Backpacking Discussions

What type of shelter is everyone using?

Shelter? Who uses shelters? It's all about sleeping under the stars!

I'm just a good old tent guy - but I really want to try the hammock thing. any hammock users out there?

The Shangri is my baby! http://golite.com/product/proddetail.aspx?p=SH6119&s=1 I just hate the color....

Thats a nice one jennyeast! At only 1 pound 3 ounces, $150 is pretty good for a shelter! You just use your poles to put it up, and pound in a few stakes and your done! Even comes with reflective material so you don't trip over it in the middle of the night!

So are you just wishing for it, or do you really have the Shangri? What do you think of it? Should I get one to replace my old and tatered one? I have a camo shelter like that one and I love it. You can hardly find the original material!

Hammocks? Seems like that would only work in certain areas, and even then, you'd be lucky to find two trees that are the right distance apart to get the hammock right. I have one in my backyard, and I think that is enough for me. I like Colton's idea - under the stars sounds great to me!

I have a homemade hammock that I've spent a lot of time tweeking. I have no problem sleeping on my side or stomach, I never sleep on my back, but I have a tendency to toss and turn throughout the night. But in my opinion, it's better than sleeping on the ground anyday. Just in case I have no trees or rocks etc. to hang it from, I can set it up on the ground with the fly as a tarp and suspend the bug net to a ridgeline with a couple of mini bungee cords. My son got in it for a few minutes and loved it. We are planning an outing in a couple of weeks and I think he's gonna buy a new Clark hammock with the camo option. I might have to trade him for a night.

I was exploring Backpacker.com and found a video aobut hammock camping.
http://backpacker.com/camping_hammock_style/destinations/dvideos/26

I agree with Colton. I am usually fine on the ground under the stars.

I'm a tent guy. /\

I took a very light sheet of plastic (painters drop cover from Home Depot) on a recent trip. The plan was to sleep under the stars and use the plastic as ground cover. As it turned out, it rained ever night and I found myself getting creative using my trekking poles and another hikers trekking poles and fashioned myself a nice little tent. Some rocks worked in place of stakes. It worked fine except for the bugs that got into my sons trail mix during the night. If you are trying to keep your pack ultra light this is not a bad way to go.

Wow that sounds like you had an interesting trip! At the time you may think how awful your trip is and how stupid you were to think that it wouldn't rain, but I've had experiences like this, and they are definitely the ones you remember best.

Those animals will chew through all your gear if they smell anything tasty though! I had some animals, I'm guessing chipmunks, chew threw my brand new tent and get some peanuts in my backpack. I'm amazed how well they can smell that! My pack was closed as well as my tent. They even left a small, stinking present for my on my sleeping bag, if you know what I mean.