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The REI clerk who told me to skip the $300 tent, he was spot on but so wrong at the same time
Tbh I almost dropped $300 on this lightweight backpacking tent last spring, but this older guy at the REI in Portland talked me into a $140 tarp shelter instead. He said 'you'll thank me when your pack is 3 pounds lighter and you stop fighting with poles.' Honestly he was right about the weight, I did the whole Timberline Loop with zero back pain. But ngl, last month a storm rolled in at Smith Rock and I spent 2 hours trying to get that tarp pitched in wind without a single tree around. I was soaked, cold, and thinking about that dry, stable tent back in my garage. So who do I trust now? Should I go back to a full tent and eat the pack weight, or just get better at tarp tricks? Has anyone else taken that minimalist advice and ended up in a puddle?
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annaw731mo ago
Tarp shelters demand practice, not just a lighter pack.
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drew5529d ago
Pulled a tarp out of my pack on a rainy overnight in the Smokies without ever testing it at home. Spent 45 minutes wrestling with guy lines in the dark while my buddy just watched from under his tent. Finally got it up, then a gust of wind ripped one corner loose and slapped me in the face with wet nylon. Now I practice in my backyard before EVERY trip, even if it's just for ten minutes.
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