Category Archives: Tents and shelter

Nemo Moto Ultralight Tent Among Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide Favorites

Posted on by
Reply

Nemo Moto 1P (1 person)

Backpacker Magazine’s 2011′s Gear Guide is out and is filled with every piece of gear on the market worth considering. I took a quick look at ultralight stuff and found an interesting tent, the NEMO Moto 1P tent. It’s just two pounds and since the tester was 6-feet-7 inches tall and found some comfort in it, I think it it worth checking out. It is pricey at $330, but less ounces often equal more $$ in the world of ultralight backpacking.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Backpacker ’09 Gear Guide Touts Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 Tent

Posted on by
2


Most ultralight tents are pretty durable, so I look at weight, roominess and price in deciding whether I think a tent is in my ultralight backpacking ballpark. The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 gets Backpacker Magazine’s top rating in its annual gear guide as best all-around. My take: Big Agnes is $300 (pricey), 2 pounds, 3 ounces with everything (stakes, poles, fly, tent, sack, instructions – under my 3-pound limit), has a 38-inch high pitch (you can sit up) and a fly that allows space for boots, pack, etc. I’m not crazy about the front entrance, mainly because  side entrances allow you to easily “roll” into the tent. Add 4 ounces for a footprint ground cover.  If you have the money, I give this thumbs up. A word about price. In my experience, the lighter the equipment the more it costs. For example, my Sierra Design Light Year is about 3.5 pounds and cost (five years ago) about $149. To get titanium poles, instead of anodized aluminum, that knock off another eight ounces, the tent cost would have been $349: $25 an ounce or $100 per pole. But if light is what you want and you can afford it, why not get the best and lightest. Chances are, you’ll have it a long time.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Big Sky’s Convertible an Ultralight Winner in the Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide Freestanding Tent Category

Posted on by
Reply

In the Backpacker Magazine 2008 Gear Guide is this year’s winner for lightest freestanding tent: the Big Sky International convertible 1-person tent at 1 pound, 12 ounces with tent, outer shell, and carbon fiber poles. Of course, the carbon fiber poles are an extra $100 and you need to add 2.7 ounces for stakes, 3.0 for rainfly and 3.o for ground cloth. That all adds up to 2 pounds, five ounces. Still, it meets my 2-15 rule (if it isn’t 2 pounds, 15 ounces or less it doesn’t qualify as ultralight backpacking equipment). Obviously, that’s arbitrary and some ultra, ultralighters are going to roll their eyes. You can go lower with tarps and bivy sacks, but tarps don’t keep out the bugs and bivvies are coffin-like.
Also worth a look: Big Agnes Seedhouse 1 and the Black Diamond OneShot.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Backpacker Magazine 2008 Gear Guide Lists 363 Tents; Few Meet the 2-15 Rule

Posted on by
1

Kudos to the editors at Backpacker Magazine who once again have created a must-have annual gear guide. This year, they review 621 packs, 483 boots, 363 tents, 480 sleeping bags and more. As a gearhead and ultralight backpacking hawk, it’s nice to have so much of what’s available out there listed in one place.

In my initial review of listings, I applied Bruce’s 2-15 rule (I will consider no tent over 2 pounds, 15 ounces) and came up with an astounding — compared to a few years ago — 80 tents that qualify.

If you apply the 2-15 rule to freestanding tents, which are those that require no stakes to hold them erect, there are only 13 of 363 tents that meet the rule. The reason for the rule: the lighter your base, the lighter your overall pack. You should keep your base (tent, pad, sleeping bag and pack) under 10 pounds.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Sierra Crossing: Tom Stienstra’s Adventure – Part 4

Posted on by
Reply

(08-08) 04:00 PDT Jeffrey Grove, Kern Canyon — From our perch on a boulder above the river, you could see three dark silhouettes in the pool below.
“They can’t be fish,” said my brother, Rambob, “because they’re too big.”
The morning light poured down over the Great Western Divide and to the floor of the Kern Canyon. On the forest floor, filtered sunbeams bored through the gnarled limbs of ancient Jeffrey pines. In the Kern River’s gin-clear flows, bubbles sparkled at the head of the pool, where a small riffle fed into a deep hole.
Rambob flicked out a cast, let his lure settle on the bottom, and …. read on

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

MSR Hubba 1-Person Tent – Lightweight with Easy Access

Posted on by
Reply

On my recent trip to visit a friend in Lake Shastina, in the shadow of Mt. Shasta, I checked out a couple of backpacking shops in the nearby town of Mt. Shasta. It’s a vibrant little community, which serves as a crossroads and supply station for hiking, backpacking and climbing.

In one shop I discovered the MSR Hubba Solo Fast & Light Tent one-person tent, a roomy shelter with a side entrance for easy entrance and exit.

In consulting the 2007 Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide, I found that it is listed as a “freestanding, dome 3-season tent with minimum weight of 2 pounds, 13 ounces” (which fits my definition — any tent 3 pounds or less–of lightweight).

In case you’ve forgotten, the minimum weight includes tent, fly and poles while packed weight refers to everything supplied, including tent, poles, stuff bags, pegs. Not sure why they wouldn’t include pegs. I guess if the tent is freestanding you could leave them at home, but that doesn’t seem advisable.

The tent peak is 40 inches. My own Sierra Design Light Year tent is 38 inches high and that allows me to barely sit up (I’m 5’10″). So 40 inches is better.

A nice added feature — which is also similar to my Light Year — is that you can use the “fast pack” mode and bring only the ground cloth and fly, which connect. Or just use the self-standing fly as a tarp. This is a good feature, allowing you to get tent weight under 2 pounds — like when the weather is warm, there are no bugs out and you only need minimum shelter.

Above, all else — whether you choose this tent or another — find one with a full side entrance. Getting in and out is so much better than backing in from the top.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Lightest Two Person Tent – Black Diamond HiLight A Candidate

Posted on by
1

Backpacker Magazine’s 2007 Gear Guide lists the Hilight Tent – 2 Person by Black Diamondas the lightest two-person tent. At 2 pounds, 10 ounces, it’s definitely among lightest — certainly among free-standing tents (those you can pitch without staking down). My own Sierra Design Light Year, a solo tent, weighs in at about 3 pounds, pretty heavy these days, but still what I would put in the range of lightweight.

The Highlight apparently pitches drum-tight with only four stakes.

One reason the tent is light is because there is no vestibule. If you’re going solo, then you could simply pull in your gear and still have plenty of room to stretch out. But two people, it appears, would need the vestibule — and guess what — it’s $140 and 15 ounces of extra weight.

Of course, two people can share the weight. But this looks like a better candidate as a solo shelter.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Tips for Safe Winter Camping

Posted on by
Reply

With the death of the Mt. Hood climber (see my Dec. 17 post below), Backpacker Magazine’s article on winter camping safety is timely.

Expert tips for a safe, sound snow shelter

By Grace Carter, February 2007

We won’t lie to you: There will be cold moments when you start snow-camping. But would you rather sit inside all winter, packing on the pounds? Keep your connection to nature alive by embracing the good things about snow: It’s a great insulator and building material-and it’s damned pretty when it blankets the land. Here are 6 ways to make sure your winter camp is warm, comfortable, and protected from the elements.

Check out this link to learn more: http://www.backpacker.com/article/1,2646,10907,00.html.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

Mike Kretzler’s Lightweight Backpacking Base

Posted on by
2

This post is a continuation of my Backpacking Gear List Series, focusing on ways to achieve the lightest possible pack, while maintaining some comfort and staying safe while hiking and camping on your backpacks.
Backpacking Gear List

A frequent reader of my blog and experienced lightweight backpacker Mike Kretzler of Olympia, Washington and publisher of PEREGRINATE at http://www.mkretzler.blogspot.com, was good enough to share his list of base gear. Like my base list # 2, his is between 9 and 10 pounds.

His tent and sleeping bag recommendations are particularly interesting.

Here’s his list (by the way, I tried to provide links to Montbell Diamond tent and Moonstone bag, but couldn’t locate on company websites; names may have changed):

•Pack: North Face Slipstream (3 lbs., 10 oz.) – no longer made, super-comfortable, but too heavy

•Tent: Montbell Diamond – https://www2.montbell.com/america/asp/products/Spg_shosai.asp?cat=1201&hinban=2322276 (3 lbs.)

•Bag: Moonstone (1 lb., 15 oz.)

•Pad: THERMAREST 3/4 PAD (1 lb., 2 oz.) -

Total: (9 lbs., 9 oz.)

Be safe. Be light. Be one with the pack.

P.S. – Mike lists this quote on his blog homepage (I like it):

But how the hell can a person; Go on to work in the morning; To come home in the evening; And have nothing to say (John Prine)

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

Backpack Series: Under 10 Pounds

Posted on by
Reply

This is the second in a series of posts on backpacks that I consider either lightweight or ultralight.
Backpacking Gear List

As noted in my last post, I have two sets of base gear. Why?

I like gear and am constantly experimenting. And truth be told, I am also a little into comfort these days.

The Osprey Atmos 35 gives me more pockets and easier access. The Exped Downmat 7 is filled with down and provides excellent insulation from the cold ground. Ground insulation makes a huge difference in staying warm with a minimalist sleeping bag like the Western Mountaineering HighLite or any similar bag.

Base Set #2
Pack: OSPREY ATMOS 35 BACKPACK (size large) – 43 ounces (2#,11oz)
Tent: Light Year – 1-Person 3-Season Backpacking Tent – 43 ounces (2#, 11oz)
Sleeping Bag: Western Mountaineering® HighLite 35 Degree 850+ Down Sleeping Bag (35 degree) – 16 ounces (1#)
Sleeping Pad: Exped Downmat Sleeping Pad 7– 32 ounces (2#)
Base Total: 9 pounds, 6 ounces.

Considering my original base set 10 years ago was more than 20 pounds, this is not a bad start for someone who wants to become a lightweight backpacker. Because no two backpacks are alike and no two wilderness areas are the same, there is no reason not to have multiples of certain hiking gear, such as sleeping pads. For example, you could add a Gossamer sleeping pad to my list above in the place of the Exped and bring your base down to about 8 pounds. The choice all depends on the weather conditions.

Be safe. Be light. Be one with the pack.

Technorati Tags: , , ,