I can see using this type of shelter. It’s rigged closer to the ground in storms, but I’m skeptical it would be dry enough to sleep in.
Last edited:
-
Happy Birthday, Nicholas Katzenbach, my old boss (1922-2012)! ⚖️
Anyone Use This Type Shelter?
- Thread starter Black_Fly
- Start date
I slept in a similar shelter for a seven night river trip two years back. The nylon tab that receives the cross pole on my bridge hammock broke while setting it up, and I was forced to seek shelter in my Eureka bug shelter for the rest of the trip. It rained several nights, and the wind blew a slight amount of rain through the netting. I zipped up my Gortex jacket and slipped the foot of my sleeping bag into it. Stayed dry and comfy. This was early spring, so there wasn’t really any crawling creatures to enter the floorless shelter. This experience was pleasant and I wouldn’t feel put out if I had to rely on it again.
That looks like a still from the "Canoe the North" YouTube channel. Regardless, it's similar to the tarp and mosquito netting they used in a video on a trip in the Yukon. Their weather was good with no rain the whole time, and they set up like this every day.
I use a tarp almost exclusively in Spring/Fall, and move to a hammock in summer when the bugs get bad and the integrated netting comes in handy (I also like a hammock in a lean-to in any season). But my point is that you can get a tarp pretty rain tight with the right pitch and location. Long distance thru hikers use them a lot, especially in the West. I don't see why the rig in your picture couldn't be dry.... you'd have to pinch one or preferably 2 sides (to windward) right down onto the ground though... then the other two would be ok. Sort of a plowpoint setup, just really low.
I use a tarp almost exclusively in Spring/Fall, and move to a hammock in summer when the bugs get bad and the integrated netting comes in handy (I also like a hammock in a lean-to in any season). But my point is that you can get a tarp pretty rain tight with the right pitch and location. Long distance thru hikers use them a lot, especially in the West. I don't see why the rig in your picture couldn't be dry.... you'd have to pinch one or preferably 2 sides (to windward) right down onto the ground though... then the other two would be ok. Sort of a plowpoint setup, just really low.
@Seeker beat me to it. Canoe The North has used a similar setup for years.
youtube.com
Canoe The North
Our names are Keenan and Ashley. We love exploring the Canadian wilderness with our pups Hugo and Betty-Lou. Join us as we bring you along for some wild rides! Canoeing, fishing, camping, and exploring in some of Canada's most remote and beautiful places. Don't forget to check out our Instagram...
youtube.com
Been doing it for 3-4 years now. I don't bring a tent unless it's fall, and add 10 x 14 CCS tarp.
What kind of net shelter do you use? I think that was from a Big Salmon River video. They were pretty professional, had a drone along.
Eureka No-Bug-Zone but there are a number of similar shelters available now. I throw my 10 x 14 over top and ride anything out. On The Missainabi I just brought the tarp and an 8 x 4 mesh. I was solo so I hung it from the center and let it hang. Crawled in, threw some gear in the corners to fan it out and presto! perfect solo shelter with almost no set-up time.
A neat tent/shelter like that was the old MSR Missing Link. Half tent, half shelter. More weather coverage and bug protection, but enough openness screening for catching some fresh air.
At Lake Savant, Northern Ontario, after a severe thunderstorm badly damaged our tent. We spent two nights in the Eureka VCS tarp/shelter until we could use our makeshift repaired tent again.
In heavy rain coupled with strong winds, you inevitably get wet.
André
In heavy rain coupled with strong winds, you inevitably get wet.
André
I use a tarp and a bug bivy quite a bit. I have been in some all night soakers and stayed as dry as I would in a tent. Issue is just humidity in the air which a tent won't eliminate. My bug bivy is just for one person so not as much room as the one you pictured but works great for a small lightweight setup. I only use the bivy when the mosquitos are bad. My tarp is a seek outside dst and my bivy is borah gear ultralight bivy. Have used it in the woods, mountains, stream side... many different situations. I have used the tarp with 2 people elk hunting and that worked fine as well, but I think in really heavy rain where you need to pitch it lower to the ground it may get tight if you have a lot of gear that needs to stay dry also. Great for being on the move.
Yeah, a setup like that I could see you getting wet, not much overhang past the netting. A lot of exposed wall there especially if there is any wind or heavy rain on hard ground that would splatter. With a tarp you have to rig it for the weather, maybe set a low side into the wind etc. Not as easy as a free standing tent with full rain fly!
Similar threads
