Shelters

[Beer Monster]

I've used a Akto single pole tent for just over 2 years now, and I love it to bits. Exspensive to buy but always reliable, takes 2 mins to put up and is great in all weathers. Arguably lighter than a tarp and roll mat or hammock at 1.6kg all in.
Not as intimate with the wild - you are inside rather than out, but I tend to be in tick infested areas of Dartmoor and I like the comfort of knowing that I am not sharing my blood with too many other creatures in the night.

Yep I've got an Akto too. They really are fantastic. As you said they are very expensive but there has been many a night where I've been "extremely" grateful I've forked out the extra cash for a decent tent.

And then there is the midge problem. When they are out, bivying can be akin to the 9th circle of hell. I've experimented (with some success) with stringing a box shaped midge net underneath a tarp but it is quite difficult as you need to stake it to the ground to stop it blowing around etc and with the added weight I think it easier just to carry the Akto ....... depends on how much you want that "open air" feeling! I suppose you could always design a tarp with an integrated midge net ........ now there’s an idea ...... mmmmmmh

 

[Squidders]

I'm pretty much a tent man, a coleman epsilon to be precise, as most the places i go camping there aren't any suitable trees for hammocks....although i'd love to try it sometime.

After a lot of consideration i went down the road of getting a thermarest expedition with the 4.4thinckness. It's not quite as comfortable and snug as the basecamp or basecamp 5.0 mind you.

Will have to start trying out some different situations soon. Looking forward to my first time outside without a tent.

Andyn, a few months ago I took a basha and an old issue army blanket... after some fiddling myself and bambodoggy converted the basha in to a hammock and I just rolled up in the blanket. It was quite comfy actually!

I'm waiting for someone come up with a 2 person hammock with a huge hex fly etc etc etc...

 

[zambezi]

Zambezi, got to say your pictures are to big to view shame. its always nice to see were you ve been....

Oops...sent the 2.2Mb pics to web by accident. Try the links again now that I have given them a squashing


Vince

 

[mojofilter]

I agree with Squidders that a blanket is sufficient in the good weather, not so much for warmth, but more to keep the dew off you.