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Ultralight Camping – The Shelter in the Big Three

The shelter is often the most troublesome piece of gear for multi-day hikes: bulky in size, relatively heavy, and even more difficult to pack when wet. Carrying it can be a real burden, yet on trails without mountain huts, it remains an indispensable item. That’s why learning how to effectively reduce the weight of your shelter has become an essential challenge for hikers who are passionate about going light.

First, we can assess our camping needs and, based on a comprehensive evaluation, choose a suitable tent. Generally, the assessment can consider the following aspects:

Shelter
Wind resistance
Ventilation
Waterproofing
Space
Freestanding capability
Weight & packed volume

For ultralight tent gear, here are a few directions for reference:

Using single-wall tents, simple single-layer tents, or tarp shelters instead of double-wall tents:
Traditional tents usually have a double-wall structure, with the outer layer providing waterproof shelter and the inner layer offering ground moisture protection and insect mesh. To reduce weight, you can choose a single-wall tent, simple single-layer tent, or tarp shelter according to your requirements for shelter and convenience.

1. Single-wall tent :

A tent where the waterproof outer layer, groundsheet, and insect mesh are integrated into a four-sided shelter.

2. Simple single-layer tent (Shelter)：

Usually provides three- or four-sided shelter but no floor, requiring a groundsheet or a sufficiently large sleeping pad for moisture protection at the bottom.

3. Tarp shelter (Tarp)：
Typically a rectangular flat waterproof sheet with guy lines at each corner. Beyond the rectangular shape, various configurations are possible. Depending on weather conditions, it can be set up to provide one to three, or even four-sided shelter. Like other minimal shelters, it requires a groundsheet or a sufficiently large sleeping pad for moisture protection at the bottom.

Tips:

When choosing a campsite, consider wind direction, water accumulation, and drainage.
When setting up a tarp for two-sided shelter, it’s recommended that the people sleeping on both sides use bivy sacks.
The tarp can be configured in different ways depending on weather conditions.
Bring enough guy lines and stakes to accommodate different setups.
Properly manage condensation:
1. Choose a tent with sufficient interior space.
2. Consider campsite location and ventilation.
3. Wipe off dew from the inner walls of the tent as needed.
4. Use bivy sacks when appropriate.

Fundamental ultralight tent materials:
Different tents use different materials, and even double-person tents with similar designs can vary significantly in weight. Choosing lightweight waterproof fabrics, sturdy yet light tent poles and stakes, and thin but strong guy lines results in a lighter overall setup. This usually reflects the cost—tents that are both lightweight and high-quality tend to be more expensive.

Shared tents – choose the tent size according to the number of people:

The size of the tent you carry can be adjusted based on the number of people in the group and the route. Generally, for tents of similar materials and design, dividing the weight of a four-person tent among the group means each person carries less than if each carried two double-person tents. One double-person tent is also lighter than two single-person tents. Properly distributing shared tents can significantly reduce the weight burden.

Using trekking poles or natural features instead of tent poles:

Tent poles are bulky and difficult to pack. In addition to their weight, their long and narrow shape makes storage inconvenient. Many tents on the market are designed so that trekking poles can replace the poles, eliminating the need to carry extra weight. Even further, tent ropes can be used with natural terrain or plants to set up a shelter, achieving an even lighter setup.

The image above shows a tarp shelter set up using trees, combined with a hammock system—suitable for uneven, muddy, or snake- and insect-prone ground conditions.

There are many ways to camp, and the corresponding gear options are countless. In the wilderness, hunters often use natural barriers to sleep comfortably beside a fire without a tent or sleeping bag. Meanwhile, some people struggle to sleep even in a luxury camper. Choosing the tent setup best suited for your trip requires knowledge and experience. In any case, it is a worthwhile topic for hikers to study.