This article summarizes our staff’s best backpacking gear of the year – the ultralight hiking, backpacking, and camping gear they pick as their favorites for their annual adventures.
Granite Gear White Lightnin’ Tarp (8×10)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Also available in 10×10 and 10×12 sizes In the field, using 8 tie-out points (2 ridgeline and 6 side), the White Lightenin’ is probably the fastest to setup and the most stable tarp for its size. Granite Gear […]
Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters
Overview The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the floorless shelters for lightweight backpackers. Herein, we review products from GoLite, Integral Designs, TarpTent, Oware, Granite Gear, and Campmor (Equinox). Included are several tarps, tarp-tents, and hybrid shelters that provide the essence of shelter for the lightweight hiker – overhead protection from […]
Oware Tapered Catenary Tarp (6×8)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: Oware’s 6×8 Cat Tarp: The trim size and catenary cut ridgeline make for a super taut pitch with only 6 tie-outs. Stake out the middle-side tie-outs (not used in the photo), and this is one of the […]
Oware Flat Tarps (6×8, 8×10, 10×10)
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Photo: An Oware 10×10 ft tarp setup for an incoming mountain thunderstorm: Pitch is low to shed wind and increase stability. Windward edge (left side in photo) is staked to the ground at 5 points and an additional […]
Campmor (Equinox) Silnylon Tarps
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Configurations Reviewed: 6′ x 8′, 8′ x 10′ Photo Caption: Campmor/Equinox’s Ultralight Backpacking Tarp: In addition to a number of perimeter tie-out grommets, the tarp has three center-tarp tie-out points (white nylon straps). One of these tie-outs is […]
Oware Alphamid
See how this shelter rates with others in our Comparison Review of Tarps and Other Floorless Shelters Overview As the name implies, the Oware Alphamid is based on a pyramid tarp configuration. In fact, it is one-half of a typical four-sided pyramid tarp (which Oware also manufactures). Designed primarily for snow camping, the Alphamid’s steep […]
Catenary Curvature as an Element of Ultralight Tarp Design
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Summer Alpine Ice Climbing in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains
This trip report describes a four day backpacking and alpine climbing trip to Whitetail Peak in Montana’s Beartooth Range, July 9-11, 2002. See end of document for gear notes & gear lists Overview The following describes a three-day trip into the West Fork of Rock Creek, in the Beartooth Mountains near Red Lodge, MT, for […]
Clothing and Sleep Systems for Mountain Hiking, 1st Edition (August 2002)
Clothing and Sleep Systems for Mountain Hiking, 1st Edition (August 2002)