Emergency tents

[je25ff]

I've looked at some cheap solutions for on the move shelter without lugging around a heavy tarp. I've seen some tents like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029TIH5A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AEKN4BJBJ2XBL

I have enough paracord and some stakes to last, but at 5 bucks a pop, I'm not sure these are even worth the cost? If it's a deal where it's one use only, maybe I'd buy a few for a BO bag. Anyone have any of these in their stash?

 

[dgrafton]

If you are on the run, you gotta pack light. And you don't leave ANY evidence of where you've been. Better to stash a couple space blankets in your bag.


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[Andy in NH]

Anyone have any of these in their stash?

IMO - not worth it.

Better to stash a couple space blankets in your bag.

Not during this time of year.

But maybe for this.

 

[je25ff]

Ok, so adding a good tarp to the BO bag is preferable to the cheap BS. Makes sense. Just trying to make sure my bag is as light as possible. Any recommendations on a particular tarp?

And holy crap, best review ever http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/98434-Space-blanket-experiment

 

[P-14]

USGI poncho and para cord or bungies to hold it up. YMMV.

 

[je25ff]

USGI poncho and para cord or bungies to hold it up. YMMV.

That would work for me, but I'm always planning for two 2 year olds and onward. I have the surplus modular sleeping bags, I have a bunch of tarps, and enough para cord that I wouldn't even ever use. Trying to figure out if I ought to add a tarp or 2 - 4 cheap shelter things to a BO bag.

 

[beaker]

I have one of these in my car emergency bivy , plus a heavy duty military poncho, and a couple of these emergency blanket in my get home bag. They are really well made.

 

[ToddDubya]

I haven't done it yet, but I hear Tyvek makes for some strong, lightweight cover (tent or ground cover). I mean to make a tent for my hammock one of these days if I can get my hands on some house wrap to test out. It can be dyed if you're trying to use leftover house wrap and don't want bright white with giant letters giving your position away.

 

[jmjkd]

If you want a tent for emergency get a good one. The last thing you want is faulty gear when you need it the most. The less gear you have the smarter you have to be. During crisis you want it to be a no brainier, camping for dummies.. I have a Eureka for 30 years still works great, only had to fix the zipper.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=eureka%203%20man%20tent&sprefix=eureka+3+m%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aeureka%203%20man%20tent

 

[P-14]

I have one of these in my car emergency bivy , plus a heavy duty military poncho, and a couple of these emergency blanket in my get home bag. They are really well made.

I have a couple of the SOL Emergency bivvys and the USGI ponchos in the car. The bivvys weigh 3.8 oz. - and they take up almost no space. Much better than a space blanket, IMO.

 

[Andy in NH]

It can be dyed if you're trying to use leftover house wrap and don't want bright white with giant letters giving your position away.

When new, Tyvek also makes a lot of noise when used as a shelter with a little bit of wind. To reduce noise as a target indicator, run it through the dryer with some clothes to break it in.

 

[daveyburt]

I've always slept in either mid sized tents (2-4 person sized) and small tents (Just a step up from a bivvy). A couple years ago, on the cold weather camp out seen here on NES, I tried a tarp. The SilNylon kind. I think it was 8x10, I'm a little over 6'. Hiking poles, stakes, and cord were all that was needed. I was using hiking poles anyway to help my over loaded ass to the site.
After seeing another member (who has been helpful in this thread) shave up his own stakes that day, you could easily make poles from branches as well. I am now a tarp camper and will likely never buy another tent.

However, I tried my hand at hammock camping (haven't tried below 40ish degrees) and have to say, I like that too. For cold weather (below 40), the hammock may be more bulky than the tarp as you need under-insulation and a way to secure it to the bottom of the hammock.

I think tarps may be a good choice for you but, don't rule out a hammock (asymetrical kind). Tarps are very versatile too. There's plenty of tarp origami techniques online.

Not sure how much lighter you could get unless you built a shelter using whatever you find at the site.....but, i learn something new every day.

 

[garandman]

I use a Kelty Noah's Tarp for motorcycle camp. Fairly light and compact.

 

[Andy in NH]

... tarp origami techniques...

I am so stealing that phrase!

 

[rick.benjamin]

I've looked at some cheap solutions for on the move shelter without lugging around a heavy tarp. I've seen some tents like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029TIH5A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AEKN4BJBJ2XBL

I have enough paracord and some stakes to last, but at 5 bucks a pop, I'm not sure these are even worth the cost? If it's a deal where it's one use only, maybe I'd buy a few for a BO bag. Anyone have any of these in their stash?

A tube tent. Used them when Boy Scout Camping (45 years ago?!).
Wind blowing? Tie-off one end, then tie to base of bush or tree.
Tube tent will inflate, expand. Open end will be downwind. Crawl in and weather the storm.
Cheap, light, tiny. Lasted entire 10 day trip canoeing down Colorado River.

 

[Twigg]

My son and I have used these 10 X 10 nylon tarps from Campmor for quick shelters on overnight hikes.

I have used plastic tube tents a long time ago, mostly for bicycle camping / touring but found they tear easily and are cramped inside. Tarps are much better for minimalist camping / get home bags.

More expensive but YGWYPF.

 

[Taka]

IMO - not worth it.



Not during this time of year.

But maybe for this.

Excellent review! Thank you.

While it might be argued that a space blanket is better than nothing, they pose a risk in that many people pack them thinking they have a viable emergency shelter. Very few of those will ever test it out like Andy in NH did.

Better to carry a bit extra weight and have something reliable.

And don't forget to practice making and staying in a debris hut.

 

[jmjkd]

For winter camping a tent all the way. Spring/fall hammocks work good as long as you have a bug net.
A tarp is just an over hang protecting from radiation or rising heat loss, you still have to deal with conduction and convection. You can get around this problem with a good GP, bvy and sleeping bag but now you are opposing the concept of light weight. You can also make/shit the tarp set up by building a raised bed, boxing off the ends with debris, having a close fire and building a fire wall to deflect but man o man you are using a lot of calories and it's a lot of work.
Everyone needs a starter kit.
Tent
sleeping bag and gp
stove/fuel
This should be your go to kit. if you want to mess around with minimal kits or primitive stuff go ahead but you will always have that bulletproof starter kit to fall back on.

 

[KMM696]

I have a couple of the SOL Emergency bivvys and the USGI ponchos in the car. The bivvys weigh 3.8 oz. - and they take up almost no space. Much better than a space blanket, IMO.

If you're carrying ponchos in the car anyway, you might keep an eye out for used tent poles for an Alpha Tent. I found that campsite dumpsters after big storms are an excellent source for used poles, usually found still attached to a ripped tent.



If you're carrying this, not storing in the car, the pole sections need to be shorter than the typical cheap tent pole found in a dumpster. Sadly, a lightweight, short sectioned Al pole is the one least likely to be found for free. Keep checking campground trash piles, and look for campsites right on the ocean with no shelter the day after storms.

 

[scouter-rick]

http://hennessyhammock.com/

Mine has lasted over ten years of significant use and weighs 3lbs, 4 OZ. I was over 300lbs and this supported me fine and comfortably.

Stays in the backpack with the rest of the get out quick gear and total pack weight is around 32 lbs.

Nothing but great things to say about this hammock.

Oh, I have multiple herniations in back and this thing causes me no pain, great support and I wake comfortable.

 

[widnerkj]

http://www.dream-hammock.com/DangerBird.html

is what I have on order. All the reviews are encourageing. and I'm excited about trying the "bear burrito" version of camping.