Ultralight shelters

[DanO]

Recently ran across these tarptents. Check them out.

 

http://www.tarptent.com/products.html

 

 

 

[AR_Guy]

These are used extensively by long distance hikers - PCT and CDT especially. First rate products from a great company. I have one.

[Animal]

I hikes the CDT in 2004 using the Cloudburst 2, it is an awesome tarp/tent, I probably use this tent 90 percent of the time. I use a piece of Tyveck for a ground sheet!

 

 

[OlympicMtnBoy]

I have one of these: http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/tarp.shtml It takes a little more thought to pitch but it's super light and has worked good for my summer/nicer weather shelter.

 

[AlaskaNative]

Here are some suggested choices for tarps/pyramids.

 

- Integral Designs SilTarp 1 or 2, with a BugaBivy

- Integral Designs SilShelter w/ Bug Liner

- Six Moon Designs

- Tarptent

- GoLite

- Hilleberg Rajd

- Black Diamond Beta Light w/Beta Bug

 

More suggestions at Pro Mountain Sports:

Tarps.

Tents.

 

Take a look at Moontrail Tarptents and 'Mids too.

 

Note the following problems with tarptents:

- poles in the way (with some designs like the Beta Light)

- wind resistance

- non-breathable fabrics

- no top vents

- no mesh views

- not freestanding (pitching on platforms or rocky shores)

- snow loading

 

 

Personally, I'd rather carry another pound or two and have a higher-strength, higher-luxury shelter.

Edited August 15, 2007 by AlaskaNative

[jared_j]

A good alternative to the ID siltarp is a flat tarp from Oware. They have extra tie-out points in the middle of the tarp body that allow you to pitch them in a fashion that reduces exposure to wind and precip (on one side, anyway). Plus it has the versatility to be pitched as a regular A-frame. This has more versatility than any of the other flat tarps I've seen on the market.

 

Picture of the tarp

[crackers]

Integral Designs has a new one coming out with a pole and stuff...looked really nice (like all their stuff) at OR.

[DanO]

Here is the rainbow tarp with a alpine setup.

 

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews?forum_thread_id=2368&cat=Shelters%20%2D%20Single%20Wall%20Tents&cid=16

[AlaskaNative]

Cool tip on the Oware tarps.

 

For the super-ultra-light, there is the adventure racer aproach of no shelter at all.

 

Use a waterproof sleeping bag with a tarp and/or bugnet.

 

For combined bag/shelter, nothing will beat these in weight.

 

MacPac Adventure Sport sleeping bags.

 

Mountain Hardwear Spectre SL (they sell other waterproof bags, this is one example).

[Dustin_B]

Here is the rainbow tarp with a alpine setup.

 

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews?forum_thread_id=2368&cat=Shelters%20%2D%20Single%20Wall%20Tents&cid=16

 

I used the rainbow 2 all summer long on all kinds of climbs including a 6 day Pickets trip. We've put this thing to the limit and now understand the limitations of an ultralight backpacking tent in a mountaineering setting! We once had to rig up an internal strut system with trekking poles and duct tape and it actually worked great! I've used it in snow storms, rain storms, and wind storms (always dry). I'm extremely impressed. that said I would not take it on a big mountain (Rainier, Volcanoes, etc.) or use it outside of the summer/fall season.