Backpacking Shelters: Everything You Need to Know About it and More

With the weather turning warm again and the trees starting to show signs of life, everyone is once again looking for ways to get out and enjoy the best of what Mother Nature has to offer. With that in mind, many people are starting to heed that siren call and are looking for ways to get off the beaten trail and away from the crowds. What better way then to go out backpacking. But with backpacking comes a bewildering array of gear. There are many different tents and shelters on the market right now and not all of them are appropriate for backpacking use. Many tents are simply too big and heavy to even think of carrying into the woods more then the 50 yards from the car to the tent site. Imaging carrying that several miles on your back, and don't forget the sleeping bag, food and clothes. Others are so flimsy or badly designed as to be dangerous in foul weather.

Points to ponder:
- How many people does the shelter need to comfortably hold.
- What type of weather will the shelter encounter.
- What is the max weight and space the shelter should take up in a pack.
- What style will best suit the terrain or your needs.

Car camping tents
Remember going on a car camping trip as a kid? The fond memories of trying to set up a large canvas tent with free standing poles, the off smell of mildew from canvas that never dried properly from the last trip. While tents have come a long way from those canvas behemoths, tents that are geared for car camping typically still have high ceilings and are capable of accommodating a small family. Some even have small rooms off the main tent so children can sleep in their own room away from parents. Many of these tents weigh upwards of 30 pounds if not more and there are even deluxe models that come with a heater. These tents are generally passed over by the experienced backpacking and most novices know enough to stay away from them. It used to be that tents from this category were not free standing tents but required staking in order to remain standing, this is no longer the case with many companies moving to free standing tents for ease of assembly. Tents for car camping do not always have a full fly though and trying to keep driving rain from entering can be a challenge. The Coleman 12x10 Sundome tent is stereotypical of the types of tents taken on family car camping trips nowadays. It has two rooms, sleeps 6, a half fly with a reasonable cost of 140$.

Tarps
This is the other extreme on the tenting spectrum. The lowly tarp has in recent years seen a surge in use and enthusiasts for its light weight nature and in some cases ability to double as a poncho. The tarp is a specialized piece of backpacking equipment and should really only be considered if you have the time to learn how to properly use it, stake it out and set it up. With proper staking and tension, the tarp can be quite solid in wind and rain but remember, the tarp has no floor and a ground sheet or bivy of some sort should be employed to prevent sleeping bags and clothes from getting wet. Improperly stakes tarps can also form condensation which can then drip onto the unsuspecting sleeper or rattle in the wind all night. A tarp can weigh from mere ounces up to 1 pound depending on size, material and extras. Extras can include such items as grommets to help with staking, and a hood to allow use as a poncho. Examples of a poncho tarp would be the AntiGravityGear Poncho villa. The pros to a tarp are their light weight nature and the great air flow, plus the bonus of waking up in the middle of the night and leaning out to star gaze without leaving the warmth of your sleeping bag. While they don't confer much extra warmth, they do make great emergency shelters and wind breaks. The cons are that bugs have easy access, and there is no floor so extra weight needs to be allocated to a floor. Prices go from low to mid range and many people just make their own, pricing starts around 50$ for a simple flat tarp up to about 400$ for tarps that can sleep 8 and have shaping beyond the flat rectangle. The Integral Designs SilTarp typifies a light weight backpacking tarp. It has multiple stake out options and is reasonably priced at 75$ with a reasonable weight of 7 oz.

Bivys
Bivys also known as bivouacs are like glorified body bags. They generally have a much more generous cut to them then a sleeping bag, they have some ventilation and possibly some bug netting for warmer summer days. There are a range of styles from minimalist with no true ventilation to those with a pole hoop to keep the bag off the face. Whatever the model, the cons to a bivy is that there is generally very little extra room to move around or change clothes. They can be difficult to enter in rain without getting the contents of the bivy wet. A tarp strung up over the top will help in this regard. It is possible to get some condensation with a bivy. The pros to using a bivy are that they can be much lighter than a tent, will add a few degrees of warmth to your sleeping system, and are great on solo trips where privacy isn't an issue. They also pack down quite small and make great emergency shelters. Prices are about mid ranged starting around 100$ and going up to 300$. The Outdoor Research MicroNight bivy is a typical bivy design with bug netting for ventilation and full closure for inclement weather. This model has stake out points to keep the bivy off the face versus poles. It is 120$ and 19 oz.

Hammocks
Camping hammocks are new to the backpacking field and have experienced an explosion in styles and materials. These hammocks have definitely come a long way from the macrame rope that swung in the backyard. Materials are now nylon ripstop or silnylon. The simplest models are open on the top but have the capacity to be wrapped around the sleeper. Many models though are now completely enclosed with bug netting on top and a rain fly. Some even allow sleeping diagonally to allow for a flatter sleeping area while others allow the user to set up on the ground in the case of no trees. Hammocks are a great alternative to tents especially in the summer months as a sleeping pad is generally not required for cushioning. Hammocks are also low impact on the environment. The drawbacks are that stomach or side sleepers will have problems sleeping, and gear storage can be tricky. Hammocks do not allow for much storage of gear inside, but it is possible to stash gear underneath the hammock and the fly will keep hammock and gear dry. If the fly is staked too tight to the mesh, it can be possible to get a little condensation but it is rare. Entering and exiting from the hammock can be a trial at first as can changing. Hammocks are loved by backpackers and are great for the soloist. There are some extra large hammocks that can allow for two people to enter. While this might be nice for napping, it doesn't work well for an extended period of time. Hammocks can be colder to sleep in once the weather starts to get cold. Any breeze creates a cooling effect and compression reduces the ability of the sleeping bag to maintain warmth underneath. There are some people who have managed to do winter camping with a hammock. Prices are about mid ranged with some models starting at low as 50$ and ranging up to 230$. The Hennessy Hammocks Ultralight Backpacker Asym is what many people use for backpacking and seems to have been one of the first truly enclosed backpacking hammocks that hit the market. It is light at only 1lb 15oz, can hold up to 200lb and is priced at 190$. They have a larger model that can hold larger or heavier people.

Tents - 3 season
3 season tents cover spring through to fall but as long as there is no heavy snow, torrential rain or severe winds, some of these tents can be used all year round with a little extra sleeping insulation. They range from one person tents with barely enough room to turn around (see MSR Hubba) to deluxe 3 person tents that cam weight upwards of 7-8 lbs. Many backpacking enthusiasts use a tent from this category. Many first time backpackers also use tents from this category but make the mistake of buying a tent bigger and heavier then they need simply because they want all the features they can get. 3 season tents are generally all mesh body's with a bath tub like floor and a full fly to protect. With all the mesh, these tents have great ventilation which in windy weather sometimes a breeze can be felt moving through the tent. A property staked fly helps cut down on condensation. The best backpacking tents will have full fly coverage, lots of mesh, are light and have a vestibule for boot and gear storage. If there is no fly, as in a single wall tent, the tent will have vent areas that can be opened or closed depending on the weather. The prices in this category range all over the place from the 100$ base one person model up to 700$ for deluxe models for 3+ people. The MSR Hubba Hubba is a typical 2 person tent with 2 generous vestibules, and lots of mesh. The tent weighs about 4lb 12oz, and costs 300$.

Tents - 4 season
These are tents that are designed to handle a heavy load of snow. They typically have large vestibules that can double as a cooking area and maybe as a snow tunnel to prevent snow from entering the tent in blowing winds. The tents tend to have a geodesic-like appearance and are streamlined to withstand strong winds. These are specialized tents that are generally not needed by the average spring to fall backpacker. They should only be considered by the more experienced winter backpacker who knows they will be facing heavy snow conditions. These tents tend to cost quite a lot and can be heavier due to the materials needed to build a weather proof tent. The prices tend to be mid ranged and up for these starting around 300$ and going up. The Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 is a typical 4 season tent with an extra large vestibule with separate pole supports. The extra large vestibules allow for snow- or rain-free tent entry. The aerodynamic design and smooth profile resists high winds and the overlapping pole profile makes the tent very strong. This tents is 10lbs and 475$.

Tarp Tents
Tarp tents are a relative newcomer to the backpacking field. The goal was to design a tarp to look and act like a tent without losing the lightness of the tarp. There are many different models available now and for about 2 lbs, you can get a 2 person tarp tent. Some tarp tents allow for the use of a trekking pole to be used as the main support pole, further saving weight. Like tarps, tarp tents need to be properly staked out or condensation can form on the inside walls and precipitate down onto the sleeper. Tarp tents are great for buddying up in but can be a little difficult to share the weight around. Prices are generally mid ranged, going from 100$ up to 300$. A great example of a tarp tent is a Henry Shire Squall 2. This tent is a single walled tent that can use trekking poles for support, has simple ventilation and an integrated floor. This tarp tent weighs 32 oz and is 230$.

There are likely thousands of possible shelters to chose from when it comes time to select an appropriate shelter for a backpacking trip. The first thing to determine is whether you will be hiking alone or with a hiking partner, will a one person shelter suit your needs or do you need room for your hiking companion be it a dog or a person. Once you have the size down, determine what possible weather types you will be encountering. Do you need a light weight summer shelter or a heavy duty beast that can handle winter's fury? Next up is weight, how much weight and space can you afford to give to your shelter within your already loaded pack? Weight is always an issue. Depending on your pack weight, a shelter can sometimes account for up to 1/3 of your pack weight. Style is also an issue, do you want to be a tree swinger or a ground dweller, do you need pockets or a gear loft? After you have answered all those questions, the number of tents to pick from will be a much smaller subset. While I have given an example for each style, that is by no means the only example of that style.

As with all backpacking items, shelters should be tested before fully depending on them. It is always a good idea to know how to properly set up a new shelter and to know how it will perform in rain or on wet ground. Ground sheets are a great way to protect the floors of most shelters but do add to the weight. As with many things, what one person hates, another person loves. While I personally cannot sleep in a hammock, the few times I have used one, I did really enjoy napping in it. If possible, try out various options before buying. Consider what kind of storage needs you will require, and how badly you need those extra pockets or that window for peeping toms. If you hike with a partner, consider tents that can be split between two packs and can comfortably accommodate two people plus gear. It is best to be willing to spend a few extra dollars for something that will fit the expected terrain and weather then to buy something inappropriate and wake up drenched the next morning. The best way to grow into backpacking is to always buy light items to reduce weight on your back. The less weight weighing you down, the more likely you are to have fun and keep backpacking. When upgrading, downgrade the weight.

Happy trails