Which Shelter Should You Choose? - How To Thru Hike ep4
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2020
- What Shelter style is best for a Thru Hike? We look at tents, hammocks, tarps, and compare all the upsides of each to see if that makes the downsides worth it. In the end all shelters will work wonderfully but some may give you an easier time than others. You can buy cheap shelters, or you can buy expensive shelters, a personal decision as they both will work great. A matter more of how much weight do you wish to carry.
A quick note on fabrics, I lump most into one of two categories. An expensive option, or a cheap option, a lightweight option or a heavy option. DCF (dyneema composite fabric)(previously known as cuben fiber) and silnylon are two of the most common shelter fabrics out there. DCF being the lighter more expensive option, and silnylon being the heavier cheaper option. DCF works better in the rain and the wind, but may not last as long. While silnylon tends to stretch and bow in the wind and rain, but is super durable for long time use. It boils down to for me how much money you wish to spend as they will both keep you safe, both last you a long time, and both work great out in the wilderness.
I've personally used an ultralight 7x9 tarp setup for over 7,000 miles, Tents for more than 3,000 miles, and I'm pretty new to hammocks. I break down each choice for a long distance hike from my own experiences, including why I haven't used a hammock for anything.
A Tent is the best all around choice for everyone, offering a lot of space inside, protection from bugs and the elements, and they're relatively easy to use and setup. They are pretty darn lightweight so no worries there either!
A hammock can be setup anywhere there are trees, even over rocks or on the sides of clifs. Which is a huge advantage out east, but a huge disadvantage in many western states and long trails. The biggest reason to use a hammock is the overall comfort, what they lack in living space, they make up for ten fold in how nice it is to sleep and relax in them. If sleeping on the ground bothers you, this may be the best choice for you. They also provide a lot of the same protections a tent does, except can often be a bit heavier than a tent.
A tarp is by far the lightest of all the options, but comes with many downsides as a penalty. I personally still choose to use a tarp for 90% of my trips, sometimes going back to a tent when the conditions call for it. A tarp is totally exposed, and though you can set it up in many different ways to block wind or rain, it is a lot more tricky, and does require a lot more thought and effort. A tarp has no bug netting, so you either have to be more careul about where you setup to avoid them, or when you go hiking. You could also pair your tarp with a lightweight bivy or a small headnet which works to. The beauty in that is you can send them home or have them sent to you at any time you see fit. Think of a tarp as a tent, with a removable bugnet. Which may be over simplifying things as truly a tarp in every way takes more effort. But it is in most cases 3x lighter than even the lightest tents out there.
Whether you're hiking the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or anything in between I hope this video has been helpful!
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I think it's also a representation of skill level. Tent for beginners, hammock for intermediate, tarp for veterans. I'll start with my tent thank you 🤭
When using a hammock for your sleep system, you also have the option of tarp camping If there are no suitable trees. Thanks for the videos!
You are right, but only if you use a sleeping pad in your hammock, what is possible but not verry comfy. If you want full comfort of a hammock, you sleep with a underquilt what is not usable on the ground.
You gotta get one of Jupiter's 1/8 inch torso pads just in case
Truly every shelter style will work, it's whatever you like best and then managing it for the conditions ahead. Whether its cheap or expensive I hope we all get outdoors and do something fun in 2021!
77 miles of the Foot Hills Trail this fall in the Carolinas.
foothillstrail.org/trail-overview/
Maybe someday you'll be able to pass through. 👍😎👍
I’m planning on hiking the superior hiking trail do you think a hammock would good on that trail
Already knew everything, just watched to hear your chill voice. Ever thought about doing an audiobook/podcast?
I did used to teach painting classes, like 2-3 hours of me on a stage telling a group that no matter how they do it, it's beautiful
I second this!
same
@@JupiterHikes Only happy mistakes :)
JupiterHikes is the Bob Ross of hiking.
Love the idea of a tarp but being in Australia I'm scared I'll wake up with a mad snake bite. I'll defo go the bivy and Tarp set up though. The hamy looks so fun too. Cheers mate
I remember camping on what must have been a million acre slab of rock with nothing to guy out on. Not even a piece of heavy gear, a rock, a dead animal, nothing. I slept under my rain fly like an old blanket for that night.
I'm gonna go with trying to find a cave every night to sleep in, mountain lions give a lot more extra warmth
The versatility of the "right" tarp eliminates virtually all the weather/sight selection concerns. I use square tarps in 8.5x8.5 or 10x10. These tarps allow me to use them with a hammock, and enjoy a large protected area along with an easy chair (hammock) to relax in. I can set them up with a single trekking pole if needed. By setting them up in a pyramid design, they are both warm and highly weather resistant. Basically, you can set them up anywhere, and for any weather condition. That's why I like them so much with a hammock. On my Sierra section hike of the PCT I had three nights where I had to sleep on the ground (and one night where I could only use a hammock), and my tarp worked brilliantly in all cases.
Thanks for the video👍
I can swamp camp, esp with Cypress stumps all over in my hammock.
What really sealed the deal besides comfort was those all of a sudden down
pours that flooded all my friends out. They were miserable for days.
If I had to I can use it as a netted Bivy on the ground.
I've used the tarp but I have a problem with Fire Ants and Chiggers, not worth it here.
And not that I'm afraid of FL Pythons, but I don't want to scare them. he he he
My hoopless Terra Nova Moonlite waterproof bivi bag has proved useful. Its really basic, and most importantly - Discrete. I would never advocate sleeping in areas where pitching a tent is prohibited, but sometimes I've had no choice, so the bivi alone is simple and discrete. I'm tucked away virtually invisible, nothing penetrates the ground, absolutely minimal impact. I LEAVE NO TRACE. It also proved handy in a ridiculously humid/long-term rainstorm over a few days inside my tent to keep my down sleeping bag dry. It only weighs 180g. Infact, its so simple its a joy to use and I'll leave my tent packed away in my sack and just bivi, knowing that its fully waterproof, unlike many bivis that are only water resistant. I use my orange foil survival bag as a groundsheet. I think safety-wise its important to have that as its high-vis, unless I'm bivvying on top of it!
I use all 3 shelter types, with a hammock hung low enough all of your gear is readily accessible within arms reach or while comfortably sitting or lounging sideways in the hammock. Cooking is generally easier and more enjoyable that way too. Weight is possibly an issue for a true long distance ultralighter but Skurka thinks it's a good pick for the AT.
Your advice and views are very well covered and well rounded. I love that you give things both plus and negative and avoid the easy pitfall of trying to sway people one way or the other. Your advice videos are absolutely some of my favorite. Well done.
I started with a 2 person canvas tent when I was 13. I quickly learned that here in Florida a tent becomes a sweat lodge so I went over to a WW 2 Jungle Hammock for the ventilation. My buddy & I switched , he took my tent home and I took his Jungle hammock home. Jumping ahead a few years I am still using the Jungle hammocks but the new light weight mosquito proof double material bottom ones with attached screening above. Haven't been hammock camping to long , I'm 78 right now. I still use a tent when they are the only thing you can have and use. I also joke about tarp camping but my style is with a hammock under the tarp. This coming winter ( No Bugs ) I'm going to try camping with only a tarp to see what it's like.
Thank you Jupiter. You have helped me change from a “lightweight” tent to tarp n I have dropped the bivi also. I had used a Gatewood Cape before on CDT. Did a lot of cowboy camping on NM CDT using the bivi. The weight savings is what is driving me. I’ll be 70 when I hit CDT this April ‘23. Thanks again(I purchased the REI Quarter Dorm tarp).
In defence of hammocks... I live in Canada north of Seattle. The ground is rarely flat, and usually soggy. It makes life really easy for shorter hikes where weight is not an issue. And at 65yo, it is nice to swing your feet around and stand up. Not crawling out of a tent in the rain.
In fine weather, a tarp is absolutely the best. You are so right, there is no " best." It depends...
I have no experience with hammocks but agree with everything else you say here. Nick Crane, an English eccentric, if that’s not a tautology, walked from Finisterre to the Bosporus using a bivy bag and an umbrella. The book, Clear Waters Rising, describes his journey and is a very good read. He failed to sell the umbrella as an alternative to waterproofs to me. He slept in caves whenever possible. No mountain lions, though. Thank you for the video.
Check Nick Crane out as a featured guest on the 1998 BBC program 'Wilderness Walks - The Pyrenees' on RUclips. In it, he recreates a section of his trans-European walk with the fantastic Scottish presenter/interviewer/wilderness advocate/outdoors campaigner/author Cameron McNeish. If you think Nick's sleep system was minimal, check out his cook system!! Nick's a massive inspiration. Clear Waters Rising is a classic book. He still had a pretty hefty pack size though?
lostandfound 61 : it’s a fair while since I saw that programme. Good to hear it’s on RUclips.
You’re so right- practice, practice, practice! Practice in bad weather and practice in the dark! I found out how important both are the hard way. I also learned that the more you sleep outside, the better you sleep outside. Thanks for a super informative shelter video!
I use a 7x9 piece of polycro from Walmart for my hammock tarp. No grommets, just button knots to guy it out. It has served me very well in the rain and provided spectacular stargazing for a dozen nights so far.
woah. button knots?
@@jivangalper1791 yes, the Ashley stopper knot works great because it has a flat face. Simply tie the stopper in the end of the cord, press it against the material, then you can capture it with a couple half hitches on the same cord (clove hitch), or any hitch will work really. I'll have to do a video on it sometime. Nighthawk in light does this (sort of) in his homemade waterproof video, except he uses acorns or something instead of button (stopper) knots
I took the plunge and bought a tarp for a 7 day backpacking trip last month. I figured with the Georgia heat and humidity, I wanted all the free air flow I could muster. Also wanted to lower my pack weight without spending a lot of money. It was tough and slow to set up, having never set up a tarp before, but I LOVED it! I felt so much more connected with my surroundings. And I was really tickled to be able to see it raining all around me while I stayed bone dry. I don't know if I care to use a tent after that. I had a mosquito net that I hung in my tarp and it worked beautifully, though I only needed it on two of the 6 nights out. It weighs practically nothing and takes up very little space in my pack.
Evan did the entire AT in 2018 with a tarp. Lots of rain, never got wet. ruclips.net/video/-_KkaW4d6Ek/видео.html Evan's Packpacking videos a look see?
Very helpful! Best ultralight channel on RUclips.
Hammock material has improved. You can get a netless Dutchware hammock that weights around 5 ounces made out of Clound71 material, less than 2 ounces for CF straps, and another 5 ounces for a CF tarp and your taking about 12 ounces for a shelter. Like others have said, the underquilt and sleep pads are equivalent weight for most people. For low or no rain trips, I bring my CF asymmetrical tarp, that only weights 3 ounces
Another good video. You have become just about my favorite Backpacking channel. God bless you. John
Fantastic video, agree on hammocks especially large asym hammocks that allow quite flat hangs, as good as it gets for comfort.
Yoyo makes you happier and put that smile on our face too . Agree shelter is flexible and depends on many factors. Peace brother
I love all the different ways of setting up a tarp. It’s really fun in my opinion.
Cost was a big factor for me when I was getting into more backpacking from car camping. I continued using my medium weight 2-person REI tent for years. I drooled over all the ultralight tents like Zpacks and Tarptent but couldn’t really justify the investment for the limited number of trips I was doing. As an avid poncho user, I tried a Gatewood Cape for the last few years, a very easy to pitch version of a tarp. But as I’ve always had trouble sleeping well on trail, I’m going to try hammocking now. It’s a lot of work sewing/buying all the pieces you need, but fun figuring it all out. Almost a whole other hobby in and of itself.
That's the spirit! 🌴🌛🌴
I haven't used my hammock while camping yet. But I have slept in it in my back yard, it's comfortable. I've gone camping in a tent and used a cot but it's not as comfortable as a hammock.
younghex I don’t have a good spot to hang in my backyard, so I haven’t slept in it yet, but I’ve been testing out my hammock in my local woods. Getting a new tarp ASAP. I’m planning to just use a ccf pad in the hammock for now, that way I can go to ground if necessary, and get a couple trips in this August Covid willing.
I would agree with everything here except the weight issues with hammocks. High end hammock gear comes so close to tent/pad/quilt weight I don't find it an issue. That assumes you have an insulated pad on the colder days and a non-insulated on the hot days.
I second this comment. I believe that an inexperienced hiker can go out and purchase the lightest of tents and enjoy the weight saving benefits immediately. However a inexperienced hammock camper (properly equipped) will always come out with the heavier setup. It takes practice and experimentation with hammock camping. With experience a hammock camper can and will shed weight. Basically take a light weight tarp setup and add 13 to 18 oz to it for the hammock. Summer hammock setup in the PNW.
Tarp - 8oz
1/8 inch foam pad - 3.5oz
Hammock - 16oz (+6.5oz for optional bug net)
Great content!
Here in Germany I used my old trusted tarp 5 by Hilleberg combined with a STS moskito pyramid net for the last 6 years. Now I am infected by the hammock bug and just did my first 6 days hike with a hennessy ultralight backpacker. I had a real good sleep every night and will take the hammock to my upcoming 10 day hike this month in Bavaria. But it is true, a hammock setup is heavy compared to a tarp. In my case: + 600g. Here in Germany a hammock is a good choice, Forests are everywhere but sometimes on steep hills or swampy ground. So I can camp where tenters can t stay.
In (ground) tarp vs hammock the only major weight difference is what you put under yourself: groundsheet + sleeping pad vs hammock + underquilt. Groundsheet is typically lighter than a hammock, but you can minimise the difference by ditching carabiners and simplifying the hanging setup. Although groundsheet should withstand possibly sharp objects that might threaten your (inflatable?) sleeping pad and your comfort. However, underquilt is typically lighter, can be packed more compact than a similarly insulating sleeping pad. Unfortunately the lightest inflatable sleeping pads are more expensive and can be punctured. If instead of underquilt+overquilt you choose a sleeping bag which you put around your hammock - this is even lighter and easily beats the combined weight of overquilt + sleeping pad. Sleeping bag for a hammock must be larger than if you slept on a ground. Whereas tarp for a hammock can be smaller because you sleeping in a fixed position and don't risk accidentally moving your legs outside the cover of the tarp in the rain. Even a larger poncho-tarp (250x150 cm) is big enough for a hammock. I prefer a separated tarp (poncho-tarp) because I can wear it as a raincoat, windcoat or whenever I'm cold - serving 4 functions, not just 1 like a tent-roof or a non-poncho-tarp. As most of my trips take place in areas full with aggressive mosquitoes (avoidable by day, but unavoidable by night) - I need a mosquito net either built-in or as a separate unit. Thus the ground tarp setup needs an additional item that minimises the weight savings.
my favorite human on yt
I enjoy the Cadence of your videos. Thank you for sharing your passion.
I just carried a blowup pad with my hammock set up on the PCT worked pretty great for me. If there were no trees I just set it up like a bivy under my tarp. Great video. I'd have to agree with your advice to have all three I still have a tent collecting dust in my closet waiting for its time to shine.
For whatever reason, youtube's automatic captions just cannot make sense of your voice on this one. Glad I can still hear well enough to make out what you're actually saying lmao
Thanks for the tips! 👍👍
Another great video. Really appreciate the thoughtful and unbiased analysis
I really appreciate that your experience shows through in your videos. Even at the times that it is obvious by your body language and demeanor, what you prefer, the words you use are still expressing an attitude of its the viewers choice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and opinions.
I love your attitude Jupiter. Great video as always. I love my hammock but I'll definitely try the other two for backpacking at some point
Always good videos, Jupiter.
Great content as always. Thinking of trying out a flat tarp myself in the near future. Thanks Jupiter.
Great vid. Thanks.
Thx Jupiter for the info
awesome video! thanks!!!
I love that you don’t judge us tent users :) . It’s refreshing. I tried tarp camping here in a subtropical part of Australia. The thought of snakes seeking shelter under it kept me awake. And summer storms always kept me seeking alternative shelter (like toilet blocks). I’ve been camping all my life and think I’ve got to accept that I’m a tent man. But your tarp setup looks amazing!
Great video! I used a 7x9 tarp on my PCT thru hike last year. I love the connection to your surroundings and creativity it brings out. Tarps and crafts!
Great information!
I’m part of the 90%... tent for me🤙
That's a really good video.👍👍
I usually use tents, but I use hammocks a lot in the summer.
Such a legend
thank you !
Thank you for this video! I'm going to opt for a tent for the first thru-hike I'll do, and try out a tarp when I'm a bit more advanced at all this. :))
Trying out my tarp over this weekend.
great tips and thoughts on all of these types of shelters. I have noticed you haven't said much about tarp tents. So to say, you set up your tarp in a way you are enclosed from all sides. I have been playing around for some time with these tarp tents and I have to say they are quite nice when it comes to bad weather. I use a 3x2,9m DDhammocks ultralight tarp and when I set it up as a tarp tent (different possible setups) it is like in a tent without a groundsheet. In this way you don't need to be so choosey of a location of where to set up your tarp. I really enjoy your how to thru hike series and I'm loking forward to your next video.
The American Discovery Trail. . .I believe is the longest of all the long trails. . .
Amazing video! I do have to say that in the past there was really no comparison to a tarp when it comes to weight. But nowadays technology has advanced a lot. The Zpacks Plex Solo tent weighs close to a tarp setup. Why not take the versatility of a fully enclosed tent? If you are tall then the Durston X-mid 1 pro would do the trick but that tent would indeed be like 4 - 6 ounces more than a tarp setup.
Even tho you don't post a lot, your info and observations are well worth the wait. Also the visual presentation and videography is spot on
Sorry for the lack of posting, Instagram and Facebook has been political and I don't feel I have much to add. RUclips videos take longer and I've been helping my girlfriend with projects that slow it down further. Hopefully more often SOON cus I feel that too, I just want to work on these and other videos
Great look at the 3 I haven't ventured down the tarp only route yet but have a few hammocks and tents in my arsenal. I think the underquilt balances out the use of a pad when on the ground and is similar in weight typically. I have found the trekking pole style tent to be my go to since I already carry them and can cut out the weight of free standing poles.
Love your videos:) you are one the inspirations for me to go thru hike the pct. I have cystic fibrosis so it will definitely be a history making moment:) thank you for everything you do :)
.... And you're an inspiration to us! Enjoy your epic hike!
@@domo3552 thank you man, i appreciate it :)
Nice helpful video, I am looking for the perfect setup for my hike in Sweden in about two months.
Not in conjunction with this video, but thanks for inspiring me to return to art and paint some watercolors!
Speaking of Northern Europe, Hiking and Art & Tarps -- have you checked out, ruclips.net/video/GgOUaWlCZcY/видео.html Hiker in Estonia?
Also she is on www.maiutakesahike.com/
From a stressed office worker to an aspiring adventurer behind the Arctic Circle -
I have plenty of experiences to share. Maiu Lünekund, Estonia
"I'm a hiking artist during the summer and a sleddog musher/wilderness guide during the winter."
The best time to camp is when there's sub 0 Celsius, frozen. My military winter bag is built like a tank and doesn't need any protection from snow. I use spruce branches to keep me off from the frozen ground. No hazzle. The best experiences I have is when I wake up in the morning, with snow everywhere around me, light reflecting brightly into my eyes from all angles, and with nothing to block my view. It's as if I wake up in heaven. :D
LNT
Good video. I have 3 tents and a hammock. Slept best in the hammock; but found it to be far less convenient and roomy than a tent. I also have a freestanding and a non-freestanding tent (the Duplex like you show here.) Freestanding was better for the Grand Canyon where it is tougher to get staked into the ground.
This is THE best hammock/tarp/tent video.
Bivys are great if you need to camp in windy conditions. They're also invaluable if you're doing a snow hole. Not super relevant to backpackers but super important for ascents
I love my Duplex so much. It’s a palace for my dog,Maggie and me. For me it’s perfect. In two year I plan on doing the PCT and Maggie will be home for a large section of that hike. I more than likely will use a Plex Solo, a little over 13 ounces is hard to beat. I have been in hammocks and I just don’t find them that comfortable and they are way to heavy for my liking. I have not ruled out the tarp I just have a feeling I am going to get seriously wet, maybe on the dry PCT. In New England it’s just so wet. Thanks again
@Spitch Grizwald All light gear is expensive but you get what you pay for. It’s hard to beat 13 oz.
I ditched my tent some 30 years ago for a black diamond megamid then the megalight. If you group camp with it, it ends up being less than 1 lbs per person. The megalight weighs 2 1/2 lbs and sleeps 4. I added some mosquito netting on the bottom of the megalight which keeps the bugs out and works great for winter camping in the snow where you can pile snow on the netting. to help anchor it. I use a granite gear tarp too for solo. I pitch it usually A-frame style. You can use your rain gear at one end to help block out the rain or to be honest with you its big enough that I can just move my stuff over in the tarp so that the rain doesn't get you. Before you could buy superlight tents and other shelters people would just add some mosquito netting to a tarp and make there own light weight shelter. I've slept in one of those that held 6 people. I really like your series. Keep them coming.
I loved my hammock on the AT. Especially in the Whites. That's the only trail I'd use a hammock on though.
Great coverage and advice! Except for your advice to start with a cheap hammock. I did that and had a sore upper back. I didn't give up and got a longer, more expensive hammock which was very comfortable
That's an interesting point, my GF has a cheap hammock that's nice just to feel about which is why I said it. I also tried to mention a cheap tarp as that's what I started with and found I loved it. Could still be good to feel out the medium and shelter style just to get an idea?
@@JupiterHikes For me, using a cheap hammock almost caused me to give up the on hammock camping route all together. I'm glad I didn't give up and tried a longer, higher quality hammock after. I now get the best night sleep that I ever have when camping
Your objectivity was surprising and refreshing. Especially for this topic. I choose how much most of the time because of the comfort, which you highlighted so well. But there is this odd clique that has formed around those who use hammocks and sometimes the other shelter systems. I've never understood the tribalism associated with those things. But you seemed completely objective and I enjoyed your video.
That’s great and all, but which one is BEST? It’s awesome to find facts and experience being shared with as much balance as can be mustered. The right/best answer has to be conditional, whether we like it or not. I live in the west so it’s always tarp (with bug bivy, more for my paranoia than need) or tent. Vestibules are nice but being in the open (and netted for paranoia) is so hard to beat, rain, wind, or calm. Thanks for sharing your experience based opinions.
Great
Great video! I think you addressed a lot of the drawbacks and benefits of each shelter. I thru-hiked the AT in 2018 with a hammock/tarp system (actually the exact ones you had in the video) and that was the right decision for me. A couple of points, hammocks systems are basically just tarps systems with a hammock underneath. I actually found I had tons of space under my tarp to spread out as it were and could even stand up under the tarp to change clothes, etc. that was an added bonus to me. I do have a couple of questions though, you mentioned that an under quilt is something extra you need to carry compared to other systems, but it really just takes the place of a sleeping pad. I carried a 3/4 length under quilt that was around 13-14 ounces which is slighter more then some pads, but not much. Also, have you used or considered the Solomid or Duomid from Mountain Laurel Deaigns? I ask because I want to add a tent to my gear options because as much as I like my hammock, it’s not always the best option. Those look interesting to me because it could be used as a tarp or as a tent, I like the idea of having the option.
I'm using a tarp simply because it's the most compact shelter.
Larger ones is indeed enough to create fully enclosed space, easier to set up too, because you can pinch em straight to the ground.
Some tents can be set up with just the poles and fly. So you could leave the tent part at home or mail it ahead if you are on a long trail and don’t anticipate many insects.
Check out the alpkit kloke bivy only 265g & DD hammock lite tarp. Great videos BTW.
but good video and on point
I love the comfort of a hammock, but I also love the weight savings of a tarp. I enjoy being able to see out around me from my shelter. Thanks for this video. I just don't know how you get by with a 1/8" foam pad. I've had too many painful sleepless nights on a 3/8" foam pad, where you get up tired and in more pain than when you went to sleep. So I love the comfort of my hammock. An inflatable pad isn't bad, but I still have trust issues with their durability.
I think part of how he does it is being extremely picky with his campsite
@@Felix-kd8tn True, he is very picky, but also everyone is different. I would need to carefully form soft sand to be able to sleep on the ground without back pain, but others may be able to sleep on harder surfaces without any pain or discomfort at all, just because we're all different. :)
My girlfriend really likes the zlite and thinks its comfortable though we both prefer a more stiff bed of sorts. As someone else mentioned I am very picky about what I sleep on when it comes to natural duft. But it's not always possible to be so choosy and sometimes I just go with the flow. I think in some cases it's just something I've gotten used to. Slept on the floor with no mattress for a while, the bedding in my van is like a 2inch foam mattress on plywood that really just feels like plywood. Different strokes for different folks! I carry a heavy ass camera, take that weight and put it into a nice sleeping pad!
@@JupiterHikes Yep, If you take the time to manicure the ground where your choice inflatable is going down you should be Okay. Also pairing the sleeping pad with Tyvek will add protection to inflatables and the Tyvek makes a good seat when taking a break or laying down for lunch. You can use a branch with foliage as a broom to clear the big stuff away and then on hands and knees pick out the small stuff that is threatening .
Sorry, Jupiter, I have to respectfully disagree on a couple of points. You said that a hammock is the heaviest option, but that is because you are counting the weight of top and bottom quilts. Did you count a sleeping bag, pad, stakes, and trekking poles, etc. with your tent or tarp set up? Unless you do, it is not a fair comparison. My total 3-season hammock set up including quilt and underquilt is 4.5 lbs. Another thing, here in the South (U.S.), if you use a tarp setup, you will be laying in hundreds of ticks. In a hammock, you are up and out of the ticks.
Could you do a video on tarp sizes? Flat vs shaped. How to keep dry with something like 5x9.
I've gone tent camping a number of times and I'd always have a good time but it can be very uncomfortable. I've used a cot it helped with the rocks but was very stiff. I got a hammock and tested it in my backyard and I slept really well. I haven't gone camping with it yet but I hope to soon and test my hammock in the real world. I got to get an under quilt first and I wanna get a better hammock. Mine doesn't have a bug net
JH "get out there and practice practice practice." exactly. I'll throw my two cents in there. I've only used tarps and never had a tent although I would like to upgrade to a tarp tent. I started with military ponchos, two of them snapped together which is very large, spacious and packs down fairly small and is light and can be used as a poncho while hiking.
In recent years I've been using an eight foot tarp I found on eBay home made styled with flares and many tie down points. It stood up well in wind. Paired with the tarp I use a gortex military bivy bag to add warmth to my light weight quilt and protect from mosquitoes. Down side is it can feel like a suffocation coffin if not side sleeping and is not ultralight at all. Upside is that it adds protection to inflatable sleeping pads from punctures as it is inserted inside.
Southern California in early spring last year was freezing cold at night and anyone using a quilt only was suffering.
I've really only hiked out west and honestly don't set the tarp up often. I scout a place where it can be set up and have it ready to go at a moments notice. If it would start to rain I planned on rapidly setting it up in that eventuality in the middle of the night need be, which happened once. It is so arid out west. In over 1000 miles of PCT I have been rained on once and the tarp did excellent. It packs down very small and is just as light. It suits people who are only sleeping in camp and not much else. Going to look into tarp tents. Don't see myself carrying poles subject to damage. Some still photos of the set up in my vids. Going to check out the CT this summer with the tarp yet again. We'll see how it goes.
SplitWing shelter by SlingFin
7:50 what did you do to the Zpacks tarp? I always imagine that back corner is what my whole tarp would look like (I'm hard on gear) but have been surprised to see many, many users putting in thousands of miles with intact UL gear.
Thanks for all your time and effort in sharing information!
I carry a Black Diamond Mega Light...
It's a 4 season ultralight shelter...
Do a video on how you set up a tarp using sticks. l was practicing in the backyard and could use some pointers! Ps. Ty for the great content & advice.
I pull the line tight and then just do a single loop around a stick! Once you get it, it's super easy. Not the most sturdy way of things but I have never had a problem. If it seems really flimsy or like it'll come out or flip over when setting it up make the change then rather than waiting for something to go wrong
Awesome video, very informative! I do enjoy listening to the tips and tricks you put out there. Thanks brother:)
Hey Jupiter, how do you pack up your tarp during a hike? Do you fold, roll, or stuff your Dyneema tarp?
Hey Jupiter, great info as always. In regards to using a tarp (or floorless teepee), how do you deal with ticks? Do you put permethrin on everything ahead of time & hope for the best? (If so, how well does it work in your experience?) Do you carry & use DEET frequently? Are there any best practices that you could pass on? Thanks.
Know where ticks live! Both on the grand scheme of things, and on the day to day. Ticks are a problem in the northeast for instance but not even a thought on the west coast. If you're hiking in a state with a lot of them for sure I have freshly permethrined clothing. If you're really in the belly of the beast it could be wise to use a bivy. Aside from that, avoid tall grass, avoid wet areas(they like damp places) and choose to sleep in a more dry place, avoid bushy campsites. Look for somewhere more sandy and dry. It's a huge concern and was my main concern when hiking the AT from Vermont to Virginia(the worse offending states.) I don't know if ticks are more common during certain seasons but that could be worth looking up, if you have to be more alert in the summer while the winter they are dormant. Know thy enemy lol I can't find the video anymore but permethrin is so effective, there once was a video demonstration that showed ticks climbing on top of one another to get off the treated surface. Definitely a concern but certainly ways to mitigate the risk.
One big bummer about hammocks is the national parks are banning them in some locations or limiting them to free standing only so yea, no attaching to trees or structures. State parks are following suit too so check park regulations to avoid problems.
Font feel bad for not posting a lot. You do Quite well with what you post.
Glad to hear you are helping your girlfriend.
Btw...i live in Kentucky and was wondering what you think of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. Was it easy to make resupplies? Anyone to call for shuttles or finding trail angels.
The sheltowee trace trail was awesome. I would love to do it again, and if I lived closer probably more than that! Really cool and unique geology. Resupply was easy, the only issues with it were the sections of roadwalk and the dogs you'll encounter along those
Really liking this series of videos! This summer I've ditched the tent and started using a tarp. I live in grizzly country so having a "barrier" of actual enclosed walls was keeping me in a heavy(ish) tent for years. This year I've rigged a tarp setup by folding in the foot end, staking it down and then using my rain skirt attached with velcro as a partial "wall" at the head end. Sleeping like a baby now. 6.5oz tarp vs my old 32oz tent - yes please!
I'm so jelous of people that get to hike where a tarp would work. The types of places I hike in Australia would see me and my equipment covered in bull ants and pestered by insects. For me, it’s a tent or hammock only, i like each for different hikes, hammocks are stealth and amazing to avoid site fees in parks, sleep well, camp anywhere on any terrain. Tents allow you to join in with others and camp at paid sites and are even lighter.
Hammocks: Some parks don't allow strapping to a tree for fear of damaging the trees.
I was considering a dyneema borah.bug bivy and a zpacks pocket tarp for an ultra lite shelter
It's a nice setup! I personally didn't like the bug bivy nearly as much as I liked the MLD superlight bivy which only has a full headnet and the rest is water resistant. Better in the rain, better in the cold, and surprisingly better in the heat when you don't want to fully be in your quilt. A bug bivy you inevitably wind up touching the sides, and the mosquitoes can get to you, the superlight there are no worries of that
4:53 Can I sleep in a mummy sleeping-bag instead of top and bottom quilt if a use a hammock?
You can use a sleeping bag in a hammock, but you will need a sleeping pad to insulate your underside. Since you’re squishing the underside of the bag against the hammock, it doesn’t insulate you well at all. Because an underquilt hangs outside the hammock this isn’t an issue.
Most hammockers don’t like pads because they make the hammock less comfortable, and don’t like sleeping bags because they are incredibly difficult to get and out of while hanging in the air.
Yes you absolutely can. Check out Outdoor Vitals and Hyke Byke. They have bags that surround the hammock. Lots of pluses (major weight saver). I can only think of one major negative. I don't know how you would make them work with an attached bug net. I used OV's Aerie quilt on my PCT section hike and love it. I also have their mummy bag designed for this system that I'm not real crazy about. Should be getting Hyke Byke 0 deg. Crestline today, very excited. Design difference should address all the problems I have with OV's system. Two thumbs way up for these designs!
I've slept in my hammock with just a blanket and I was alright. But to be fair I was just in my backyard with 70° weather. I'd highly recommend getting an under quilt though
I've built a fire in torrential rain under my tarp while kicked back in my hammock. Cooked food, stayed warm and entertained...but then there's no lack of trees where I camp. I've used a tarp and hammock for decades, it would be hard to switch.
I have trouble Hey i have problems choosing my tent. my girlfriend and i are planning our next long hike and we are with our medium sized dog. do you think that the duplex is big enough or would even you say that we should take the triplex
Betul sekali
Yeah boyyyyyyy
What are your thoughts on a tent/tarp hybrid like the zpacks hexamid solo tent or the SMD Deshutes Plus where it is basically a tarp with some sewn in bugnet?
Those are awesome! If I ever got a single person tent it would be a hexamid. Best of both worlds in a lot of ways
Bivies allow for modulation without the added weight of, say, a BA tent.
Thanks for representing hammocks well. We're a crazy bunch but you have hammocks a really fair evaluation. I'd like to add that a basic hammock setup is probably going to be lighter than a basic tent set up for most people.
A basic set up of tarp, hammock, and top/bottom quilt probably cost about a hundred dollars each, plus whatever fancy stuff you add on. Each one weighs at most a pound too. Being under four pounds for shelter AND sleep insulation is nothing to scoff at.
Like you said it's hard to get it much lower than that, but dcf tarps and high quality insulation can definitely help bring it down a bit.
Thanks Jupiter! Any van updates?
Still loving it! At some point ill do more van videos but right now just want to focus on this stuff to hopefully help others
Upsidedown trekking poles might be damaging your duplex unless you carry sharp metal tip covers