Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
I just bought a small, cheap, extremely basic Ozarks Trails 6X5 2 man tent from Walmart.


I have that model as well. Its stated for kids but its makes a decent solo tent as well, giving ample room for and adult to sleep diagonal and with lots of room for gear. In fact, you will see this exact tent touted on solo bike across America forums for its durability, size and weight (as a towed component for biking).

I got it for my kids to use as a privacy and sun shade for weekend lake trips, long race days and hot days when the kids are playing sports and we are stuck there for hours.

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Another thing to consider with tarps and tents is the availability of lashing points in the area your going to camp. Meaning, I've transported my ENO hammock with me on at least a dozen hikes, road trips and stage races, and have been able to set it up maybe twice. In the desert SW there just isn't a dearth of trees, posts, strong shrubs to sling up a hammock or guyline out a tarp without bringing your own infrastructure. When I hiked or moved around the south Pacific, West Coast and SE of the USA, I was able to string up a tarp pretty much anywhere. In the SW, not so much. My tarp & hammock is pretty much a dead weight in my pack in the desert.
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