Why No Camo Tents?

Years ago, I read of a study of grizzly bear behavior in Alaska, where the researchers experimented with two different kind of small tents, one, the typical tent seen and sold everywhere with bright, multi-colored Day-Glo panels. The second, a tent of a camouflage pattern. As I recall, they pitched these on alternating days on the open tundra about 200 yards from a stream bed well-traveled by grizzlies. Then they watched from afar.
Without exception, every passing bear, upon spying the brightly colored tent, came over to investigate, sometimes damaging the tent in the process.
Also without exception, every bear that looked up and saw the camo tent, paused briefly, then continued on its way without a second glance.
My question is this: Why on earth aren't tentmakers everywhere falling all over themselves trying to manufacture all kinds of camouflage backpacking tents? Speaking for myself, I would have bought one immediately after reading this report had a decent one been available.

I believe Eureka makes them.

I bet the study was done by Cabellas and the multi-colored tents probably had pork chops in them! Seriously, i doubt the color of a tent is of no concern to an animal that can smell you fart 5 miles away!

Bears have a much keener sense of smell than sight, and although I read something anecdotal about such a study, I'm not sure the conclusion was exactly as you stated. Do you have a cite for the article?

Anyway, camouflage tents do exist. For example, I have an ECWS tent that was made for the Marines by The North Face. The main body of the tent is woodland pattern, and it has two flies: one woodland pattern, and the other all white. You can also find them with desert pattern flies.

Bibler and Integral Designs both make single-walled WP/B tents for special operations forces, and I have seen them on eBay in woodland pattern camo. You may be able to find on the Integral Designs web site a mention of their camo tents.

Also, eBay often has military surplus tents from Europe in camo patterns.

The reasons why I'm not much of a fan of camo tents for non-military operations are twofold: I want a brightly colored tent so I can find it easily and have a "cheery" interior ambience; and secondly, I don't want to be mistaken for a paramilitary nut case. BTW, the EWCS tents have a blackout coating on the inner side of the fly that makes the interior absolutely pitch black--even during the day. Useful for operations, but pretty gloomy unless you have a lantern.

Right on. Was the lightly colored tent a shade of salmon pink?
That would be cool -- a tent shaped and colored like a salmon or a baby moose. Wonder what would happen. A new reality show- pitch your baby moose tent in grizz country and go inside and make little bleeting noises - whoever stays longest wins.

Yuppies, or whatever they are called now would not want a camo tent- it would not show well in pics. That covers the mass marketing crowd - TNF, Mountain Hardware....
But I wonder the same question about cottage industry tents - why not camo. I mean for gods sake who wants to see another blue or yellow tent?

Here's a listing of Integral Designs camo tents:

ID military tents

And the TNF ECWS tent with a white fly and the camo inner tent:

eBAY ECWS tent

So photographers out there, don't build a hide, just get an MSR tent and the bears will find you. But of course if they are a little bit hungry, they will locate you regardless of your shelter.
Most people want a bright tent so that it can easily be seen by themselves and others , for safety. In fact if hunters are around than a great big orange patch will help some determine that your tent is not a dear or a partridge.
Franco
BTW , one of the common accidents camping, is people going to the toilet in the bush and not being able to find their tent afterwards.

Does anyone realize the danger?

Scenario: You fall, break your leg, can't move, you crawl into your campsite, your phone has no coverage, and you are running out of food. How do you signal a helicopter or low flying plane, your only hope of survival?

With a brightly colored tent of course!
A bright tent could save your life!
How could you see a camo tent from the air?
I think a camp accident is probably a greater danger than a bear is.

My much-loved but excessively heavy unless two people carry it Eureka Timberline is a camouflage version custom made for Brigade Quartermasters many years ago. I've been trying to rid it of the "dead body" mildew smell with varying degrees of success so far with different methods. I very much prefer camouflage patterned or subdued tents because I like to blend in and the sun shining through the patterns makes sitting in the tent more enjoyable!

I always choose tents that are some earthy, natural color, which usually turns out to be pine green. I've never done this for fear of animals, though: I do it so fellow backpackers won't see yet another rainbow-colored eyesore as they pass by my camp. It doesn't take camo to fool most humans... I've had people wander within conversational distance before noticing us.

When it comes to animals I don't bother trying to hide myself, nor do I try to draw their attention. I figure human body ordor will scare away most animals anyway. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

As for losing discrete tents in the dark, I find that to be a non-issue; many pieces of camping equipment now come with reflective items that can be spotted from surprisingly long distances even with a small LED. If a particular tent does not, bet it would be easy to replace standard guylines with reflective string that would do the trick.

I have several Integral Designs single wall breathable tents - thay are a nice dark green and one is camo.

Somebody asked if I could provide a link to this report. I wish I could, but it's been so long I don't even remember where I saw it. It's been at least 7 years.
I also like the idea of not standing out like a sore thumb on the landscape. We are out there for the wilderness experience, not to see a carnival below every time we look down off a ridge.
Someone else feared being mistaken for a "paramilitary nut". Heaven forbid that the authorities shouldn't know exactly where we are and what we're doing 24/7! Hey, why hide in the woods if you've got nothing to hide? You're not a terrorist, are you? I think we should go on total lockdown until we get this matter sorted out. It's for the children.

If you are really keen to read that article, here is an "excerpt" from it.
Under Bears and bright colors.
http://www.trailquest.net/bears.html#colors

Franco

Why not this kind of camo?
http://www.matejewski.com/a_catal/accessoires.html

Oh, that's great! Does it come with different breeds?

I need Herefords for the mountains and Holsteins for the valleys.

Normally that would be a great idea but, here in the South, you'll probably be mistaken for a deer during season and become one big target! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Me personally, I like a light colored tent, since I mainly use one in winter and like to
sit in it with a candle lantern and read during long periods of darkness.

I find a nice yellow or white tent is much cheerier with a small light than a dark green
or camo cave. Summer I don't care much, but winter, gimme bright yellow any day <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Cheer up there phat. February is just around the corner and that means sunshine, at least here in the middle. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sunshine? - like that fabled day-star thing?

It won't help much here in California. The year I worked for the logging company (1974) we repeatedly took fire from "hunters" and that was in a yellow D-8 tractor. Your best bet around here is to wear brown fur and an antler hat.

Now, Now Rick, no teasing the frozen in folks...we all what happens when a false Spring thaw comes on....Dem' bears gotta eat <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

So?, is it nice living in the 'middle' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I mean, what with actual Sunlight and all? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Actually DownsD, you'll want the Scottish Highlands for the mountains 'cause their color will let in more light...but only if ya' get the blonde ones! them red ones, well, just can never find my stuff inside that dark cave <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Go with the Polled Whiteface Hereford for the valleys, it'll make ya' blend in better with the deer <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

MM they's was'nt no hunters', they's was dem' darn Earth First folks like Longhair, darn tootin' 'cause they tried to shoot me off my John Deere back a spell and could'nt' even nick the gad darn barn I tell ya! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Oh my, I didn't say we aren't still frozen in. We're stuck solid until mid March here in the middle. It's just that there are more sunny days in February, but make no mistake about it, it can still be cold.

Then I'll include extra blankets in the Canadian Box fer you Rick! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thank you. I'll keep the blanket (think wool and Hudson Bay) and fill the box with dog fur. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />