Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Heading out camping on Tuesday for a few days, lows in the 40* range. We’ll find out how warm I can stay, really shouldn’t be a problem, it’s the getting out of bed thing

 

I agree with you.
But, I have been happy, in summer, in my Hilleberg tents. A 3 season tent is not as good in winter.

 

A lot of 'tent seasons' has to do with your expected weather conditions.

Summer - hot, maybe humid. Lots of mesh, not a lot of bottom/sides. Good airflow wanted, along with bug protection.
Fall/Spring - Wetter, variable. So the floor tub gets a little higher. Rain fly gets a bit more waterproof (thus, thicker).
Winter - Snow/cold winds/wet. Minimal ventillation (so cold air doesn't come in), heavy construction (to withstand snow loads), etc. Maybe arrangements for aux heating like a stove.
'4 season' - Basically a beefier 3 season.

Most of that is, well, based on smaller ground tent logic, for backpacking and the like. Once you leave that realm, the optimizations change a bit. A big (car camping) 6 person standing height tent will have plenty of floor tub and zipping windows to reduce airflow as needed. Poles should be burly enough but you'd need a heater of some sort for true winter camping. But local conditions, too. If your winter is dry but cool (aka socal-ish), a 3 season might be great year round. Out here in PNW wet-country, a 4 season could suffice unless you're snow camping. If you're in the mountains in the winter, you might want to do a heated tent or figure out how to use your tent plus built snow barriers to stay warm.

Remote start. Engage it from your bag and wait until the rig warms up.

 

I understand an agree with everything above. A tent doesn't gain any warmth ability.
I have several sleeping pads (50 degree to 0 degree) and pads from ultra lightweight to thermorest neo air (r value).
generally i want something more durable for snow/rain, rough ground, etc.

 

Truck camping. Weight isn't an issue but i need enough room for myself, my pair of boots and my pack. I like doing fall and winter wheeling trips and hunting overnights. I would be nice to have something aside from the camper or coleman summer tent. I don't do much summer camping anymore. I hate hot nights and no being cool or cold and being able to add layers. I am debating on a swag or a tent with zip up windows AND a fly. My only issue with a swag is not being able to sit up in it.
My friend and I share a nice seekoutside floorless backpacking tent and woodstove.

 

Hot tents do.

There’s a few tipi backpacking sized hot tents with titanium stoves. Not my jam, but I know guys that backpack with them, especially backpack hunters. So some are made specifically for warmth.

Someone already mentioned this but to validate, 4 season tents are made heavier duty for snow load and wind. That’s both paneling and poles for shear wind and again, roof snow load.

Right away, a 4 season tent just by those principles are going to give you more warmth simply by sheltering you from wind chill. That said, I’ve gotten away with 3 season tents in 4 season conditions for years just using guy outs, and not having severe snow, so, it’s not always necessary in every condition. If you’re mountaineering, I would bring what is required for the conditions of that mountain for example.


Everything else is dependent on your sleep system. A sleeping pad with good R value and the appropriate bag for the expected temp range will give you great results.

 

YUP! Summer here is 120° and winters up on the rim or near the Grand Canyon can be 15°*. That's a big swing for a tent to have to cover and stay water proof. My only expectations of a tent are:

• Keep the bugs off
• Keep the rain off
• Knock 5 to 10 MPH off the wind
• Let me change clothes in a little privacy

Outside of that clothes and sleeping bag do the rest.

Note *: I do NOT camp at the extreme ends of the weather spectrum. No point in making yourself miserable.

 

I’ve got zero experience with them specifically but I’ll give my .02 on sleeping pads

I’ve owned a ton of different brands and all have failed prematurely aside from Thermarest.

again, just my experience.

 

Same, my Klymits have both failed.

I have a Thermorest Neoair Topo Luxe. I used this for my backpack elk hunt. It was my luxury item ("heavy" for backpacking) and is incredibly comfortably. I have consistent back issues so carrying a loaded pack all week was worrying me. This comes in multiple sizes and is 4" thick.
Other users like Expeds as well.

 

Yea ive had Klymit, Big Agnes, Teton, and a few others over the years. My Thermarest is nearly 16 years old and the only thing that broke was the original bag it came in lol.

Ive got the trail prolite if im not mistaken. Xwide/Xlong cause Im a big boy lol

 

Thermarest is cool. I have a neoair.

I’m more partial to Nemo tensor, gen2 or sooner.

The thing about it sleeping pads is it’s more than just finding a good one. I can list all the ones people expertly use for different situations. It’s matching R value and other specs to your sleep system, and comfort, and overall pack weight.

Often enough if you pack in a lot of different conditions you’ll end up with a few. Not just one pad.

 

I have 2 Thermarest that are 35 years old and still function like new. Two Thermarest Camp Rest that are 25 years old.

 

If you're truck camping, why wouldn't you leave pack in the truck? Boots need to stay dry before you put them on, but like I said, I'm happy with the tent-cot for that - deploy in the lee of the truck to keep the wx off, boots either in the foot of the cot or underneath depending on how the wind is blowing.

a couple of inches of air makes a difference in felt temps. If you have a cot in a tent, you're not directly on the snow, so there's a little bit less heat transfer (so thinner pad needed). Really, the bottom pad is to replace the crushed down in the bottom of your bag. It's why quilts work - just carry what you need on top, pad is the insulation below.

 

Thermarests get holes too. Just gotta patch 'em. As someone who has some that are also pre-2000... YMMV of course.

 

The R value in these pads aren’t directly related to inches. The R values come from the insulation technologies.

The inches are a good for comfort, especially side sleepers. A cot simply gets you off the ground. My tensor extreme condition is over 3 inches. The thermorest neoloft, while heavy’ish is plush as hell.

Quilts are cool. For some people anyways. People that toss and turn that don’t know how to use a mummy for instance. That’s a genuine thing.

Besides zen bivy, there aren’t too many options for really cold temps. Which is another issue with quilts. However, if you don’t need the warmth, quilts for sure give some weight savings to your packs base weight.

 

Cot has advantages and disadvantages.

Its also a seat. Easier to get in and out, up and down.

It requires more insulation than ground. Exped has replaced Thermarest. A space blanket helps, too.
More tent space required, except for low cots.

I recently bought Helinox cots. Never thought I would.