So basically I don't need anything fancy, so long as its not junk that
will fall apart on me. How cheap can one go? For example I've seen one
called a Texsport Knollwood Bivy Shelter for $35 that *seems* like
what I'd need...what do you folks think?

I'd like to get a light 1-2 person tent suitable for moderate
backpacking, but I don't want to spend much money.

So basically I don't need anything fancy, so long as its not junk that
will fall apart on me. How cheap can one go? For example I've seen one
called a Texsport Knollwood Bivy Shelter for $35 that *seems* like
what I'd need...what do you folks think?

Not sure how long it's going to last before those fiberglass poles
break on you.

Bivy plus tarp could work well.

Jon

"Bill Johnston" <wackedd...@yahoo.com> wrote

I'd like to get a light 1-2 person tent suitable for moderate
backpacking, but I don't want to spend much money.

So basically I don't need anything fancy, so long as its not junk that
will fall apart on me. How cheap can one go? For example I've seen one
called a Texsport Knollwood Bivy Shelter for $35 that *seems* like
what I'd need...what do you folks think?

A bivy shelter is not a tent...

In the $35 range for a tent, you're unlikely to find much beyond *mart
quality. Campmor has a Wenzel model single-wall "pup-tent" shaped
object for around $30. Within certain expectations, the *mart tents
can be reasonably durable and quite functional,-- probably not light
weight or compact.

For around $100 there are a number of good backpacking tent
choices. At $150, there are some very good options. Compared
to the cost of "getting there", not to mention the enjoyment of
"being there", $150 isn't a lot of money for gear that will last
3-5 or more years.

On the other hand, a tarp (even cheap one) and small groundsheet
can be rigged in many shelter configurations. The bivy could work,
but doesn't offer much of an attractive retreat from bad weather.
Bivy plus tarp could work well.

On Mar 13, 6:00 am, "Jon" <jonm...@none.non> wrote:

A bivy shelter is not a tent...

Texsport calls it a "bivy shelter", but if you look at the pictures,
it's really just a two-pole hoop tent.

What was the saying about tents? "Cheap, light, durable - pick two."

Sierra Designs Sirius and Sirius 3 [...] has two doors. I used
a single door tent and ended up waking up my
wife when I had to use the facilities.

When I was at Little Yosemite Valley last summer, a couple of fellow
campers tried to talk me out of setting up my (sub 3 lbs) solo tent.
There were no signs of impending rain. One of them only had a
sleeping bag, pad, and pillow. The other had all that plus a bug
shelter around his head.

"y_p_w" <y_...@hotmail.com> wrote

On Mar 13, 6:00 am, "Jon" <jonm...@none.non> wrote:

A bivy shelter is not a tent...

Texsport calls it a "bivy shelter", but if you look at the pictures,
it's really just a two-pole hoop tent.

Ah, marketing! %^) When is a bivy, not a bivy? %^P
What's become of Bob Gross?

Looking pictures of the $30 Texsport Knollwood Bivy
Shelter, it would seem to me to have some pretty serious
limitations. Consider what happens when the door is
opened in the rain. And I'd be concerned about stability
and weather tightness in windy conditions.

But it is cheap and gets decent user reviews athttp://www.trailspace.com/gear/texsport/knollwood-bivy-shelter/.

What was the saying about tents? "Cheap, light, durable - pick two."

Yes. There's a "lotta" good backcountry recreation to be had in
heavier, cheaper gear, though, that's durable enough.

Sierra Designs Sirius and Sirius 3 [...] has two doors. I used
a single door tent and ended up waking up my
wife when I had to use the facilities.

Two doors or one at head of tent are requirments for me, too.

When I was at Little Yosemite Valley last summer, a couple of fellow
campers tried to talk me out of setting up my (sub 3 lbs) solo tent.
There were no signs of impending rain. One of them only had a
sleeping bag, pad, and pillow. The other had all that plus a bug
shelter around his head.

Yes, "sleeping out" can be a good thing. Stars, moon, clouds, winds,
sunrise,... Dew and insects can be managed.

On Mar 14, 5:57 am, "Jon" <jonm...@none.non> wrote:
"y_p_w" <y_...@hotmail.com> wrote
On Mar 13, 6:00 am, "Jon" <jonm...@none.non> wrote:
A bivy shelter is not a tent...
True.
Texsport calls it a "bivy shelter", but if you look at the pictures,
it's really just a two-pole hoop tent.

Ah, marketing! %^) When is a bivy, not a bivy? %^P

What's become of Bob Gross?

I thought of a "bivy" (in backcountry terms) as a water resistant
sleeping bag or sleeping bag shell with a water resistant cover around
No No.
the head. I understand the traditional meaning was of an improvised
shelter of maybe rocks and branches.
No.

What was the saying about tents? "Cheap, light, durable - pick two."
Never heard that engineering saying to tents.
Yes. There's a "lotta" good backcountry recreation to be had in
heavier, cheaper gear, though, that's durable enough.

I'm already having problems explaining to my wife that when we venture
into the backcountry, we'll need more than just a mid-sized daypack.

When I was at Little Yosemite Valley last summer, a couple of fellow
campers tried to talk me out of setting up my (sub 3 lbs) solo tent.
There were no signs of impending rain. One of them only had a
sleeping bag, pad, and pillow.
Pillow? Luxury.
Yes, "sleeping out" can be a good thing. Stars, moon, clouds, winds,
sunrise,... Dew and insects can be managed.

I'm just wondering what happens if a curious bear decides to do some
sniffing. OTOH - in a place like Little Yosemite Valley, there are
going to be plenty of people getting up to chase off the bears.

As a kid I went to camp (rented from the BSA) once where our cabins
were just covered wooden open-air shelters. One night our counselor
took half the cabin off for an overnight. We strapped our sleeping
bags and pillows to our packs, and hiked out to some tent pads. We
just slept on the tent pads with the stars. In the morning we each
got one packet of hot cocoa and learned how to stir with the envelope
rolled up.

y_p_w <y_p_w@hotmail.com> wrote:
On Mar 14, 5:57 am, "Jon" <jonm...@none.non> wrote:
Ah, marketing! %^) When is a bivy, not a bivy? %^P

When you have a tent?

What's become of Bob Gross?

Likely gone from the group.

A lot of people both on the net and off the net called
him on 5 MPH walking,

too many repeated Whitney and Shasta trips with novices

I'm just wondering what happens if a curious bear decides
to do some sniffing.

OTOH - in a place like Little Yosemite Valley, there are
going to be plenty of people getting up to chase off the bears.

You have to wake up first.

Camping with kids != camping with experienced adults.

Not sure how long it's going to last before those fiberglass poles
break on you.

Yeah, would suggest either aluminum or solid fiberglass poles.

Those hollow fiberglass poles really suck.

If you must use them, I recommend carrying a spare along with you.

On Mar 13, 5:11 pm, ShadowTek <psistormyam...@cs.com> wrote:

Not sure how long it's going to last before those fiberglass poles
break on you.

Yeah, would suggest either aluminum or solid fiberglass poles.

Those hollow fiberglass poles really suck.

If you must use them, I recommend carrying a spare along with you.

The tent I currently have (a cheapo Kmart 4-person car tent) has
hollow fiberglass poles (the kind with the cord running through them)
and I've never had any trouble with them, although I haven't really
put them to hard tests.  Would the ones on a backpacking tent tend to
be lighter and flimsier?

Hello,
I'd like to get a light 1-2 person tent suitable for moderate
backpacking, but I don't want to spend much money. I'll probably be
using it mainly for 1-2 night trips on moderate-difficulty trails, and
in good weather to the extent one can predict that. I also may use it
in car-accessible campgrounds for longer periods- due to high gas and
an increasingly decrepit car, I am considering visiting national parks
via bus and/or hitchhiking, and a compact tent would be nice for that.

So basically I don't need anything fancy, so long as its not junk that
will fall apart on me. How cheap can one go? For example I've seen one
called a Texsport Knollwood Bivy Shelter for $35 that *seems* like
what I'd need...what do you folks think?