Total noob on shelters - have no idea where to look...

[KDOG]

I would like to find a small tent/tarp/shelter that could hold up to two people. Simple and lightweight of course. I may want to try an overnighter for my first AT hike so I would like to get some suggetions on what to buy. I like the Kifaru Paratipi etc but KA-CHING $$$$. No thanks. Any decent shelters for us non wealthy folk?

[KDOG]

Also I am surprised alot of these shelters etc don't have floors. Sleeping directily on the ground maybe ok in ideal conditions but what about when the weather ISN'T great? And bugs, critters etc?

[OzJacko]

I'm a big fan of TarpTent. http://www.tarptent.com/
Roomy, cheap in my eyes and very light if not the ultralight some seek.
Fully meshed, floored.
Ticks all the boxes, just pick a style you like.

[Gillum]

Love my contrail and avoid shelters when I can. Having said that my greatest success for locating a good spot to setup camp has been with a tarp & Bivy combo. Easy and flexible to pitch, lighter then heck, cowboy on nice evenings and when you need to sleep in a shelter up the Bivy is golden.

[Old Hiker]

If you are tall:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...st-Impressions

I also got a Solo here on White Blaze. Not as roomy in my opinion, but a great tent. The people at Lightheart Gear have been great.

[perrito]

+1 on Tarptents.

[Odd Man Out]

Lots of options here

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...60#post1340660

[Papa D]

Many outfitter stores rent good high quality tents - - often a good local outfitter will even loan you a tent (in hopes that you purchase it). Since you are so new to this, you might see about renting something for your first weekend out. I'm not a big REI fan but they do rent products - I'd steer you toward a locally owned outfitter first (if you have one near you.)

[brooklynkayak]

I tend to avoid outfitters for advice. If you are using your tent for backpacking, the tents sold at outfitters tend to be made for car camping.

On the subject of floor-less shelters. They are designed to work with an inner of some sort when needed for bug protection. Otherwise a ground cloth is all that is needed. Winter camping comes to mind.

Floorless shelters can often be pitched in many more ways than you would be able to with a floored shelter.

My shelters, with a bugnet inner, can be pitched very high for ventilation on hot summer nights, but can be pitched tight to the ground in a tropical storm.
Most shelters don't have that flexibility.

I can pitch them hanging over boulders or bushes in less than perfect camp sites.

Many examples here:
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/