My Refuges – The Walk

01/17/16

tents

It seems obvious. Generally something is needed to bend over; something that separates our fragile sapiens bodies from the harsh elements; a wall, to at least separate us from the great “exit” towards something we believe is more manageable.

First store

Back in the day, even before I could pilot a stick shift, we used the Boy Scout model passed down from my male cousins ​​who traveled by train from Detroit to hike Philmont, then an all-male Scout camp in New Mexico.

Made of canvas, those tents were HEAVY. However, we had nothing else; the technology of the time knew nothing about anything lightweight….

So, we loaded the heavy tents and were happy.

We used what we had

I guess you could say that what you have you use: cars, tents, clothes. The notion of designing camping gear was foreign.

We even used our mother’s cotton sheets to pitch a tent and truly believed we were camping with the latest technology. We also had long skis, thin, coarse clothing, wire bindings, heavy ski boots, and $1 tow tickets.

Emergence of an “external industry”

Then everything changed with the advent of plastic and how everything could be designed to be manufactured. From medical syringes, containers, to fabrics; Plastics evolved rapidly.

Buying the trends

There was a bewildering variety of tents on the market: shapes, poles, weights, sizes, colors.

How is it selected?

They all shared a common aspect: the lighter, the more expensive.

Before investing in something “new,” it was wise to interview people who actually used a tent.

Discovered data

I went to Breckenridge, Colorado, where a bike trip was taking place. Those people would really know the good, the bad and the ugly of their investment.

I chose a designated day for the Riders to recover and would probably be close to their tent. The photo shows the camping field. The interviews were easy. Most people are “at home” and they are all young, handsome, male, white, clean, short-haired, young, educated; fit.

I mention gender and ethnicity because these were not people generally seen on our Trails…. There are also no wives, friends or women present. None.

First “light” tent

I selected a person Hornet “Nemo” Camping tent sold in an outdoor activity store. At that time it came with two thin aluminum poles, a fly and carrying bags. The store was designed to be a stand-alone model.

As a petite woman, I was as concerned about weight as I was about speed and safety. There wasn’t much to choose from.

This was BEFORE online trading, so what they had in inventory was fine for me. I bought an old model after assembly.

Backyard setup and practice

Rushing home, I took the time to pull out the bag, pick it up and walk inside. I decided on the best methods, sleeping bag placement, my stuff, practicing the zipper, and then where everything fit best in my pack.

I used that Nemo in pieces for years.

I was careful with that. It was expensive and I dealt with it.

Replacement tents

I then replaced it with an Outdoor Vitals (OV) one-person tent. I did NO I like it. Maybe me, but when I launched it, I kept tripping over the rope to hold open a front flap and kept misplacing the stakes.

I used it once.

Next…

I replaced the OV tent with a Durston one-person tent. Rationalizing, I was carrying carbon fiber poles anyway and I liked the Durston and used it, however due to its geometry and limited space for camping when crowded it proved impractical.

Now?

I still like my old man nemo, Although I am worried about the Poles. It is still the lightest I carry and has been “updated” and “improved” frequently. They are probably even lighter now.

My Nemo is NOT wide, but it allows me to sit and get dressed. I bought some new mounting poles and can mount them anywhere quickly.

It is NOT wide, has a door, keeps most bugs out, and is light enough for me to carry. I can throw it anywhere quickly.

It fits horizontally in my backpack and the poles can be tied to one of the outside pockets of my backpack. When I have the fly on it allows me to find it in the dark.

It’s true that it has zippers and flimsy materials, as do many “lightweight” tents, so you REALLY have to be very careful with it at all times.

However, ALL lightweight tents are fragile and should be handled with care.

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