Squall

Bivy sacks were a really great innovation in the 1980s / 1990s that introduced the idea that people wanted to focus hard on carrying a lighter pack. So many advancements have happened since then! I want you to consider what happens in a downpour. At what point do you get inside your bivy sack? Do you do some combination of cooking and eating dinner while the bottom half of your body is in your bivy sack but the top half is just wearing a rain jacket ? While you eat, how would you keep the inside of the bivy sack dry? My guess is it would make sense to have some kind of Ultralight Tarp so you could do basic camp functions... but at that point, you're basically carrying more weight than if you just looked at single wall tents. Some people just carry the tarp and their sleeping bag And a ground cloth to put their sleeping bag on But you'd be a lot more comfortable if you had bug netting that connected like a bathtub floor to a single wall tarp roof (and havinga place to go away from ticks is just safer in places like the Shenandoahs). I carried a Henry shires tarp tent and it was designed for two people! One of my friends called it "L-Train's mansion" at one point. I went with the two person size because it would allow for accessing all my belongings under protection in the event of a rain storm. The whole thing was less than a pound and used my trekking poles to pitch. I hiked in 2009 so there's a lot more new Innovations in terms of fabric choices. I would caution against making an impulsive choice because people truly have their own unique way of doing things. Some of the fabrics can be very expensive and very fragile for instance. If you do consider cuben fiber (insanely light, expensive, fragile) just know how to repair it in the field.

*\*Image of my Alpha Breeze at the AAC Gunks Campground* Hey all, looking for some tent recommendations for a pretty specific setup. I spend a decent amount of time climbing up at the Gunks and usually camp nearby. When I’m solo, I’ve typically just used a small 1P Tarptent since it’s what I already have for backpacking. It works, but it’s not the most comfortable for hanging out at camp. On the other end, I’ve got a Snow Peak Alpha Breeze that I use for family trips. It’s great, but kind of a pain to set up solo. Also, there are times I end up sharing a 12x12 tent pad with other climbers, and the footprint on this is too big to allow that. It's nice to have this tent there, but I would like to simplify. Between the Tarptent and Alpha Breeze I’ve been using an old Marmot Limelight 3 that my dad gave me, which has been a nice middle ground, but it’s starting to show its age. I'm open to getting another Marmot Limelight, but wanted to open myself to other options first. So I’m trying to find something in between: * Freestanding * Quick and easy to set up solo * Compact footprint that works on a shared pad * Not ultralight, but not bulky either * Good ventilation and solid in storms * Bonus if it fits an Exped LuxeMat Duo, but not a must, I have other pads Basically something comfortable for a couple nights at a basecamp without turning setup into a whole production. Any ideas would be appreciated!

This is awesome, really appreciate you taking the time to set it up and share all the pics and details. Super helpful. That actually confirms what I was thinking. If your mat has that much extra space, I could probably size down and still make my pad work without any issues. Trying to stay a bit more space conscious, and a 4p might be more than I need for this setup. How was it getting everything tensioned out? I zoomed in and saw the cord system you mentioned. My current Marmot has something similar and it’s held up surprisingly well, so I’m curious if this feels comparable or a little more questionable. Overall though, this looks like a really clean setup.

Tarptent all the way - has kept me dry and cozy for thuousands of kilometers in snow, rain and heat. I have never owned a better ultralight tent. Bonus: you buy from a small, independent company, founded and owned by a great guy - when I bought my first one (years back) he answered all my questions personally… What a legend!