Thread: Light weight fly camping

Yep thanks guys il go down the fly parth & that was my throt for the size off a fly now just need to fine a good one

https://www.intentsoutdoors.co.nz/collections/tarps

Originally Posted by kbrebs

Siltarp fly and an exped UL synmat is what ive used for quite a few years now. Its a really good combo, light, takes up minimal room and you can set up a cosy camp almost anywhere. No need for a bivy bag at all. Unless you just want to get your sleeping bag damp with condensation

+1 this combo has served me well in central north island bush

Sorry to bring up an old thread but may as well tack it onto this one, whats the go now with flys/ tarps now? Any new gear worth looking at thats packable

I seen peax in the usa have a tarp that you can fold into a shelter


Its not a cheap option tho

https://www.peaxequipment.com/products/origami-tnt

I’m in the same camp as a lot of these guys. A good Siltarp, groundsheet and map will do most situations, depending where you’re hunting. I mostly hunt the lower half of the North Island and use a DD Hammocks superlight 3x3 tarp all year round. Until recently I didn’t even own a tent- only bought a tent for when I take my pup out. Never used a bivi bag. Most trips I just set up the tarp a-frame style with a quick deploy ridgeline, but if I’m expecting bad weather I’ll do a ‘tarp-tent’ setup. A tarp with a decent number of tie-down points- like mine or a RAB Siltarp allow for a huge number of setups.

Used simple tarps/bivi bag for years but over the last few years I’ve been rolling the dice a bit and not taking a bivi bag.

I’ve come to the conclusion as stated already, tents that can pitch outer only are the way to go. Take the outer only for fast light or fair weather trips and have 4season inner for bigger missions.

I’ll be going the duston x mid solid 2 route which is lighter than my old bivi bag.

If buying a basic tarp look for one with multiple tie out points along the ridge as it makes it much more versatile for creating an enclosed sleeping area.

I got an AliExpress number, the copy of the MLD Trailstar by Flame's Creed.

My setup is tarp + mat and a bit of polythene from Mitre 10 cut to shape for the ground. I think all up it cost me about $100 delivered at the time (did score the mat, a nice old Thermarest Guidelite for peanuts at a 2nd hand store)

The pitch requires at least one pole. If I bought another it would be a square/rectangle ridgeline type. That said, you can get some really good tent-like pitches with this style and batten down quite well in inclement weather with lots of space to move around.

I am thinking of getting a tent now but mostly because I find less reason to carry trekking poles these days and would also like something for South Island trips. I will still use the fly set up for a lot of my hunting I think.

I've been running this cheap lightweight fly all year.
11 nights under it and no issues yet.
I just found this on AliExpress:
NZ$65.17 | Ultra Light Rain Fly Tent Tarp, Waterproof 15d Silicone Coating Nylon Camping Shelter Canopy Rainfly, Lightweight tarp
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLoyAdW
Room for me, dog (lab x) and all gear under it. And just last weekend was my daughter , me and gear. The dog slept outside.
I use my lightweight tent footprint as a floor to keep gear clean and dry.

So much fun. So many options:

Homemade Polycro Fly (200g) and homemade tyvek ground sheet (150g). Terrible pitch. Worse sleep. Dog was up at 2am keeping a vigilant watch for vermin intruders



Siltarp 2 (410g) with warehouse blue tarp $10 (250g from memory). In the tarptent configuration. Dog was up again all night on patrol.



The fly and ground sheet came in handy, pitched in amongst rocks after shooting a sika at last light



Argali Rincon 2p tipi tent, outer only 550g, use homemade tyvek ground sheet (180g), enclosed so dog slept - therefore so did I. My favourite summer set up.

Got carried away and got a Hyperlite Dyneema tarp. 309g. Great bit of kit, just stupidly expensive.

Originally Posted by 199p

I seen peax in the usa have a tarp that you can fold into a shelter


Its not a cheap option tho

https://www.peaxequipment.com/products/origami-tnt

You can literally fold pretty much any rectangular fly into a shelter like that

Helikon Tex Supertarp, good size, plenty of tie points on it so it can be pitched all sorts of ways, a bunch of colour options, pretty lightweight and compact.
Best of all, it's a great price from a company with a decent reputation for quality.

For sleeping pad, I find it hard to beat my Expeds

https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-ultr...start=15&sz=12

Looks quite good for the price.

Approximately 320grams. 2 x 2.95mtr