Single person tent

Tim20637

Tim20637

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
506
Has anyone tried using a bivy tent? I'm tired of lugging my old marmot zoom around (been using it for 10 years now) and would like to get something lighter weight and reduce it to a 1p since ill be going solo most of the time. Thanks for the input!
 
I've tried to get into the 1 man size tents and I am better off sleeping under a tarp due to tossing and turning. I am looking at the 2 two man verision as it offers more room and the weight difference is not noticed
 
I considered just using a tarp but I prefer to be completely enclosed in a shelter. The zoom is about 5 lbs but I would like to shave as much weight as possible off my pack.
 
Wanted some info from people who used the bivy but if most of you think it wont provide enough room I would probably have to go to a 1p tent or possibly consider the tarp/hammock idea. Never tried a hammock so I suppose I wouldnt be against it.
 
I have a couple on one-man tents. I initially got them for economy of weight and space-savings, but I found that I don't like them. I might have had I gotten them when I was much younger. First, one must be a contortionist to get in and out. Second, one has to provide seperate weather shelter for their gear. I found that I could not get undressed and dressed in one. I could not sit up. I could not reach the foot of my sleeping bag to vent it. Contrary to what I imagined, they take more staking and adjustment to get a correct taut pitch than a larger freestanding dome. So I reverted to using my six pound three-man Mountainsmith Sanctuary dome tent. I know a lot of folks swear by hammocks these days, but I imagine a lot of these negatives of one person tents apply to them, plus the need to find appropriately spaced trees. On the plus side, you can usually pick up a lightly used one cheap to try it for yourself and see if it fits your style. If not, you don't have much invested and can turn it easily enough.
 
I bought a bivy bag some years back and found that I needed a dining tarp anyway for cooking and gear in rainy conditions. Its a bugger to cook a meal in a bivy bag.;) I suppose if you are hiking alot in dry conditions or just doing one or two day trips and can pick your days to go by the weather, a bivy would be just fine. I've always considered the "just a tarp" But skeeters can be ferocious in my neck of the woods and until I can figure out a bug netting-tarp combo I'll stick to a tent.JMO
 
Codger_64 said:
I have a couple on one-man tents. I initially got them for economy of weight and space-savings, but I found that I don't like them. I might have had I gotten them when I was much younger. First, one must be a contortionist to get in and out. Second, one has to provide seperate weather shelter for their gear. I found that I could not get undressed and dressed in one. I could not sit up. I could not reach the foot of my sleeping bag to vent it. Contrary to what I imagined, they take more staking and adjustment to get a correct taut pitch than a larger freestanding dome.
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What one-person tent are you talking about? Or do you mean bivvys?

Ive got a MSR Hubba HP and i can sit straight up in it, dress/undress, cook under the apsis, store a 70 litre pack + boots and clothing under the apsis. Its freestanding to boot and when its set up, i am completely sheltered from the elements.

Same story goes for the Hilleberg Akto, except its not freestanding.

And for the record im 6´1 and 210 pounds.

@ Tim20637

Forget about the bivvy-tents, theyre a real pain to climb into/out, especially when you have to take a leak in the dead of winter. Your gear will need a tarp to keep it dry, and by then your shelter is weighing the same as a lightweight tent, such as the MSR Hubba.

A good 1 person tents keeps the bugs away, is free-standing, allows you to cook and store gear, etc, etc.

6207594800_2239426786_z.jpg
 
Prop,

Thanks that is exactly what I was asking.

Bivy bags are basically sleeping rough in a waterproof and breathable bag
A dry system for being benighted in very rough and wet weather
No storage

I personally have found an US Army poncho to be equal to the job and much more room
I used a walking sticck for the height and pitch

A single person tent
Ah!
You and your gear
You can sit up and hang out in very poor weather
Tha candle holder swinging in the breeze to read by
Cook in your sleeping bag with the stove under the vestibule
Airy and bug free with good netting
Now a days what do they weigh?
And the ease of set up

Now, what was the question?
 
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Thanks for the info, I currently own an old Marmot zoom, which ive been using for 10 years. It's a 2p 3season, also have a marmot twilight 2 that I was given but have not tried it yet. Also a 2p 3 season tent. Sounds like I should just suck it up and take the extra pounds on my pack for the extra comfort/convenience. I usually hike out to my locations and the weather doesnt bother me too much.
 
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I have an old Slumberjack Bivy Shelter that I got maybe sixteen years ago. The pro is that is packs up to the size of a bread loaf. The con is that it is like being in a nylon coffin. I keep it with my get home bag.

For a compact, one man shelter, have you considered something like a Hennessy Hammock? Mine is super comfortable, packs to football size, and can be used on the ground like a Bivy shelter if necessary.
 
I have never tried one only cause I am a very light sleeper and move around through out the night to stay comfortable. But I'll try anything once! Well, almost.
 
Tim20637 said:
I have never tried one only cause I am a very light sleeper and move around through out the night to stay comfortable. But I'll try anything once! Well, almost.
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I am also a light, fidgety sleeper. In the Hennessy, I never feel the need to move around much, and I sleep like a baby with no stiffness or soreness in the morning. I was dubious at first too, but I thought the concept was neat and I got a deal on a used one. I've been pleasantly surprised by it. If you get ne and don't like it, you'd be able to sell it easily, as they have quite a following.
 
I think I might give the hammock a try then. I can always fall back on the two tents I already own and if I'm able to 'move them quickly then it doesnt seem like I can lose out. Thanks for the information on the hammocks. Any suggestions on what to look for brand wise or size? I'm about 5'8" 145 lbs
 
I'll throw this out there as a last thought - most of the lbs in the average tent come from the fiberglass poles. Replacing them with aluminum ones will take as much as two or three pounds off your load. Next, replace the stakes with lighter weight ones. I weigh all my gear, have noticed the fabric weight of different two man 3 season tents is negligible.

One of my all time favorite shelters was nothing more than a 9'x7' tarp with a 4 foot strip of mosquito netting sewed along three sides and guyouts all over. I'll be making a new one soon as I really don't like the feel of a tent at all. The Kelty "Noah's Tarp" comes in different sizes and sets up easy. I'll be getting the 9' one and sewing in some mosquito netting along all four sides.
 
I have a one man Hubba Bubba as I found I didn't care for the end entry tents.
 
I have used one of the little Eureka Solitaire tents for several years now. It sets up quickly, is light weight, water proof and easy to carry. If you are not careful venting it though, it can build up some condensation.
hantypondcamping.jpg
 
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