Tarp or Tent

[wixey]

I need honest answers about thru hiking with a basic tarp instead of a tent.
Thank you!

[Summit]

If you mean 'basic tarp' as in no floor, no bug netting I would highly advise against it. A sealed tent with floor and mosquito netting will let you sleep with peace of mind. You won't wake up with welts all over your face from mosquito bites. Lots of crawling things including snakes might be inclined to 'nose around' in your sleeping bag. When you can get a tarp tent for around 2 lbs (or less) or a light mesh tent with fly for around 3 lbs, why put up with all that?

[bigcranky]

We'd be happy to give honest answers, if we knew what the questions were....

Not trying to be snarky. A tarp has advantages and disadvantages, depending on when and where you hike, your skill level, and what level of psychological protection you require.

I like using a tarp, usually with a lightweight sleeping bag cover (bivy sack) with mesh over my face and a waterproof bottom. I like being able to see out into the world, I like the huge covered space, and I like the light weight and versatility.

[MileMonster]

Uh, what are the questions?

I've used a tarp a fair amount and for the first half of my thru in '04. I use an 8x10 sil, no netting, tyvek for groundcloth. Works great. I used it in the south in spring on my thru - cold nights meant very few bugs at that time so the lack of netting wasn't an issue. It is super light and super compact in the pack. I primarily stayed in shelters so the tarp was nice for the occasional times I wanted to be away from the trail shelter. It is wide enough to keep rain off, even for two, but I sometimes get a little damp. On nights I expected rain I tried to make sure I was in a shelter. That is more personal preference, though, not because I didn;t trust the tarp. You do have to put a little more thought into choosing a campsites for a tarp as opposed to a tent, though - try to stay out of depression where rain might pool up, notice wind directions and natural windbreaks when pitching, things like that. Really have the same concerns with where one pitches a tent, just mistakes might be more uncomfortable in a trap. Also, a a tarp is not as warm as a tent. I switched to a Shires Tarptent Squall for the second half of my thru entirely because of the bug issue and I was glad I did - skeeters are bad up north. I really like the tarptent squall, too.

I hope that helps. If you ask specific questions I'm sure people will answer.

[SGT Rock]

Tarp.

[Compass]

Hammock with Tarp for all the reasons Big Cranky mentioned plus no rocks or pressure points.

[Hooch]

I second Compass. Hammock with a tarp.

[YoungMoose]

I would use a tent. i like that fact that it is totally closed in as well as keeps the bugs out. that would be the biggest advatange for me. even though its heavier i think it would be worth it. I went last summer in maine for a 2 week trip and i was so glad we had the tent. It was in july and there were tons of bugs. so it depends about the seasons. look into what the bug situation would be on each section of the AT. Other then that the tarp doesnt have any disavantages that i can think of

[MileMonster]

BTW, Sgt Rock has some good pics of different ways to pitch a tarp on his website in the Hiking Gear page. I almost always use the A-Frame. I also like to tie off the apex to trees rather than use hiking poles for two reasons - 1) I can get a pitch that is more taught that way and 2) I usually don't hike with poles .

[SGT Rock]

With a hammock the A frame and variations of it are my favorites. As a stand alone tarp I like the diamond and trapezoid (see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkBeZqXU4zk)

Edit ------

The video is not exactly what I use, but it is similar and it is a great set up for fowl weather. Opening away from the wind.

[Plodderman]

Tried them both and prefer a tent.

[mudcap]

Tent...NO bugs.

[Jim Adams]

I used a tarp on both of my thrus and still use it. 10' x 10' = 16oz. Carried a small bottle of DEET. Snakes are not a problem, insects are not a problem as the deet was needed only 3-4 times per thru, weather is never a problem as long as you learn the correct ways to set it up.
If you are not used to using a tarp, start off with a square one as oblong (rectangle) can be a hassle at times during set-up. 10 x 10 is large enough for 2 people with plenty of storage room.
Tie off to trees, roots, rocks and logs...you don't need stakes which are seldom long enough to stay anyway.

geek

[q-tip]

Get a tarptent, simple and effective. 2.5 lbs, can't beat it.

[hootyhoo]

I would avoid shelters like the plague, sooo...I would use my own shelter, alot.
There is so much more comfort in a tent. Sorry but that is the truth. I recently pulled my tent out of the closet and started using it after 5 or 6 years of tarping. It was awsome. During the first big rain storm that hit me - I did not have that "scurry like a little mouse" feeling to get everthing in the dry, lower the sides, lower the whole rig, watch the wnd direction, pray it did not get stronger, and scrunch into a little ball. Then there are the bugs. I am already sealing out the winter spiders and this summer I will not have to wake up at 1 am and pull a tick off my neck. Or burrow down in my bag even though its hotter than lleh to avoid skeeters. Or use a bivy to keep my bag dry. Or have some funki bug net all over me. Or wake up and have others see me with bed hair. Or try and pee out from under my tarp (even though it never goes very far) because I am lazy. I vote tent. And I would get one that will last the whole trip without a whole lot of - "oh be careful around my whispy little tent". Or "did your guyses tent condensate real bad last night?" (drip, drip) Or "I hope its calm tonight- that flapping kept me up all night".
I would also go for a good brand that provides solid customer service without adding Corporate Executive compensation into the prices (MSR).
Last years model - Sierra Designs and Kelty come to mind.

[Blissful]

Hubby loves his hammock but we still have to figure out how to rig the tarp right over it.
But I have seen a hiker with a good go lite ground tarp, put up correctly, do fine even in a t-storm. I was impressed.

Me - tent. I don't swing from trees well. lol

[mateozzz]

I carried a tent on my first section hike, then just carried the tent fly, poles, and groundcloth on 2nd. On my upcoming one I am bringing a Mountain Laurel Serenity shelter and a Golite poncho to really cut weight. The idea will be to sleep in shelters most of the time, but use the Serenity and poncho as backup. The shelter is about 8oz, the poncho about 10oz, plus I need a poncho anyway for hiking in the rain. Throw in some pegs and rope and its maybe 1 1/2 lbs. I also hike with two hiking poles that are the tent poles (double duty is great!). We'll see how it works, might get wet! The only negative I can see is that if it is raining at the end of the day, I might get wet while taking off the poncho to make it the tarp. I might bring a ground cloth too as kind of a bridge, another 8 oz or so.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com...products_id=87

[GitRdone]

I prefer a tent and after tons of research purchased Henry Shires' Contrail Tarptent. Absolutely a great solo tent and literally I have it set up in about 90 seconds. I have not yet been through a huge rainstorm with it yet but, properly guyed out I think it will be fine.

[SlowLightTrek]

Get a tarptent. If it's raining you will probalby sleep in the shelter anyway. I did and think most everyone else did too.

[Tipi Walter]

Originally Posted by Summit

If you mean 'basic tarp' as in no floor, no bug netting I would highly advise against it. A sealed tent with floor and mosquito netting will let you sleep with peace of mind. You won't wake up with welts all over your face from mosquito bites. Lots of crawling things including snakes might be inclined to 'nose around' in your sleeping bag. When you can get a tarp tent for around 2 lbs (or less) or a light mesh tent with fly for around 3 lbs, why put up with all that?

Yeah, I agree. I wonder how many people have slept out and woke up covered in black carpenter ants? They won't bite until you roll over and pinch them . . . and they pinch back. Many nights I was just too tired to set up my tent and so threw down the bedroll(basically like having a tarp), and turned all night with the ants. They are all over the southeast. One time I woke up and was wearing old nam style jungle boots and shook them and a hundred black ants ran out. And let's talk about the noseeums. Like retards that cause welts and are a real pest at night.

Originally Posted by hootyhoo

I would avoid shelters like the plague, sooo...I would use my own shelter, alot.
There is so much more comfort in a tent. Sorry but that is the truth. I recently pulled my tent out of the closet and started using it after 5 or 6 years of tarping. It was awsome. During the first big rain storm that hit me - I did not have that "scurry like a little mouse" feeling to get everthing in the dry, lower the sides, lower the whole rig, watch the wnd direction, pray it did not get stronger, and scrunch into a little ball. Then there are the bugs. I am already sealing out the winter spiders and this summer I will not have to wake up at 1 am and pull a tick off my neck. Or burrow down in my bag even though its hotter than lleh to avoid skeeters. Or use a bivy to keep my bag dry. Or have some funki bug net all over me. Or wake up and have others see me with bed hair. Or try and pee out from under my tarp (even though it never goes very far) because I am lazy. I vote tent. And I would get one that will last the whole trip without a whole lot of - "oh be careful around my whispy little tent". Or "did your guyses tent condensate real bad last night?" (drip, drip) Or "I hope its calm tonight- that flapping kept me up all night".
I would also go for a good brand that provides solid customer service without adding Corporate Executive compensation into the prices (MSR).
Last years model - Sierra Designs and Kelty come to mind.

Well, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Tent for sure. I like when tarp users say, "Pick your site carefully, listen to the weather report before hand, study the wind direction and set up accordingly, do not use in a blizzard, saturate self with DEET, watch out for pooling water, etc etc. Just get a tent.