Shelter Help Requested

[TacoDelRio]

Howdy guys

I'm looking for a good lightweight shelter that I can use in any weather, from the deserts in the summer to blizzards in the mountains in the winter. I'd prefer one that bundles up small enough to fit inside my rucksack without taking up much space.


-Needs to have a floor
-Needs to be completely enclosed
-Must be in a non-"SHOOT ME!" color, like OD or tan or something earthy
-I would prefer one that takes less than 5 minutes to set up in case of physical emergencies
-Must be large enough to fit myself (6'4") with my ruck and weapon, etc.
-The two most common environments this shelter/tent will be in are alpine, and desert.


Before anyone says it, I've used ponchos for a long time, and they don't quite work when you've got 70mph winds on a mountain covered in snow and ice (and liberals, at times).:bash: :-*$ :slap:

I'm getting tired of my Dutch DPM shelter, since it's kind of a piece of sh*t. Material is good and all, but it takes for-freakin-ever to assemble, and sucks to put it up when it's windy.


Anyone?

Thanks

[muede]

So you are looking for somekind of a TENT? I came looking here thinking that somebody hadnt been yet told that the Cuban missile crisis was already over.. ;)

[TacoDelRio]

Yeah a tent, not a hole in the ground hehehhe....

Perhaps some sort of slightly taller bivy in a brown color?

[Hollis]

summer demands means a simple tent, Mountain weather demands a Stronger heavier tent.

So I guess the mtn tent design would drive your search.

Full fly, two vestibules is nice, add weight, you want a vestibule.

Ventalation,,,,

Ability to stake it down. NO tent is built to take 100% of what a mtn will throw at it, so tent placement, windwalls (snow) are important.

I'll write more later..

[catalyst]

Would a good bivvy bag and a good sleeping bag we ok?

[Creeper]

MR.S. : How much money ya got 2 spend?

[Creeper]

The reason i ask is the Canadian kit ain't cheep, I have a Gore-Tex bivy from these guys, works very well, in any dammed weather you can dream up! LOL Try this:http://http://www.integraldesigns.com/product.cfm?id=20&CFID=7378347&CFTOKEN=43005992&mainproducttypeid=2 (http://www.integraldesigns.com/product.cfm?id=20&CFID=7378347&CFTOKEN=43005992&mainproducttypeid=2)

BTW: CHK out the sleepbags and tact gear.

Don't let the bed bugs bite! LOL

[Hollis]

The reason i ask is the Canadian kit ain't cheep, I have a bivy from these guys, works well, try this:http://http://www.integraldesigns.com/product.cfm?id=20&CFID=7378347&CFTOKEN=43005992&mainproducttypeid=2 (http://www.integraldesigns.com/product.cfm?id=20&CFID=7378347&CFTOKEN=43005992&mainproducttypeid=2)

the make nice stuff...

[Creeper]

Nice !; I would sell my neighbors girlfriend to get the cash to buy their gear !

[TacoDelRio]

Those Institutional tents look good. I don't have alot of money to spend, maybe $200 bucks, but I'd prefer something under $200. I still haven't bought new boots, new running shoes, or a few other items I've been needin'. :(

The Mk1 Lite looks like a good setup, but I take it it's gonna cost some $500 eh? :) The Observer bivy looks good for warmer climates.

HOLLiS: I agree with you. I have used my machete on my ruck to cut out blocks of compressed/stomped ice for a sort of igloo wall to keep the wind out. I'd pretty much do the same with this, with the hopes of setting up my shelter, and then improving on it as the hours go by, and as the weather permits.

[TacoDelRio]

Would a good bivvy bag and a good sleeping bag we ok?

Yes until they became airborne and flew a few miles before hitting the desert floor to the north. p-) p-) p-)

[Royal]

What you are after is one of these...

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/terra/bothy.shtml

Cheap, highly visable, comes in 4 sizes, very light and small pack size and takes about 20 seconds to put up. - It doesn't have a floor - but you don't need one these warm up in about 1 minute, literally.

I've had one for a bout 12 years and it's fine - get's used a few times a year and the rest of the time it just sits in my sac with the spare hat, socks and a pair of buffalo mittens.

They made some reversible ones up for us with hi-viz orange on one side and OD on the other.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/roag/bothyindistance.jpg

Not the best photo - but it gives you an idea of the visability in an emergency situation.

[Beer Monster]

Yeah a tent, not a hole in the ground hehehhe....

Perhaps some sort of slightly taller bivy in a brown color?

If you had cash to splash then I'd have recommended a Hilleberg Akto (http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/tentdetail.cfm/HL1000) ($345). IMHO its the best one man tent around. Mine has stood up to some of the foulest Scottish weather and is still going strong.

If you are just looking for a tarp type shelter with a bit more stability you could try a Tarptent (http://www.tarptent.com/products.html) or something by Kifaru (http://www.kifaru.net/MGtipis.htm)?

[East Scout]

Sportsmans has USMC Eureka tents for sale......Used but sapoose to have been inspected and are in great condition..But you know those Marines and thier nachternal activities;-) I think they are running around 100$..Remember you get what you pay for 9/10 of the time..

ES

[East Scout]

Also: Mil-Tec of Germany makes a pretty decent two man trail tent (made in GErmany not China) in WD camo..I have one and so did all of the guys on my former survival team...No one ever had a problem with them and I really like mine..Dosnt take up much room and when i hear the rain drops i can sleep and not lay there in deny mode thinking its not gonna leak.....The run like 24-28$ and also come in desert camo at the same price..........

ES

[Adam Wilhelm]

I´ll second that for Hilleberg.
I don´t own a Hilleberg Akto but i do own a Hilleberg Nammatj and this is teh shyte.
A Akto for 345 $ is a bargain.

On a sidenote on Hillebergs quality: they makes tent for our rangers, Para-ranger and the coastal rangers.

[percell_086]

Well, I always use a Belgian Gore-tex sleeping bag cover. Works great and I can put it in my webbing. But If you're really looking for a tent I can't help you mate, I almost never use them.


Percell

[Hollis]

Not the best photo - but it gives you an idea of the visability in an emergency situation.

Looks like great visibility, I have posted on on a rescue on Mt Hood, were good visibility was about 30 feet.

[bluffcove]

there is a swedish company that do a cape/poncho/bivi/sleepingbag/ground sheet.

I cant remember there name but it comes in camouflage of sorts (but non military) will look for it in a bit

[Royal]

Looks like great visibility, I have posted on on a rescue on Mt Hood, were good visibility was about 30 feet.

I meant the visability of a bothy bag - not the vis you get in emergencies. I've done a rescue in Norway where I couldn't see my boots - that's crap viz.

[Beer Monster]

there is a swedish company that do a cape/poncho/bivi/sleepingbag/ground sheet.

I cant remember there name but it comes in camouflage of sorts (but non military) will look for it in a bit

A Jerven Fjellduken (https://jerven.secure.flexiweb.no/)? I think its a Norwegian company. I've been after one for ages they don't seem to export to the UK and I haven't been across to Norway ....... yet. They're quite expensive too ......

[TacoDelRio]

Damn thanks for all the eplies guys. I'd love one of the Kifaru's, but my budget is really limited. Some of these look great, but it seems that nobody makes one in an affordable price range that is in an earthy-color. I do not want to be seen, that's the thing. I have signal panels for being seen, and the like. :)

Those Tarptents look good. Good price range, they can sew in a floor (keeps my gear dry-er), and I assume I can get a wall/vestibule to cover the open end.

Either that, or I'm gonna hafta make my own damn company!

Thanks for all the help guys. I didn't know there were so many options out there!

[East Scout]

More about post 15..You can get the Desert camo ones at Sportsmans..Often on sale..

[TacoDelRio]

ES: Hmmmmm.... http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=254163

MSR is good, unless they contracted someone else to make this one?

Or possibly http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=189525

[East Scout]

They had the surplus USMC ones cheaper...i guess they are out or you want new..I dont blame ya..surplus tents are a krapp shoot.....

[Sabre]

I´ll second that for Hilleberg.
I don´t own a Hilleberg Akto but i do own a Hilleberg Nammatj and this is teh shyte.
A Akto for 345 $ is a bargain.

On a sidenote on Hillebergs quality: they makes tent for our rangers, Para-ranger and the coastal rangers.

And I'll third it...?!

Hilleberg make FANTASTIC tents. I too own an Akto and have slept soundly in it despite being battered by Norwegian winds. It has room to stow your bergen in the entrance and enough height to sit up in the middle. It goes up as easy as anything, even in high winds, because the inner tent is permanently suspended from the outer (peg out the four corners, put in the single hoop and peg out the lines, done).

Bothybags are a good lightweight option for emergencies, as are bivvy bags (more robust). In between the two you can have hooped bivvis, but they can be as expensive as a one man tent such as the Akto.