The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Badgersmilk on November 30, 2009, 09:13:33 PM
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Seem's we've got more than a few campers in our midst! ;D
What kind of tents are you guys using? Why did you choose it? Do you have any "special secrets" that make it better, or more practical for you?
While we're at it, what do you sleep on / in when in it?
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Good for you, Badger! This should be a fun thread..... should have just made it a "general camping" thread, but I'm sure we will drift there and back.
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Tarp wrapped around my sleeping bag, chosen for weight and saving space.
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10x12 tarp lay your bag on one half lengthwise and fold the other half over the top & "trekkers Tarp" tarp tent combo many setup options total weight 3lbs
or
Eureka Apex Extreme 2 person tent 6lbs
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That really depends on where I'm going, how I'm getting there and what time of year.
if I'm car camping, I want something I can stand up in, and lots of room for people/ gear. if I'm back packing, I want it as light as I can get it. If its in the winter, I want a good solid 4 weather tent.
My car camping tent is one I bought years ago out of I think target, its a colemen, its like 12 lbs and sleeps 3 + gear np. it also has a center hieght of about 6' which means I can almost stand all the way up in it.
my backing tent is a bibler its a tight fit for 2, by itself its about 6lbs, with the vestibule its about 7lb.
My winter tent is a "the north face" its about 10 lbs, but can handle 60 mph winds and/or a snow load.
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Any personal structure you choose, a tarp above it suspended, to shed water and snow, will save lot's of heart ache, wished I had listened to my own advice. I use a coleman cot, keeps you about a foot off the ground. Some Shakespeare brand foldup chairs that have a decent rear slope and foot rest, really helped in a hell of a rain storm when the tent was leaking heavily, we were able to place the chairs where the water was not heavily dripping, and keep our sleeping bags around us.
See previously recommended layered theory. ;)
Location, Location, don't be in a water collecting ditch, don't be under a tree when it snows heavy, don't be on a down hill slope, when you expect rain, don't camp on a beach you don't know the tides to.
I'm sure many more will chime in.
Good subject, I do like the canvas tents used by packers, but you do need a seperate mule or horse to pack them in, and good woodscraft to put them up. Something for a few weeks stay.
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Back when I camped a lot (nearly every weekend in my 20's) I just used a poly tarp with a camo pattern that I got at the ag-supply store. I just stretched a rope between two trees about four feet off the ground and draped the tarp over the rope. I pulled the outer ends back up into the center and laid my sleeping bag and gear on that. If it was cold or the wind was up, I moved the rope closer to the ground and then put dirt on the leading edges of the tarp for extra weight.
Any of you guys ever bury coals under your sleeping area? ;)
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In any kind of bad weather try to find a fir or spruce tree to get under, GREAT shelter. The thing about not being under trees in a lightning storm doesn't work up here, nothing BUT trees, just try not to pick the tallest one.
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I consider it camping or 'roughing it' if I have to leave the room to get ice! ;D
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Swag...
as the Mrs is only likes going 5 star camping we have not got a tent
so I just swag it when I go camping
(http://gallery.mac.com/philw/100118/DSCF9785/web.jpg)
simple and quick to set up ;D
ie roll it out and you are done
inside just have a foam mat, pillow, -10 sleeping bag,
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Been using a Sierra Designs tent for years. I couldn't tell you what model. All I know is it is a convertible 4 season tent. I have had the thing for about 12 years and the only thing that I have had to fix is one of the cinch straps for the rain fly. Mind you this thing has endured hurricane force winds at 12,000 feet on Grand Teton. This was New Years Eve in 2000/2001 when my buddy and I decided that we wanted to be the first to summit in the new year. I swear by these tents. Yes they are expensive. (I think I paid $550.00 in '97) But this is by far the best tent I have ever owned.
As far as what to sleep on...I go very simple. A 3/4 length thermarest under my upper body and I shove the lower half of my sleeping bag into my pack. Using the foam in the backpack to supplement my padding. Works great, more compact and much lighter than my buddies full length thermarest (which he swears by) but that's another thread.
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I gotta hand it to you guys sleeping out in the open, or under a tarp! I'd tried it a few times and ended up getting eaten alive, or at least kept up all night by bugs. :(
A few years back I was sitting at the base of a tree over looking a small gorge in the woods while deer hunting. The whole gorge was lined with 2-3 foot tall weeds. After sitting there a while I hear several really strange sounding noises working their way toward me in the weeds that sound kinda like a turkey, dog, racoon, alien mix. It would come in, then go to the side, then come in, and change course every couple seconds. While trying to figure out what the heck it was coming at me, a red fox burst out of the weeds and ran right over my lap! We were both so shocked at the sight of each other I hardly moved, and he just kept on truck'n before I could do anything about it! But he stepped right on me! It didn't take me long to realize that he'd smelt, and was drawn in by the beef jerky I had in a zip-lock bag my pocket, and had snacked on a while earlier. :)
That experience along with the fact that most other times we go camping either a racoon, opossum, or some other kind of animal (some are still a mystery) will trot around or even through camp makes sleeping out in the open kinda unappealing for us. We never keep the food stuffs in the tent. But especially with having a kid and a dog with us, little crumbs are no doubt dropped on the ground around the area. One time we split open a watermellon on a campground picnic table, and within a few hours had a swarm of racoons up there eating it!
We once tried just using a screen room without a floor in Michigan, and freaking June Bugs, and Lightning Bugs came up out of the ground durring the night and were flying around all over!
We practice about the same kinda thing as TAB. It depends on the trip which tent goes with, but either a giant one my wife picked out, that IS nice because you can stand up in it and walk around / change cloths. Or we have a little "Jeep" 7'X7' 4-person tent that's 11lbs for hiking trips.
I also take a military rip-stop parka with me EVERY hunting trip that I sit on to keep a dry butt, or can use as a small shelter in case of unexpected rain, or I ever end up spending the night in the woods unexpectedly (lost).
Animals DO keep things interesting out there! ;D
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Sometimes if I'm only camping one or two nights I don't even set up a tent. I just crawl into the back of my truck where my air mattress and sleeping bag are already set up.
When I do set up the tent I put an air mattress on the ground or use a cot. I found some stuff called seam sealer that comes in a tube and it waterproofs the seams.
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+1 on truck camping too. :)
A Dodge Durango sleeps two people perfect! Well insulated for cold weather. ;)
We have sleeping bags rated for 40 deg. that are GREAT, when it's within 10 deg. of that rating. Otherwise they'll cook you alive. they go on top an air mattress unless we're backpacking.
You guys ever try "Camp Dry" spray? It works like a charm on tents. Never had one leak a drop after a good coat of that stuff. :)
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Yes, I've used Camp Dry for about 35 years. Works great.
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Just ran accross this. Good stuff. :)
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1105065/
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Yep, done some truck bed sleeping.....usually because at the time, I was to liquored up to put up the tarp. ;D
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With a crowd, I have an old 10 Man Hillary Tent, that I can roll with hardware to a small duffel bag, but it is heavy, and not for long hikes. You can stand up in it, put folding cots, air mattress's , great shelter in foul weather, and has served me really well for big trips.
Small moving hikes I have a North Face, pup. Good for two folks. Or me and my gear. I pack 1 or 2 tarps with it. I for underneath, and one to make a "lean to" if the weather is foul.
Sat and drank for 9 hours on the Rocky River in NC, where it went from lightening and thunder, to downpours, to falling temps that led to sleet by morning. Kept all my gear, and me nice and dry, although, it was a long, loud night....
Just me and George back than,......that would be George Dickel... ;D
Spent 10 days on a canoe trip with that tent. Still gets set up and aired out every couple months, wiped out, Scotchguard, and ready to go.
My .02 cents is maintain any tent you have. Don;t leave it packed away for months, set it up in the back yard in good weather, like the Navy, air your mattress on pretty days. After all your going to be laying down there.
Yep, done some truck bed sleeping.....usually because at the time, I was to liquored up to put up the tarp. ;D
I just remember waking up in the bed of a truck, They told me I was going to the Hyatt Regency.... :P
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I used to fold my tent the same way everytime. Then I read that it causes wear and leaks where you folded it. Now I stuff it in my duffel bag unfolded.
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I gotta hand it to you guys sleeping out in the open, or under a tarp! I'd tried it a few times and ended up getting eaten alive, or at least kept up all night by bugs. :(
that is the good thing with a dome style swag ( like I have )
they have a fly screen on them to keep the bugs and snakes out of them
(http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/c0/2c/af/77565182-300x300-0-0_Bushskins+Wentworth+King+Single+Deluxe+Canvas+Swag.jpg)
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I use a 10x10 nylon dome tent I got on sale at Academy, years ago. Don't know the brand or model. It was on sale. ;) It's held up pretty good when hot and humid and in the dead of winter (propane heater required). One night my grandson and I sat out a pretty nasty storm with the only water leaks from a rip that the duct tape came loose on.
I always use a cot and, If i'm the only one camping, I also set up a night stand and chair.
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Cool stuff! "OD Green Jungle Hammock". Light weight, bug resistant, looks like you can tie out the corners to make it pretty much rain proof.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310186020554
(http://i.ebayimg.com/11/!B,CjoF!CGk~$(KGrHgoH-EUEjlLluH(EBKpo,WQO(g~~_35.JPG)
"Grizzly Bear Taco"
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Cool stuff! "OD Green Jungle Hammock". Light weight, bug resistant, looks like you can tie out the corners to make it pretty much rain proof.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310186020554
(http://i.ebayimg.com/11/!B,CjoF!CGk~$(KGrHgoH-EUEjlLluH(EBKpo,WQO(g~~_35.JPG)
"Grizzly Bear Taco"
Been there, done that. Couldn't stand the thing. I would have rather had a good tarp. I looks cool but not very functional. There are probably 2 of those packed away at my parents house.
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Yeah, once you think about it, it'd stink never being able to even sit up.