Thinking about buying a tent

You might want to look at REI Outlet too. I picked up a nice Mountain Hardware backpacking tent from there for under $100.00 this summer. :thumbup:
 
I don't have one of those in particular but I have a balck diamond megamid.

Tarps are great if you are camping in an area without bugs or if you have an extreme tolerance to bugs. I have used tarps extensively as a seperate cooking shelters on paddling trips and as a sleeping shelter in less buggy areas/seasons.

They are lightweight and very weather proof, but offer no insect protectiion which makes that couple pounds of weight seem like absolutely nothing if the bugs are bad. I would rather go without a sleeping bag in a buggy area than save two pounds using the tarp.
 
Mewolf1,

I don't mean to belittle your choice. If you like that then by all means go for it and the best of luck.

However, there are some really, really good actual "tents" that you can get that are ultralight and fairly inexpensive. Have you considered a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight, or its little brother (name escapes me), that is little more than a bivy sack?

There are other manufacturers that make an equivalent product.

They'll keep you much more protected from bugs and the elements if that is an issue where you'll be using it.
 
Troll Bait From Hell said:
Mewolf1,

I don't mean to belittle your choice. If you like that then by all means go for it and the best of luck.

However, there are some really, really good actual "tents" that you can get that are ultralight and fairly inexpensive. Have you considered a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight, or its little brother (name escapes me), that is little more than a bivy sack?

There are other manufacturers that make an equivalent product.

They'll keep you much more protected from bugs and the elements if that is an issue where you'll be using it.
Click to expand...

You can get a sewen in floor fer 35 bucks. The price doesn't bother me, much,and the weight is very ineresting. I'm am "thinking" about these tents, not running out and buying. I've been sleeping in cheap tents all my life and one thing s for sure, ya get what ya pay for. A buddy of mine has a four season/600 dollar tent but that aint gonna happen. BUGS, did you say BUGS? I live in Minnesota! Ya we gottem:( 10,000+ lakes, rivers,and pot holes.they aren't bad around the house but go up to the BWCA sometime. I think the tundra has more, but we got plenty. I want somthing that only goes a couple of lbs. for flying and ultra lightweght travel. and over night or two and I like the design and simplicity of this tent, not to metion most tents are made in China these days. Ya they're made to our specs but most of the big names you all know of have gone the way of the conglomerate company. I like the idea of supporting a small company like this one,but not if it does'nt meeet my needs. Just fishin to here some first hand accounts and not what the folks put up on there web site. Cou[le hundred bucks is not that much if it performs and last for ten years.
 
They look good to me.Thanks for posting the link.I would look to buy one in the future.I'd pay the few extra dollars to have them made in the USA instead of China.
 
anomad,

I use a megamid almost exclusively as well, and I agree with you 100% about the tarp versus bugs issue.

If I need to go real light, but am facing bugs, I will normally drop down to my Bibbler bivy sack and no sleeping bag. The tight confines of the bivy ups the temp about 15 subjective degrees, and there's a bug net over my face. if I still get too cold, I can always whistle in the border collie for another 20 but stinky degrees.

Hey, have you tried any mods on your megamid? I carry some empty pantyhose- thin nylon bags and tiny bungie cords with me. When it's time to set up the megamid, I fill the bags with rocks and use them instead of stakes. Much faster. Also works a lot better than the stakes in heavy snow, you fill the bags with snow, and pour a little water on them. They freeze in place.

Take Care,
Jeff
 
Unless you really need to save every ounce take a look at the MSR Trekker Tarp. THe weight is a bit more and with the internal bug tent more still. But the tent is quite a bit more robust. I have the Trekker Tarp and it only weights in at. 2.5 pounds. I do not have the internal bug tenk. If you check around I'll bet you can still find the Trekker Tarp "alone".
Also Gommamer Gear is futzing with the same design. Check out there site and look under the extreem ultralight link.
 
Thanks for the replys folks . I have a little more chewin to do on this subject.
 
i have a tarptent squall. i had it without a floor and last year i got the floor sewn in but haven't used it in that configuration yet. they're of first-class craftsmanship and henry shires is a very stand-up guy who'll bend over backwards for you if there's a problem.

as to their being equivalent stuff on the market, not really. not at that weight and not with that level of construction. that's why i went with the tarptent.

but it depends on your purpose. these tents are designed for LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING. they're NOT designed for rugged wilderness use. you have to take care of them because the material while tough, is very light. be less than careful with a sharp object and you may have problems.

as to bugs, no. they zipper completely closed. if you don't have a floor, there is mosquito netting all along the bottom edge to keep out bugs. stuff can crawl in under the netting of course, (if you go floorless) but mosquitoes and flying stuff stay out.

as to protection from elements, first off they're waterproof. (you will need to seal the seams, however.) secondly, their design is very windproof. your cheap lightweight commercial tents will tear apart long before the tarptent will. i've never had any problems with mine although admittedly, i've never been in a torrential downpour with one. but i haven't heard any complaints from others.

if you're looking for an ultra-lightweight shelter and you don't intend to abuse it, you can't go wrong with a tarptent as far as i'm concerned. for what they are, i think they're one of the best if not the best options out there. but again, depends on your purpose. i only use mine for lightweight packing when i'm travelling big distances...it wouldn't my choice as a long-term bugout shelter, for example. i'd want someting heavier and tougher. and bigger.

i'm not affiliated with the company - just a satisfied customer.

go to backpacking.net and check out the forums there. lots of discussion on tarptent and henry shires (owner) steps in on occasion too.
 
gallowglass said:
anomad,

I use a megamid almost exclusively as well, and I agree with you 100% about the tarp versus bugs issue.

If I need to go real light, but am facing bugs, I will normally drop down to my Bibbler bivy sack and no sleeping bag. The tight confines of the bivy ups the temp about 15 subjective degrees, and there's a bug net over my face. if I still get too cold, I can always whistle in the border collie for another 20 but stinky degrees.

Hey, have you tried any mods on your megamid? I carry some empty pantyhose- thin nylon bags and tiny bungie cords with me. When it's time to set up the megamid, I fill the bags with rocks and use them instead of stakes. Much faster. Also works a lot better than the stakes in heavy snow, you fill the bags with snow, and pour a little water on them. They freeze in place.

Take Care,
Jeff
Click to expand...

I have thought about sewing a curtain of bug netting around the edge of the tarp but have left it unmodified. We have a small quiver of tents and just grab a regular tent if the forecast looks buggy. The extra two pounds is really worth a good nights sleep.

I usually stake it out, but occasionally chose a site that require deadmen. I just tie a few feet of cord on the corners and use rocks, logs, vegetation, or whatever to hold the corners out. some shock cord helps keep even tension as the tent stretches with moisture.
 
MMM, this confirms my suspisions that these are quality tents. This would not be my primary or only tent, I have too much stuff already, might as well add to it. Sure would be nice to say "ya through it in it doesn't weigh much."
Thanks for your opinion.
 
I was browsing our web stats this morning and saw the traffic coming from BladeForums so I though I would jump in and announce a new product:

http://www.tarptent.com/new.html

The Rainbow is free-standing with trekking/ski/hiking poles and/or can be staked at the 4 corners if you don't have trekking poles or need extra stability in huge winds. Either way, a 2-pound (or less) solo shelter with tons of headroom that will sleep 2 in a pinch.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Henry Shires
Tarptent
 
You might look at silnylon tarps -- very lite and amazingly tough. I combine one with a tent pole borrowed from a tent for a hoop (with aluminum gutter spikes sticking out of each end) to get much the same effect at a fraction of the cost. First, I "pitch" the hoop with the spikes stuck in the ground at [3 and 9] and a paracord wrapped around the top of the arc several times and pegged on its ends to the ground [at 12 and 6 o'clock]. Then the tarp gets pitched over the resulting hoop and ridge line. The resulting rig has held up to thunderstorm winds a couple of times.

I have thought of a varient with a "Y" shaped paracord for the ridge line and two points of attachment to the hoop (via multiple wraps). That would eliminate the line running down the middle of the opening at one end of the rig.
 
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