Gear Guide: Tent & Shelter
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Tent & Shelter
This is a key piece of any adventure arsenal if you plan to stay outdoors overnight, or venture out in inclement weather. It’s definitely worth investing in gear that is genuinely weather-proof, but also easy to set up, lightweight, and comfortable to live with.
Here are some items that have served me well and dependably through many microescapes.
Tent
Unless you’re determined to try your hand at winter camping, for most Midwestern outings I’d go with a generously vented, 2-piece, freestanding 3-season tent. This type of tent combines ease of setup with maximum breathability in humid summer weather.
Freestanding tents are a breeze to set up. You’ll still need to stake it down to ensure stability in windy weather, but you can pitch it on less than perfect surface. Plus, you can easily move the tent while dialing in your ideal staking location.
When used with the fly, a well-made tent will give you dependable protection from downpours.
For several seasons, I’ve been using a light, durable, high quality tent from Nemo Equipment. The Dragonfly Osmo 2-person tent is luxurious for solo outings, but still very generous with a tent-mate.
The wide open mesh top offers superior ventilation when used with the fly (and fabulous stargazing without).
If you don't mind a little extra weight, the Nemo Aurora tent is a much more budget-friendly option, and also offers an incredibly generous amount of space in a 2-person tent.
Hammock
A hammock can be a wonderful alternative to sleeping in a tent, and it’s also the perfect tool for hanging out and relaxation. Here are the components of a full hammock camping system:
Hammock (including carabiners for hanging)
Suspension straps which allow for easy and versatile hanging of your hamock
Bug net (separate or integrated)
All-weather tarp
Underquilt for cool weather camping
For full-on camping, you’ll need a complete system, such as the lightweight parachute nylon Air Bivy All Weather Shelter from Grand Trunk. This includes a single hammock with integrated, zippered mosquito netting, plus a tarp to protect you from the elements. This hammock can be flipped over to be used as a regular lounging hammock when insects are not a problem. The tarp can also be used alone, and is a fabulous tool for wet-weather adventures (see below).
For a simple lounging hammock for your back yard or day-trip use, you can choose from a wide selection of excellent, lightweight single and double hammocks that easily fit in your daypack or even fanny pack.
Don’t forget the hammock suspension straps!
The perfect portable cocoon for sleeping among the trees.
Tarp
There is something in us humans that relishes both the beauty of nature, and our ability to shelter and protect ourselves from its force. A tarp, such as one from your hammock kit mentioned above, is an un believably useful piece of gear for those days when weather doesn’t cooperate. It provides instant shelter almost anywhere, and allow you to duck in from the rain to rest, enjoy a meal or a hot drink.
In addition to the traditional tarp, Grand Trunk offers Moab All-in-one, an interesting piece of multi-functional gear that can be used as a tarp, a shelter or a hammock.