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shelter.
shelter.
In the backcountry you have a couple of different options for shelters. You either bring / carry one with you, find and locate a pre-existing structure or you build your own from raw materials. Sometimes shelter can come as a combination of all these different types.
In frequented state or national parks, there will often be pre-built shelters and structures that can be used for breaks, meals and in some cases are used as night stays for multiday trips. Lean-to’s and pavilions are some of the basic shapes these structures come in amongst others. Lean-to’s have been particularly popular due to their small footprint and ease of use, especially amongst through hikers on trails like the AT. The main advantage of these structures is their relative permanence and the protection they can create from the elements. It also usually has more comfort than your typical backpacking structure and can be a morale boost. It is particularly useful in emergency situations as these structures are easily located and usually easily accessible for rescue services.
The other most popular for of backcountry shelter is tents. Tents are versatile structures that can serve many purposes. Backpacking specific tents can be ultra-lightweight and slim in footprint that’s ideal for the solo hiker. On the contrast there are large dome style tents that can fit seven or ten people that are perfect for car camping with the whole family. Tent’s have their main advantage in their versatility. Shape, size, shape and even materials can be customized for every trip and every environment to fit your exact needs. A slim two-person single wall tent for high peak mountaineering or a three-person camping tent with large vestibules for gear storage and a separated rain fly for increased ventilation and air flow. Tents are disadvantaged by their exposure to the elements and reliance on weatherproof materials for all their protection. They are also fragile and can struggle with rugged use in harsh environments.
Another shelter type is tarps that are used to make impromptu covers and weather protection for larger areas. They are also useful in creating designated cooking areas for the campsite that are also protected from light weather. They are also used as rain covers for hammock sleep systems. They are extremely lightweight and incredibly malleable, with the ability to be used to throw up a quick shelter in any situation. They are disadvantaged in their relative one-dimensional approach to weather protection, they can be formed into better weather sheading shapes by sacrifice a lot of their square footage in the process.
tents.
tents.
As previously mentioned, tents are probably the most versatile shelter you can find in the outdoors. Every part of the shelter can be molded to the exact size, weight, shape, and necessary weather protection for the trip. For standard camping, tents are sorted by seasons with two season, three season and winter tents. Single wall tents are tents made from one layer of extremely weather and windproof material and are used mostly for the winter tents while double walled tents have a separated inner and shell layers that help to increase airflow and breathability within the system.
There are various shapes and pole configurations in tents. Some of the most common categories are free standing and non-free standing. The difference between the two is that the non-freestanding requires stakes to stand. You will most commonly see non-freestanding tents as single walled tents in tunnel shapes or pyramid shapes. As non-freestanding tents are less rigid, they preform better in extreme winds which makes it popular for mountaineering tents. Freestanding tents are your common pole system style with a rigid exo-skeleton of sorts keeping the whole tent taught and spacious. While this is great for comfort and overall simplicity, it tends to be heavier and more prone to defect in extreme weather.
It is important to keep good care of your tent as it is your barrier and safety net in the outdoors. Make sure to air out the tent after every expedition and dry out all the pieces to avoid mold. Don’t use acidic cleaners for the fragile materials and do your best to not harm the waterproofing. While at camp, refrain from making fires inside the main body of the tent and choose a location free from dead limbs that could fall and puncture your shelter in the night.
As mentioned in other sections, after every trip make sure to air and dry out all the tent pieces to avoid mold growth / damage. To the same effect, try to store tents in a cool dry area with minimal temperature change. If choosing to wash your tent, hand wash with cold water and avoid any acidic cleaners. In the field, always carry the basic tools to quickly repair your tent with intermediary items brought from home or with a standardized tent repair kit. Tent patch kits and pole splints are easy to find and relatively cheap.
two season.
two season.
Two season tents are generally used in the spring and summer and are generally lightweight and highly breathable with less weather protection for use on clear warm days. These tents are usually created with a removable rain cover for better air flow with the mesh walls allowing wind to pass through and cool off the interior of the tent. This is not to say that 2 season tents have less protection than others, they just aren’t designed to combat extended the heavy weather systems that three season and winter tents prepare for.
three season.
three season.
Three season tents are more versatile with a better balance between weather protection and breathability. In these tents you will still see a detachable rain cover, however it is likely that the rain cover of these tents will come all the way down to the ground for better rain shedding. You will also see less mesh in its construction for better windbreaking ability whilst still allowing for breathability. These tents are primarily concerned with protection from wind and rain and sacrifice needless extra space in aerodynamic designs with vents and separation between the inner and outer tent to provide the requisite airflow.
winter / mountaineering tents.
winter / mountaineering tents.
Winter tents are designed with absolute protection in mind. They are usually built with single wall systems to better protect from extreme winds and snow. These tents are designed to be on high mountains with extremely small footprints and aerodynamic shapes and designs and with strong yet bendable poles that wont snap in high winds. To achieve this, they sacrifice almost all the comfort features that you would find on other tents. Very few have vestibules or interior pockets. They are not made with airflow in mind so condensation can become a serious issue. In other words, these tents are designed to keep you protected, not comfortable.
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