Tent or Tarp & Bivy
- Thread starter BKHunter
- Start date
tim
Veteran member
Matthoek21
Veteran member
I'm a tent guy. Carry 3 man tent for two people and split up weight packing in. If going solo you may want to roll with a bivy...just personal preference. To me it's hard to beat a good tent with rain fly and walls when in the backcountry, especially if a storm blows in sideways, and this has happened to me on several occasions. Hard rain, sleet, and hail coming in with strong winds.
Musket Man
Veteran member
...and a good tent keeps the flying biters and the creepy crawlers away, which is a big deal for me.
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
I have small to big. Keep in mind I never share my shelter with anybody.
Tarp/poncho and bivy: SixMoons Gatewood cape / Ti-Goat Raven Omni bivy
Early season and scouting. Hard to stay clean if you are not on a grassy area.
2 person tarp with nest: SixMoons Haven Tarp / SixMoons Haven nest
Love the extra space for wet weather. This may be my go to package from here out. I may start opting for the bigger tarp and the bivy. The real test will be next week. These tarps are not intended for snow, but they will tolerate it with a little help. One feature that the haven tarp has is tie points to suspend it from trees and free up the trek poles to use.
Copper Spur 2: The Bomb
When I don't want to think or care about anything.
Lean toward something with access from both sides(at least one side if you go small single). You can cook in the vestibules that are sheltered from the wind. Don't get anything with entrance on the end...PITA.
Tarp/poncho and bivy: SixMoons Gatewood cape / Ti-Goat Raven Omni bivy
Early season and scouting. Hard to stay clean if you are not on a grassy area.
2 person tarp with nest: SixMoons Haven Tarp / SixMoons Haven nest
Love the extra space for wet weather. This may be my go to package from here out. I may start opting for the bigger tarp and the bivy. The real test will be next week. These tarps are not intended for snow, but they will tolerate it with a little help. One feature that the haven tarp has is tie points to suspend it from trees and free up the trek poles to use.
Copper Spur 2: The Bomb
When I don't want to think or care about anything.
Lean toward something with access from both sides(at least one side if you go small single). You can cook in the vestibules that are sheltered from the wind. Don't get anything with entrance on the end...PITA.
UPDATE:
Tarp/poncho and bivy: SixMoons Gatewood cape / Sold the Ti-Goat Raven Omni bivy. Replacing with full net top.
Early season and scouting. Hard to stay clean if you are not on a grassy area.
2 person tarp with nest: SixMoons Haven Tarp / SixMoons Haven nest
Love the extra space for wet weather. This may be my go to package from here out. I may start opting for the bigger tarp and the bivy. The real test will be next week. These tarps are not intended for snow, but they will tolerate it with a little help. One feature that the haven tarp has is tie points to suspend it from trees and free up the trek poles to use. Sold the haven tarp setup. Don't want to give up my poles to have with me. See note below on the copper spur.
Copper Spur 2: The Bomb
When I don't want to think or care about anything.
I bought a tarp to go over the copper spur to make it snow worthy. It collapsed this year under a heavy wet snow. I should be good with this setup in any conditions now as long I am not above treeline. If I have to, I could sacrifice my poles to setup the tarp over the tent above treeline.
Head in the Clouds
Member
My "backpacking tent" weighs more than most people's sleep and shelter systems combined. So this year I tried running just the rain flye supported by trekking poles with a small sheet of painter plastic. I probably spent 10 nights under there and loved all but one of them. And that one was a particularly windy night above treeline. However, I didn't endure any serious weather either and that may have been a game changer.
My game plan for next year is a bigger, better tarp with an upgraded sleeping pad and possibly a quilt instead of a traditional sleeping bag.
I've never tried a bivy before but feel like I would get claustrophobic. Also, for the cost and weight of a bivy and tarp, it seems that a quality lightweight tent could be had.
My ultimate shelter for the long-term is a kifaru sawtooth, but I'll have to fatten the pig for awhile before I can snag one of those puppies.
My game plan for next year is a bigger, better tarp with an upgraded sleeping pad and possibly a quilt instead of a traditional sleeping bag.
I've never tried a bivy before but feel like I would get claustrophobic. Also, for the cost and weight of a bivy and tarp, it seems that a quality lightweight tent could be had.
My ultimate shelter for the long-term is a kifaru sawtooth, but I'll have to fatten the pig for awhile before I can snag one of those puppies.
Yea I was looking at the sawtooths because I feel its a mixture of everything plus you can add a stove if you want to use it late season. The only thing is keeping the critters out. I think tipi's and the sawtooth don't do that. Correct me if I'm wrong?
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
Early Season Archery (July-August) Bivy and Tarp. I'm often Solo and short duration (2-3 days)
Early Season Rifle Elk(September) Usually with other hunters so 4 man Copper Spur Tent. Also usually have horses.
Late Season (October November)Wall tent with stove 12x12 Cabelas Alaknak.
Early Season Rifle Elk(September) Usually with other hunters so 4 man Copper Spur Tent. Also usually have horses.
Late Season (October November)Wall tent with stove 12x12 Cabelas Alaknak.