Me and my hiker partner for the AT are planning on starting next year around the first of March. I was wondering if it has been done or can be done to share a tent for the first 6-8 weeks and then go with a bivy?
Mattitude
Me and my hiker partner for the AT are planning on starting next year around the first of March. I was wondering if it has been done or can be done to share a tent for the first 6-8 weeks and then go with a bivy?
Mattitude
in a bivy. Share the tent while the weather is cold, which would help to reduce pack weight. And then I was thinking of using a bivy sack the rest of the way! Still considering a light one man tent with a vestibule.:eek:
Mattitude
with two guys…
when and where? hehehe, just kidding, just kidding!
This is lil innocent me talking.
Hippie Hiker Chic
How bout it? You chose the other girl! I’m game and “I aim to pleeze, ma’am”
:lol
:cheers
Hippie Hiker
Just make sure you are certain your hands are tucked under the right pair of thighs.
Ficade
Yes they can as long as you don’t have a small backpacking 2 man tent. My guess is that the 2 man tent you would want to bring is going to weigh abut 7lbs or so.
I 98 my buddy and his friend shared a tent all the way to Damascus and didn’t have any problems.
Guys often share tents during winter camping trip to help cut down on weight.
Leif
If you’re gonna bring one tent that weighs 7+ lbs., why not bring two tents that weigh 3.5 lbs. each and enjoy the privacy? The Eureka Zeus 1 (or even Zeus 2) would work.
Skyline
Seriously, you better make sure that you guys are pretty good friends. If you guys get in an argument, one hikes on, or you end up separated it can cause some problems. Can’t depend on shelter space at this time of the year. I think it is a bad idea and would try to find separate lighter tents.
Ganj
Seriously, most people hike alone. Pre arranged couples or pairs don’t usually work out. Everyone has their different hiking pace, different goals and objectives, different this and different that. It even tough on couples in love.
My advise is to use 2 tents. Sure, people can double up for a week or so, but I think that beyound that, I would certainly not advise it for a long period. One or the other will either be off the trail, or want to go at a different pace.
Peaks
They’re right, if you choose to hike separately for a while (and most do) you’re going to want two tents.
I’m so glad this thread wandered away from homophobic nonsense into real answers.
cal
three words!!!
“Trains, Planes & Automobiles”
Of course two guys can share a tent! Just be sure you hike together and like each other!
Margie
If you choose to share a tent, you should spend a lot of time choosing the tent…many tents advertised as 2-person tents have floor space of 28 - 32 square feet…this doesn’t provide a lot of room. If you’e both medium to large guys, you’ll find yourself squeezed for room. If one or both of you are restless sleepers you’ll be rolling all over each other…If you want to bring gear in out of the weather you are REALLY going to be pressed for space.
Check out something like a Sierra Design Clip 3-CD which as about 44 square feet but is a little heavier than a 2-person tent. Leif is right…getting a tent with the sort of space you want will really push the weight up (and usually the price!) If you go with a traditional 2-person backpacking tent, you’d really better like each other a lot…
Don
I have a two man tent but plan to sleep with my backpack inside the tent with me. Does anyone foresee any problems with doing this?
Palmetto Tar
Palmetto, I started out last year on March 10th with a two person tent, Bibler Ahwahnee 2. I was planning on the same thing, pack inside, nothing left outside. By the time I got to Neel’s Gap I had to cut some of the 60 pounds or stop. I gave up my Bibler for a cheap Sierra Designs Lightyear that leaked when it ready rained hard. I could barely sit up in it but it was alot lighter. I carried to plastic garbage bags and I would put my pack in them and pull it under the fly the best I could. I went from the Hilton to the Motel 6 but weight was an issue. I had several buddies who had the Nomadlite tents from Wanderlust I believe and if I buy another tent that will be the one.The guy’s name is Kurt Russell and he lives in South Carolina and also has a waiting list. I just sold my Bibler in this site but took a loss naturally on what I paid for it!!! I could have bought two Nomadlites for what I paid for the Bibler!! Oh well!!!
Dutch Uncle
I have one with room for two of what ever you want + gear for sale. Diamond Mountain Home 2, used little with two guys or three girls or two pennies and four quarters or six nickles and a Canadian dime. PT, can have it for $150
Bushwhack
We saw a lot of twosomes (guys with guys, girls with girls, and mixed couples) breakup early in our hike. Can’t recall anybody (guys with guys) sharing a tent by the time we got through the Smokeys. Saw very few packs in tents. We put a large garbage bag over packs when we were not near a shelter. Only a problem once (ice storm froze everything). Flame and I shared a CD Clip Flashlight. I’m 6’2" and over 200 lbs. and there was just room for us, period. It was like two mice in a sock. No problem for me, she might think different. We saw a large number of hikers quit within the first 100 miles because of bad knees. Too much weight and too many miles in the GA hills. Take your pack weight seriously. Day in and day out miles in the hill of GA and NC will not be easy on knees no matter what your age or condition. Most people have no way of conditioning their knees for the constant down hill pressure that is put on the joint. It is a compression injury. Just remember you will be out there hiking day after day, mile after mile everyday and it adds up. The last 500 miles will be made on willpower alone. You will loose feeling in your toes, you will loose toenails, your knees will swell at times and be sore alot. You will develop the hiker shuffle. You will have trouble walking barefoot. You will take 5 million steps. Multiply every oz of weight by 5 million and see how many tons you have picked up. There is some truth behind the saying “NO Rain, NO Pain, NO MAINE.”
Papa Smurf
Sleeping in a tent with your pack can potentially attract a bear or other vermin to your site, even if you hang your food. Your pack will smell like food and will attract them. Don’t sleep with your pack.
xiix