What do you use for a tent/bivy/tarp?

[halflife65]

I've been using an REI Quarter Dome 2 tent - I weighed it the other day with everything that I would pack along with it (tent, fly, footprint, pegs) and it weighs in at 4.6 pounds.  Not too bad, but I'm always looking to get lighter.  Also, it's rather bulky and, by the time I put my sleeping bag (either North Face 0 degree or Kelty 25 degree) and pad (Thermarest Prolite 3), it ends up taking a lot of room so I strap it on the outside.

What do you use to sleep in to keep weight and bulkiness down?  If a tarp/tarp tent do you use some sort of ground clothe?  If so, what?  Just curious about what other people are carrying and why they think it is a good way to go. 

My stove and gear are pretty light - if I can figure out how to lighten up on the sleeping system (tent and bag), I should really be able to cut some weight.

Thanks in advance!

[Ray]

I don't have just one tent or one sleeping bag. I carry a setup which changes with the seasons and conditions. I use tarps, bug netting, double wall and single wall tents as well as the latest purchase via BearPaw==> Killbilly : a larger tent for car camping. For sleeping bags I use down or synthetic and even poncho liners. In the past I have also used a mere synthetic sleeping bag liner for Septembers.

The first key to explore how I should go about trimming down my bags was to select one sizer smaller than the smallest backpack I thought can get away with. Then I learned what I could actually live without or even what might be a better fit as far as different products are concerned.

Overall I would say that using some sort of tarp system will generally be lighter than the conventional tent. Also being in the infantry for numerous years I lived by the watchwords of "travel light and freeze at night". I sleep well in cooler weather up to a certain point. It's getting dry clothes on at the end of the day which allows me to do this for an extended period of time.

[PWN Kurt]

My favorite tents are the floorless pyramid style tents.  My first one was a megamid by Black Diamond and now I use a GoLite hexamid.  One pole in the center, ultra light fabric.  I've used these tents mountaineering and in some pretty impressive rainstorms.  You need to have some pretty solid stakes, and a ultralight tarp under your bag is a good idea in 'wet' season.  You can get sil-shelters from Integral Designs too.

These tents are ultra light, and have headroom in the center, so their easy to get dressed in.  No floor, so you can wear your boots in, let the dog in, spill the coffee.

The down side to floorless tents are mice can get in...and the girlfriend thinks the spiders have free range (she's correct).

Down sleeping bags cut down weight too.

Kurt

[BLKBEARKLR]

if using one the most I have used is three army ponchos, snapped together or one army poncho like a jungle style.

Infantry all teh way, go light freeze at night

[Tim]

I use a Kifaru Super Tarp pitched on the ground if its cold( 1bs.)If its colderI use the annex to enclose it(add 6 oz.)and maybe a small canister wood stove if its real cold(add2 lbs.)If its warm and wet with aloy of bugs I use a Claytor Jungle Hammock with the super tarp over it for a rain fly(total wieght3 lbs.)

[mattaylor81]

I was using a Marmot EOS 1P tent.  It was pretty light.  In order to go lighter and at the same time have more room  I now have an 8' x 10' Integral Designs Silnylon tarp that I use.  There are many configurations to set it up in depending on the weather and it is big enough for 2 people or a mansion for 1 person and gear.

[Wild Bill]

8 OZ 8X10 Sil Tarp Made by integral designs. About 150$.Super light, super water repelent, super reliable.  This is simply the best.

For a bag stay away from down as if its wet your screwed. I personaly use a old patrol bag, and wear some long johns if need be with a light fleece bag liner. Lighter than a mid temp bag, and you can loose the liner if necessary. Still may get chilly, but definatly not unbearable in the 60° range.

If your looking to lighten your load, one thing most over look is the pack itself. It may be comfy, but there are some HEAVY packs out these days.

[Ray]

I don't agree that down is something to stay away from. Knowing the conditions you might encounter really dictate whether or not down is a suitable choice more than anything.

[NRA4LIFE]

Tarptent Contrail.  Weighs in at 24 oz.

[halflife65]

Lots of guys going to the tarps/tarptents.  Do you all use trecking poles to set them up or just tie them to a tree, use sticks, etc?  I've used an emergency tube tent a couple of times when I've been out without a tent at all and just used some parachute cord to set it up.

Also, what do you use as a groundcloth if the ground is wet?  Just curious - it looks like it's possible to add some weight here if you don't choose carefully.

[Ray]

I use trekking poles for some and just 550 chord for others. If it's going to be snowy on the ground where I anticipate more than 2 inches then I will use a tent. Otherwise I don't normally use a ground mat at all for a tarp system.

[tonymoe]

I use the MSR Twin Sister, I don't worry about the floor being wet. it weighs in at 2lbs. (packed weight)  and I either tether it of from the top of the tent to trees or just whack off the right size sticks that are laying about.

[Ray]

That's a lot like one of the shelters I use - a BD Betamid. I also have the bug netting to go with it. Which is useful in August to early September.

I also just use those plain cheap tarps at times.

[Wild Bill]

I don't agree that down is something to stay away from. Knowing the conditions you might encounter really dictate whether or not down is a suitable choice more than anything.

Good point, BUT...
I did a 3.5 day 75 mile training trek, where the average temp was near 10°, with no humidity in Bend Or two yrs ago. Bag was stellar the first night, but then with a bivy tent, it began to "sweat". Even with time to "dry by the fire", the bag was not up to snuff. So much in fact, i didnt even sleep in it the final night, but opted for a fire bed instead.

[letmhunt]

I use a gortex bivy sac. ultra light weight perfect for hiking in and hunting from one place to the next. elk move so you have to move with them.

[Ray]

Bags do accumulate moisture. I think for those conditions a down bag may not have been the best choice. I prefer the down bags when I am in the summer and early fall months. Or when making short trips where I can lie out under the stars.

It really boils down to understanding what your equipment is capable of and matching that with expected conditions. Sometimes you'll be wrong but living with it is part of the experience.

[mattaylor81]

I use trekking poles and 550 cord with my 8 x 10 ID Siltarp.  I use footprint from one of my tents for a ground cloth.

[PacificNWhunter]

Marmot Helium down bag and Out Door Research gortex bivy. All packed up 9x18 and around 3 lbs. I stayed away from down bags for a long time until I got tired of packing the bulk and weight around. There are some nice synthetics out there though, I just prefer down. It takes a little more maintenance but I think it worth it.

[flashover52]

The area we hunted last year seemed to be overrun with mice at night. They were running all over and under the tent (thankfully we had a full floor) and all over our gear in the vestibule. This year I'll be sure to bring a few traps.

I've been watching the UltraLight backpacking sites as of late and looking at sourcing some cuben fiber to make a tent/shelter this winter. I'll probably start with a basic blue tarp ($15) for my prototype, expand to a silnylon ($7-10/yd) and then possibly to cuben (~$27/yd).

If I were to buy one right now ---  I am really interested in the SnowTrekker Tents (www.snowtrekkertents.com/) for size/weight but the fact it doesn't have a floor still bugs me. For those of you that have slept without a floor -- how bad were the mice? I had a drybag get chewed up and two duffel bags come home with holes.     

[Tim]

I think if you have anything in your floored tent that mice want its a small matter for them to go through the floor of your tent to get it.Its alot thinner than a dry bag

[whacker1]

I went camping with some buddies this weekend, and he hung up his bivy style Hammock tent.  Not sure the brand, but I think it is one of these.

http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html

[tonymoe]

I went camping with some buddies this weekend, and he hung up his bivy style Hammock tent.  Not sure the brand, but I think it is one of these.

http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html

I think the hammock idea would be cool sometimes and other than the MSR Twin Sisters, I use a bivy sac at times (just depends on when and where). I think you still have to look at the 2lb. 12oz. that the hammock weighs. You can have the luxury of a tent at that weight. when I say luxury, I mean room to move, change, eat in bad weather, ect....

[Slider]

I have a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL. You would want a free standing tent once the weather rolls in.


http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/ProductFinder/Tent/filters/58

[halflife65]

Lots of good ideas and great advice from everyone - thanks for the input (if you still have more info keep it coming, though  ).

Slider, do you have the SL1?  If so, how is it for a guy about 6 feet tall?  Do you have adequate room and have you tried it with just the fly and footprint?  It claims that it is only 1 pound 12oz this way - and it would probably work in Sept (might want the bug netting any earlier than that, I think.)

Otherwise, I'm thinking maybe a siltarp with something like one of those Goat Ti bivys to protect the sleeping bag if I think that the weather will suck or just a tyvek ground cloth if the weather will more or less be ok.

[Slider]

yes I have the SL1. It's nice. I'm 5'11" I have not used it with out the netting. I don't like bugs!!! It's really light anyway.

[ICEMAN]

...The down side to floorless tents are mice can get in...and the girlfriend thinks the spiders have free range (she's correct).

For a lightweight mouse killer, check here: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,17938.0.html

[uncoolperson]

I went camping with some buddies this weekend, and he hung up his bivy style Hammock tent.  Not sure the brand, but I think it is one of these.

http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html

I'm told (by my brother) that they arn't all that strong, he sat in one on his PCT hike and it tore in half.

The owner of it said they didn't want a replacement and asked that he give them his spare bivy.

[CoryTDF]

I really like my Treehugger Hammock. It is a double and it has plenty of room for my fat ass. It's a great summer time sleeper. this is the link

http://www.treehuggerhammocks.com/products.php?main_product_id=196&

I took it on my trip to Montana this year. You can see a pic of my set up. It was light and it worked great.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,29522.0.html

[Ray]

Another way to cut weight is to get rid of the stove and if anyone uses those water filters to use chlorine or tablets.

[FWilliams]

i just tossed my tarptent contrail ,  after heavy use this last month, not happy with it.

just got the black diamond light sabre bivy and so far  have been much happier with it

[halflife65]

No condensation problems with the bivy?

[PacificNWhunter]

No condensation problems with the bivy?

Nothing too bad yet, I have only spent about 15 nights in mine and only once it sprinkled. I dont zip mine all the way up either though. Mine also has a tent pole that creates a little more room inside the bivy.

[Tim]

how do you get in and out of a bivy in the rain without getting wet?and if its not raining or snowing why do you need a bivy or a tent?

[Hooter]

I use the Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 SL but I use it just for me! I am 6'3" and need the extra leg room and the seedhouse 2 has it, as well as 40 inch head room. My feet don't touch the bottom of the tent or the walls near my feet, I use a down bag and have room inside for cloths and whatnot. Nice unit!