What type of shelter do you prefer to use?

Um a Raging Bull is a Tarus not a S&W but the caliber is correct.

 

Dude I'd give my pinky fingers away for a VW camper van.

 

Found this beauty on campmor.com site. My own tent/supplies I sold when I moved so its almost all new stuff to replace. I love how much floor space it potentially has though Coleman doesn't seem to carry it any more so I can't see what it looks like on the inside. Price is a bit more than what I wanted but for a good size 2-room dome I'll pay it so I can spread out
Plan on breaking it in at Xara Dulzura.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39252163&memberId=12500226

 

Ditto. Doesn't have to be in the best condition but if everything works, I'd totally pick one up like yesterday. (at least until my bus is done):drool:

 

I find a bear, and then I use him as a comforter

 

i love sleeping under the stars. all i need is my favorite blanket, and maybe a tarp in case it rains. i don't really need a blanket. i just love the feeling of them.

 

Depends on the Weather.

Harsh: Tent
Pleasant: Sleeping bag
Warm/Hot & no bug problem: Completely 0ut

|'m really looking forward to Summer..

 

I just got a wicked-ass "backpackers hammock" that I can't wait to try out

 

I've met the man who makes these tents, and I fully support this small business started out of a garage in California. Henry Shires is a steward of Mother Nature, and Tarptent is the best tent EVER! Since I bought one in 2004 I've easily spent 300+ nights camped unerneith my Tarptent Squall. Most bitchinist shelter outthere.

www.tarptent.com

 

No doubt, Henry Shires rocks. I'm building my own Contrail.

 

Tarps and hammocks are the way to go! Definitely. Have backpacked the country and sleeping under the stars on a beautiful night is the best. String hammocks can be slept in either across or not. I have a very bad back and NO they are not bad for your back. They are wonderful for it. You can also adjust the firmness. By how its strung up and by spreading the weave out or in. I sleep on my side and have yet to have a problem. They are a bit cool in cold weather and then I just set up my tarp by stringing one corner to a tree and staking out the other three sides. But you gotta find a square tarp. Campmor has them. Then under the peak you can have a very small fire pit and the reflected heat keeps one toasty. The point at the back can be stuffed with leaves or pine needles for extra insulation. You wiggle in under the stuffing with your feet to the point and your face to the opening and it is warmer than any tent I have used. Just keep the stuffing far away from any heat source or sparks. As long as the prevailing winds are to the backside they stay pretty dry. I have camped under such in Florida during heavy storms and stayed bone dry. You can also use a walking staff or any handy pole to prop up the opening if a tree isn't growing handy. Two tie downs and you are in business and no hassle. I have used various tents from cheap to expensive and I now just own a square tarp and a small groundsheet. Am looking for a good hammock. Mosquitos! Well, a little bit of smoke from a campfire and they skedaddle and if you use a bit of aromatic wood in it they really leave. Of course you gotta keep it going and keep adding a bit at a time. But hey, it is the outdoors. Those coils they sell at wally world work like a charm too. I have also used one of those combo parka/ sleeping bags with the waterproof coating. They are great for sleeping under the stars. They won't keep you dry in a downpour but are fine in a light rain. I don't use sprays or any other type of mosquito repellent commercially sold. Pennyroyal oil mixed with a little olive oil and rubbed on seems to keep them at bay pretty darn good. I don't mind most critters though. I had coyotes roaming through camp and saying howdy as only they can when I was in Tucson out on the desert a while back. We thought we were blessed. If you can't handle the outdoors then you should stay inside. Snakes only come around for body heat and though a tent will keep them out why bother? They ain't a gonna bite their heat source. I would rather have room to manuever if a wild critter does decide to get nasty. With a tent the zipper always fails and then the critters get in anyhow and so does the rain. If I had a way to haul it I would definitely go with teepee or a yurt though. I'd rather spend my weight allowance on gear and grub that make outdoor living a mite more EZ and allow me to stay out there longer. It is also a lot more fun the less you gotta tote down the trail. I voted for other. As Tarp was not listed.

Peace and happy camping y'all.

Circketlind

 

Tents 100%.

Never really understood the whole camper thing, I thought the whole point was to get away from all the citified manorisms, and just be with nature, not bring along a TV, microwave, dishwasher, and have an entire bedroom. To me, that's just defeating the whole purpose of camping. If you like that stuff, why not just stay in a hotel? Don't bring it along with you outdoors...

 

tents usually for me - i have a nice ems brand tent that has a mesh top so if no rain, i leave the fly off and can see the stars! it easily fits me and the bride, but our 11 yo daughter makes it a cozy fit.

i would like to build a tipi... anyone have a good link for some hints on construction?

thanks

 

Arrow tipi makes and sells them but they also have a fairly extensive "how to" section.

http://www.arrowtipi.com/index.htm

Have you looked into yurts? They are easier to heat, more space efficient and only slightly more time consuming to put up and easier to move (i.e. no 24' tipi poles to transport). Check it out. Here's a good place to start. There are probably 50 sites in the web that will give you full building instructions.

http://www.rdrop.com/~glacier/yurt.htm

 

thanks zoomie, both great sites.

i have seen a little about yurts and it seems like a great use of space. i will check both sites in detail.

 

tarps n hammock is nice for summer. lean to is good for autumn/winter, but try to keep same wood if i can, saves chopping it all down

 

a tent

 

the only times ive been camping i sleep in a ton of bug spray in a sleeping bag in bug spray on a tarp with more bug spray around it...
it isn't camping if you aren't in a tent or just on the ground...

a motorhome? come on, you drive that motherfucker not sleep in it. i don't really see the point of cooking in a microwave, using a toilet, watching tv, etc., when camping.

 

I don't really see the point of poisoning the environment with chemicals just so you can have a good time. Perhaps you should just stay home.

 

I enjoy the whole sleeping under the stars thing, but as mentioned above - I'm not a fan of waking up covered in dew. Also, I apparently have a genetic predisposition to create a pheromone that activates as soon as I fall asleep and summons millions of previously unknown species of horrifying bugs to scurry around on me.

So generally I go with a small tent.