| One of the main contributors to backpack weight | | | | Can I live with insects? Some ultralight |
| is your shelter. Two-person tents can weigh six | | | | backpacking shelters are not fully enclosed. If you |
| pounds or more. Even a solo tent can be heavy | | | | don't like the idea of sleeping with |
| after a long day of backpacking. And that weight | | | | creepy-crawlers, you may be willing to carry the |
| seems to be cumulative on an extended hike, | | | | weight of a full tent with a zippered door. |
| getting heavier day after day. If you want to cut | | | | Can I live with dampness? Tents with full rain flies |
| pack weight, your shelter is a good place to start. | | | | are heavier, but they do a good job of keeping |
| Carrying less weight on your backpacking trip | | | | rain out. At the other end of the scale, bivy sacks |
| means you can hike farther in a day with less | | | | are very light, but they are known to retain |
| fatigue. It means you can enjoy the entire trip | | | | condensation. |
| more. But some lightweight shelters require some | | | | Do I hike with trekking poles? Freestanding tents |
| sacrifices that may be outside your comfort zone. | | | | are heavier because they include structural poles, |
| Your answers to these questions can help you | | | | while some ultralight backpacking tents can be set |
| decide which lightweight backpacking shelter is | | | | up using trekking poles as supports, thus |
| right for you. | | | | eliminating the weight of tent poles. |
| When I backpack, am I camping or hiking? People | | | | Will I spend much time in my tent? You may think |
| have different approaches to backpacking. Some | | | | you can get by with a small shelter because you |
| camp so they can hike; some hike so they can | | | | plan to spend most of your time outside, but be |
| camp. If the camping part is more important to | | | | aware things may not go the way you plan. After |
| you, you may be willing to carry a little more | | | | the second full day spent in your tent because of |
| weight so you're more comfortable in camp. If | | | | rain, you may be wishing you had a shelter you |
| you're more focused on the hiking, your tent may | | | | could sit up in. |
| just be something to keep rain off while you | | | | Where will I be hiking? If you're climbing up and |
| sleep, and the lighter the better. | | | | down mountains, a tent with a small footprint |
| How much room do I really need? If you are | | | | may be easier to wedge into the single tiny site |
| hiking alone, you only need a one-person tent, | | | | you find late in the evening. If you're in a rocky |
| although many choose a two-man tent for the | | | | area, it may be impossible to to drive tent stakes |
| extra space. If you keep your gear outside | | | | in the ground, and you may wish for a |
| overnight, you won't need as much room in the | | | | freestanding tent. If you're in the desert, you |
| tent, but if you are more comfortable keeping | | | | may want a fully-enclosed tent to keep out |
| your things close at hand and out of the weather, | | | | rattlesnakes and scorpions. |
| you'll have to allow space (and weight) for that. | | | | |