7oz.

 

[Bladite]

this bughouse idea seems very similar to the Kifaru tarp systems. neat.

 

[trailbum]

TRADJA
That is absolutely a great post.
Could you recommend a sleeping pad.

 

[tradja]

TRADJA
That is absolutely a great post.
Could you recommend a sleeping pad.

Thanks trailbum! To keep this thread on-topic, shoot me an email at tradja AT hotmail DOT com and we can talk about pads.

Here in the thread, could you post pics of your GI poncho system? I've been really curious to see the GI "hooch" setup.

 

[mgregg85]

Not a poncho/tarp but an alternate idea for you. I've been considering a hammock of some kind. Obviously this wouldn't work very well for someone in the desert or out on the plains but in heavily wooded Michigan I think it would work very well.

They aren't cheap though, the hennessy ones start at $100 but they really are more of a hanging tent for one than just a simple hammock.
http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html


As far as I can see the potential benefits of a hammock are:
-Keeping dry by staying off the ground
-Light weight @~2 pounds
-Small size
-Comfort(once again, off the ground)
-It can double as a tent with some sticks and rope

And the downsides:
-hard to change clothes in a hammock
-no real good place to store your gear(my solution to this would be to hang it from a tree with a waterproof cover

Eagle's Nest Outfitters also make some nice ones but they don't come with the rainfly/mosquito netting/support ropes/tree straps.

 

[DerekH]

Not a poncho/tarp but an alternate idea for you. I've been considering a hammock of some kind. Obviously this wouldn't work very well for someone in the desert or out on the plains but in heavily wooded Michigan I think it would work very well.

They aren't cheap though, the hennessy ones start at $100 but they really are more of a hanging tent for one than just a simple hammock.
http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html


As far as I can see the potential benefits of a hammock are:
-Keeping dry by staying off the ground
-Light weight @~2 pounds
-Small size
-Comfort(once again, off the ground)
-It can double as a tent with some sticks and rope

And the downsides:
-hard to change clothes in a hammock
-no real good place to store your gear(my solution to this would be to hang it from a tree with a waterproof cover

Eagle's Nest Outfitters also make some nice ones but they don't come with the rainfly/mosquito netting/support ropes/tree straps.

Already ordered two of the ENOS hammocks Saturday. Just looking for poncho as tarp setup, specifically the GI Poncho which I am more than likely going to get since it is so multipurpose.

 

[trailbum]

Not my photo.
But this is what we always used to do with our ponchos.

 

[MikeyJ]

Man, you guys are hardcore! I'm no ultralite hiker, so I prefer to pack a tent and bag. I've got a slumberjack 0 degree bag that compresses to bout the size of a medium watermelon, and a Kelty 1 person backpackting tent that weighs like 3 pounds. Then, I lay down a RidgeRest pad under my bag. After humpin the trail for 10 or 12 miles, I want comfort! Big time!!!

My hat's off to ya'll!!!

 

[tradja]

Not my photo.
But this is what we always used to do with our ponchos.

Cool, thanks. I know it's not your pic, but is that really a GI poncho in that pic, or a tarp?

 

[upnorth]

I'm tossing a cheap blue folded poly tarp into my pack. 9X12 should do it. I might still have a ratty camo poncho around somewhere. Got it surplus and it ripped up a bit when I was humping down the highway on a motorcycle. I want a large tarp regardless, they come folded into a small flat package anyway and cost what... 5-10 bucks ?

 

[tradja]

I'm tossing a cheap blue folded poly tarp into my pack. 9X12 should do it. I might still have a ratty camo poncho around somewhere. Got it surplus and it ripped up a bit when I was humping down the highway on a motorcycle. I want a large tarp regardless, they come folded into a small flat package anyway and cost what... 5-10 bucks ?

I've used the cheap blue tarp before for a few dozen nights or so and liked it a lot. I like a large tarp and used an 8x10, but the finished size always seems about 6" short of the nominal size.

 

[Fallbrook Forge]

For those considering the GI poncho, I suggest you look elsewhere. They are heavy, big and don't work that well. Granted they're much cheaper than your other options, but honestly I'd rather use the cheap ones at walmart.

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Cheap blue tarps? ENO hammocks? Well, glory be - there's even a Becker Necker visible in this pic...

---

Beckerhead #42

 

[Baildoc]

Man, you guys are hardcore! I'm no ultralite hiker, so I prefer to pack a tent and bag. I've got a slumberjack 0 degree bag that compresses to bout the size of a medium watermelon, and a Kelty 1 person backpackting tent that weighs like 3 pounds. Then, I lay down a RidgeRest pad under my bag. After humpin the trail for 10 or 12 miles, I want comfort! Big time!!!

My hat's off to ya'll!!!

Tent? What's a tent?

 

[messer454]

SmokinOnion- Your set up was really neat. I think I have seen that described in books. How does the reflective homemade tarp do in the wind? How do you orient it to the wind?

 

[SmokinOnion]

SmokinOnion- Your set up was really neat. I think I have seen that described in books. How does the reflective homemade tarp do in the wind? How do you orient it to the wind?

In this case we had a moderate wind out of the north west, which if facing the shelter was coming from the behind and right side. With that set that way it was angled coming in, this keeps the wind eddies pushing any smoke to the left side which for a good bit of it was the foot of the bag if you will. Kept the smoke out of my face.

As far as a strong wind it still seems to work just fine. That is an official issue USGI poncho, I just duct taped the space blanket into it. Once I got it quite warm the space blanket seemed to adhere to the poncho, didn't melt but it felt like almost a bond formed.

I learned from that set up. While it worked I believe I can improve it by reducing the steepness of the angle in order to reflect more downwards than outwards. I can bring the ends in tighter like an old Whelen leanto thus "capping the ends" which I did do with the blankets later in the night as I was warm enough in the bags.

If I was getting precipitation it's really a simple matter of a cross line about 2 feet lower for a top line, and folding the upper edge over creating an overhang. I could have also been closer to the fire with no concerns.

 

[tradja]

I used a poncho most of the time, a larger purpose built tarp some of the time.
In the video below you can see what I did to the poncho.

In short, affix a mylar blanket (space blanket) to the inside of the poncho. When you put it up if you rig it correctly in relation to your fire you'll get very large amounts of reflective heat back into your bedroll.

In the case in the video, later that night I enclosed the ends with the blankets. About halfway through is where I get to talking about the poncho/space blanket and a little on sleeping systems. I've since gone over to a USGI Modular sleep system.

1 bivy sack: gortex, breathable but waterproof, very durable.
1 patrol bag, good to 40F
1 Cold weather bag good to 0

You put the cold weather bag into the patrol bag and both into the bivy sack for the most extreme cold. Other wise you mix and match the types to suit your needs and climate. In the video I talk briefly about layering for bag as I was never satisfied with A bag, rather I wanted options.

The video has other stuff in it, as it was primarily the first trial on a PULK I built but it covered the shelter type so you might find it of some use.

[youtube]yu0T2gRC7iA[/youtube]

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Excellent video!

 

[trailbum]

Cool, thanks. I know it's not your pic, but is that really a GI poncho in that pic, or a tarp?

No, but that is how we set them up.

 

[trailbum]

I used a poncho most of the time, a larger purpose built tarp some of the time.
In the video below you can see what I did to the poncho.

In short, affix a mylar blanket (space blanket) to the inside of the poncho. When you put it up if you rig it correctly in relation to your fire you'll get very large amounts of reflective heat back into your bedroll.

In the case in the video, later that night I enclosed the ends with the blankets. About halfway through is where I get to talking about the poncho/space blanket and a little on sleeping systems. I've since gone over to a USGI Modular sleep system.

1 bivy sack: gortex, breathable but waterproof, very durable.
1 patrol bag, good to 40F
1 Cold weather bag good to 0

You put the cold weather bag into the patrol bag and both into the bivy sack for the most extreme cold. Other wise you mix and match the types to suit your needs and climate. In the video I talk briefly about layering for bag as I was never satisfied with A bag, rather I wanted options.

The video has other stuff in it, as it was primarily the first trial on a PULK I built but it covered the shelter type so you might find it of some use.

[youtube]yu0T2gRC7iA[/youtube]

You said the temp under the reflective blanket was around 50, how do you not end up sleeping in a puddle from melted snow.

 

[SmokinOnion]

You said the temp under the reflective blanket was around 50, how do you not end up sleeping in a puddle from melted snow.

The 50 was a guesstimate based on feel but below is another video from another guy using thermometers to validate temps, his results show an even more dramatic temp change.

As far as snow melt it seemed to glaze over after a few hours and became somewhat reflective. The back snow wall was my concern since it was closest to the increased temp range, fortunately that was on a slight decline, anything that actually liquefied was running back under the snow. The rest of it was far enough away to not be affected. By digging out the area down to the dirt all I really needed to concern myself with was the walls and outlying parts, most of which were far enough away to not be impacted.

When I do this again I will not leave a rear snow wall, instead I will draw the shelter wall all the way to the ground.

Hope that helped.

This is the video that convinced me to try the reflective shelter.
[youtube]S0Ir-NlfmEY[/youtube]