[pct-l] UL Tents

[John Abela]

Somebody must not be afraid of scorpions and mojave greens :-p

(sorry, couldn't resist lolol)

I suppose we rightfully need to include the "ZPacks Hexamid Solo Tent or
Tarp" in the list too.

At 8.2 ounces (232 grams) it pretty much blows the rest out of the way on
the scale.

That said, I would love to see Joe (who is a Triple Crowner) switch from
using bug-netting for the floor to using a CF floor - even it it added 2
ounces, it would so totally be worth it.

I do not know of anything lighter that provides bug protection than the
ZPacks Hexamid Solo. Does anybody else?

John


On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 6:54 AM, Palomino <palomino.pct at gmail.com> wrote:

> John Abela wrote:
>
> "All that said, I suspect you will get a lot of folks who say forget a
> full-on tent, take some bug gear and a tarp and call it good - and save
> yourself even more weight!!"
>
> Bingo. For nobos, I don't think you need to carry a tent for the first 700
> miles, but I would definitely carry a tarp and know how to use it. An April
> snowstorm in the Lagunas is not uncommon. Most of the time, though, you can
> cowboy camp. I think a tent is dead weight here.
>
> I would add a bug net at Kennedy Meadows (south). And add an UL bivy at
> Cascade Locks.
>
> I section-hiked the trail between 2001 and 2009, so I had many
> opportunities
> to try a lot of different gear combinations. The UL tent I kept coming back
> to was the Gossamer Gear Squall Classic, basically a tarp with a bathtub
> floor and bug netting. But the most versatile and practical shelter IMHO is
> some bug gear and a tarp. Just experiment so your setup "fits" your body
> size and the conditions.
>
> As others have said, you can always change your mind as you learn your
> needs. It's part of the fun.
>
> Jim Ostdick
> Palomino
> San Juan Bautista, CA
>