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

[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