help with my tent!!! plaease!

Posted by: Carlos

help with my tent!!! plaease! - 01/25/09 07:16 PM

Hiya! I'm backpacking by Central america next dicember and I'm looking for a new tent (mine is quite old).
Thinking in a 3 seasons, 2 persons. But too many marks!!!! could you suggest me some!!
Posted by: thecook

Re: help with my tent!!! plaease! - 01/26/09 03:22 PM

Can you tell us more about what you want? What is most important: light weight, bug protection, able to take multiple days of rain, or high winds...? How will you use it: Travelling unsuported in the wilds, walking along a trail with towns every few days, short trips, long trips...?

Posted by: Carlos

Re: help with my tent!!! plaease! - 02/02/09 06:27 PM

Hiya!!! Thanks for answer!

Well... I'm just a beginner so I don think I'll be in extreme weathers. (my old tent is just a "backyard-tent") Mainly this tent is for backpacking and so the weight I think is very important.
I don't travel to many countries is going to be more those close to Colombia (most of them with no-hard weather changes)but hundreds of bugs (tropical you know!)
I don't understand what you mean with "Travelling unsoported in the wilds" sorry.
I'm a student (statistics) so with my university I can't be long time "in the wilds" so I'll use it walking along a trail with towns every few days.
I know the only way to chose the right equipment is once you’ve done it, lived it, need it (I’ve backpacked but just trips up to one month) and so by now I just want a good one for “test” (Colombia-Mexico is my first long trip-one). After this experience I think I’ll need look for another tent according with what I experience!
or keep the one you suggest me.

I appreciate all the help you’re giving me!!!

Thank you!!

Carlos.

Pd . sorry my English let me know if it wasn’t clear what I wanted mean.
Posted by: thecook

Re: help with my tent!!! plaease! - 02/02/09 08:30 PM

Unsupported means that you don't have a chance to get new supplies liked food.

Lightweight shelters fall into several categories:
Hammocks-great personal shelter for one. Hennesy Hammocks are a well know brand name but you can make your own fairly cheaply. Search for the look at www.hammockforums.net for more information

Tarps-everything from a cheap piece of plastic hung between two trees to shaped, silnylon specialty tarps. Very light weight but you have to know what you are doing to stay dry and staying bug free can be a problem.

Tarptents- Sixmoondesigns, Tarptents, and Gossamergear all sell good quality, single wall, tarp tents. Light in weight, bug proof protection. Tarp tents can have condensation problems or 'misting' in heavy rain-a condition where a fine mist of water comes down on you while you are in the tent.

Double wall tents-Big Agnes Seedhouse design and the Mountain Saftey Research Hubba Hubba get good reviews. Heavier than tarp tents, these tents have a mesh inner tent that is covered by a rain fly. Good bug and rain protection. Hilleberg, a European tent maker, also gets rave reviews. Their tents tend to be heavier, more storm worth and expensive.

Personally, I use a Sierra Designs Clipflashlight. It is small, relatively light, relatively cheap, has good rain and bug protection but can have condensation problems. I will eventually upgrade to a tarp tent but don't have the money to spend on one right now.

If you are going alone and have trees available, I'd at least look at something like a jungle hammock. I'd also look at any of the two person, 3 season tents from tent makers like Sierra Designs, Kelty, and Eureka, and the tarp tents from the companies mentioned above. Look for enough room to be comfortable away from the bugs, good air flow to prevent the insides from feeling like a sauna, and a price you can afford. Anything in these categories will make a good shelter to start with and let you decide what you really want later on. Hope this helps.