Looking For Advice On A Tent

[chudski63]

Hello,
I Am In The Market For A New Tent And Would Like Some Addvice......i Got Back Into Hiking Last Year....just Did Day Hikes As Of Now....would Like To Expand Into A Few Overnighters This Year....looking For A One Or Two Man.....i Also Do The Majority Of My Hiking Solo...so I Am Looking For A Three Season Small And Light Enough To Carry In My Back(just In Case)....not Looking For The A Bargin Basment Tent But Something Reasonable...anybody Have Any Ideas????



Thanks

[Wldrns]

Hello,
I Am In The Market For A New Tent And Would Like Some Addvice......i Got Back Into Hiking Last Year....just Did Day Hikes As Of Now....would Like To Expand Into A Few Overnighters This Year....looking For A One Or Two Man.....i Also Do The Majority Of My Hiking Solo...so I Am Looking For A Three Season Small And Light Enough To Carry In My Back(just In Case)....not Looking For The A Bargin Basment Tent But Something Reasonable...anybody Have Any Ideas????

Strongly consider going to a hammock, especially since you mostly hike solo. I switched from tenting 5 years ago and never looked back. Several forum members are also hammockers. A hammock has huge advantages over ground dwelling - it is light and it can be set up in much more varied terrain than any tent.

I bushwhack more than not, rarely if ever staying in a designated campsite. I have never had to search far for suitable hammock trees, unlike the many times I have searched for an hour for a tiny flat dry solo tent site in the bush. I have set up my hammock on steep hillsides, over dense undergrowth in terrible blowdown, over rocks, and even in a swamp or two with soggy ground beneath me. I never get wet in a rainstorm and enjoy the most comfortable sleep I have ever had. As a bonus you have a ready made tarp overhead if you want to lounge or eat dinner in the rain under the dry hammock.

You don't have to sleep on your back in a modern hammock because of they way it is designed to hang so that you lay on the diagonal - I sleep comfortably on my side nearly in a nearly flat position (not bent). The only disadvantage is you must ensure you use an insulated pad under you, not for cushioning but to protect from the cool night air even in midsummer.

The most common hammock is made by Hennessy, though there are others. Sgt Rock has an excellent web page to get you started.

[DuctTape]

I second the hammock suggestion. The Hennessy is a bottom entry hammock, which some swear by. Ed Speer is also one of the well known hammock designers. Personally I have used neither as I am most comfortable in my DIY hammock and tarp system. Wldns is right about needing a pad for insulation beneath you. I use a truck sized sun-shade I bought for $5 at an auto-supply store. I sleep th best when I am in the hammock, better than when I am in my bed.

[whitefoot]

If you dont like the hammock idea , try the MSR hubba 1 , or the hubba 2, , i just got a good deal on the hubba 1, 07' closeout w/ the footprint, almost half off, plus its a top of the line tent, very light , under 3lbs. and can also be used as just a tarp set up w/ the footprint, (leave the tent at home) to make it even lighter.

good luck, there are too many tents out there to choose from, so do your research and talk with othres who may have the tent you are looking at and see how they like it.

[timetohike]

I bushwhack more than not, rarely if ever staying in a designated campsite. I have never had to search far for suitable hammock trees, unlike the many times I have searched for an hour for a tiny flat dry solo tent site in the bush. I have set up my hammock on steep hillsides, over dense undergrowth in terrible blowdown, over rocks, and even in a swamp or two with soggy ground beneath me. I never get wet in a rainstorm and enjoy the most comfortable sleep I have ever had. As a bonus you have a ready made tarp overhead if you want to lounge or eat dinner in the rain under the dry hammock.

I am also a hammock hanger and agree with all that wldrns said.

Unfortunately, beginning in the summer of 2009 we won't be able to use our hammocks outside of designated campsites in the South Meadows Flowed Lands Corridore. That is the anticipated date when the "campsite only" restriction will go into effect.

I know of at least one ranger who is also a hammock hanger and is working on an exception for hammocks on the theory that hammocks, unlike tents, don't leave a foot print and can be more easily dispersed because they are not dependent on flat level spots.

On the other hand, there is the argument that the "campsite only" restriction is a "soft" way of limiting the number of users of the EHPWA and providing an exception for hammock hangers would defeat that objective.

All hammock hangers should write to the DEC and request that hammocks be excepted from the "campsite only" rule when it goes into effect, unless you agree that the rule should be applied to both tents and hammocks, in which case you should write to the DEC and express an objection to a hammock exception.

[eddogg12]

While I do like the hammock idea, if your looking for a decent tent, you may want to check this out...HERE

I don't own this tent, although with weight, and packed size, taken into consideration It's worth taking a look at. I am actually looking into the 2 person one myself, I have read mixed things about moisture being an issue, but I'm not sure since I don't own one. If someone does, maybe they can comment. I have owned Eureka tents in the past and the quality seems pretty decent. good luck.

[Buckethead]

I've never done the hammock thing, so I can't help there but...My favorite test is from a little company called Nemo. Its lightweight, sleeps 2 and is cavernous for 1 person. They possibly make the fastest setup/teardown tents out there. My review can be found here:

http://adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=6455

[jan]

I have the Squall made by Henry Shires Tarptent. It's very light (2lbs) and can be set up in no time at all. I also have the Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight which is easy to set up but much heavier. I tend to take the Squall when I'm backpacking and the Clip when I'm kayak camping. I've been happy with both and would recommend them to anyone.

Jan

[Wldrns]

Unfortunately, beginning in the summer of 2009 we won't be able to use our hammocks outside of designated campsites in the South Meadows Flowed Lands Corridore. That is the anticipated date when the "campsite only" restriction will go into effect.

I know of at least one ranger who is also a hammock hanger and is working on an exception for hammocks on the theory that hammocks, unlike tents, don't leave a foot print and can be more easily dispersed because they are not dependent on flat level spots.

On the other hand, there is the argument that the "campsite only" restriction is a "soft" way of limiting the number of users of the EHPWA and providing an exception for hammock hangers would defeat that objective.

All hammock hangers should write to the DEC and request that hammocks be excepted from the "campsite only" rule when it goes into effect, unless you agree that the rule should be applied to both tents and hammocks, in which case you should write to the DEC and express an objection to a hammock exception.

I had not heard that hammocks were targeted as undesirables any more than are tents.

I just now conferred with the Supervising Forester to confirm this - "Hammock use is not explicitly discussed...I don't think hammocks are targeted as undesirable. Rather the over use of the area by camping, in general, is being addressed. I agree that overall avoidance of the area for camping will do the most to address the overuse issues here....The spirit of the regulation was to confine all use to as small an area as possible."

I think that says it all. We also agreed that, and practically speaking we both know from experience, there may be difficulties finding suitably spaced trees within the LNT footprint of an overly used beat down designated campsite. Ironically, while a hammock in a primitive site is much more LNT friendly and less destructive than a tent, the opposite may be true in well used designated sites because of where people tend to set up in trees on the margins away from broad tent pads.

I don't tend to spend any time in these areas anyway - such regulations imply it is way too crowded for my taste in the "wild". There are so many much more truly wild deep forest Adirondack areas to explore.

[redhawk]

I am also a hammock hanger and agree with all that wldrns said.

Unfortunately, beginning in the summer of 2009 we won't be able to use our hammocks outside of designated campsites in the South Meadows Flowed Lands Corridore. That is the anticipated date when the "campsite only" restriction will go into effect.

I know of at least one ranger who is also a hammock hanger and is working on an exception for hammocks on the theory that hammocks, unlike tents, don't leave a foot print and can be more easily dispersed because they are not dependent on flat level spots.

On the other hand, there is the argument that the "campsite only" restriction is a "soft" way of limiting the number of users of the EHPWA and providing an exception for hammock hangers would defeat that objective.

All hammock hangers should write to the DEC and request that hammocks be excepted from the "campsite only" rule when it goes into effect, unless you agree that the rule should be applied to both tents and hammocks, in which case you should write to the DEC and express an objection to a hammock exception.

I'm in full agreement with the restriction if it's intent is to limit the number of people using an area. It won't work, more people will just start hiking earlier to try to ensure they get a site. then there will be disputes and people pitching tents beyond the number allowed at a site. Soon enough they will find that it isn't enough and will go to a permit and possibly seasonal restricted system to limit use.

It's just a matter of time. Better sooner then later.

Having said that, Hammock backpacking is the most beneficial shelter method for backpackers wishing to save weight. It's lightweight, easy to set up, does not require level or smooth ground, and creates a very small impact on the environment if hung properly.

Hawk

[timetohike]

An article in the January/February issue of Adirondac magazine addressed the permit versus regulation methods of limiting human impact on the wilderness environment:

“within a year or two, the only camping that will be permitted in the High Peaks Wilderness Area will be at designated sites in designated areas. No more off-site camping. But that awaits a complete inventory of what DEC has for designated sites, removing a few and creating others, in theory with no net loss. When that happens, there may be an itch to implement a permit or quota system for campers, as is called for in the original UMP. It's an itch the DEC is disinclined to scratch.

In 2000, ADK persuaded DEC to hold off any serious attempt at a permit system for at least five years to see what effect less restrictive measures might have in reducing High Peaks camping. Nearly all concerned at this point believe a permit or quota system is unnec¬essary. ‘I don't think it's an issue at all now, except for a couple of peak week¬ends,’ says [Chris] Alberga.”

Right or wrong, the DEC appears to currently believe that it can manage use of the Park without a permit system. That objective appears to be premised on the theory that the total number of people using the HPWA will continue to decline or at least stabilize (estimated to have dropped from a peak of 150,000 in 1998 to just 100,000 in 2006), and, more importantly, that the shift from backpacking to day hiking will continue in the future. If either or both of those trends reverse (meaning more people want to camp or more people start using the HPWA, or both) then the non-permit management system might fail.

Personally I have no hard and fast position on the issue, although it is easy to lean toward a permit system because it would eliminate the risk of a change in user characteristics upsetting the management plan. However, I think we have traveled far from the topic of the thread that was initially about tents and hammocks.

[Bill I.]

Regarding the issue of hammock tents in the eastern High Peaks Wilderness, the DEC was clever enough to include this definition in their regs:

Tent means a temporary, collapsible shelter which is used for camping outdoors and is made primarily of fabric but which may have walls constructed from other materials.

Hammock tents seem to fit well within this definition, making them subject to the same rules as ground tents:

d. Camping restrictions. In the High Peaks Wilderness Area, no person shall:

1. erect or use any tent platform or camp structure other than tents, tarps, lean-tos, or those composed of snow;

2. camp at any location above 4,000 feet in elevation;

3. camp at locations which are greater than 3,500 feet in elevation but equal to or less than 4,000 feet in elevation except at a primitive tent site; or

4.erect a tent in a primitive tent site at a distance greater than fifteen feet from the official department sign or disk.

And:

5. In the South Meadows-Flowed Lands Corridor, no person shall camp except at a primitive tent site...

As for the original question, my favorite tent is the Eureka! Aurora. It's heavy by all current standards, but it's weather tight, well ventilated, and plenty spacious. I've toted it around these woods for many miles. The only thing is... it was a discontinued model when I purchased it.

[timetohike]

The South Meadows Flowed Lands corridor camping restriction with respect to "campsite" only camping has not gone into effect because the DEC has not completed the prerequiste inventory yet. Here is the latest DEC statement that I know of on that subject:

"The HPWA regulations will restrict camping in the South Meadows-Lake Colden Corridor to designated sites once the Department has completed final site designation. At this time this regulation has not taken effect since we have yet to complete designation and relocation of the sites at South Meadows. We hope to complete that work next summer and the regulation would likely become active for the 2009 warm weather season."

Alberga, Kristofer, Supervising Forester, DEC, December, 2007

I agree that hammocks can be treated as tents under the current regulations, but last year I was told by the DEC that hanging a hammock in a lean-to, if it could be done from the rafters or support posts, would not violate the "no tents in lean to" regulation. That means that the DEC is not presently treating hammocks as tents.

[timetohike]

I had not heard that hammocks were targeted as undesirables any more than are tents.

I wasn't suggesting that hammocks were targeted - I was making that point that all camping, via hammock or tent, will be restricted to designated campsites in the SMFL corridor once the campsite inventory is finalized, presently scheduled for the summer of 2009.

Once those regs go into effect we won't be able to set up a camp anywhere in the SMFL corridor other than within those designated campsites, unless hammocks are excepted from the definition of tents.

[DEEPFOREST]

Hello,
I Am In The Market For A New Tent And Would Like Some Addvice......i Got Back Into Hiking Last Year....just Did Day Hikes As Of Now....would Like To Expand Into A Few Overnighters This Year....looking For A One Or Two Man.....i Also Do The Majority Of My Hiking Solo...so I Am Looking For A Three Season Small And Light Enough To Carry In My Back(just In Case)....not Looking For The A Bargin Basment Tent But Something Reasonable...anybody Have Any Ideas????




Thanks

You said Tent right? All these folks are would try to sell you a cat if you came into a pet store looking for a dog....

Anyway, after you do your research, the MSR Hubba line should be one of your top contenders.

http://www.msrgear.com/tents/fastandlight.asp