Tent weight is a frequent space of concern for a lot of backpackers, particularly for newbies who’re confronted with a tsunami of drugs decisions with out understanding what they want for the climate circumstances they plan to backpack in, what they’ll like or dislike in a tent, or what’s an affordable quantity to pay for one.
If you’re simply entering into backpacking, one rule of thumb is to maintain the load of your first backpacking tent underneath 2.5 to three kilos per particular person. It may be decrease than that, however that’s higher restrict to shoot for and one which’s nonetheless comparatively straightforward to hold in a backpack. That additionally provides you a spread of pretty affordable pricing choices.
If you’re mountain climbing with a companion, it’s possible you’ll give you the chance cut up the parts of the tent between you so that you every carry half or a part of the load. You may repackage the tent so it has a extra manageable form than the bag it initially got here in. For instance, I often stuff my tents right into a stuff sack and even unfastened inside my backpack to make use of the area inside my pack extra effectively.
Buying your first tent
If I can supply one piece of sage recommendation for newbie backpackers when shopping for their first tent, it’d be:
- Don’t purchase the lightest weight tent cash should buy.
While individuals who let you know that “successful backpacking depends on carrying the least amount of weight possible” try to be useful, they by no means appear to bear in mind your wants and wishes, the calls for of the terrain and climate, the place you propose to hike, journey size, what your objectives are, or how a lot disposable earnings it’s a must to spend on gear. While a decrease weight tent weight helps, loads of folks have been very profitable backpackers when carrying heavier tents and pack weights.
Everybody has totally different wants: take the time to be taught what yours are earlier than you attempt to purchase the proper tent, even when meaning shopping for a less-than-perfect one at first. For instance, you may need to purchase a tent that may return, even when it’s been used (Hint: REI’s return coverage), to get your ft moist. You may finally resolve it’s a tent you want, however you’ll nonetheless have the choice of returning it and selecting one thing totally different.
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