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Favorite Shelters

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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Feb 20, 2012 at 6:00 pm #1285937

Mark
BPL Member

@drshane-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2
Locale: Northwest Wyoming

What are your favorite shelters for troop backpacking? Both for patrol sized shelters and "buddy" sized shelters.
From what I have read here, the Black Diamond Betamid looks like a good value as does the Mega Light.

Feb 20, 2012 at 6:36 pm #1842159

Ben Smith
BPL Member

@goosefeet
Locale: Georgia

Mark,

My troop has used Oware 10' x 10' pyramids for 4 person groups (usually 2 mids per patrol).

We have also used a MLD circus tent for a whole patrol at once.

Feb 20, 2012 at 7:56 pm #1842189

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Mark, our troop has a bunch of "Sierra Designs Origami 3" that we use. They are a 3 boy tarp and weigh 2 lbs.
Part 2 of "What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking" will be out on Wednesday, I have a picture of one in the article.

I do like the Oware pyramids also but we received a super deal from SD so we couldn't pass it up.

Feb 20, 2012 at 10:30 pm #1842275

Mark
BPL Member

@drshane-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2
Locale: Northwest Wyoming

MLD removed the Circus from their offerings saying no one was ordering. You might have the only one. Can I buy it from you? (just kidding…sort of..hahaha)

Feb 21, 2012 at 6:56 am #1842333

Dan Smith
Member

@dcsmith

For cheap 1-3 man tents,, I see a lot of alps mountaineering tents. If you purchase through scout direct.com, you get some big discounts. the chaos 2 and 3 hold up well in the long term. Not exactly ultralight.

Feb 21, 2012 at 10:09 am #1842406

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Dan, Alps does have a good scout discount. Our troop bought a bunch years ago and the tents weighed 10 lbs each. I even discuss this issue in the next article coming out this week here at BPL titled "What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking
Part 2: Clothing, Footwear, Group Gear (Water Treatment, Stoves and Fuel, Shelter)"
Look for the part discussing how to divide up a ten pound tent between four when there is only three parts and one weighs 5 lbs (the tent body).
Hopefully it will be a good read.

You could read Part 1 as a primer

What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking
Part 1: The Lightweight Lesson, Essentials, Backpack, Sleeping Bag and Pad, Personal Kit. Basic training for the beginner and/or young backpacker, with a focus on Scouts

Feb 21, 2012 at 12:48 pm #1842496

Kai Larson
BPL Member

@kailarson

Black Diamond Guiding Light.

5 pounds, 6 ounces. Holds 4 or 5 boys. Weatherproof, bugproof.

I've used lighter weight shelters, tarps etc. in the past and haven't been happy with them for scout use.

Having a haven from mosquitoes is key. Also, we often camp high, in places that are exposed to harsh weather. At a little over 1 pound per boy, these tents provide excellent shelter for the weight.

Feb 22, 2012 at 5:51 am #1842876

Richard Fischel
BPL Member

@ricko

The guiding light and lighthouse are two of my favorite tents so naturally, they would be the tents bd discontinues. Luckily i have a lighthouse in great shape and i always keep an eye out for a well priced guiding light.

Mar 21, 2012 at 10:29 pm #1857519

Walter Underwood
BPL Member

@wunder
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

My son has a Betamid and loves it. He and another six-footer enjoyed it at Philmont.

Look for them to go on sale for about $80 or bite the bullet and pay the full Benjamin. The Betamid is probably the cheapest entry to lightweight. Get ground cloths from Gossamer Gear to go with it.
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