Comments on: Beyond the Pup Tent: 6 Unconventional Outdoor Shelters

By: Le Loup

Le Loup — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:56:21 +0000

Canvas has long been associated with travelling light. It is used for making lean-tos & is very versatile. Light canvas IS light, & it is waterproof. It is also used for making oilcloth. I only travel on foot, & I carry my oilcloth everywhere. I have been camping under such canvas for many years, mostly in winter.
Regards, Le Loup.

By: Xenophon

Xenophon — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:17:57 +0000

I’ve slept in a Bill Mason canvas tent, and they are an incredibly nice tent. The problem is they are heavy, but if you do the radiant heat wood stack in front, you can sleep with the front open when the temperature is well below freezing.

By: Erik Teichmann

Erik Teichmann — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:59:42 +0000

Another quick tip, if you don’t have a canoe paddle, trekking pole, or other stick: Place a small rock on the underside of the tarp where you’d like the shelter to be supported. Then, from the outside, knot a line around the rock and tie the other end off to another tree.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:34:38 +0000

Another option not mentioned here–great for -extremely- fast setup and maximum portability… but dismal if you’re going to be doing anything in it beyond sleeping: the “tarp taco”. Just lay a tarp out, plop yourself down on one half, fold the other half on top of you, and fasten it (e.g., bungee or rope through the grommets).

This approach is well-suited to summer camping in much of the western U.S. where rains tend to be brief, bugs don’t tend to be a problem, etc. 95% of the time, you don’t need shelter. For the 5% of the time that you -do-, well, just flip that other half of the tarp over.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 20:31:29 +0000

My Father, Glenn, makes these type of tents (Baker Tents, “Diamon Fly”, “Hunter”, Cowboy TPees, etc.) He makes them for reinactors all over the US.
Really enjoyed your blog and site!

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:58:16 +0000

Hennessey Hammock. 3 months backpacking across in Guat Honduras and Nicaragua. Less than a pound and you dont look like a wierdo creating these rediculous shelters that attract more attention then you want. Most of the time you can just ask if you can set up you hammock on ppl property and never use a hostel

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:49:21 +0000

Great pictures and tips! I love camping. Next time I go I’ll be sure to keep this post in mind.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:15:44 +0000

Great article Darren. I do have one comment I have to make, which should go into the article. That is that certain materials are good for certain types of weather. Canvas for instance, amazing in winter you never freeze in a canvas tent. Of course the flip side is staying in a canvas tent. As a Boy Scout myself, I’ve spent many summer camps roasting in canvas tents. It’s not fun. That’s why I was glad we used nylon tents last year at the National Jamboree, they were definitely worth the cash. I myself only own a nylon tent as I don’t usually go winter camping as much as a like. Well, thanks for the enjoyable read.
-Kurt

By: JT

JT — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:11:46 +0000

First comment on AoM. I went on a 5 day canoe trip with school about a month ago, two nights we camped on rocks, our pegs were useless so we improvised and used rugby ball sized rocks and tied our straps to the rocks or put the rocks on the corners of the tents

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:46:23 +0000

Who makes an ultralite like the first one shown (with the man sitting beside his canoe)? I would like that has height, approximately 6 feet, a floor, and a screen door.