QuietJourney Forums
Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums >> Strictly Gear - Gear specific reviews and ideas. >> Tents
https://quietjourney.com/community/YABB.cgi?num=1274668805

Message started by CindyOsburn on May 24th, 2010 at 2:40am

Title: Re: Tents
Post by DentonDoc on May 24th, 2010 at 3:43pm
Another couple of "random thoughts" to consider:

I'd go with aluminum poles rather than fiberglass or some other composite.

I prefer a 2-door (2-vestibule) model because if provides additional flexibility in set-up (and entry/exit).  This can be useful when the tent pad is partially obstructed.

If you decide to make your own ground cloth to put under your tent, make sure you cut it SMALLER than the bottom of the tent.  You don't' want water that drips off the tent to drop on the cloth and run UNDER your tent.

Some tent models (e.g., the Marmot series illustrated by Mad-Max's last link) have a design feature that goes by various names.  I'll call it it "quick pitch" option.  With this option, you use the rain fly and ground cloth as your shelter.  Probably not an overnight option when conditions are "buggy" but under other conditions, you can actually leave the actual tent behind and travel lighter.  For a Quetico trip, it could serve as a quick storm shelter.  In any case, you will WANT the footprint because it serves as the base to your shelter.  BTW:  I've never seen a tent with this option that wasn't free standing.

Gear loft.  Many modern tents have them.  Make sure the are set high enough to be out of your way when you are sitting up (and I'd highly recommend a tent with enough height that you CAN set up).  They can be very convenient to hold small items, but I don't find them to be overly effective as a "drying rack" since condensation from your breath tends to rise.

You might want to consider tent Sand Anchors.  Yes, true enough you are not likely to be on a sandy tent pad, but they hold rocks quite well also.  With this approach, you are not tempted to prop rocks at the edge of your tent (on your aluminum tent poles) or attempting to tie rocks with a line.  (I've also used them to hold rocks that were then lowered over a ledge to get correct tension on a corner point.

I'd highly recommend you seam seal even a new tent.

dd

QuietJourney Forums » Powered by YaBB 2.6.0!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2026. All Rights Reserved.