Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#147304 - 03/03/11 08:51 AM Recommend me a DIY Tent plan
Paulo Offline
member

Registered: 01/27/11
Posts: 158
Loc: Normally Pacific Northwest
OK,

I was thinking about making a tent for 2.5 people (or maybe a 4 person). Can anyone recommend a favourite design?

I'm in south america so I don't have the tools but, labour is cheap. Material is a bit more expensive, but if they do a good job and the price is reasonable it would be very convenient for me... and potentially others that are interested.
_________________________
Without a doubt, the hardest thing of all in a survival situation is to cook without the benefit of seasonings and flavourings. - Ray Mears

http://theoutdooradventure.net

Top
#147535 - 03/08/11 08:09 PM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: Paulo]
Paulo Offline
member

Registered: 01/27/11
Posts: 158
Loc: Normally Pacific Northwest
Bump.
_________________________
Without a doubt, the hardest thing of all in a survival situation is to cook without the benefit of seasonings and flavourings. - Ray Mears

http://theoutdooradventure.net

Top
#147551 - 03/09/11 11:46 AM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: Paulo]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
I like flat tarps in a-frame configuration.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

Top
#147565 - 03/09/11 03:51 PM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: finallyME]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Paulo, where are you? I used to live in La Paz, but it was a long time ago. I didn't really do any camping when I was there, but did do a bit of traveling around the country. If you are up in the mountains, you may want a design that is more like a four season tent because of the cold (in other words, a tent you can close up with not a lot of mesh). If you are in Santa Cruz or Cochabamba, a three season design would work better because of the heat, but I would want a mesh interior to keep out bugs.

btw, I have a snakeskin about 6-8 feet long that my dad picked up in Santa Cruz or Cochabamba, so I'd want something I could close up.

Here are a few designs including one of Henry Shires' early tarptents-these have been up for years, so all the links don't work-they are on the Home Page of the site (which I think a lot of people don't even know is here, since they just visit the forums).

http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html


Edited by TomD (03/09/11 03:57 PM)
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#147571 - 03/09/11 07:18 PM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: TomD]
Paulo Offline
member

Registered: 01/27/11
Posts: 158
Loc: Normally Pacific Northwest
Thanks Tom. Estoy en San Miguel, La Paz.

I wont be doing much camping here. It is for when I come back to the North West this summer and for when I ultimately move back in a year or two.

If I go out here I'll be with a guide that provides the gear (attempted illimani (my avatar photo) in the late fall last year and plan to try something easier like huayna potosi).

Alright, I'll take another look at henry shires' design.


Edited by Paulo (03/09/11 07:19 PM)
_________________________
Without a doubt, the hardest thing of all in a survival situation is to cook without the benefit of seasonings and flavourings. - Ray Mears

http://theoutdooradventure.net

Top
#147596 - 03/10/11 10:57 AM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: Paulo]
rambler Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 46
A good plan for a 10 x 12 tarp is found in Ray Jardin's book, Beyond Backpacking.

Most bolts or rolls of cloth are 5' wide. So, take a piece 6 yds long cut it in half to get two pieces, 5' wide 9' long. Lay them side by side along the length to create a rectangle that is now 10' wide and 9' long. Sew the long edges together and you have your 9 x 10' shelter. A 12' length requires 24' of cloth...etc.

For the center seam you need to learn how to sew a "felled seam". It is basically a doubled over seam that can withstand strong tugs necessary to keep your tarp together.
Visit owareusa.com to see a variety of sizes of tarps.

BTW Look into hiking an Inca trail from La Paz to Coroico


Edited by rambler (03/10/11 10:59 AM)

Top
#147647 - 03/11/11 02:36 AM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: Paulo]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Hey Paulo, I lived in Calacoto just across the river or what passed for a river back then, up the street from where the President at the time had a house. I went to ACS, the American Cooperative School for a year before coming back to the states for college. Didn't do any climbing back then but could see Illimani off in the distance.

If you are looking at the PNW and want to go light, you might think of a design like this one-
http://lightheartgear.com/LightHeart_Gear/Home.html

As an aside, if you go to her About page and read the Hiking in Finland interview and the comments, they are quite entertaining. This tent is a redesign of the defunct Wanderlust Nomad and a few people are upset about that.



Edited by TomD (03/11/11 02:37 AM)
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#147648 - 03/11/11 07:28 AM Re: Recommend me a DIY Tent plan [Re: TomD]
Paulo Offline
member

Registered: 01/27/11
Posts: 158
Loc: Normally Pacific Northwest
Thanks Tom. Went out looking in the center for fabric yesterday. It is a bit off the beaten path and they do a bit of staring at the gringos. Couldn't find anything, but had a talk with a local friend. He set me up with coordinates, but I gave away the piece of paper that they were written on.

Will try again.

You were pretty close. I've been to the school for a presentation.


Edited by Paulo (03/11/11 07:30 AM)
_________________________
Without a doubt, the hardest thing of all in a survival situation is to cook without the benefit of seasonings and flavourings. - Ray Mears

http://theoutdooradventure.net

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum