What type of shelter do you prefer to use?

I said none, because sleeping out under the stars is the best thing ever. after that, i use a tent, if I must.

 

I use a tent, but I want to get a hammock - anyone know of a good kind to use for backpacking? Don't have to worry about the weather too much here in Texas...there are some pretty nasty bugs though...

 

tent. we had a VW bus for a while, but we're back in the tent. love it!!

 

I've done tents for short stays before, but its so much hassle, especially if ur setting up in the rain (90% of the time here in the north of england). I think that in future I will go with a bivy and tarp for over nighters.

For long stays you cant beat a tipi (with a rain catcher or hat). I'm going back into the wilds next october for a year or two but will be on one piece of land for the time probably. Not sure if I'm gunna get me a tipi or a yurt.

 

could i maybe come with you?

 

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This is ultimate camping machine "Happiness".

 

I currently am going w/ the tarp/burrito method. lay out the tarp, if it starts to rain, fold one edge over the other.. tah dah!! human burrito!!

 

I prefer sleeping under the stars, but i sleep in my tent and hammock more just as much. i had one of the best nights of my life just a few months ago under the stars on the edge of the PA grand canyon.

i got a great one from campmor ( www.campmor.com ) its made for packing. its made of parachute material, sort of like a tent fly. its got a screen over it for bugs, or you can flip it and use it without the screen. its real comfy. and it wasnt too expensive. i dont remember what its called off hand. but i could check.

 

I said other because I love both sleeping under the stars and tent I love to be really close to nature..

 

Nothing really beats a simple tarp, but why simply survive when you can thrive. This is my prefered home for anything longer than a week outside. And it comes with a built in guard dog!!!!

 

definitely all about the tents during the summer

 

http://www.junglehammock.com/ I use the Ultralight. Weighs 2.3 lbs with the XL rain fly and keeps out the nastiest bugs. The best thing about this hammock is that the bug netting and the rain fly can be removed to sleep out under the stars so to speak. I sleep better in this thing than I do in my bed at home.

 

Isn't sleeping in hammocks bad for your back, though, unless you're in it diagonally or something?

I've only slept in tents so far. Best part about tents (besides keeping dry) is it traps in more of your body heat on cold nights.

 

The jungle hammock (as well as other backpacking hammocks) can be hung so tight that your are quite close to sleeping horizontal. I have back problems sleeping in a bed sometimes and have found that the slight curve in the hammock follows the natural curve of my back and is much more comfortable.

 

Tents are great if your constantly movin' on cos you can have a lie in if its raining and just listen to it on the roof - love it.Under the stars next to the fire is best though when its warm,or when your mate keeps you awake in the tent with his snoring or violent sleep-exclamations.

 

Nothing better than the open air, but if it's cold, give me a yurt, tipi or geo dome and I'll be cosy

 

I prefer sleeping in the open under the stars for sure, I have never had a problem with insects in the desert , only a few mosquitoes here and there in the cooler months and the least amount of mosquitoes compared to any other ecosystem I have camped in. When I require shelter, I prefer a cave with an open fire or Bedouin-style tarps/tents with an open fire in the center for the cooler months in the desert. Those are my favorite shelters when I need one...

Camping in the rainforest I prefer to use a light one-pound hammock. I usually carry a kaffiyeh to cover and protect my head/face from the sun and dust and a small piece of mosquito netting or small square of black veil cloth (1 yard square) that you can see through that I bought in the Middle East and cover my face and head with to ward off mosquitoes/flies if they get bad enough...I don't see the need to carry a full body-length piece of netting as It's just extra bulk and weight and clothing serves just as well for the rest of my body.

 

I prefer under the stars, if the weather's good. A couple of years ago my tent flooded and took ages to dry out... I couldn't take it down for some reason or other, can't be bothered to explain, so I slept outside. It got quite cold, but that was ok, and it started raining, which wasn't, but I just curled up inside my bag and went back to sleep... slightly damp in the morning, but it's better than having sopping wet feet.

And I have some really good anti-insect stuff... smells nice.

 

Tents...I just hate setting them up. Their too tall and I'm to short! Otherwise under the stars for me!