THE LIGHTWEIGHT ONE MAN TENT

Exploring often means you need to cut the weights to an absolute minimum, never more so when moving alone, in saying that you cannot underestimate the power of a good warm and dry nights sleep,  something warm to eat and drink,  comfortable outdoor clothing and dry gear.  These things are as fundamental to the outcome of your plans as good navigation and trying to stay safe.

If you want to cut weight down to a minimum then the  one man tent can be an excellent idea, They are not quite as easy to manoeuvre within but they can make for a really good nights sleep, and if you think about it a little, the one man tents insulation is greater due to its smaller volume,  making that lightweight sleeping bag work just a little better.

They also work much better where flat space is at a premium and are quick to set up and take down.   All in all the they make your life much easier and safer.  Weighing in at less than two and a half pounds they are literally a load off your back.

THE FLYSHEET

The simple flysheet is also a fantastic simple way to get a quick shelter up,  if you are moving using a machete then cutting a couple of sticks for tent poles is quick and easy,  as is just stringing it between two small trees.

If you carry a lightweight hammock then string it below the flysheet to  make a quick comfortable and safe sleeping place,  getting yourself off the ground with the advantages of getting away from the mud and bugs of the forest floor for example.

The flysheet works better at lower altitudes as they are open and therefore don’t offer the protection of the tent,  also when you use a hammock it is not that well insulated as the cold air can reach completely around your body so even with a sleeping bag it can get cold. They also are a great backup option if you want to carry something for the just In case scenario.

ALLOY HOOPED TENTS

Larger Mountain tents are required with small expeditions of two or three persons,  Here we are seen using the single alloy poled mountain tent with a lightweight interior which adds insulation from the cold and most importantly the wet.                                                                    On the paramos of Los Llanganatis of Ecuador searching for the lost treasures of Atahualpa we were mostly above 4300 meters above sea level in some of the wettest and more inhospitable locations of the planet,  It was cold wet and windy and a good tent was essential.

Since there were no paths or for the most parts no maps at that time,  just lines on a blank sheet,  we worked mostly from air photos and the compass (before GPS).  For A  good portion of the day the visibility was below 30 meters, when the weather really socked in,  which it did with great frequency.  It was important to get into shelter and be able to use a gasoline (petrol) stove under the flysheet, to get hot liquid and food into you.   Both the single hooped tent above and the three hooped tent below, worked well in these conditions although the  latter multiple hooped tent was much stronger,  but had the disadvantage of weighing nearly 1.5 kilos whereas the single hooped version was only a kilo.                                                                                                                                                                                                        We only used the flysheet to store our gear and food and as an second emergency tent to use as a bivy.                                                                                           Every ounce was counted on these explorations, any extra weight translated to extra agony in the thinner air.                                                               Many a memorable night was spent with intense storms lashing the tents.