Which Shelter?

[TEmbry]

After only one season of tarp experience, I say forego any "UL stake" crap and buy a mixture of MSR Groundhogs and Mini Groundhogs. Learn from my mistakes!!

I consider the groundhogs and mini groundhogs to be a lightweight option for stakes!

My only regret with the Supertarp is that I wish I'd have went with the Megatarp for 4 more ounces. Supertarp is planty big for one guy to crawl in, but for $80 and 4 ozs more I have a palace for one man excursions and enough room for two guys (wouldn't do 2 guys in a super tarp). Love it otherwise!

 

[armyjoe]

I'm definitely with the vast major here and say, take a good look at the Kifaru tarps. Size to weight ratio on them is very hard to beat. The price might be a little much for you as you say but keep looking around because sometimes they come up in the classified adds.

 

[Teeton]

I uses the 10 x 10 thats $60.00 bucks listed above last year it worked great. It's made by DD Hammocks out of the UK (England) here it a link to them.
http://www.ddhammocks.com/ find the USA pricing section.. Shipping is very fast all the way from England. My last order was placed on a Monday night, it was at my door Wednesday morning at 10 am from Fed X.. Google dd hammock setups. Lots of diff ways to set them up. You tube has ways to set them up also. Heres a link to a u tube setups, u can tree limbs instead of ski poles. But theirs many ways to set them up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMAtpWQdVbY

Here a link to the 10 x 10 tarp with shipping for $68.00 http://www.ddhammocks.com/product/ddtarp_olive_green_3x3

 

[brunse]

Mountainsmith shelter works for me. 2 pounds, one or two guys. Sticks or trekking poles. $100 on sale or $130 listed price.

 

[Vance in AK]

View attachment 13667

Mountainsmith shelter works for me. 2 pounds, one or two guys. Sticks or trekking poles. $100 on sale or $130 listed price.

View attachment 13666

Good looking rig for the price! Has it held up well for you?

 

[brunse]

I have not used it a ton. Mostly I camp from a trailhead and spike out with it. My intention was to determine if I wanted a floorless without spending the price of a Kifaru. So far so good. I am not sure there is enough space in it to warrant a stove jack, so someday I may upgrade to a Kifaru Sawtooth or similar variation.

Other similar tarps/shelters may be lighter, but this summer I will likely get a bearpaw type nest and stick with this outfit for a while (sub 3 pounds is still better than my marmot). Enough room for two with room for two packs as well. I hang my bow outside as it takes the weather fine.

 

[Vance in AK]

I have not used it a ton. Mostly I camp from a trailhead and spike out with it. My intention was to determine if I wanted a floorless without spending the price of a Kifaru. So far so good. I am not sure there is enough space in it to warrant a stove jack, so someday I may upgrade to a Kifaru Sawtooth or similar variation.

Other similar tarps/shelters may be lighter, but this summer I will likely get a bearpaw type nest and stick with this outfit for a while (sub 3 pounds is still better than my marmot). Enough room for two with room for two packs as well. I hang my bow outside as it takes the weather fine.

Thanks for the info.
I too have been considering floorless & it sounds like something that might work well for my 10yr old son & I. A stove isn't a big consideration for me right now so that's not a factor. I'll put it on the list of "when I get the funds" items! It would be about the cheapest way to lighten the pack ($ per oz.)...

 

[Madnik]

I went through something similar last year and opted for the Trailstar. My review is linked below:

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-11348.html

 

[Vector32]

This might have already been asked but. I like the idea of the tarp but it doesn't have a floor right? So what happens in the rain? Won't everything get wet? Do you need a bivy bag for you sleeping bag. Or am I missing something?

 

[desertcj]

This might have already been asked but. I like the idea of the tarp but it doesn't have a floor right? So what happens in the rain? Won't everything get wet? Do you need a bivy bag for you sleeping bag. Or am I missing something?

Some people use a ground cloth as well. Usually the ground soaks up a lot of water before it will flow in under the tarp, but if it's really that bad you can setup on a slight incline and dig shallow trenches to funnel the water run-off around your' shelter.