Not everybody is a fan of camping, but if you are then perhaps this might be worth a read. There are four mainstays of camping abodes each with their own strengths and weaknesses. This article aims to educate readers on various tent options, provide personal reviews on gear, and hopefully nurture the call of the great outdoors in as many people as possible.
As always suggested by this site, choose your gear according to your plans. Since a good night’s rest is important in any adventure that may keep you out after the sun goes down, picking the right tent for the job is more important then one might initially think.
The first type of tent we will discuss is the Family/Friend Tent:
These things can range in size from huge to beyond reason. They usually take more then just one person to setup and can be quite heavy.
Strengths
§ Spacious: Sleeps anywhere from 4-12 people. Will fit one or more of your average queen-size inflatable sleeping mattresses, plus room for gear – great for the princess in all of us!
§ Sturdy: depending on the make and the design, these tents tend to be pretty strong, although most lack a four-season rating.
§ Room to hangout if the weather turns bad, along with room to get away from all the blood-sucking insects. Some of these tents have ceilings over six feet high.
Weaknesses
§ Size: You've got plenty of room…. which means you need a big enough spot to pitch the tent. Also, because of there size, these tents can act like a huge sail in a good gust of wind. Keep in mind most of these tents weigh in just north of 30lbs. So they are heavy and usually take a good amount of time setting up.
Personal Preference
§ Coleman Weather Master 4 (see link below) – I love this tent! Not only is the thing sturdy and well thought out, it is made to withstand the weather, and does so quite well! It has the option for dividing the inside space into two rooms and the screen sitting area (which has an outside entrance and an inside entrance) is just about perfect for getting away from the insects while maintaining the outdoor view.
**Adventure Never Sleeps highly recommends this tent for car camping adventures.**
The second tent to be discussed is the Backpacker Tent:
Backpacking tents are made to be light and easy to carry. These tents and their footprints are generally small.
Strengths
§ Size: Their small packed size allows them to be stuffed in backpacks and finding enough space to set up in is never hard
§ Weight: These tents range from light to ultra light.
§ Durable: Because of low profile options these tents can withstand weather really well. Due to advancements over the years, backpacking tents are fairly simple and setup quickly.
Weaknesses
§ Size: They are small, not roomy, but then again you only really sleep in a backpacking tent. When used for car camping they work, but often times they are too small to fit a queen-size inflatable sleeping mat.
Personal Preference
§ Kelty Gunnison 2 (see link below): My most used tent. Originally I purchased this tent because of the large amount of mesh it has. I like being able to look around at night and wake up with the sun. Unfortunately, due to threatening weather, I've hardly spent a night in it without the rain fly. The rain fly provides two vestibules to stow your gear. Kelty calls it a "2-person-tent." I really call it a solo-tent with room for gear—although mine has slept three grown men in a snowstorm. The only problem ever encountered with this tent was when part of the rain fly broke. After sending it off to Kelty, I got it back approximately three to four weeks later—fixed for free!
**Adventure Never Sleeps recommends Kelty tents, and their customer service.**
Third, for those who are a little more adventurous is the Hammock:
Hammocks can be a great way to sleep up off the ground and away from the bugs. Some hammocks can come with bug screens as well as a rain fly.
Strengths
§ Convenient: Ultra light and easy to set up.
§ Comfort: Being up off the ground means your safe from standing water and most insects, and the rough terrain won't bother you one bit. Although they are not for everyone, a night’s sleep in a hammock can be quite comfortable.
Weaknesses
§ Finding the correct place to hang your hammock can be challenging sometimes. They are not always the easiest things to get in and out of, although recent advancements allow for one to enter their hammock from the bottom. Although each hammock is slightly different every person is hugely different. Some people just cannot sleep in them as they force certain sleeping positions. You only really have room for one, unless you really want to snuggle tight, even the two person hammocks.
Personal Preference
§ Any hammock from Hennessy Hammock (see link below): These guys are truly innovators when it comes to hammock camping. Even though a sleeping arrangement weighing a mere three pounds is more than acceptable, they make ultra-light rigs that weigh even less. Three pounds is not much weight in a backpack—a rewarding investment for the avid outdoors person.
Last but not least, is the Bivy/Cowboy Camping:
One can never really go wrong with owning a bivy sack. If you are using them for the added warmth, it is an easy way to get it. If you are sleeping in a hammock, bivy's perform excellently at adding more protection from the elements. A bivy is pretty much just a water-proof bag that your sleeping bag fits into. Newer technologies allow bivy's to breathe whilst retaining their water-resistance.
Strengths
§ Light weight.
§ Can sleep anywhere you’re able to lay down.
§ Minimal setup/takedown time—most often people will leave their down sleeping bags in their bivy's and roll them up together
§ Work well as an added layer for extra warmth.
§ Able to lie on the ground beneath the stars without getting your sleeping bag dirty or wet.
Weaknesses
§ Insects: Unless you have a bivy that provides a mesh layer over the face, the insects will feast on you throughout the night.
§ Fair weather only: Many bivys are made with Gor-Tex, however, they can still soak through—I wouldn’t recommend a bivy if there is even the slightest chance of rain.
Personal Preference
§ Outdoor Research Highland Bivy (see link below) - A great bivy that has a sealed tub-bottom that keeps water from getting in. It also has a mesh layer to keep the creepy-crawlers out and away from their sleeping-feast at night. Keep in mind that a military surplus store might sell a basic bivy for a fraction of the cost compared to what you might find elsewhere.
Conclusion: When it comes to how you are going to spend the night, you have your options. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses, it is up to you to decide which best fits your style and which would do the job most effectively. Good luck and happy camping!
Links:
Coleman WeatherMaster 4 http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000001595&categoryid=11020
Kelty Gunnison 2.1 http://www.kelty.com/p-352-gunnison-21.aspx
Hennessy Hammock http://hennessyhammock.com/
Outdoor Research Highland Bivy http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/highland_bivy.html
1 comment:
I've never heard of bivy before.
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