Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

That's a 3-person tent, isn't it? Are you planning on using it for group hikes? Because otherwise I'd vote 'no' because it'll be heavier than what you need, and ounces count when you're backpacking.



Edit- Or is that the 2-man unit?

 

It's a 2 person tent

 

From what I've heard about the North Face tents, they're great products. But at 9lbs and 24"x7" packed, it's not a lightweight to hump around in the mountains.
I'd advise something lighter, if it was me, unless you really need something really heavy-duty like that.
Having never camped the Sierra Nevadas, I can't offer an informed opinion about what gear is best for their weather patterns.

 

I'd say go with a big Agnes. I'm rocking a fly creek UL1. Weighing in around a pound total.

Also, non free standing tents(the one on the bottom) are sometimes a pain in the ass. They have to be staked and staked well or they will collapse.

But that's just my opinion.

 

http://us.hilleberg.com/EN/products/all-tents.php

https://youtu.be/w1eflVl1zcE

https://youtu.be/uixlmC5vyvg

https://youtu.be/GpqErPfRuHU

 

Black Diamond Revolt all the way. USB charging port on the side so I can refresh it on the solar or backup battery pack every 2 days and it runs strong. Never carry spare batteries again! Red LEDs for night vision preservation, wide smaller flood LEDs for around camp, and the big spot LED in the center for the big throw down the trail if you're night hiking. Great headlamp especially for only $39 retail.

 

It's actually 4 lbs. 15 oz. packed. The packed size is: 20 x 6 inches.

At higher elevations in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains can have unpredictable weather at times(hail, rain, high winds, etc)

 

I'd go with something of a more substantial rainfly. I prefer a rainfly to cover the entire tent for that 2nd layer of fabric to keep moisture out.

 

I'll start chanting big Agnes if I need to.

Seriously spend the extra money.. Well worth it. Mine has been my main tent for over 3 years. Once sprung a leak in the fly and big Agnes overnighted a fly to me for 75bucks with shipping. Great company, still super small and specific to tents so you know that's their only focus and they do it well.

 

They do bags, too. My wife has one of their down bags and it's fantastic for backpacking.

 

Interesting, I didn't really think about that.... good point. Maybe the search will continue....

 

Hard to tell from the pics, but is the bottom seam 3-4 inches off the ground? If so, that is a good trait. Cheap tents (like Coleman) have the bottom seam directly on the bottom where the wall meets the floor. It will keep the inside much dryer if the seam is off the ground.

 

Oh, you're looking at the Assault. I was reading the specs on the Mountain 25. Derp.

 

Subbed

 

Finding that perfect tent is an extremely difficult chore. Some other things to consider:

• Do you want to store your pack/shoes in a vestibule or in the tent with you?
• A 2 person tent fits one normal sized person and their pack inside the main body.
• Do you need 2 doors and/or 2 vestibules for 2 people to store gear?
• Most 2 person tents only hold 2 people, and sure don't have room for hardly any gear after 2 bodies are inside. Consider your peripheral storage
• If you go with vestibules, will they be big enough to cover your pack/gear in a heavy rain?
• 2 people? Consider 2 doors/vestibules for easy entry/exit during those late night bathroom breaks
• Consider extra pack weight for footprint or tarp. I prefer durability of a good tarp, but it adds weight over just a light footprint
• Never trust the waterproofing of a tent out of the box. Always consider spraying it with a waterproofer very well before taking it out. Set it up in the yard, preferably on a sunny day, and waterproof it starting heavy on the seams. Spray the walls and rainfly evenly, then take a paper towel and spread the drips around so you get a good even coat. Consider 2 layers of waterproofing, then leave the tent set up to air out the chemicals for at least 24 hours and in sunny weather to cure it.
• Consider how you climb in/out of the tent and if it's a pain in the butt. Feet by the door? Always the best idea to minimize tracking in dirt/debris into the tent

Probably a dozen other things I'm not thinking of here. Vestibules, rainflies, tarps and footprints all add ounces and usually pounds. 2 people help to spread out the weight of a more robust tent though. One guy carries the body, the other guy carries the rainfly, poles, stakes and maybe the tarp. Usually evens out pretty well.

 

I'm spending time on the JMT this summer, and I'm bringing some clearance Bass Pro shops double vestibule tent that they had on sale last year. It's about 2# heavier than some, but it has field tested awesome for 2 people with gear. Plus it was only $59 after a huge rebate, so I couldn't pass it up. But man, I really want a Big Agnes but it's not in the budget for this trip after all of the money I spent getting my wife geared up with pack/bag/canister/food/synthetics/raingear and pre-paying for 3 nights of hotel in Mammoth.

 

Yeah, the gear adds up really quickly for sure!
I'm still buying stuff and our trip starts on 6/24

Still don't have a Tent & Water Filtration Equipment. I have to try to keep the cost down as I'm on a pretty tight budget.
What do you use to filter your drinking water?

 

Katadyn hand pump for me

 

Cha-Ching!

$395 Katadyn Pocket Water Filter for Backpacking, Group Camping & Emergency Preparedness

http://www.amazon.com/Katadyn-80136...=1434656785&sr=8-1&keywords=Katadyn+hand+pump