Leaderboard

Second the tarp idea. The last couple of years I have been using a tarp and a light bivy sack combo for good weather. If the forecast is close to 100 percent clear and if your not camping up super high during the summer, a tarp works good. You will need extra bug protection if the bugs are bad. I suggest a silnylon tarp 9X9 or 8X10 or 10X10 and SOL breathable bivy sacks. There are three models to choose from all are good. Do not get the SOL non breathable bivy sacks, the breathable ones are good to use for camping until they fall apart which can take a long time. My system is a feathered friends Vireo sleeping bag, a SOL bivy sack and tarp with my goose down jacket for near perfect weather forecasts. If any significant percentage bad weather forecast I take a synthetic jacket (around 20% and above chance of rain). I have been using 8X10, 1.5 lb tarp (including 6 stakes) along with a 8 oz SOL bivy sack with a 17oz, Vireo sleeping bag. It would be hard to get a much lighter system. I have a particular way of setting up my tarp so it is like a tent with a open front. For my set up you need a tie in point under the center of the tarp. Look at CCS tarps, Cooke Custom Sewing. Tarps they have a quad loop center tie under the tarp to attach a trekking pole. Also I use a tie in point at the front of the tarp. I use two trekking poles for set up. It is cheaper and better to use a simple rectangular or square tarp for climbing as you can find places to set up that you can't hardly use with a tent or a tarp that can be set up only one way. The bonus is a simple tarp is cheaper and often lighter than the fancy tarps. I sometimes carry a bug jacket if I think the bugs are going to be really bad. If you can get above about 5000+ feet to camp the bugs are not so bad in camp. Cheapish square tarps can be found on Ebay. However most do not have the quad loop sewn under the tarp, you can ask it to be added or sew it on yourself. CCS tarps are set up perfect and a USA made product The CCS 8x10 or 10X10 tarps are good for two, especially with a light bivy sack. One can find lighter Cuben tarps but cost much. Best for the money is a 1.1oz per square yard silnylon, one can look hard for a silpoly tarp for about same cost maybe a little lighter depending what you find. I rode out some mild weather with a tarp and bivy combo and it is safe unless your pushing your luck with altitude or weather forecast or very windy areas. Here is the set up I use most every time, a quad loop tie in under the tarp center is needed. I usually put the length at 8 feet and width at 10 feet which gives tons a of room for two guys and gear, much more than a tent and plenty of protection for good weather. One can also use a 9x9, or even 10x10 for lots of protection from rain. Do not camp in a depression. If weather gets really bad a pyramid set up is possible, or drop the open end down close to the ground. You can spend more money for a bivy sack than for the SOL breathable bivvy sack but they are hard to beat in performance only a little small. The SOL escape pro is the most expensive but gives a little more room that the SOL escape, the SOL escape lite is a little lighter but no way to cinch up the head area. The big bonus is being able to carry a light water proof bivy sack up high on the climb. This set up is not that expensive compared to others. One can sew their own tarp but the cost savings is really not there for the first go around as compared to ordered tarps. However sewing a tarp is fairly simple and fun project if into that sort of thing.