Favorite Shelters

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.