Tents

Ninpo Library::Ura & Omote::September 1995::

Ron Blackwood

In my last article, we discussed sleeping bags. This month I want to talk about 
another of those indispensable articles....tents.

Tents are much like sweaters: If you have one, you may or may not use it. If you 
don't have one and you wind up needing it, you are in deep trouble.

Tents come in a bewildering variety of shapes, colors, and materials. A tent's 
basic purpose is to give you shelter from the elements. There are a number of 
considerations that should be addressed before you invest your hard-earned 
money.

Weight is of primary concern if you are going to be carrying it on your back. If 
you don't plan on carrying it, get the get the biggest, most comfortable one you 
can afford. If you plan on packing it, then you had better be concerned with 
weight.

Since I am a backpacker, I prefer a lightweight, igloo shaped tent with a rain 
fly. The igloo shapes are self-supporting and doesn't require guy ropes to 
support it. The rain fly keeps it waterproof and still allows the tent to 
"breathe". The igloo shape is also very good in windy situations because it 
doesn't offer a solid plane for the wind to push against. A good three-person 
tent can be purchased for as little as $100.

Another style is the wedge-shaped "pup tent". These are relatively inexpensive 
and provide reasonable shelter for under $50. These cheaper models usually don't 
have a rain fly but utilize a urethane coated fabric. The are completely 
waterproof, but they don't "breathe". Consequently, condensation will build up 
inside the tent and can make for some rather soggy conditions.

All tents should have some provision for sealing out bugs. I have a real phobia 
about waking up and finding something moving around in my mouth besides my 
tongue.

A viable alternative to the tent is the Bivouac Bag or Bivy Sack. I recently 
purchased one on sale for $49. It has a urethane coated bottom and a breathable 
Gore-Tex top and mosquito netting to seal the top. I can save about five pounds 
by leaving my tent behind. What I lose in privacy is more than compensated for 
by the weight saving.

In camping, as in life, everything is a series of trade-offs. If I were going up 
into the High Sierras for an extended period, I'd probably take the tent. On the 
other hand, for a three-day weekend, I'll use the Bivy Sack. I'll sleep just a 
comfortably and if the weather turns rotten, I usually head for home anyway.

In my next article, we'll talk about the various types of backpacks and the 
relative advantages and disadvantages of each. 

Ron Blackwood just passed the Godan test at the 1995 Tai Kai. He has trained for 
10 years under Kevin Millis, 9th Dan. His hobbies include technical rock 
climbing, Scuba Diving (1 more class to qualify as Master Diver) and competitive 
shooting. He's backpacked all over the country including Mt. Whitney. 

