Southeast Backpackers – Shelter Advice Needed

I happily camped under a simple tarp for most of my trips in Virginia. Some ideas though

• I guess ticks are becoming more of a worry. A totally enclosed shelter might be a good idea.
• I don’t consider the southeast to be particularly challenging for shelters BUT you do have the occasional deluge. That kind of heavy rain would test the waterproofing on some of the lighter shelters. I’d look at the hydrostatic head before buying.

Beyond those guidelines I don’t have much to offer in the way of specifics. If it was me I’d probably start with a sub $100 flat tarp that I’d use whenever bugs where not an issue. Then I’d look at a more expensive fully enclosed shelter for bugs and rougher weather.

Its probably not top of the line now but I do have a Big Agnes Fly Creek 2 I inherited.  I do like it. Lots of room, easy pitch etc. I have tried a couple 1 person shelters and they can be cramped. I’d probably go with a 2 person if I was getting a pyramid tarp or tarp tent.

Oh you might check hammocks out too. My friend Ben loves his. Sadly they don’t work that great in Alaska.

Hey David.

I live in NC as well and I fell all the way down the tent rabbit hole over the last ten years.

I spend most of my hiking time here in the Appalachians, but do travel hikes domestic or internationally a few times a year.

We have some challenges to our region, mostly heat and humidity related. I’ve used several tarps, Big Agnes Fly Creek & Copper Spur, Zpacks Duplex, LightHeart Gear Solong, Tarptent Rainbow, Mountain Laurel Designs Solomid DCF & Duomid DCF, and more recently Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2.

My MLD Duomid is my security blanket, and is the only one I trust when the conditions are prone to change rapidly. Most of the others belong to new owners now.

I’m a hybrid trekking pole user. Meaning that most of the time my trekking poles are bound, on my pack, and accessible when I need them, but usually I’m hands free. I really only use them for severe changes in slope or wet conditions. I mention this because the “weight savings” of using a trekking pole tent doesn’t really apply to my hiking style, since I’m mostly carrying an additional pound of trekking pole weight on my back.

You can get away with almost any 3 season tent here for all four seasons. We do not have the same concerns with snow as the Rockies and the elevation change isn’t severe (highest point is 6700ft). I do say that tongue in check, I think the Smokies are projected to be hit with a foot of snow tonight.

For me a pyramid tent checks the majority of boxes for a winter solo shelter. I’d recommend the MLD duomid, of course. You can choose nylon or DCF based on your budget, realistic usage, and preference. Its modular, so you can add an inner for the warmer months to keep the deer ticks and hummingbird sized (not really) mosquitos at bay or just a ground sheet for cooler temperatures.

Feel free to shoot me a PM with any questions you might have.

I use single wall exclusively.

If you’ve done research, you know the drawbacks.

Cold damp rain conditions , cause rain inside your tent.  If you can deal with it that’s okay, if you can’t then go a different route.   Ventillation helps…. But as long as you put a humid warm body exuding moisture inside the tent, you’re going to get condensation that the rain will knock off.

This can occur anytime of year in the mountains, not just shoulder seasons.  35F and raining can really threaten all your gear with moisture.  Theres no where to stay dry.

We basically only go out in the winter/cool months so bugs not an issue.  For years we have only used a variety of tarps with or with out a bivy.  If you are going solo and want a bit more protection, with fast set up, you might consider a SMD Haven, fine for two people, luxurious for one.

I really like the Durston X-Mid 1.  It’s fully enclosed for bugs and the ability to open both doors to get extensive ventilation is what makes me prefer it in the southeast over the Duomid, which I also own and really trust in bad weather.  You can also have both doors open in the rain as long as the rain is not windblown.

Big “Thank you” to everyone.

The exact feedback I was looking for.

The Durston tent looks nice if it fits you, and the price is right.

I use mostly a DCF trailstar now. It has a large coverage area, great ventilation, and sheds wind really well.

My prior primary shelter was an 8×10 catenary cut tarp. It was good, but I went with the trailstar for better coverage in windy rain conditions.

Prior to that I had a tarptent with a floor and all. It was the Squall. I weathered some big storms in it but it seemed to condense and send mist down on me in bad rains.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the trailstar. Bugs tend not to be a problem in the mountains in spring and fall. It keeps a large area dry. Because of these, I have not needed an inner.

I would consider that Durston tent, though, if it fit me.