Ultra lightweight camping


Posted BY Ian under camping-styles

Ultra lightweight camping is one extreme of the outdoor shelter spectrum. The quality of the protection is sacrificed to some extent (but within a limit) in order to shave off every last ounce of weight to be carried. Usually the motive for going to such lengths is to achieve better results when racing in fell races and the like. Some like to save excess weight out of habit - and they probably consider every piece of equipment when packing, not just the tent.

Even if you do not take part in fell races, and are not normally bothered by the weight you carry, it is worth looking at the issues to see if you can benefit from the organizational aspects.

Choosing a suitable tent

As fell-running and mountain races have become more and more popular so manufacturers have responded by putting out some special models for ultra lightweight campers. You can choose from any of these, or even models meant for other purposes but which already use lightweight materials and designs. Mountaineering tents are often suitable as weight is also an issue at altitude.

I will look at the qualities of an ultra lightweight camping tent another day. In the meantime lets' just consider the basic design options.

Transverse Hoop: This design uses a single bent pole to form an arch. The fly is supported by this and pulled tight either side to give the tent stability. The inner is then clipped inside. This design uses less poles than any other design and since these are often one of the heaviest components that does produce some of the lightest tents.

Geodesic: A geodesic tent has a fabric envelope pushed outwards by crossing poles to form a strong and stable structure. Since the design is inherently strong, some weight can be saved by using thinner and therefore lighter poles. A geodesic tent can get away with just a single water-proof skin but beware of flat roof areas. Although these may be designed to slope, in practice they may catch water and then you are going to get damp.

Tunnel: A tunnel tent uses a series of small hoops to hold the fabric up. If these are kept short then the total weight for the poles can be kept down but that can mean a cramped, coffin-like, existence. That's just about bearable in the extreme world of ultra lightweight camping.

Removing excess

Tents come packed in nice protective bags, and these should be used to extend the life of your tent. However, for a short trip you can leave this bag (or bags) behind. Likewise, any repair kit is a luxury for just one night.

Some tents can be pitched as fly or inner only. Obviously there is a major saving to be had by leaving the other piece behind - but you should only do so in the sure knowledge of the affect that this will have. The fly is there mostly to add weather-proofing. The inner nowadays is largely to provide a secure living space free from bugs.

Some weight can always be saved by leaving some (possibly all of the) tent pegs behind. You can either improvise locally (not with live wood!) or sometimes even do without. See my article Special tricks for camping on sand or snow for a tip about using plastic bags to form lightweight deadmen.

The weight saved by removing guy lines is marginal and probably not worth the effort given that you will want to retain some structural strength.

For races with an overnight stop there are often rules relating to the tent or shelter required. It will be up to you to ensure you meet these. If in doubt, best check with the organizers.

Achieving balance

The same set-up will not suit all situations and so you will need to review your equipment for each ultra lightweight camping trip. The season, the weather, the type of campsite, even the race rules may affect your decisions.

Remember that a good nights rest is as important as saving a few ounces whilst moving during the day. Sacrifice too much weight and you may be too uncomfortable, especially with aching limbs.

Start with a zero budget. That's to say, put all the pieces on the floor and then justify every piece's inclusion as you move it over to the 'take' pile. Then double check the pieces left but think long and hard before changing your mind.

With experience you will get to know what works when. You'll probably have to go through some uncomfortable nights to truly understand the other side of 'balance' but so long as you buy a decent tent in the first place and are reasonable there is no reason that you should ever get into a life-threatening situation.