tarp shelters

**klkak** · 11-18-2008, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by HOP

I think the Whelen lean to is the greatest for winter use with reflective fire but must confess that I prefer something you can button all the way up and with a floor for when the crawlies are about.

I don't know about this Whelen tent for winter use. In my experience up here. A wall tent with wood stove, military cot and -35 or better sleeping bag just barely cut it. I'm starting to fall in love with Alaska Tent & Tarps "Arctic Oven" tent. I used one in -20 temps for a few nights. I had to unzip my bag. That is one nice winter tent.

When summer camping without the wife or grandkids I use a tarp with one of my military issue mosquito nets. It's nice living in a land without snakes.

**Jay** · 11-18-2008, 05:51 AM

Tarp and hammock most of the time. Sometimes a sleeping bag and a piece of lightweight canvas. Hammock rolls up into a ball the size of a tennis ball, tarp 6"x6" so they both fit in an outside pocket of the rucksack. Fortunately over most of the island the tempretures are pretty warm. Low temp is experienced only in the upper areas of our central hills....but almost never below freezing.

**Gray Wolf** · 11-18-2008, 09:59 PM

For the Everglades I agree with Jay, Tarp, hammock, mosquito netting and sometimes a cheap bivy. Yet In Northern Vermont or the Rockies, it's a different set up. I think it depends on where you are and the conditions you're in, as far as what will be best.

**Runs With Beer** · 11-18-2008, 10:51 PM

Yea, Hop down here in the summer the bugs are fierce, Everything that can bite will!

**HOP** · 11-19-2008, 07:02 AM

I have a French army Pup tent and if I am ever in France I am going to use it.
Actually a pup tent works well in a Whalen type / tarp way, stake out extra poles and make an awning add Skeeter net in far weather and reflective fire in the cold and it is still light enough to carry (IMHO the primary purpose of a tarp type shelter).

**fishpole** · 11-20-2008, 10:52 AM

ounce or twice i have but more a mid day shelter than a long term set up. i always keep one in my pack when im hunting for just such a reason though, they have a million situations.

**Runs With Beer** · 11-20-2008, 11:48 PM

Yea HOP,You know when its its cold, The ReflECtive fire will work to keep you warm. Right?

**tonester** · 12-12-2008, 05:44 PM

how big of a tarp would be big enough to shelter 3 people? ive been looking at a 10'x10' and a 12'x10'.

**trax** · 12-12-2008, 06:56 PM

well tonester, how close together are they going to be? piling them up? actually you could cover three people with either of those tarps if you make a small dome shelter, not saying it's going to be terribly comfortable, but we're talking emergency/survival here again, right?

**klkak** · 12-12-2008, 09:12 PM

So does hanging a big tarp over the wall tent count as a tarp shelter?

**tipacanoe** · 12-12-2008, 10:50 PM

You have to admit, that camp site would scare the bears away, they might get hurt in there!

**klkak** · 12-13-2008, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by tipacanoe

You have to admit, that camp site would scare the bears away, they might get hurt in there!

Now that was funny. ROFLMAO!

That picture was taken about day 12 of a 21 day trip. Something you can't see in the picture is the fact that I'm stand shin deep in sea water as I took the picture. During the highest tides the tent is only about 6 inches up above the high tide line.

Better yet is the fact that you can't see the camp from a boat until you get to within about 50 feet of it.

By the way. When we leave we leave nothing behind.

**klkak** · 12-13-2008, 12:23 AM

So does it count as a tarp shelter? After all it does have a tarp over it.

**Badawg** · 12-13-2008, 01:11 AM

I have used both. I have a 2 man Kelty that's 15 years old and has been all over the place. But wheever I go out here shade is a must and I have worn out 2 Nylon tarps since 1996 trying to keep the sun off my pale skin. I also make shade structures for that thing out in the desert called Burning Man. My personal one is 10x20 and made from heavy wall conduit. The covers are made from used billboard tarps made from reinforced vinyl. It's extremely tough stuff and is UV stable. We have a 60x60 structure out in Borrego that has withstood 80MPH winds and has been there and up for 2 years. In 2007 my 10 by 20 withstood 60 mph winds that came from 3 directions (whirlwind) and stayed put. 10 days I lived under that in a large Eureka tent. Last summer I made a lightweight tarp for a trip to Catalina Island that was the fly from another tent. With Paracord and some Taut ties and 4 small aluminum poles, I always have shade.

Btw, for stakes I use 18" or 24" rebar...

**klkak** · 12-14-2008, 03:27 AM

Originally Posted by tipacanoe

You have to admit, that camp site would scare the bears away, they might get hurt in there!

The meat pole is only 20 or 30 feet behind the tent.

**tonester** · 12-14-2008, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by trax

well tonester, how close together are they going to be? piling them up? actually you could cover three people with either of those tarps if you make a small dome shelter, not saying it's going to be terribly comfortable, but we're talking emergency/survival here again, right?

im planning on using the tarp for emergency/survival but i would also like to use it for weekend outings. i would like to get something that can fit three and maybe some gear...doesnt have to be super roomy but i dont wanna be packed like sardines. what size do you guys think would be the best?

**SARKY** · 12-14-2008, 02:10 PM

for the most part i just use my poncho and make a delta dome. i do have a 9x9 foot tarp made out of the same material that my poncho is made from (got it at Brigade Quarter Master). I do thet same thing, Delya Dome only larger.