Best Shelters Under 5 Pounds

“Lets consider the following categories:

Price
Ease of Use
Flexibility
Performance
Weight


I've read about and seen many tents out there, and still can't seem to find anything better than the Trekker Tarp. Prove me wrong, seriously, please, I just got a raise and I need a 4th tent.”

“Question Buddha. Do you use that tarp in Ohio winter? I remember delivery papers at subzero temps in Dayton.”

“Bibler I-tent.

It kicks butt in every department... but it will rip a gaping hole in your gear budget! That's my next 2-person tent (when I can scrape enough nickels together).”

“Good ole tarp.”

“Hennessy Hammock is my vote.

It's inexpensive, 2.5 lbs for the big one, it is bombproof, and it's the most comfortable thing I have slept in.

www.hennessyhammock.com

He has some demos dirt cheap right now.”

“REI Half Dome Plus 2

MSR Ziod 1”

“Make that Zoid.....sorry”

“I have the half dome plus 2.. i love it..it has plenty of room. that was the tent i had at TC2 buddha.......
but i prefer my hammock any day”

“For cold weather or nasty weather the Hilleberg Nallo is a good tent and the 2001 model was on sale for $264. The 2002 is lighter, but with Kerlon 1000 fabric not quite as durable as the Kerlon 1500 on the 2001.”

“the old nallo 2 was listed on their website on monday, gone on tuesday.”

“duh... the megamid is my new favorite shelter.

price: got mine for $85. i think they retail at much more, though.

ease of use: very simple to set up. either w/ pole or w/out if there are trees.

flexibility: works well in all seasons/weather conditions except if it's really buggy.

performance: excellent design for shedding precipitation. lperforms well during extremely high winds. open floor means less condensation is colder temps.

weight: 3 lbs w/out pole. 3lbs 8oz w/ pole

why is this the shelter for BB: you're tall. it's big. sitting up is absolutely not a problem. plus, it fits so many people, you could get your whole harem in there w/ no trouble.”

“LOL tara, I have no real harem, just an imaginary one.

I'll have to try that tent out someday, lol!”

“How many people did yall get in it during the orgy at TC2? I lost count.”

“8 but they were all members in good standing of the HMWHC”

“I'm pretty darn happy with my Henry Shires TarpTent. Ultra light and you can now get them with floors.”

“the mega is the call fer you, BB. tara is very right about the sitting up and such. it's a very hip tent”

“Even though I often look, I've found no reason to replace my old Kelty Zen.”

“The Dana Designs Nuk Tuk is a couple ounces lighter than the megamid without the inner mesh liner and floor. That's how I usually use mine but its nice to have a bug proof option.

”

“Stephenson Warmlite....
4 Season Tents....”

“Lets consider the following categories:

Price
Ease of Use
Flexibility
Performance
Weight”

“I've been researching this. Hilleberg Nallo 2 seems to fit the bill. A sub 5-lb 4-season shelter that does everything? It's not freestanding but that's where the weight savings comes into play. Only two poles. Goes up with the fly attached so your stuff doesn't get wet in a downpour. Spacious vestibule. Netting for buggy condiditons. Definitely not as cheap as a trekker tarp. But would be $425 well spent. I won't get a single wall because sometimes I use my tents in humid conditions.”

“Bivy sack? OR Deluxe or Integral Designs (Canadian). Trust Unca Gremlin.”

“i'm going to get onw of those nuk tuk tents when they get discontinued and are cheaper. they look nice!”

“I think Backpacker said it had condensation issues. Maybe they were pissed as Dana Designs or sumtin...”

“An experienced backpacker should see the prudence in having more than one shelter, enough to cover the range of temperatures and weather conditions that he'd encounter wherever he'll be. One magical shelter to cover all hikes just doesn't exist...two, even three shelters truely isn't enough for some hardcore hikers.”

“It's statements like that one which I use to justify more gear purchases to my wife!”

“Condensation? You're probably thinking of the Jalan or one of their other single walls. I've had three people in there no problem as the high vents work well. Here is the Backpacker review.

I was really tempted when I saw a pre-MSR Trekker Tarp in the discount bin at Campmor. I like the Nuk-Tuk better because you can stand up (hunched over) in it and it is easier to set up, plus it holds up to 4 people. But you know how it is when you get a gear jones.”

“"Good ole tarp."

walkindude
10:38:32 PM
12/19/02

Walkindude, I thought you didn't stop to sleep while you were on the trail. What the hel! do ya use the tarp for, a wind sail?”

“Keep talking. You'll convivnce someone to buy more gear. Probably me. My cheap old Inyo 2 is the best tent I've ever had in terms of weight (4 lbs.) value ($65). I just wish it was free standing.”

“Depends on your need, Budder said it well, an avid BPer may need multiple shelters.

Having said that, whenever I decided I needed a 4-season, free-standing tent (primarily for winter in the Sierra's) I ended up w a Bibler I tent.

Tilt, you can't go wrong, it is worth the $$ IMHO.”

“I agree, if you camp 4 seasons it's hard not to have a tent and a tarp at least.”

“Integral Designs MK1 Lite or MK1”

“I do sleep sometimes on the trail. I'm forced to do that cause most people I hike with can't walk 48 hours straight like me.
LOL!!!!!!!!”

“Big pink thingee”

“Tri light 2...under 5 lbs...3+ season not convertable, but take a good sleepy bag or a babe, or in your case the blow up doll...they also make great pillows.

And whats a budget...this little tent will cost $345...but who gives a crap...its only money and you can't take it with you...cause you can't spend it on the trail...so spend it on stuff to take on the trail. This is the tent that Im getting with my REI divided check...should be getting $400 smackers back...woo hoo...7th tent....yipeeeeeee”

“Note to self: Shouldn't stikkmon be spending more money on lizs????”

“Hey BB - have you set-up your Bat Ray yet? I'm using it again this weekend in the Catskills. I love my Bibler but I hate being enclosed in a tent.

The Megamid looks really cool. Tarabull - how did you score one for $85?? Being the gear slut that I am, I see myself grabbing one of them. I wish they made a smaller version though.”

“its my money...I;ll spend it the way I want to...”

“StoveStomper - the tent you speak of is almost exactly the same as the MH Batray - just on sale for about $50.

Pennsy - I haven't set it up yet, but I plan on using it on my next hike (as soon as I get some tyvek). I have attached all the guylines and whatnot though. I'm looking forward to using it soon. I wonder how it holds up in snowy conditions?

Stikmon - is the REI clipper similar to the MH trilite? If so, it's on sale for under a $100 at REI, and you can still buy lizs a pink thingy cover, or pink thingy stuff sack with the extra dough.”

“does anybody know anything about the ferrino wing?”

“i found a few reviews around, including on this site, and they are all good.”

“nothing like it exists anywhere...it is totally unique. MH is the leader in bombproof ultralight shelters.”

“Buddha, for a solo shelter I gots to say BAT RAY MOTHAF@CKER!!!!.”

“Amen MOFO!”

“BB - I think it would do ok in the snow. I'll pray for snow tomorrow night. I just got some tyvek from Into the Wind. I got a 5' by 45' strip for around $30. This tyvek is soft as well, not stiff and crinkly like the stuff you see in construction. I cut a 5' x 9' section for the Bat Ray (6oz).”

“Hmmmm... did Birch call the Bat Ray a MOFO or Buddha Bear?? ;o)

btw - I'm leaving the main pole home tomorrow and using a trekking pole instead. The MOFO now weighs in at 3lbs even.”

“Pennsy.............. Never EVER abandon the "main pole"”

“Well, that's a different thread altogether. LOL!”

“Have a nice holiday dude, are you going hiking from xmas to new year at all?”

“there are so many to choose from, it's almost overwhelming. that's a good problem to have i reakon....


i saw a kelty peak 1 (and 2 ) in the gear store but it wasn't set up so i din't get in one. they look pretty cool and are affordable($150 i think) and are very light a small when packed. anybody ever tried one?”