Urban and/or stealth shelter

[Brett Peugh]

Looking for a better  shelter system for urban and/or stealth camping.  I have a TT Moment but looking for something less tall and wide.  I usually use a poncho tarp but I am thinking I need something a bit better in my older age.  I would just need something to lay and turn over in as I am a side sleeper.  Temps would be about 50-80F.  I know some people suggest bivies but it would need to be able to be mostly open with netting but could still button up for rain.  I don’t need to worry about high wind.  I am also 6′ 5″.  Thank you.

[Monte Masterson]

Are you wanting a tent or is a tarp/inner combo also something you’d consider?

Of course you’ll want either a green or camo shelter for stealth camping, however I tend to shy away from camo (non DCF ) because of its paramilitary connotations and the fact that camo can look as if someone is trying to hide. The DCF camo is just too glossy and visible for my tastes, however I know many would disagree and I respect that.

Almost all of the stealthy green UL tents are available in Europe where blending in is valued far more than in North America. Many tent makers such as MSR, Sierra Designs and others only offer their green versions in Europe.

Not sure if the Sierra Designs High Side 3000 (1st pic below) would be long enough for you at 88″, but it has a low profile and relatively small footprint, Weighs about 2 lb 4 oz (w/o stakes) and has poles. Semi-free standing and it seems to be loved by those who use it. Reasonably priced at $278. I just wish SD would have omitted the white stipes though. Still very stealthy. Available at ulog and they offer reasonable shipping to the US. https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/one-person-tents-c74/high-side-3000-1p-tent-p14978

If you’re going to use a tarp I wouldn’t go any wider than 6′ 3″ because the A frame profile will end up being too high and you’ll increase your chances of being seen. And with your height a 9′ tarp just wouldn’t be long enough IMO. The perfect tarp for you would be the Exped Solo Tarp in 15d silnylon. Weighs 11.5 oz (2nd pic below). Not the stealthiest green, but pretty good and what’s more the dimensions of 74.8″ X 118″ are perfect for a very tall man (second pic). You could pair it up with a Borahgear long/wide bug bivy and be very light, stealthy, comfortable and well protected from blowing rains.

[John S.]

suv

[Brett Peugh]

I don’t know.  Never mind that at 6’5″ sleeping in even a mini van pushes the seats forward but I think an SUV increases my base weight by at least like 2300# which I think is well beyond anyone’s agreement on what is UL. :)

[HkNewman]

Belated answer here, but first .. the doing miles blog described a loop, iirc, using a regular tent just set up towards the dark hours and lights out to circumnavigate Bay Area parks. Of course a couple, even with backpacks, may not attract as much attention as a single male.  Sounds like you want something more “tactical” sooo .

Secondly, on YouTube, I actually ran into a series of stealth how to’s .  Steve Willis stealth camps in Canada, purposely getting close to civilized outposts for 1 night (park stations, businesses, .. police stations) of stealth camping.  He does mention he could get fined for illegal camping ($100 CAD or thereabouts), so if willing to risk it ..

His shelter is often a tarp that matches the surroundings.  It’s really that simple unless wanting something like “universal camo”.  Green for forests, fall hunting camo for early spring and fall, some camo “in between”,  and a silvery white tarp for snow.  tl:dr at this point- .  get a tarp matching your surroundings.  Fwiw if needing 1 smallish camo tarp for 3 seasons (“universal camo”), maybe use the US Army’s research and go with something looking like multi-cam/“Scorpion”.

All his materials are cheaper side (Canadian Tire gets some shout outs) .. and he is purposely out there to record with a number of tarps in his nearby home.   He also admits a smaller pack could be used but he’s out for only dinner, the following breakfast, and 1 type of booze.   Not much food, though the videos I’ve seen, he’s always cooking on a backpacking stove set up.   Also carries bear spray for critters 4 and 2 legged (though think major crimes in the Great White North involve watered down fondue).  Kind of a hoot but if that’s what you’re into, who am I to judge? (Note: I’d never camp near civilization unless it was a legal and secure camp, but to each their own!!).

[DAN-Y]

The Flash Air 2 is the big brother to the Flash Air 1, allowing you room for two while stealth camping. Alternatively if you just enjoy extra room for yourself the Flash Air 2 is also a great option. When with the added space the Air 2 only weighs two pounds, and takes up about 16 inches in diameter when packed.

[jj]

a singlewall shelter like the protrail is very low profile and minimalist, for stealthing you can swap out the reflective guylines. i know a few freight train riders who do a lot of urban-stealth camping and they prefer a bivy with a long zipper — easy to see surroundings + quick/easy exit in case of trouble– and a small tarp — only pitched for rain or camo — when they are travelling.

[Bruce Tolley]

Is grey stealth enough for you?  Rab still sells the Integral Designs Silwing Shelter in grey, green and yellow.  https://rab.equipment/us/silwing

Also Dave @ Oware has many different tarps in camo at bivysack.com

[Brad W]

@jj I think a mesh bivy and tarp and the most stealth you could get. With a bivy you can squeeze into places no tent will fit. Just need enough room for your body layout. It opens up so many possibilities.

[Monte Masterson]

This is my ultimate stealth tarp (almost). It measures 6.5′ X 8.75′ and I think a 6′ wide flat tarp is optimum width in order to keep a low A frame profile. Weighs 10.8 oz and has 16 perimeter tieouts and 1 in the center to provide for a multitude of pitches. I also added 2 mid panel tieouts. Tarp is a Brooks Range (discontinued) 20d silnylon and the camo is far better than most IMO. I challenge you to find a 20d camo tarp nowadays that has a good woodland pattern that blends well into green surroundings. Most of the woodland patterns I see these days (on tarps lighter than 70d’s) stand out like a sore thumb. I don’t like being detected.

[HkNewman]

Monte said

Brooks Range (discontinued) 20d silnylon …  camo

That pretty much looks like woodland camo that US forces used from the ‘80s.  Thinking for a tarp, it probably works as good as any against a forest background with green leaves.

I said

Willis .. urban stealth

Maybe technically but thinking about it, his backpack adventures seem to be on the outskirts of Edmonton and in its suburban parks.  Actual inner city wouldn’t be wise IMHO.

 

[Monte Masterson]

Yea, Steve Willis has 651,000 subscribers and gets over a million views for some of his stealth camping videos. He always gets at least in the hundreds of thousands. Most are kind of silly and don’t interest me much, but I do like a few. The Rest Area stealth video is pretty good and I can relate from when I used to hitchhike to some of my backpacking destinations. Nice to have near access to running water, toilets and vending machines. Steve often uses a hammock which of course can be far more visible than ground dwelling, but he’s usually deep enough in the woods and well blended with stealth color to avoid detection.

[Brett Peugh]

Thank you everyone, I will check into the videos.  I guess it would be good to find a bivy that as some mesh and is pretty breathable that I can combine with my dark green poncho/tarp.  I have done some urban camping in parks in small or med sized towns.  I do use site selection to help mitigate any rain.

[jj]

oware has https://bivysack.com/shop/ols/products/bug-bivy-top-entry for like 100$ and they usually have a sale going

[Brett Peugh]

Thanks.  Prop it up to keep the bugs off?

[jj]

there is a mitten hook to loop a line tie off with

[Tipi Walter]

Like the guy in the video I’ve done alot of stealth camping over the years—behind churches, in town cemeteries, around universities, around yoga centers, off Interstates and rural roads (Interstates suck because of the traffic noise and I hate traffic noise).  I even set up a tents in cemeteries etc.

One of my stealth tents was a bright yellow North Face Westwind but I carried an old olive drab Army poncho and used it to cover the tent when “illegal”.  Worked great.  Another tip—NEVER BUILD A CAMPFIRE.

Regarding Rest Areas—one time I was hitchhiking on I-75 and pulled a Rest Area stealth camp in the woods just like in the vid—and discovered dozens of human turds with toilet paper so you have to literally work around feces.

[Brad W]

https://katabaticgear.com/products/pinon-bivy

[Bruce Tolley]

@ Tipi . LOL Glad I had dinner already before reading your post.

[Monte Masterson]

Brett, I was just wondering what poncho tarp you’ve been using? Most are 56″ to 59″ wide and 8.5′ long (or less). However the large Equinox is 8.67 ‘ (104″).

If I was 6′ 5″ inches tall and going the poncho tarp route I’d certainly want the MLD Pro Poncho at 9′ long (8.3 oz). It’s also a wider trapezoidal shape with mild cat cuts. Measures 5′ 5′ wide (head) 5’ (foot). And for bivy I would absolutely choose the borahgear Long/Wide Bug Bivy (6.3 oz). Description says the Long accommodates up to 6’4″, but I believe they will do a custom longer length upon request. https://borahgear.com/bugbivy.html

There was a time when I had little interest in poncho tarps, but when I moved back east and started doing more UL stealth camping, I began to appreciate their utility. For ultralight stealth you need: 1) small footprint – it’s a must because it greatly opens up the amount of available spots you can set up shelter. Nothing over 42″ wide really. 2) stealthy green color, unless you’re in the more desert environments of the west. In which case a coyote brown is better. 3) low profile – must stay under 38″ high. 4) large enough to protect from blowing rains. I know this one is kind of laughable with a poncho tarp because invariably one side will always be exposed, unlike with a shaped tarp. Nevertheless, clipping items such as a small DCF ground sheet onto tarp opening can help immensely. I generally don’t like a poncho tarp in cooler temps much below 50 * F. The MLD Pro Poncho however could also work great as a tarp only and paired with a rainjacket and/or kilt or rainpants.

Ron is about 6’2″ shown in the Pro Poncho pic below.

 

[Brett Peugh]

I guess what I am looking for is more of a get up and go thing that has a lot less profile. I just wish they still made those half tunnel tents that would collapse down or something similar for a bug tent that was free standing.

 

Because of better site selection I usually just lay the poncho tarp on top of me or possibly put the long side up some if there are trees or points.  The poncho tarp I have been using is 56×104

[Brad W]

Maybe a OR Helium Bivy?

[Brett Peugh]

Thanks Brad,

I have a new Helium jacket that can’t even go 20 minutes in a light rain without going through to start making the shirt I am wearing inside wet. :)  And i think it is too short for me.

Thanks everyone though.

Maybe something like a Bear Paw solo net tent that had a hoop at each end and some sort of crosspiece to keep it up and off of me?  Like a free standing solo net tent that I can drape the poncho/tarp over?

Or I guess maybe with a hoop at each end and try to stake it out some-ish.  For water I am fine, just looking some sort of way to keep bugs off that is not chemicals or too hot to sleep in at around 75+

[Brett Peugh]

Duplicate.  Sorry.

[Monte Masterson]

With what you’re describing Brett you might consider the Catoma Bednet. It’s a pop-up that deploys in seconds and features a pretty robust fiberglass frame. Military issue and used extensively by Army and Marines. Weighs a tad under 2 lbs so it’s a little heavy for ultralighters, but the Catoma is bomber with a 70D nylon bottom which isn’t going to leak. The 70D bottom also protects an inflatable pad better too. With a much lighter DIY stuff sack probably 3 oz plus could be knocked off of the total weight. There are other slightly lighter and cheaper knock offs out there, however if you want something with a solid enough structure to hold up a poncho tarp I’d go with the Catoma. The 90″ length may or may not be an issue for someone your height though. The guy in the video below from Outdoor Gear Review is 5′ 4″ tall and shows himself inside the pop-up at 2:17 . Looks to be at least a foot of extra length, but you could always have each end modified with an extension. The frame is what’s hard to reproduce and it’s the crux of the bednet.https://catoma.com/product/merchandise/shelters/1p/burrow/

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