[Paddlewise] solo tents, etc.

At one time when I would camp out of my kayak I carried everything
plus the proverbial kitchen sink.  But of late I am into the lightest
camping possible.  A couple of questions and some comments:

--I have yet to find the ideal solo tent.  To me "ideal" is under 3.5
lbs, freestanding _and_ bomb proof.  The closest I have come to it is
the Eureka Zephyr that meets the first two criteria with a real total
weight of 3.55 lbs., free standing but it would not be up to real heavy
winds.  It is high enough inside for me to sit up to change in (I'm 6 ft
tall).  And it sets up in a jiffy.  Price good too at around $120.  It
has a bit of purple color in it which is a downside since I like my tent
not to be too visible because of commando camping needs.

--I firmly believe in having some sort of tarp to hang out under.  This
is not only because of rain.  Having a tarp over you at night while
eating or hanging out, keeps you a lot warmer.  I know that there is
about a 15 degree difference when I step out from under a tarp into the
night air.  Again Eureka makes one that isn't one...it is the vestibule
for one its tents and comes with one 5 foot pole.  It ia the Annex
Parawing offering some 58 sq ft of coverage.  I use it freestanding with
my paddle and the provided pole or tie it off to trees.  I noticed some
discussion awhile back about tarp poles but no body mentioned using
their paddle for a pole.  When I do, I take the precaution of putting a
piece of foam under the blade to prevent it getting chipped on the
ground.  BTW, a 4 piece takeapart paddle like those used for
Feathercrafts (I've camped a lot out of the K-Light) gives you the
option of a slightly shorter tarp pole...don't attach one of the blades.

--Stoves.  If you are only going to go for a week, I find that the
butane ones work well enough.  All I do is heat water, I never stew or
really cook.  I take freezedried camp food and boxed flavored couscous
which I supplement with kiebasa and things like that.  And I don't brew
coffee which uses up fuel.  I use folger's coffee bags.

--My whole gear pile (not including my ordinary paddling stuff) weighs
under 28 pounds, which includes all my clothes, cooking gear, food, etc.
minus water.

28 pounds is an arbitrary limit.  I read it in some tongue-in-cheek
article in Sports Illustrated about 30 years ago about bring anything
you want as long as you keep it under 28 pounds.  Whatever makes you
happy.

ralph

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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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