Campers Info Source

I have to admit I’ve never liked motorcycles because when I was in sixth grade, I was a crossing guard for my grade school and I witness a car hit a motorcycle from behind at 30 mph. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.  But I acknowledge the fact that motorcycles can be fun to drive in the summer with the wind blowing through your hair when on the road.  I prefer four wheelers and bicycles as

Sportz X-Plorer PAC

modes of transportation and recreation.  But the bottom line is this.  It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a motorcycle, four wheeler or bicycle to get you around.  If you enjoy camping, you can tie backpacking tents to any of these and get on the road to you favorite camping destination.  But what about the other things you need to bring with you when you go camping.

The Sportz X-Plorer PAC is a complete one man camping package. The PAC includes a 1-person tent, full rain fly, one mummy style sleeping bag, one folding stool and a carrying bag. All items pack conveniently into a heavy-duty bag that features adjustable straps that attach to any rack.  This backpacking tent is 8.3′ x 5′ and sleeps one person comfortably.  It has one interior pocket for keeping your gear organized and off the ground.   It also has full no-see-um mesh sides for full ventilation.  The best part is that all items pack into the carrying bag which can be attached to any ATV, motorcycle, bicycle or backpack.  I encourage you to get outdoors. Get on the road and go camping.  And remember, ”The Joy is in the Journey”.

Almost every article I’ve ever read about 2 Person tents talks about how ultralight 2 person tents are light and easy to carry.  Or how 2 person tents are extremely useful when weight is an issue especially when backpacking.   And how a good two man tent will make your camping experience much more pleasurable.   But they seldom if ever talk about how 2 Person tents help you get married.  For example, many kids graduate from high school last May or June are probably getting ready to start college or attend a

Eureka! Zeus Zeus 2 Classic 2 Person Tent

technical school or trade school this fall.  And when they start school they meet new people, get a little lonely or start socializing like never before.  It’s like a whole new start to their life. 

This is when they make friends and start relationships.  It often starts with just 1 person whether it is a good friend or a boy friend/gfirl friend.  This socialization lends itself perfectly for camping in a 2 Person tent.  The closeness in the tent over night enables strong bonds to be formed that last forever.   And in the case of a young couple, who do a lot of camping for 2-4 years while in college, they often fall in love and end up getting married because of the fun times and shared experiences of camping in 2 person tents.   The Eureka Zeus Tent is a great 2 Person tent.  This innovative single wall tent is ultra-lightweight, extra strong like Hercules, son of Zeus, and a snap to set up!  So if you are looking to get married and have a special someone in mind, consider getting a 2 Person tent then go camping and see what happens.

This is the 3rd in a series of BLOGs to help you choose the right Backpacking Tent for you.  Part 2 of this series described the Primary factors in choosing a good backpacking tent.  This BLOG focuses on the secondary factors in choosing Backpacking Tents.

WEATHER: What are the conditions I expect to encounter?

A: Most summertime backpackers choose a 3-season tent, meaning it’s suitable for the moderate weather of spring, summer and fall.

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Trango 3.1 Expedition Tent

If you often camp in warm or humid conditions, search out tents with ample ventilation—lots of mesh panels.  Several tents have canopies (upper sections) that use 100% mesh.  Mesh panels are nice for stargazing on mild nights when a rainfly is not needed. Three-season tents are by far the most popular backpacking tents.

Often face chilly, windy nights? You might be a candidate for an extended-season tent .  Expecting to face sustained winds or planning to venture out in winter months?  You’ll need an expedition/mountaineering tent, also known as a 4-season tent like the one pictured.  Expedition tents are very sturdy and the Mountain Hardwear Trango sleeps 2. 

Overall, the wise move is to carry a tent equipped to handle the worst conditions you expect to encounter.  Naturally, the feathery weights of summer-oriented tents are very appealing. But if you are planning a late-autumn trip at high elevation where snow and high winds are possibilities, you’re better off equipping yourself with a more substantial tent engineered to withstand harsher conditions.

It is not unusual for serious backpackers to own 2 or more tents so they can adjust their gear assortment to suit the weather they expect to face.

FEATURES: What “little things” matter most on a tent?

A: Two stand out:

• Doors. Very light tents often include a single door at the head end. That’s fine, but many tents offer 2 doors in 2-person tents, giving each sleeper a separate entry and exit point so each individual can come and go as they please. Two doors are nice, for example, if your companion wants to turn in early while you want to make a late entrance after enjoying some stargazing.
• Vestibules. These are extendable sections of a tent’s rainfly (requiring stakes and a maybe a few guylines) that create a sheltered dry zone outside your tent for stashing footwear and other gear. Nearly all tents offer at least 1, though they vary in size by tent model. If vestibules are important to you, look for high square foot numbers in tent specifications.

SETUP: How easy is it to pitch?

A: Most tents offer freestanding design, meaning a tent can stand without the use of stakes. This generally results in a fast setup. If the need arises, freestanding tents are simple to relocate—just lift them by their poles and carry them to a new spot.

In general, the more pole sections a tent includes, the more complex its setup might appear. After a couple of setups, though, the steps of erecting a backpacking tent become an automated, almost instinctive process.

Tip: Practice setup at home before your first trip. Any tent setup can appear challenging on the first try. It’s easier to grasp not-immediately-obvious setup techniques when you’re not pressured by a setting sun or approaching storm.

So there you have it; the basics of tent shopping. For first-time buyers, this might be all the information you need. If you’re an experienced backpacker who may be looking to upgrade, read on as we take an in-depth look at the finer details of tent design and construction. Often the factors that distinguish 1 tent from another lie in the subtle details explained here.

This is the 2nd BLOG post in a series of 3 describing How to choose a Backpacking Tent.

Backpacking tents are categorized at Camping Tents Haven according to:

• Sleeping capacity
• Weather-readiness (seasonality)

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

SPACE: How many people will usually sleep in the tent?

A: Backpacking tents are categorized by their per-person capacity: 1-person (solo), 2-person, 3-person and 4-person.  Tent names

Chinook Whirlwind 3 Person

often include a number (the Gigatent Redleg 2, Eureka Timberline 2) that indicate their maximum capacity.

To keep weight low, tents are usually designed to fit snugly.  The resulting space is often a little more compact than many people prefer.  A snug space often suits cozy couples just fine, though I find that 2 larger people typically wake up friendlier if they spent the night in a 3-person tent or a roomy 2-person model.  Backpacking with a dog or a small child?  Generally it’s a good idea to go plus-1 with your capacity choice.

If possible, visit Camping Tents Haven on Line examine the variety of backpacking tents they have available.  

WEIGHT: What is a desirable weight for a backpacking tent?

A: Solo tents range between 2 and 3 pounds. Two-person tents commonly range from 3 to 5 pounds, but may reach up to 6 or drop almost to 2.  Aim for a per-person weight of less than 3 pounds.  Getting close to 2, or even less, is excellent.  Realize, though, that a low per-person weight usually results in a snug interior.

PRICE: What can I expect to pay for a quality backpacking tent?

A: Two-person tents range from $100 to $500; the majority are priced near the middle of that range. A higher price tag usually buys you extra refinements and lower weight.  If you backpack infrequently, aim for the lower end of that range.  The Chinook Whirlwind 3 is one a great backbacking tent for just a little over $103.00.

This is the first in a series of three BLOG posts describing How to choose a Backpacking Tent.

Backpacking tents offers so much—a cozy dry zone when rain falls, a patch of privacy in the back counrty, mountains or the wide-open spaces, a fabric fortress that buffers you from biting and anoying bugs.  Lots of good backpacking tents are available.  Choosing the right one for you involves:

• Evaluating your personal preferences and the conditions you commonly experience.
  

  Backpacking Tents

• Finding the right balance among a trio of factors:
  • Space
  • Weight
  • Price

Secondary factors can also play a role in your decision:

• Weather expectations
• Design features
• Ease of setup

Once you size up your preferences and gauge how they compare to these factors, you can narrow your choices.  For example, ae you a car camper rather than a backpacker?  In part 2 and 3 of this series, I will address the above factors in more detail.

This is the sixth and final series of blog posts describing styles of camping tents to help you choose the design best suited to you.  Remember, it doesn’t matter if you are in the mountains, back country, lake country or desert, the great outdoors call for a reliable

THE NORTH FACE Tadpole 23 BX Tent

tent so you can fully enjoy the tent camping experience.   So it’s important that the design of your camping tent be best suited to your needs.  I’ve already gone over five of the different designs and styles that will help you make the right choice.  

They included the: 1) dome or umbrella tent, 2) modified dome tent, 3) A-frame or wedge tent, 4) tunnel or hoop tent, and 5) pyramid, cone, or teepee tents.  Each design provided a unique set of benefits which may be good enough for some backpackers but not to campers.  The sixth style described below is the modified A-Frame tent.

Modified A-Frame Camping Tents

While an A-Frame Tent has a single pole at each end to prop the tent up, a Modified A-Frame Camping Tent normally has two poles at each end to form a triangle and a single pole running along the top of the tent from the tip of the triangle at one end to the tip of the triangle at the other end.  Modern A-Frame tents add a ridgepole and a center hoop to the traditional A-Frame to create a larger volume version of the traditional A-frame pocket.  They are great space savers for packing and are lightweight as well.   The modified A-Frame tent is designed for 1-2 people and many of these style tents now have vestibules for storage of camping gear.

North Face Tents are great backpacking tents and expedition tents.  A perfect example of a modern day, modified A-Frame camping tent is the North Face Tadpole 23 BX Tent.   This tent is perfect for backpackers and people going on expeditions.  It’s a really nice 3 season tent.

This is the fifth in a series of six blog posts describing different styles of camping tents to help you choose the design best suited to you.  In this blog we will describe the tunnel or hoop style of camping tents.  

Tunnel or Hoop style tents

The fifth design is the Tunnel or Hoop style tent - The tunnel tent has a structure of simple side to side arched poles like a covered

Wenzel Lone Elk Hiker Tent

wagon.  It forms a tunnel with a series of hoop shaped poles (usually two or three).  Sometimes an extra center pole is used to keep the walls from sagging.  It is one of the lightest and easiest to pitch shapes available.  Because it is a light and compact tent option, this camping tent style is extremely popular for backpackers, hikers, and bike campers.  It is easy to setup and is relatively lightweight with a good amount of floor space. It has good headroom and steep side walls.  It has more headroom than an A-frame tent.

A tunnel tent works best as a summer or three season camping tent style, and is fine as long as the wind doesn’t blow hard.  It tends to rock and roll in crosswinds and won’t stand up to high winds or snow.  Some hoop tents, though, may be more equipped for harsh conditions.  They may have more poles and lines to help hold up against the wind.  Other options are available, too, such as a rain fly, a vestibule, and mesh windows.  Tunnel tents can accommodate one to four people, depending on the size.

The Wenzel Lone Elk Hiker Tent pictured is a perfect example of a Tunnel or Hoop tent.  Wenzel tents are great camping tents and this one is lightweight and compact for hiking and biking.

Backpacking tents are lightweight tents and durable.  But not so durable that they will withstand poor care and packing.  You will extend the life of your backpacking tent if you follow the tips below.

• Pack your tent poles so they don’t bend, break or chip on the ends and cut into the shock-cords.
• Pack the tent stakes and poles in a stuff sack.  Packing the tent poles and stakes with the backpacking tent could puncture the
  

  MSR Hubba Hubba Tent

  tent.  Wrapping the poles and stakes in a beach towel first will also keep them protected.

• Make sure your backpacking tent is thoroughly dry before packing it, otherwise mold/mildew could form on the tent and break down the tent fabric.
• When folding your backpacking tent, lay it on grass vs. sand or gravel, then pack it in a stiff sack or your backpack if it fits.
• Keep in mind for winter packing… backpacking tents packed in the cold take about 20% more space then a tent packed in a warm house. So for winter camping taking a stuff sack that can give that extra space when repacking the tent out in the snow.
• When its raining hard, try not to lie your tent on the ground for too long as the water could make the tent about 10 times as heavy.
• Always clean sand out of the zippers with a vacuum cleaner to prevent the zippers from tearing.  This will improve the life of backpacking tents.

After setting up your backpacking tent there are lots of things you can do depending on where you’ve decided to camp.  For example, you might want to go biking. hiking, canoeing, fishing or hunting.  If you haven’t tried it before, I suggest you try some archery.   Add a bow to your hunting gear and do some bow Hunting for deer. 

Martin® Threshold Adventure Series Bow Kit, Camo

It takes a while to learn the art of archery and shooting an arrow at a deer.  I suggest you start by getting a good bow like the one pictured and take some lessons on how to use it.   The season for deer hunting with a bow is coming soon so now is a great time to add a new bow to your hunting gear and start practicing.  I recommend you practice with the bow you will actually be using for hunting and use a bow with a 50-60 lb draw weight. 

You will also want to make sure that the draw length is appropriate for you.  To determine the appropriate draw length for you, make a fist with your bow hand and touch a wall, holding it out as if your are shooting your bow. Then have someone or measure from the wall to the corner of your mouth with a tape measure. The length you come up should be close to your actual draw length. 

The draw length of different bows can vary from 28 to 36 inches. For this reason, arrows are available in different lengths from 31 to 40 inches.  One does not want to take a 40 inch arrow and attempt to use it as a bow hunting arrow with a bow that only has a 28 inch draw because the arrow would not be positioned or balanced properly when fired.

You’ll also want to add some arrows to your hunting gear.  When choosing arrows, you can use aluminum or carbon arrows.  Carbon arrows will not bend but aluminum arrows can bend in some situations so I always recommend carbon arrows.

appalachian-trail-hike

 Are you ready to pack up your backpacking tents and get out there for some excitement and adventure? If so, there are some great destinations to consider in the United States.  Here are three of the top ones you’ll want to hit along the way.

 1 – The Appalachian Trail

Backpackers love the Appalachian Trail, and people from across the country come to go hiking and backpacking here. If you want adventure, unique plant species, and wildlife, you’ll find it here. Grab your backpacking tents and the rest of your gear and considering tackling this trail, which can take months to complete. 

2 – Yosemite National Park

SwissGear Kanderstag Backpack Tent

Another of the best places in the United States to take your backpacking tents for some fun is Yosemite National Park. People from around the globe come to backpack here.

The terrain is challenging, the views are incredible, and there are more than 800 miles of trails you can enjoy. 

If you don’t have any backpacking tents or you need a new one because your current one is getting old, check out the SwissGear Kanderstag Backpack Tent.  It’s a great tent for any of these U.S. destinations.

  3 – The Grand Canyon

Last is the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders in the world. Only from the inside of the Grand Canyon can you enjoy

Grand Canyon Skywalk

some of the most amazing sights.

The terrain is challenging and the views breathtaking. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to pitch your backpacking tents here.  

Visit the Breathtaking view from the Grand Canyon Skyview.  

The Skywalk extends 65ft beyond the edge of the Grand Canyon and offers an unprecedented view from 4,000 ft above the ground!

The Horseshoe shaped skywalk is constructed of glass walls 4 inches thick and visitors must don special scratch-proof socks as they partake in the view.

The work is a true engineering feat that can hold up to 70 tons (roughly 14 African Elephants) and withstands winds of 100mph.