I just don't see things the same way as others do...

[alpharaposa]

Once the thunderstorm had blown over and the sun came out again, I went shopping for camping gear.

Oddly enough, we didn't have a tent. All the tents at the Exchange were 4-man or larger, so I hied myself to the Dick's Sporting Goods and oogled their canvas*.

At the same time as I was browsing, a trio of adults were there, looking for tents for a Boy Scout troop. As we were discussing the pros and cons of various tents, I mentioned that even the 3 person tents were really too big for just myself and my husband. They responded with a comment about gear.

And that's when I realized: backpacking changes how you camp. Even if you're not backpacking, it becomes strange to think about stashing gear inside a tent. Tents are for sleeping and changing clothes. Keeping things in the tent just makes for a messy tent.

The backpacking tents at the store cost about five times what the normal ones cost. They use expensive materials that are lighter, because every single ounce counts when you have to carry it on your back. When you backpack, you treat tents with care. It is a magic item that keeps you dry and out of the wind at night. That's precious; you wouldn't want to ruin it by using it for some other purpose and then find yourself with nothing to keep you from getting soaked tomorrow night. So, you don't walk in and out of a tent all the time and you don't keep a lot of gear inside. And, honestly, these habits will make an ordinary tent last longer, too.

I ended up purchasing an ordinary 2-person tent. We're doing 'kitchen sink' camping, and aren't concerned about weight. My backpacking experience influenced even that purchase, though, as I hunted for a tent that was simple enough for even one person to erect quickly. Just in case.

I forgot to check how much rope we have. Well, that's a task for tomorrow. I'll need to set up the tent to make sure it's in good order before we leave, too.


*Tents were once all made of canvas. They aren't anymore, except for the industrial-strength, army-surplus tents often used at Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps. Such tents may have been a well-known feature of my youth, but I wouldn't want to put one up and take it down again on a regular basis.

Comments

[aefenglommung.livejournal.com]

The canvas wall tents used by Boy Scout summer camps are all produced at the Anchor Industries factory in Evansville, IN. They are 9' x 7', with the doors in the long side. They are, indeed, a pain to put up, what with the poles and the heavy ropes, but they are not "army-surplus."

The Army has several sizes of tents, and all of them are heavier and more complicated than Boy Scout tents. Most of them take a full platoon to put up, and some require motorized winches.

Be that as it may, I dig what you are saying about backpacking changing your point of view on camping. Our Boy Scout Troop is incredibly gear-heavy. I'm taking a backpacking tent to the UK this week, just for me. My total luggage will consist of (I hope) one large duffel bag (which will hold an empty cooler over and back), and one carry-on daypack. Going light is the way to go!

[stryck.livejournal.com]

Mea culpa. :)

Slightly off-topic humor

[xaq.livejournal.com]

Sherlock Holmes invited his colleague Watson out on a camping trip for a weekend. On the second night, Holmes lay in his sleeping bag, staring up at the starlit sky.

"Tell me, Watson," he asked as he noticed the man stirring awake, "what do you see up there?"

Stretching for a moment, Watson replied, "The stars, Holmes."

"Indeed. And what do they tell you?"

"Well," he begins, "meteorologically speaking, they tell me we are in for fair weather tonight, as does the calm wind. Metaphorically, they make me wonder if there is life out there on any of the planets that orbit them. Spiritually, they remind me of how vast and beautiful all of God's creation is."

Puzzled by the suddenness of the question, Watson turns and asks, "Tell me, Holmes...what do they tell you?"

"They tell me our tent's been stolen."

[silussa.livejournal.com]

I remember the two-man canvas tents of my Boy Scout days. Unfortunately, Florida weather being what it is, you pretty well felt OBLIGATED to keep your stuff inside...which made the two man tent a bit tight for one.

Never did the backpack with everything, though....heck, my fellow Scouts were unhappy enough with 10 mile hikes carrying nothing except the canteen. ;)

[stryck.livejournal.com]

A good backpack cover will keep the rain out as well as any tent will.

Mind you, there are quite a few bad backpack covers out there.