Choosing any gear comes down to a balance between the ideal choice and what you can spend. I have spent a number of decades collecting gear, so I am now in a place where most of my gear is able to be the ideal choices, but that wasn't always the case. Even if you can't afford it, however, it helps to figure out the ideal choice because that will allow you to be clear on what you are looking for in your secondary-but-much-more-affordable options. (See the bottom of this page for ideas on getting reduced price gear.)
backpacking gear - shelter
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Read bellow for a general assessment of types of shelter, then click on an option to see specific tents, bivy's and tarps evaluated and compared.
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MY CRITERIA:
With each of these three options (tarp, bivy or tent) there is a wide variety of choices which move you all over the spectrum on each of my three criteria. I have spent years trying different options and eventually settled on one or two of the 3 types of shelter which I switch out depending on the kind of trip I am going to take. To see specifics on which model and brand of each type of shelter I choose and why, click here.
Weight and Size: The most bare basics bivy sac available is the lightest weight and smallest packing option for camping, though a tarp and guy ropes can be almost as light and easy to manage. A tent involves more weight and is more complex to set up and take down, but there are a wide variety of options there. A two person tent or a solo tent are quite different in weight and packing size.
Ease: The easiest thing to put up and take down is a bivy sac, with the tarp coming in second and a tent third. Again, tents vary greatly depending upon which you choose. Another aspect of ease of use is the ability to see the horses without getting out of bed, and again, the rating here is bivy sac, tarp and then tent. This is important if I am the only one on a trip or am traveling with only one horse and need to keep more aware of how the horses are doing in the night.
Comfort: The tent is by far the most comfortable option, allowing for the best sleep both at night and during the day. In fact, it is difficult to get good sleep in a bivy sac during the day and almost as hard in a tarp. A tent I can fully close makes a big difference on how rested I am the next morning.
RESULT:
For long trips or trips where I am pushing myself, or when I have a second person with me to help with pack-up and to keep watch over the horses at night, the two person tent is worth the extra weight. This is because it can provide much better comfort and thus, much better rest. My dog can fit inside with me and going into my tent becomes a truly restful experience. I'm able to really shut my mind off and sleep. That level of rest is necessary for a long or difficult trip.
When I am going out on a brief trip, however (2-3 days), am well rested starting out with good rest planned at the end, I may choose a bivy sac. This is easy to set up and take down and also leaves me able to see the horses all night long, thus making it easier to keep an eye on their safety. (This is a problem with a tent - you have to get out of bed every time they move around and you need to see what is wrong.) The bivy sac doesn't allow my dog to crawl in with me, and that is too bad because a) I like sleeping curled up with him, b) he stays warmer and more comfortable and c) I can shut the world out better if one part of my mind isn't wondering if he is getting into trouble somewhere. Setting up a tarp shelter over a bivysack does make up for some of this and can be a good compromise. The dog feels a bit more like he is put away for the night and is less likely to wander. And I feel a little e more protected but can still open my eyes and see the horses without having to get out of bed.
- weight and size - I want it to be as lightweight and small to pack as possible. This is good in general, but also because I do better if I can leave the tent up until the horses are all packed and everything is ready to go, thus allowing me to rest after packing and before getting on the trail. But this requires that it be able to tuck into my horse's pack at the last minute, and the smaller it is, the easier for that.
- Ease of setup - Having a lot of things to worry about before or after I ride for a day is hard for me. The fewer pieces I have to put together (one pole vs. two, for instance) and the easier the setup and take-down, the better. The more it can feel like I just get off the horse and crawl into bed, the better. Lots of camp set-up is hard on me, especially as it involves an equal amount of take-down the next morning.
- Comfort - Turns out this is pretty important too, depending upon what kind of trip I am doing. I always have to balance the ability to really shut things out and get a good night's sleep with weight and ease of use. In some situations, if I am not just riding-sleeping-riding with few days in between, the simplest solutions are the best. But if I am going to be out for close to a week and take days to rest, I need to be able to rest well. My sleep needs to be effective. That is greatly improved by having a tent spacious enough to move around in, which can zip both me and my dog away from the world and let us shut everything out.
With each of these three options (tarp, bivy or tent) there is a wide variety of choices which move you all over the spectrum on each of my three criteria. I have spent years trying different options and eventually settled on one or two of the 3 types of shelter which I switch out depending on the kind of trip I am going to take. To see specifics on which model and brand of each type of shelter I choose and why, click here.
Weight and Size: The most bare basics bivy sac available is the lightest weight and smallest packing option for camping, though a tarp and guy ropes can be almost as light and easy to manage. A tent involves more weight and is more complex to set up and take down, but there are a wide variety of options there. A two person tent or a solo tent are quite different in weight and packing size.
Ease: The easiest thing to put up and take down is a bivy sac, with the tarp coming in second and a tent third. Again, tents vary greatly depending upon which you choose. Another aspect of ease of use is the ability to see the horses without getting out of bed, and again, the rating here is bivy sac, tarp and then tent. This is important if I am the only one on a trip or am traveling with only one horse and need to keep more aware of how the horses are doing in the night.
Comfort: The tent is by far the most comfortable option, allowing for the best sleep both at night and during the day. In fact, it is difficult to get good sleep in a bivy sac during the day and almost as hard in a tarp. A tent I can fully close makes a big difference on how rested I am the next morning.
RESULT:
For long trips or trips where I am pushing myself, or when I have a second person with me to help with pack-up and to keep watch over the horses at night, the two person tent is worth the extra weight. This is because it can provide much better comfort and thus, much better rest. My dog can fit inside with me and going into my tent becomes a truly restful experience. I'm able to really shut my mind off and sleep. That level of rest is necessary for a long or difficult trip.
When I am going out on a brief trip, however (2-3 days), am well rested starting out with good rest planned at the end, I may choose a bivy sac. This is easy to set up and take down and also leaves me able to see the horses all night long, thus making it easier to keep an eye on their safety. (This is a problem with a tent - you have to get out of bed every time they move around and you need to see what is wrong.) The bivy sac doesn't allow my dog to crawl in with me, and that is too bad because a) I like sleeping curled up with him, b) he stays warmer and more comfortable and c) I can shut the world out better if one part of my mind isn't wondering if he is getting into trouble somewhere. Setting up a tarp shelter over a bivysack does make up for some of this and can be a good compromise. The dog feels a bit more like he is put away for the night and is less likely to wander. And I feel a little e more protected but can still open my eyes and see the horses without having to get out of bed.
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Evaluation of specific brands and models
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Tips on Purchasing Gear:
Gear doesn't have to be purchased new. There are lots of ways to reduce the cost of your gear and still get something close to the ideal.
Got any other recommendations for people on where to find deals on gear? Tell us and we will add them to this page! |
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Click here to see my YouTube page of videos on how this trip is going every step of the way, including my preparations at home and my days on the trail.
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Want to know more about who is on this trip? Me, my dog, my horses and any friends who happen to join me along the way...
Click here to see my YouTube page of videos on how this trip is going every step of the way, including my preparations at home and my days on the trail. |