Early Season CO Tent/Shelter

[thunderchicken21]

My head is spinning...can't decide on a 1-2 person shelter for my OTC elk hunt. I am looking for something 2-2.5 pounds max, have trekking poles I can use to for setup, and bugproof. I've looked at the ground sheet and tarp options as well, but worried about rain storms/keeping dry.

What would you guys recommend I look into? I have a ~26" wide by ~78" long pad and want to also have room for my gear (either inside tent or under covered rainfly vestibule)

 

[dotman]

Kifaru super tarp or mega tarp, plenty of room and half your weight limit. Just like a tent, pitch it in the right spot and rain isn't an issue.

Bugs have never been an issue for me in CO during Sep. July and Early Aug you'll get bugs but then you can just add a Borah bug bivy. I like to use a bug bivy anyway as it keeps my pad protected and contains my quilt so that it doesn't get dirty.

 

[bogeyboy555]

I have tried 2 of the three popular options and it ultimately comes down to preference, like anything else....

1) Warbonnet Hammock setup: My buddy hunts with this for OTC archery elk.... the only bitch is how exposed it is and how much time it takes to setup - pain in the ass in my opinion. Plus, by the time you pack the top quilt/bottom quilt, straps, hammock, and tarp you arent saving weight or space. The nice thing is that you have a chair to hang out with at camp.

2) Kifaru Supertarp / Hilleberg UL Tarp.... loved the idea of these and some guys can make them work, I was not one of them. The issue is that what you make up for in the compact/ ultralight department, you lose in having to take a heavier sleeping bag. Tarps are cold, can get wet easily, and in my opinion are more suited for reliable weather areas. Tarps pack small, but the extra sleeping bag space, bivy, and tyvek make it in my opinion a riskier option.

3) Hilleberg Enan Tent.... I have the Enan and the Soulo...... The Enan is perfect for Archery Season. Sets up very fast if you are looking to move camp each day, and weighs less than 3lbs. Plus it compresses down to the the size of a grapefruit. The most underrated part of these Hilleberg tents is how warm they are. Even during rifle season, when it is 20 degrees outside at night, I will use a 35 degree Western Mountaineering Caribou MF down bag. I estimate these tents when fully buttoned up will run a good 10-15 degrees warmer than outside temps. Being able to run a lighter weight bag saves me a ton of pack space too. I also love the vestibule area, makes it really easy to keep everything dry. The Akto is also a great option and is even warmer!

I would talk to Grant at 1ShotGear here in Denver, Co and see if he can help with a Hilleberg. He really knows his way around this stuff. A Hilleberg Enan is expensive but getting lousy sleep is up there with blisters as the fastest way to ruin a hunt/backpacking trip.

hope this helps - send me a message if you have more questions.
dmac

 

[tttoadman]

Look at the Six Moons Haven tarp and haven net. I have a smaller Six Moons tarp and a bivy. I am trying to justify picking up this combo next year. The net can by hooked in after the tarp is put up or left behind in nice weather. Full 48" wide with a big bathtub floor. The whole package with stakes is about 2 lbs.

 

[DIY]

Megatarp

 

[Dos Perros]

SELFILMED, I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm wary of mosquitoes early this year with all the moisture they've had. I've decided to go with something from Tarptents.com or Sixmoons Designs. They are essentially tarps with built in bug screens and a floor. The 1+ models (Protrail or Skyscape Trekker) will fit you and your gear no problem yet are pretty light (26/24 oz, respectively). You utilize your trekking poles, too.

 

[thunderchicken21]

SELFILMED, I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm wary of mosquitoes early this year with all the moisture they've had. I've decided to go with something from Tarptents.com or Sixmoons Designs. They are essentially tarps with built in bug screens and a floor. The 1+ models (Protrail or Skyscape Trekker) will fit you and your gear no problem yet are pretty light (26/24 oz, respectively). You utilize your trekking poles, too.

I've had my eyes on the Protrail from Tarptent.com as well. I'd be interested to hear from anyone that has/used one. Definitely in my price range.

 

[Tony Trietch]

I picked up a HS Tarptent Protrail. My initial impressions are all positive.
More room than my Moment dw or stratospire. The only foreseeable drawback is condensation due to the single wall construction if it's pulled to close to the ground. I will be using it next week and report back.

 

[Dos Perros]

That's where I think the Sixmoons might be better. Dual side entry, and you can pull the vestibules up to essentially make a bug tent when it's not raining or windy.

 

[sodaksooner]

FWIW..I picked up a BPWD luna 6, but got the perimeter netting option so can pitch above ground with fewer worries about bugs. Hope this can help rectify the condensation. I only have one night in it with 4 people at 8700', but pitched right on the ground. Condensation galore...lol. Have a stove too, so hopefully that helps a bit.

 

[Mike7]

Here is another option for you, which works great in my opinion in any weather and meets all of your requirements. I think that you stay much drier overall in this setup than in a tent, because once a tent is wet inside, then it seems to stay wet. I only prefer a self supporting tent for deep snow and frozen ground. This would also be a shelter that you can pitch up off of the ground to glass from or throw over yourself and gear in a quick down poor. Also plenty of room for all of your gear inside when it is set up.

Anyway, get a tarp (many different choices) that can seal out weather (for instance a BPWD Pyratent at 24 oz & $230, 27 oz w/ stakes), then pick up a Sea to Summit pryamid bug shelter (3oz and $30 for the single I believe), and a piece of Tyvek ($5 and a few ounces). You then have a versatile complete shelter for less than $275 & 35 oz. Less weight if you don't need the bug bivy for late summer/early fall and later hunts.

 

[LJ Buck]

never had bug issues in co in sept

 

[LaGriz]

What to do?
I would opt. for more room and versatility. Like a used LBO-Vestibule from Seek Outside + a nest. Go-lite in the early season (solo or you and the dog). Shuck the nest later as the weather cools and you could have a stove option. If splitting the load with a hunting partner, the full PKG is still a reasonable load for 2. Later, you could shop for a deal on a used stove or build your own. These "hot tents" seem to have good resale value. Look how quickly they move when posted in the classifieds.Attached are pics of the LBO and a Go-lite SL-5 View attachment 27768View attachment 27769
LaGriz

 

[dotman]

I just got back from CO, bugs are already dying down, not much of an issue with them last week. Now back here in KC they will carry off a small child still.

I was in Southern CO.

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

Theres a used Seekoutside LBO in the classifieds for a great price if you end up going that route. Thats what Im using this sept in CO.

 

[5MilesBack]

For a minimal setup I'm using the Seek Outside DST Tarp and a custom Borah Gear bug bivy. If I want a better shelter that weighs a little more I'll take the BA CS UL2.

 

[Dos Perros]

Here is another option for you, which works great in my opinion in any weather and meets all of your requirements. I think that you stay much drier overall in this setup than in a tent, because once a tent is wet inside, then it seems to stay wet. I only prefer a self supporting tent for deep snow and frozen ground. This would also be a shelter that you can pitch up off of the ground to glass from or throw over yourself and gear in a quick down poor. Also plenty of room for all of your gear inside when it is set up.

Anyway, get a tarp (many different choices) that can seal out weather (for instance a BPWD Pyratent at 24 oz & $230, 27 oz w/ stakes), then pick up a Sea to Summit pryamid bug shelter (3oz and $30 for the single I believe), and a piece of Tyvek ($5 and a few ounces). You then have a versatile complete shelter for less than $275 & 35 oz. Less weight if you don't need the bug bivy for late summer/early fall and later hunts.

I liked this idea, enough to go with a BPWD La Garita 1, and I'll pick up that bug shelter, too (might not even need it). So $200 all in and only ~22oz. One reason I was leaning towards the tarptent was for future use with my son, but I think when that times comes (he's only 11 months now) the cuben will be cheap or something else will be the hot ticket and I'll get an even lighter or cheaper 2 man tent.

 

[Biggs300]

My favorite is a older Integral Designs Sil-dome 2 person floorless tarp tent. I leave it open when warm and closed-up when it is colder. It is easy to put up and take down and is fairly lightweight. Camping in colder conditions with a bunch of gear, I rely on my Seek Outside 6-man tipi with a medium titanium stove. With both, I pretty well set for most conditions.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

My experience is that tarps are great for late-season hunts where an integrated wood stove can be used to dry gear. They're also great winter shelters. However, not as practical during summer/early fall.

During archery season, I prefer a tent like the Hilleberg Akto or Enan. As bogeyboy555 said, they're bombproof in wet weather and they are much warmer.

Another factor I've noticed is that tarps tend to me a lot noisier. I have one tarp that's really lightweight and strong, but noisy as hell in any kind of breeze. The sound wakes me up at night.