I was looking at tents in my local outfitters this weekend. I saw 3, 4 and then 3/4 tents. I’m generally always cold (even laying on the beach when I lived in Hawaii!), so what type of tent do I need for thru-hiking? The Smokies are obviously hell from what I’m reading. Will a 3 season tent withstand the snow/wind? Also, since I know I get really cold, should I get a zero-degree bag? Thanks again everyone!
–Michele
Michele
I’m not a pro but I think everyone recommends a 3 season tent, 4 season is overkill.
Getting a good sleeping bag with the right warmth factor is probably more important.
Depends on what time of year you leave if you need a zero bag or not. If you left tonight, I would think a zero would be best. Some will say a 20. Since you like heat, go with the zero, you can always change later on the AT.
nrkybill
Definitely go with the 3 season tent. Four season is overkill and much too heavy. If conditions are that bad, you will either be in a shelter or off the trail.
I sleep cold generally, but I used a 20 degree bag on both AT thruhikes. While there were a couple of nights in the Smokies that I was a bit cold, most of the time I was fine. I started around April 1 and had snow a couple of times. If you start in February, you could start with a 5 degree bag and switch in Virginia. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother. To stay warm - have dry clothes for camp, especially dry socks. Wear a wool/fleece hat. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Eat something just before going to bed and warm up by going to the outhouse or running in place before getting into your bag.
Ginny
Definately 3 season tent - light as you can get. You might want to look for some that use your poles for support instead of lugging tent poles with you.
If you start early (feb/early march) get a 10 degree bag, if later, a 20 will probably do. Investing in a silk liner will boost you about 5 degrees and keep your bag cleaner for about 5-6 oz of extra weight. Get the lightest down bag you can afford/steal/aquire.
Dharma
go 3 season…if its icy or snowing…you’ll be snug in your down sleeping bag soon enuff or a nice, cozy shelter with a few other smelly hikers!
Jaybird
“Jaybird”
On our thru-hike we had an ice storm in the Smokies. But our coldest weather was in GA. We had a 0 night and 15 below windchill. I slept in a 20 degree bag fine but Flame, my wife, had a zero bag with a liner and still got cold several times on the trail. You will be at a shelter every night in the Smokies and they have a fire place. We only tented twice in the Smokies. Everyone we stayed in built a fire. Plus they were almost always full and if you wear earplugs and can sleep packed like sardines you’ll not get cold in the shelters in the Smokies.
We carried a CD Clip Flashlight the whole trail and it worked perfect. Bombproof! I trimmed everything off of it I could to lighten it and had no problems. Several companies make some very light excellent tents.
We had the majority of our equipment when we started from the years of hiking. But several areas we did not skimp. Boots, socks, tent and sleeping bags. We bought what worked for us.
Michele, I would suggest you read Staycats journals from, '02. She was ex-army and about your size and experience. The best info we got on the AT was from reading the journals of couples our age. It was by far and away the best advice we got.
You’ll find out you end up gleening a little from every source and will find what works for you.
Have a great hike.
Papa Smurf
4 season tents are designed to support serious snow loads. As a result, they are heavy. Definately an overkill for the AT, unless you plan to hike in the off season and not stay in shelters.
Peaks
4-season tents–the truly Everest-worthy varieties–are definitely overkill for the AT.
But all 3-season tents are not created equally. If it is your intention to NOT use shelters, or you are in a big push of thru-hikers when shelters are likely to be crowded, you will want to choose a tent that can better withstand some snow and wind.
My experience has been that 3-season hoop tents with steeper sides tend to shed snow better than other designs. The SD Clip Flashlight is an example of such design, but there are others (I only mention this model to give you something to google so you can see what it looks like). If you bring and use extra guy-out points in heavy wind conditions, these types of tents are fairly sturdy too.
However, by today’s standards, these tents are not considered “ultralight.” Expect to carry at least 4 lbs. if you choose a tent like this.
Of course if you’re measuring wet, heavy snow in feet–you’re going to want one of those big bombproof expedition tents. But you’re not going to want to pay for one nor carry the weight of one, so you’ll be heading for shelters or the nearest town when such conditions are forecasted or present. Fortunately, you can often choose to do either on the AT.
Skyline