Coffee Q&A: Pitching Ultralight Backpacking Shelters

[@KrizAkoni]

I’m falling in love with the carbon core stakes… Nice discussion on stake diversity.

[@SootuKoll]

My takeaway from the video: don't mess with this guy, he sure as hell knows his geometry.

[@johnarmstrong4053]

Thanks for the knot advice.

[@mbmurphy777]

I’ve had both designs of the tarp tent rainshadow 2, and those are dead easy to put up. Easily holds three people and is pretty good in wind and rain.

[@ervinslens]

Such a soothing presentation my friend. This whole video was framed masterfully!

[@BackpackingLightUSA]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@iceman857]

Nice Q&A- really useful info! I was thinking I wonder if you’ve covered alternative pitches with unique designs like the Tarptent Aeon - I have played around with it a lot under easy conditions but haven’t had to pitch it in rocky terrain with massive winds and the like.

[@wolfeadventures]

Great info. Surprised you didn’t like the mini groundhog for small stake. Can take a beating compared to other of similar size/weight.

[@BackpackingLightUSA]

I do like the Mini Groundhog - it has terrific holding power for its length in a wide variety of soils - but man, that thing is a killer on the palm of your hand! ^rj

[@wolfeadventures]

@@BackpackingLightUSA oh yes very true. It’s painfully sharp, especially after you it gets beaten up a bit.

[@phillipboyle5258]

@@wolfeadventures Also shoe-killers if you try to press in with your shoe

[@jariperho]

@@BackpackingLightUSA I don't know about Mini Groundhogs, but I've always used another stake to push stakes into the ground. Same for pulling instead of cutting your finger on the cord.

[@RagtimeBillyPeaches]

Do you mean Clam cleats? I use a truckers hitch.

[@studiopiko]

Great content. What's the tent in the background?

[@BackpackingLightUSA]

That's a Tarptent Dipole 1 DW...

[@jariperho]

I often say that a few good knots will always beat small bling items, and dependence on them is a disservice to yourself. The more you know, the less you need.

[@BackpackingLightUSA]

Preach it!

[@neilquinn]

Noticed you mentioned carbon core for the non-4 corners. Is there a reason you don't like the groundhog mini for that? I've been thinking 4 full size groundhogs for 4 corners + maybe 4 mini groundhogs for apex guylines and doors. (or maybe other extra perimeter stakes)

[@colinbuxton9246]

what hat are you wearing?

[@MoeBergOSS]

Symmetrical tents are the easiest to set up. The Durston isn’t symmetrical.

[@BackpackingLightUSA]

It depends on the geometry…most symmetrical two pole shelters aren’t true rectangles and that introduces another geometrical dimension that the Xmid does not have. This is why the Xmid has such a simple pitch vs. other symmetrical two/pole (side entry) shelters.

[@MoeBergOSS]

@@BackpackingLightUSA yeah I guess I was thinking it’s rectangular shaped tents.