Considering how light shelter can be these days, the rewards of risking a night of rain or the constant pestering of biting bugs is little. Plus, finding natural shelter isn’t always easy and it shouldn't be expected of those with shelters to pass up otherwise nice camps looking.

This is also a good time to mention the risks involved when sleeping in caves, overhangs or old cabins. These places are prime habitats for rodents which can carry Hantavirus, a disease transmitted to humans through the inhalation of airborne particles released after the disturbance of dirt or dead vegetation the infected rodents have defecated, urinated or chewed on. Though rare, Hantavirus is a serious respiratory disease with a U.S. fatality rate of 35 percent. And contrary to popular belief, Hantavirus is not primarily confined to the Four Corners area. Every western state has reported cases and more than half of all cases have come from outside the Four Corners region. For more information, visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Tents
A good tent will keep you comfortable in nearly any condition. While inside, one can sit up and move around, find reprieve from bugs and stay dry during the worst of storms. As nice as they can be though, many do not give tents serious consideration due to the perceived weight and bulk. There are however large one-person tents that weigh as little as 1.5 pounds and two-person tents in the 2 to 2.25 pound range (Six Moons Designs even has a 1 pound two-person tent). How can a tent be that light? 1.1 ounce siliconized nylon AKA sil-nylon (or Cuben Fiber in Six Moons case). Sil-nylon is a rip stop nylon, which has been impregnated with silicone during the manufacturing process. The result is a waterproof and extremely light material, which unlike standard tent fabrics, is not prone to delaminating over time or soaking up moisture.

Smaller isn’t always lighter. On the left is a Henry Shires Cloudburst 2 tent w/ floor at 2 lbs 3 oz. On the right is a top selling “backpacking” 2 person tent at 3 lbs 8 oz. To further illustrate this, to the far right in the shadows, is a bivy bag w/ no pole or bug netting weighing in at 2 lbs. Look beyond the corporate conglomerates for the lightest & most innovative shelters.

Advantageous as it is, 1.1 ounce sil-nylon requires a little more attention than the industry standard materials. While amazingly strong for its weight, it’s not bomb-proof. It is also annoyingly slick making it difficult to keep the sleeping bag from sliding around. And, the silicone attracts sand like a magnet does metal. For the masses sil-nylon is not but, if one understands its limitations and is willing to work with its idiosyncrasies (see 'dealing with sil-nylon' below), a well designed tent made of this material is to a serious lightweight traveler what a finely tuned piano is to Mozart's ears.

"Bomb-proof is a solution for carelessness while lightweight is a reward for carefulness" Charles Lindsey

In summary, if shopping for a tent and weight is on your mind, look carefully and always compare what space you’re getting for that weight. There are many cramped one-person tents, and bivies, from the big name manufacturers that weigh more than some luxuriously sized two-person tents.

Well designed ultra-light tents:

www.tarptent.com
www.sixmoondesigns.com
www.gossamergear.com

Many tents do not come with sealed seams. The makers of sil-nylon tents will do this for you or, you can save your pennies and do it yourself. Click here to find out how.

An early 2.25 pound Wanderlust prototype I modified to be set-up with the rope from a throw bag. Large enough for two plus some gear with a vestibule one could cook under during the rain. Unfortunately, the company is now defunct.

Dealing with sil-nylon:

If a sil-nylon tent sounds like your thing, there are a few points to keep in mind and a cure to one of the materials quirks. With a little extra attention and some common sense, a well cared for sil-nylon tent will out last a carelessly handled tent made from traditional materials.

Caring for sil-nylon tents:

• Before setting up, clear area of sharp objects including sticks, pine cones & rocks. This is particularly important where your body weight will be. Sand is good but makes for a mess being that silicone attracts it.
• Provide additional floor protection. In lieu of a separate “ground cloth”, save weight and bulk by using something you’re already carrying (wetsuit, poncho, closed-cell sleeping mat) or, use what nature has provided (grass, moss, leaves, etc). All this adds insulation and cushioning too. Double duty! And don't worry about complete floor coverage. Focus on the area most susceptible: where your body weight will be concentrated.
• Make sure branches are clear and can't rub against the material during a breeze.
• When taking down, gently shake off excess moisture then hang dry for a few minutes on each side before packing.

To cure sil-nylons slipperiness:

• To give your sleeping bag or pad something to grip to, you'll have to apply 100% silicone to the floor when the tent is set up (silicone is the only thing that'll adhere to sil-nylon). This can be done by applying the silicone from a caulking gun or squeeze tube in lines approx 6" apart and perpendicular to the length of your sleeping bag or in zigzags as shown in the photo to the right. It doesn't take much so keep the beads of silicone small and thin to save weight. I have found an area 2' x 4' per person to be sufficient. Another method is to mix approximatly two parts silicone to three parts low-odor mineral spirits or Coleman fuel and paint it on solid or in lines.

Bivy bags
Though not the most enjoyable shelter to wait out a rain storm in, a bivy bag can be the consummate shelter for the minimalist. A bare bones version can weigh as little as 6 ounces and take up no more space than half a Subway sandwich. They can also add several degrees warmth to your sleeping bag, protect you from biting bugs and if a good design, can keep you dry in surprisingly nasty conditions.

All this is great, unless you are claustrophobic. Many bivies are like oversized mummy sleeping bags and when battened down for a storm, offer little wiggle or breathing room. And unless you are a contortionist, dressing inside one is out of the question.

Here's my homemade sil-nylon/Gore-Tex bivy/tent. Bug proof; breathable; ample head room/ventilation; adjustable for protection in any weather condition; seam sealed; big enough vestibule to cook under if raining; set up using trees, sticks, bushes, breakdown paddle or packframe; 18 oz total wt; $70 in materials. With some of the newer materials available today, the weight of this design could easily be under 1 pound. If patient, building something like this is not terribly difficult. Prototype by making 3"=1' versions from old sheets. When happy w/ the design, draw scaled plans & build it!! For tips on sewing, materials, etc, click here.

Tarps
Though tarps offer no bug protection and limited refuge from wind, they are popular with some. Finding one that’s lightweight can take some careful shopping though. By the time you include stakes, rope for tie downs and a ground cloth for your sleeping bag, this setup can easily outweigh a rommy sil-nylon tent that offers superior protection. On the other hand, if you do your homework, a well thought out sil-nylon tarp can make an inexpensive, light and compact rain shelter. And without a doubt, in rainy weather, a tarp really shines as the group can congregate and cook in comfort.

WARNING: Do not cook under a tarp unless you’re using a small stove and the tarp is set up sufficiently high.

Bivy/tarp combination
This is an option that gets praise from some. You simply set up a small tarp or poncho and put the upper body portion of the bivy under. This setup can work well in rainy weather.

General shelter tips

$4, 4 oz drop cloth shelter: "a" = your height + 18". "b" = your height + 30". Lie on narrow "a" (3') end & use as a groundsheet on clear nights. If it begins to rain, fold "b" (4') end over your body. The overlap keeps rain from pooling on the lower. The upper piece can be weighted down with your paddle or rocks. The head end can be elevated with the end of your boat or get fancy & tie it up like a tarp by using your throw rope and sheetbend knots in the plastic.

• save a minute amount of weight by using sticks you find at camp instead of packing stakes
• for a heinously light & ridiculously easy to make shelter that costs less than a 6 pack, try a 1 mil plastic drop cloth shelter (see diagram at right). It doesn't breath, is not luxurious or durable & won't keep bugs away but, it'll keep you dry...for a couple of nights.
• a 3' square piece of 1 mil plastic sheeting makes a nice groundcloth outside your shelter door. Weighs less than 1 oz & can be used to keep your barefeet & other misc items out of the dirt. Your poncho can be used for the same thing if it's not needed for something else.

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