Tent help!!!!!

[japs8944]

Hey guys sorry I haven't been around lately. But I have a question that I think you guys will be able to help me with.

So I am preparing to thru-hike the appalachian trail. I am leaving march the 31st of 2014 is everything goes according to plan. My biggest problem is that while I know I need good gear, I cannot find a tent that will work fr me as I will be in the mountains for about six months.

I needs to be a four season as I will start and end the trek with snow, and it needs to be light because my full packout really dosent need to weight more than 35#

My other option would be getting a -10 rated sleeping bag (I know I wont have temps like that but just to stay warm) and a three season tent.

So I need help figuring out which is best and If you guys could give me some tent options that would work I would be very grateful.

Thank you guys. Look forward to seeing what you come up with

John

[Ken]

Ever consider a one-person bivy?

[Ken]

I'm not familiar with this one, but it's an option.

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/sho...FdKd4Aod3GkAKQ

[welderguy]

If cost isnt a factor check out these two... I have the ridge raider, but havent used it in temps below 45 degrees. but I also have a -30 sleep system I use.

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/sho...8_10000001_-1_

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/sho...8_10000001_-1_

[Ken]

Or this one: http://www.rei.com/product/747832/ou...ch-alpine-bivy

[welderguy]

I'm not familiar with this one, but it's an option.

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/sho...FdKd4Aod3GkAKQ

that is a three season . I looked at it when I got my ridge raider

[Ken]

that is a three season . I looked at it when I got my ridge raider

Pffffffft! "The Akto has true all-season capability, yet its total weight is only 1.6 kg/3 lbs 8 oz."

[welderguy]

Pffffffft! "The Akto has true all-season capability, yet its total weight is only 1.6 kg/3 lbs 8 oz."

I stand corrected It is a all weather. Damn I liked that better than the one I got.

[welderguy]

I dont know anything about this bivy but I like the weight and its 4 season. http://www.rei.com/product/747829/ou...ch-aurora-bivy

[Aurelius95]

Which direction are you heading? From Maine to Georgia? I think a bivy system would work well. You can also hit the Whiteblaze.net, which is the forum for the AT to see what some of the through hikers use. Good luck!

[greatgoogamooga]

A couple of summers ago, I stayed at the hostel in Harpers Ferry, WV with a bunch of AT thru hikers. They showed me their gear and I was seriously impressed with what little they carried and how little it weighed. None of them had a tent. They said the objective was to reach a shelter by the end of the day and squeeze in with everyone else. None of them had a tarp either. They did have sleeping bags. Some things they all had in common with their gear were:

soda can or cat can stove
plastic water bottle for alcohol fuel
only ONE cooking cup
nalgene bottle for water
no soap, deodorant, razor, or any other toiletries
one set of clothes...no underwear included
trail running shoes, not boots
tiny pen knife was only cutting tool

They said that all of them had jettisoned a lot of gear within the first couple of weeks. They learned quickly that if you didnt' need it after a couple of days, you didn't need it.

Goog

[japs8944]

I thought about a bivy sack like the one you posted at the end WelderGuy but think im looking for more of a tent like the fist one you posted. just because I can have a place to stick my pack and what not. I would like to try and keep it under 300 or less price isnt a big factor but it still is one. I was looking at these two.

I like this one but I think Id have to get a mummy sack to stay warm if It started snowing. http://www.rei.com/product/846547/bi...-spring-1-tent

or this one which i am not sure about how durable it would be for a six month trek and I think the warmth would still be an issue. http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-Solitai...Solitaire+Tent

[japs8944]

Damn I guess i didnt think about it like that. Now I wonder if im planning to bring to much. I mean im pretty sure my fun packout even with the stuff im carrying will only weight 30 pounds or so. hmmm....

[japs8944]

http://www.trailquest.net/thruhike.html#Gear Suggestions I was reading on here that brining a tent is pretty important, the trail is too overcrowded now adays to rely on a shelter every night

[finallyME]

Look at tarptent for light tents. http://www.tarptent.com/

A large bivy that you can stick your gear in is a good idea for winter. Here is an option http://www.milesgear.com/

I would bet that you don't need a 4 season tent. But, if you do, then only use it during the snow time, then ship it home and use another tent the rest of the way.