All Mesh Tent

“Looking for a 2 person BPing tent with as much mesh as possible for the inside walls. Down here in Florida my biggest challenge is bugs and heat (concerned about the bugs with a tarp). Is there some reason that I can't find a tent that has the bathtub floor but then all mesh for the body? Is mesh heavier? Would there be condensation problems with a mesh tent? If not, I would then just keep the fly handy in case of rain.”

“take a look at the eurika gossamer. It is a one man tent but its one of the greatest tents out there.”

“Exponent Inyo II (formerly the Cobra). It is mostly net inside and very light. It is rated 2-person, but a little tight at the feet when two people actually use it.

I got mine for a good price atthe Globalmart website.”

“When I was shooping for a tent, I went to a local outtfitter that had an all mesh tent that had a bathtub floor, pyrmid style. It was about 6 lbs and I think it was a four person. I think it was a Mountain Hardware. They are out there.”

“Big coop, check out the Walrus Trekker tarp with mesh insert. Weight 6lbs. Tarp is 10x10 shaped like an A-frame the insert(5x7) is ALL mesh except for the floor which is nylon (has bathtub corners) very dry VERY roomy and versatile. It has been discontinued since Walrus was purchased(so I hear) so it may be difficult to find but pretty cheap. Buddha Bear just got one. Sass and I got our 2 years ago and LOVE it! We stay drier in it than we have in our Eureka!Timberline.”

“I also have the Walrus bug tent (everyone's got it on sale right now for around $30..regulary $45). 6lbs..whadafu??? How do you figure? The mesh bug tent is only about 1.5 lbs? Maybe with the treking poles and tarp. But I doubt it.

Hey do you wanna buy it off me? Ü”

“I can vouch for birch's trekker. Very cool way to go. Campmore still has them, at least they listed it in there new catalog.”

“Thanks for these great suggestions, I'll do some research and let you know what I end up with.

Ice Tea - I did take a look at the Gossamer and it is attractive at $89, I'm a little concerned about roominess though, with my 6'6" frame (thus "Big"). I'll have to give it a test at the store.”

“It looks like the Walrus Site is still up and running with support for those tarps. I like tarp/mesh combo and the Walrus is more appealing than some others I've seen (Go-lite Nest).”

“the north face canyonland is all mesh, under 4 lbs., 98 inches long and has a fair sized vestibule.”

“If you are 6'-6", then the Inyo II is probably too small. Sounds like you got some good leads, though.”

“L.L. Bean Microlight Tent

$149

4 lb 5 oz”

“I was going to recommend TNF Canyon Lands also. The 2000 model is available at Campmor for $160.00 (while supplies last) total mesh with a full cover rain fly. total weight 4 lbs.”

“"I did take a look at the Gossamer and it is attractive at $89"

i thought that the 2.5 pounds was the attractive part!”

“Who makes it, Id like to check it out?”

“stikmon, the Gossamer is made by Eureka. Yeah rad the 2.5lbs is attractive as well.”

“got it, thanks. when I was looking for a good back packing 3 season tent, I decided I needed something free standing just in case I was on rocks. The dude at REI showed me the slick rock by NF. I held off, then went to Bass Pro in Springfield and bought it there...It turns out that this has been a great purchase, could sleep 2, but its great for me and my dog and the pack, first time out in it, it rained like a hump and the winds were tremendous, stayed nice and dry.”

“Peak 1 Cobra”

“The mesh pyramid tent that laqtis saw was a Dana Designs Nuk Tuk. I have one and can vouch for it. I usually use it floorless to save weight but the mesh liner is great during bug season. It fits 3 people plus gear.

The Mountain Hardwear Kiva is floorless and meshless.”

“Coop I'm about 6'6" too and the Gossamer fits me pretty well but if you are an active sleeper you will brush up against the tent walls.”

“Yep, Violin is right. That's the one I saw. Thanks, V”

“inhumanpackmule, can you email me the photos of you, om, and i in the palm grove?”

“Will do.”

“Couldn't one just get by with lite weight tarp and one of those mosquitos mesh thingies?”

“Yeah Briar, that may be the way I go, earlier in the thread Birch mentioned the Walrus Trekker tarp - I am toying with that idea. I typically only use one hiking stick though so my tarp-pitching skills will have to be honed.”

“Big Coop, Buddha Bear got a trekker tarp and insert for Xmas and had a he!! of a time finding the insert. Apparently REI bought Walrus and the trekker tarp has been discontinued! Start looking soon if you really want one because they're getting scarce! On the plus side the price is about half what Birch and I paid two years ago.”

“Yeah - I see the Trekker is at REI for $70, but they don't have the insert. Why would REI buy Walrus and then discontinue one of their more popular items?”

“I don't understand it either. I'd buy the tarp @REi and return it if you can't find the insert anywhere. Or maybe just get some mosquito netting to hang from the clips in bug weather.”

“Trekker Tarp Question - I'd like to have the tarp for all its many potential uses, but the primary reason I wanted a mesh tent was to fend off bugs without a "roof" - and keep the fly or tarp handy if it rains. How easy is it to just pitch the mesh insert without the tarp?”

“how much does it weigh?

tarp, insert and poles?”

“the walrus bug hut, $27. light weight (12 oz).

trekker tarp listed at 3 lbs., mesh insert 1.6 lbs. i'm not sure the mesh insert was designed to pitch seperately. birch has one though so he would know.”

“Baume66 nice site for seeing the shelters in use - thanks.

Rad - are you using the Socratic method?

How much does it weigh?...
Do you want another shelter that weighs over 5 lbs?...
Do you carry trekking poles already?...

BTW Rad - I agree with your suspicion of dirkpitt's posting on the "Ocala hiking" thread. Upon further review - seems a little fishy.

I'll be interested to see the various tarp/tents on the ECT trip.”

“Big Coop, It would be pretty easy to set up the insert without the tarp. You could just run a string between two trees to tie the top to then stake out the bottom as normal.

Rad the whole kit weighs about 6lbs.(tarp,insert,poles,ground cloth,stuff sacks,tentstakes,etc...)

Geez Biz, mello out for goodness sake.”

“Rad, there was sposed to be a "TIC" somehwere in my last post.

The Trekker is in the running. A decent and roomy way for me to ease into tarping as well. I don't carry trekking poles though which seems a critical element in the whole Trekker pitching scheme. I'd have to get by with my hiking stick and downed palm fronds or branches and trees.”

“Get some used hiking poles and use one of these
Lite bug screen or something similiar in conjunction w/a tarp.”

“I use a Walrus Mesh Tent under a Kelty Noah's Tarp (12'x12'). All together it weighs about 4 lbs. and give you a tarp to get out of the sun and rain. Much more cover that the Trekker Tarp that is made for the Mesh Tent. You simply set up the tarp with a guide rope that runs under the tarp and attach the Mesh Tent to the rope with prusset knots and slid them tight. Works great.”

“Thanks BS. A little concerned about windblown rain with the Kelty (and other wing shaped) tarp(s). I assume you pitch it differently in a driving storm - with the back corner down facing the wind?

Has anyone out there used the Dana Design A Tarp ? I guess this is the expensive way to do what you're saying BS.”

“Hey Big Coop, you can pitch the trekker tarp w/o poles using cord between trees. Also can have huge flaps on the sides open for that "breezy under the stars" feeling. I don't know anything about the other models you're considering but the trekker is A#1 IMO. I've stayed drier under it in a heck of a thunderstorm than in my tent.”

“Thanks Sass - there is a lot of heart for the Trekker out there.

I just did a search for "Tarp" and found about 40 threads that I get to read through. Didn't mean to start another one here.

Wondering if Nigal ever got the Trekker though - he seemed to be coveting it in August.”

“Apparently MSR merged with Edgeworks who makes Walrus, Armadillo and Moss tents and is now marketing the Trekker under MSR at Backcountrygear.com with mesh insert for $208. I'll take last year's from the Walrus site for half that.

Also check out the yuppie magnet, limited edition Titanium Zoid 1.5 for *only* $435! They say they are only making 100? It does look like a sweet tent at about 2.5lbs - but I can do without for that much coin.”

“mesh insert $55
mesh insert $41.95
mesh insert $55
”

“oops. globe-mart has them for $32.95”

“The Nuk Tuk can be set up without the outer tarp like this.

If your looking for a solo shelter it's a little big (8' x 8') and heavy (6 lbs., 4 oz.) but for 2 or 3 it's great.


Word to sil-tarp users: I just read that silicon treated nylon ignites like napalm.”

“I set my Trekker Tarp up with chord strung between two trees. It gives you more room and is easier to set up (if the chord is already attached to the tarp) without using poles. I've set the mesh insert up the same way. The tarp does leak around the ends where the pole velcro is sewn on, and the water will drip from the pole area. Regardless, I dig that tarp to no end. And there are more ways to set the thing up than meets the eye.

My only gripe with the mesh insert is the sides drape inward making it seem like there's not as much room as there actually is, but that really not much of a problem because the mesh gives as you move around.”

“baume 66 - a big thanks. I ended up getting the insert for $33. Saved me from a used one on E-bay that went for about the same price. Do I owe you a finders fee?

Eager to try it out. I will use with my cheapy tarp for now until I see the Trekker in action.

I'll prolly still use my tent on the ECT ONF trip - I need more tarp pitching experience before I embarass myself on my first TT excursion.

Thank you all for your assistance!”

“Coop,
The first time I set up my Mesh Tent with the Noah's Tarp, it must have taken me an hour to play with different configurations. Now it takes about 5 minutes. I use two poles, or a tree and a pole, or two trees. Sometimes I will add an additional pole (3 to 4 foot stick picked up at camp) to open the front of the tarp. Put the lower part of the tarp into the wind so the tarp will not billow and flap in the breeze. Also, I use 1/16 inch cord (not rope) for the outer guide lines and military parachute cord (550 lb. stregth) for the main line (50 ft. lenght). The Kelty Noah's tarp is basically square, so I set the tent up across the square not on the diagional. I tried diagionally and it does not keep out the rain as good as setting up square and lowering the height of the pitch on the two flaps. It's a great warm weather system. Great ventilation and a view.”

“Looks good - now I need to go set 'er up and adore my new gear. One question for the Trekker owners out there - any problems with the seams around the floor? It looks like the seams will be on the ground - concerned about leakage...

I see why the Globalmart.com can offer the lowest prices. They shipped the thing insome produce box that said 'keep refridgerated'. Who knows where it was from - I think the mail guy was a little concerned - we don't typically recieve refridgerated packages around the office.”