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What is your favorite Tarp Tent?


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What is your favorite lightweight Tarp Tent, and why?

 

I've been reading and looking at these online for a bit, and the lightweight idea is appealing to me.

 

But I'm in Florida and it can be buggy.... so while I like the idea of openness with a simple tarp (or less).... nope, not for me.... I hate biting bugs...

I'd need something with a bug nest or with integral bug screening....

 

1 man, or maybe two man size....

 

 

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Check out Bear Paw Wilderness Designs.  I have one of the flat silnylon tarps with "wings" that act as doors - http://bearpawwd.com/tarps/flat_tarps.php

 

I've been thinking of getting a Bug Bivy - http://bearpawwd.com/net_tents/bug_bivy.php

 

There are a lot of other tarp like tents that can hold a net insert.

 

Also check out Hexamid from ZPacks - http://www.zpacks.com/shelters.shtml and Tarptent http://www.tarptent.com/index.html

Edited by Hedgehog
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I have use a simple poncho for my backpack tent.  Works just fine.  When I'm not sleeping in it, it makes a good pack cover as well.  When I'm hiking it covers myself and pack in the rain.  We have plenty of bugs where we live too.

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Check out Bear Paw Wilderness Designs.  I have one of the flat silnylon tarps with "wings" that act as doors - http://bearpawwd.com/tarps/flat_tarps.php

 

I've been thinking of getting a Bug Bivy - http://bearpawwd.com/net_tents/bug_bivy.php

 

There are a lot of other tarp like tents that can hold a net insert.

 

Also check out Hexamid from ZPacks - http://www.zpacks.com/shelters.shtml and Tarptent - http://www.tarptent.com/index.html

 

I just finished reading 

The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Techniques to Hit the Trail, by Andrew Skurka

He made some good points against these bivies... the ones I remember most are

that they tend to be stuffier

and the bugs can often bite threw them when you roll up against the mesh

 

He was more in favor of the nests.... which tend to look more like a a frame pup tent only out of mesh.

 

I've been looking at those Zpacks

also this one  http://www.tarptent.com/protrail.html

looks interesting to me.  Looks like maybe more of a single wall tent than a tarp wit its integral bug nest.... but I'm thinking it might be to my liking....

 

 

I have use a simple poncho for my backpack tent.  Works just fine.  When I'm not sleeping in it, it makes a good pack cover as well.  When I'm hiking it covers myself and pack in the rain.  We have plenty of bugs where we live too.

 

I do like the idea of the multi-purpose nature of something like that.... maybe when it's cold enough for no bugs some day....

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One with a hammock underneath.

yep, that has been on my want to try list for a while..... ever since seeing a hennessy hammock a few years back.

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Go to HDepot or HarborFreight and buy a 12'x12' or 12'x15' tarp.  Make or buy (!) a dozen pegs. Make or buy (used?) four  4' poles.  Sufficient sash cord.

Lay out 12x 5 floor and stake out.  Fold over the tarp, 4' up, put the poles in to hold it up, two poles on the outer corners, guy ropes out to brace it, you have a ground cloth and "c" shaped tent covering.  Enough room under for your sleeping bag and pack, if you are not more than 6' tall.  Custom fit your grommets.  Write on the edge (in marker) which way the long edge runs, where to fold and stake for future reference. 

You can even set it up in the rain, by putting your pack and gear in it while you stake out the poles, etc.

 

Inexpensive.

 

The Troop of my youth made our own tarp tents:   8 mil black plastic (hard to find now),  and one of the dads obtained a special mil-spec duck tape.  We cut the plastic in 10x10 squares, lined the edges with the tape (two sides), ran a reinforcing line of tape down the diagonals, and set grommets in the edge  every (?) 2 feet and at the corners and at the 3/4 position on one diagonal , so we could set it up in the "explorer" configuration. Dining fly, put two together for a BIG tent, cover gear, shelter two small scouts, etc.

With care, one of these could last two seasons, and then it was a ground cloth.

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He was more in favor of the nests.... which tend to look more like a a frame pup tent only out of mesh.

 

I've been looking at those Zpacks

also this one  http://www.tarptent.com/protrail.html

looks interesting to me.  Looks like maybe more of a single wall tent than a tarp wit its integral bug nest.... but I'm thinking it might be to my liking....

 

 

 

I do like the idea of the multi-purpose nature of something like that.... maybe when it's cold enough for no bugs some day....

 

 

Living in New Jersey, I'm used to bugs, but I don't use a bug net in either my tarp or hammock.  Why?  Because I"m so covered with DEET that bugs don't come near me.  If he bug spray works during the day, it will work at night.

 

Troop is lookng at these tents for lightweight:  http://www.tarptent.com/double-rainbow.html

 

For backpacking, I have this:  http://www.rei.com/product/865393/big-agnes-fly-creek-ul-2-tent

 

It works well for my son and me, but you really have to like the person you are with.

 

 

yep, that has been on my want to try list for a while..... ever since seeing a hennessy hammock a few years back.

 

I used a hammock on our 50 mile.  I have the ENO Double Nest.  It is amazingly comfortable.  I have a fly to go over it, but didn't use it the whole week because the weather was clear with minimal humidity.  I have used the fly and it works great during torrential rainstorms.

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I have a tarptent, Moment DW. It works pretty good. Lately I've been using a tarp I sewed myself from a Ray-Way tarp kit. I also have the Batwing, a tarp door. Those two items, 12 titanium stakes, a polycro groundcloth and a stuff bag I made from scrap silnylon all weigh 21 ounces. If you're worried about bugs, or are in an area known for ticks, then you can also get the Net-Tent kit. I got the stakes and polycro from Gossamer Gear.

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@@Hedgehog, I have the REI Quarter Dome now, I think it's the "1".  Similar to those that you linked to I think.... except maybe taht tarptent doesn't have a separate fly.... can't tell about those types of tarptents from the picture....

 

@@SWScouter, is that tarptent made with a separate rain fly or is the netting integral to it?  Hard to tell from quick look at the pictures.  

Thanks for the tip on that rayway site.  I have not seen that one before.

 

I'm liking the idea of something like that net tent set-up.  I'd like to camp just under the tarp as @@SSScout describes, or a poncho like stosh,  but I never know about about ticks and bugs and snakes so I'd like to eventually get myself something in between the quarter dome that I have now and these more basic tarps....

like these suggestions maybe... 

 

This is all for future reference down the road for me anyway.... thanks all for the tips so far.

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For the tarptent, the netting and floor may be separated from the fly if desired and also may be set up by itself if desired. It's probably more of a hassle than it is worth though. I believe there are some videos on the tarptent site that show set up and such.

Edited by SWScouter
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