I'm just curious ...

What kind if tent / shelter do you use when out camping (or not sleeping in a brush pile)?

When I go camping I really enjoy the menagerie of different tent shapes, sizes, and colors.

I always thought that Boy Scout Camporees - where there are lots of troops and even more tents - somehow reminds me of a typical family Christmas tree.



My most used tents:
Cold-weather - Alps Mountaineering Taurus Outfitter 5-person
Warm-weather - Alps Mountaineering Meramac AL 6-person
Windy-weather - Eureka Assault Outfitter 4-person
Backpacking - Eureka Spitfire 2-person

Ken K.

I am afraid I have become a bit "soft" as I age and rarely use a small backpacking type tent anymore.

My week long October moose hunting trips are done from a 14'x16' canvas wall tent complete with cots and heated with a sheet metal wood stove.

Monthly youth group activities are done in a large military modular tent, in ground sheet shelters (hoochies) or in a 2 layer Artic tent in the winter.

Through work I occasionally have to spend long hours observing from one location, if it looks like rain/snow I erect a small camo tarp.

I purchased a Hennessy Hammock last year and as of yet have only tried it out in the daytime. It feels a little claustrophobic and cool on the underside due to air movement under the hammock.

Mike

Out in the woods I never carry a tent. I prefer an improvised shelter, almost always a lean-to. When alone I use a military poncho, which is plenty big enough for myself and my gear. When travelling in a group of 2 or 3 we bring a tarp, about 6'x10'. If necessary (in cold or very windy weather) I also construct some extra side screens, as simple as a few sticks and a big plastic bag.

Most-used tents:

Solo non-extreme weather: Antigravitygear Tarptent or Bozeman Mountain Works bivy + poncho tarp
Duo non-extreme weather: Big Sky Evolution 2P
Solo or cramped Duo winter extreme weather: Hilleberg Jannu
Duo+ winter extreme weather, or when using a pulk and wanting lots of room: Hilleberg Saivo

Here's mine:

http://www.planetmountain.com/english/Lab/gear/nebula/index.html

http://www2.thenorthface.com/download/pdf/instructions-A130.pdf

A rock solid beast, but because of that it's heavier. It's 3-4 season convertible with zip out panels. And three support poles instead of the two you normally find on a tent of this shape. The poles feed through in sleeves, not loops or clips. This is a lot more stable and solid, at the expense of air movement. This lack of air movement between tent and fly is great when it's cold out but can make the tent too warm during hot weather, even with the 4-season panels open.

This tent is no longer made. I picked it up for next to nothing from REI on closeout. $149!!! Previously selling at right near $400, and that was ten years ago.

Bargin 2 person 2 pole dome tent. Cold weather, hot weather, wet weather... whatever. No complaints.

I have a couple nylon dome style tents. I think mine are three pole. I have to have something at least 8 x 7 on account of my size.

The The North Face Nebula looks amazingly like the Eureka Assault:





http://www.eurekatent.com/p-67-assault-outfitter-4.aspx

That's the commercial version of the Marine Combat Tent that Eureka makes for the USMC. I really like the tent, though I prefer not having pole sleeves and like having the taller (6') tents for longer-term camping.

The Assault is a very nice tent, but as you say, its a bit on the heavy side.



Ken K.

Yes, the Eureka and North Face to look similar in design. Tent shape, pole layout, sleeves, etc. Slight differences in windows and fly door. The Eureka website says "pre-bent aluminum frame", but my poles are straight and then bend you insert them in the sleeves. The North Face also has a zip out top panel (mesh underneath) which makes it 3-4 season convertible, at least on paper. In practice, the pole sleeves and rainfly prevent much air getting into the top mesh. But it works well without the rainfly in place.

Usually just use a tarp as groundcloth, which is big enough to fold over my sleeping gear if wind, rain, etc. make that appropriate.

Also use an REI HooDoo3 if the need for privacy or the likelihoood of inclement weather make it appropriate.