Shelters/Tents/Tarps I've Used For Backpacking - from March 2013 to January 2015

• published: 02 Feb 2015
• views: 104

This backpacking shelter/tent/tarp compilation shows what I’ve used to keep me warm, dry and out of the wind since I started my backpacking YouTube channel on March 22nd, 2013 to January 2015. My goal with shelters has always been to keep going lighter and roomier. I started off with tents like the Texsport Pup tent because it could be pitched with sticks or with my trekking poles and I could get the weight down to 2 lbs. on a budget of $25. After that I moved onto tarps and tried the HQ ISSUE 8 1/2x8 1/2' Tarp, Digital Camo. To set it up properly in the half pyramid and other configurations we had to sew on 4 more tie outs. It was polyurethane coated nylon and 1 lbs. I think. Combined with a 55 gal. drum liner garbage bag (4 oz.) cut and laid out flat it made a nice lightweight shelter that really connected me to the places I camped rather than closing me off to them. But after a couple animal encounters I started getting a little skiddish and moved onto tarp tents so I could close a door and pretend it was secure. You’d be surprised how much that helped me sleep at night. I started off with the Nemo Transform Tarp Tent because it’s also a 12x12’ tarp that transforms into a full pyramid, fully enclosed shelter with a zippered door. It’s also a 3 man shelter so for 2.5 lbs. I got a nice huge space with a closed door for all 4 seasons. I think I got mine for about $150 on sale. After that I wanted to go even lighter and purchased a Golite Shangri-la 2 Tarp Tent. Coming in a 1 lbs. 13 oz. for a 2 man tent that’s 5x9x3.5 feet was amazing. The best thing about a tarp tent is that they don’t have a floor. No worries about your muddy boots, cooking inside or the extra weight of a floor when you can just use a thin sheet of plastic or lightweight tarp or bivy. But with the combined weight of all the things I was bringing, like the 2 lbs 3 oz. US MMSS Gortex bivy, I was getting close to the weight of a full tent. So, I looked into getting an affordable lightweight full featured tent and found the Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 man. It saves weight by having a tent body almost entirely made of no-seeum mesh with a bathtub floor. The fly buckles on and all together this tent was only 4.5 lbs. Not bad for a 2 man tent with 2 full vestibules and huge doors. I was able to test this tent thanks to Chris over at Sierra Trading Post. So far, that’s my favorite tent. Finally, I tried Hammock Camping. I started off with the ENO Double Nest and a Kelty Noah’s Tarp 12x12’ and got some fancy accessories along the way. After getting off the ground and seeing that I now had access to camp anywhere there were trees, instead of always having to find a flat spot of ground, I invested in some more expensive versions of this setup. I purchased a Warbonnet Blackbird XLC and the Superfly tarp. Of course I got the winter top cover and a lot of Dutchware for my tarps ridgeline and some tarp sleeves from Kat at http://www.outdoortrailgear.com/cottage-industries/mountaingoatgear/mesh-tarp-storage-sleeves/ That gets us up to speed with where I am today with my shelters. So far, my favorites are the Nemo Transform, Alps Zephyr and my new Hammock set up with the Blackbird XLC and Superfly tarp. Thanks for watching guys and if you have any questions about this gear ie…certain items, their weights and my experience with them, just drop me a comment or a PM. This is KdawgCrazy...stay safe and get outdoors. Music by: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Exhilarate Barroom Ballet Batty McFaddin Enter the Party Frost Waltz River Valley Breakdown Silver Blue Light Somewhere Sunny (ver 2) Take the Lead More Music: "Sweet as Honey" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena Note: This video was compiled from older videos with some included music that was appropriately credited either in the original video or in the video descriptions. Tags: KdawgCrazy,winter hiking,winter backpacking,wild camp,winter gear,gear list,winter gear test,76 Trail,Iron Creek Lake,Iron Creek trail,SD,South Dakota,Black Hills National Forest ,solo backpacking,camping,hiking,snowshoeing,Summer backpacking,Centennial Trail SD,Mickelson Trail,Deerfield Trail,Flume Trail SD,Old Baldy Trail,French Creek trail,Harney Peak trail,shelters,tents,tarp tents,Texsport Pup tent, the HQ ISSUE 8 1/2x8 1/2' Tarp Digital Camo,Nemo Transform,Golite Shangri la 2,US Military poncho shelter,Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 man tent,ENO Double nest hammock,