|
|
| Post Number: 1
|
backpacker101 
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Oct. 2012
|
 |
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 7:23 am |
|
   |
Hi everybody,
I am planning to buy the deuter act lite 65+10 backpack and a eureka! spitfire solo tent. The deuter backpack's width is only 16 inches (33/16/11 HxWxD), and the spitfire tent's length is 22 inches.
My question is: will the tent fit horizontally in the backpack, or will I have to position it vertically? 16 inches is quite large, and I've seen backpacks with even shorter widths than that (down to 12 inches), will the tent also fit these backpacks?
I understand the backpack is stretchable, but I've never bought backpacking gear before, and where I live I can't test the products.
Thanks a lot.
|
 |
|
|
| Post Number: 2
|
rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6419
Joined: Nov. 2004
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 7:55 am |
|
 |
Take the poles out and carry them separately, either inside the pack running up one side or the other, or on the outside. The best way outside the pack is in one of the side pockets with the compression straps over them too.
Now the tent body and fly can take on whatever shape you need. I always pack my tents sideways, never up-and-down, and I use much smaller packs (and bigger tents) than yours.
Good luck with it and have fun backpacking.
--------------
I measure happiness with an altimeter
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 3
|
backpacker101
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Oct. 2012
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 8:29 am |
|
|
Thanks for your quick answer Ray. I hadn't thought about that at all, so that means I could also put the tent body and fly in a compression sack/bag to reduce its size right? It's not going to hurt the mesh of the body or anything right?
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 4
|
rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6419
Joined: Nov. 2004
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 8:51 am |
|
|
No real need to do that as nylon does not compress. Unless the stock stuff sack is extremely heavy I just use it.
--------------
I measure happiness with an altimeter
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 5
|
QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1741
Joined: Oct. 2009
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 12:05 pm |
|
|
The big thing is how you pack the tent in the stuff sack. If you fold and roll it to the width of the pack it will fit in easier.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 6
|
High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39802
Joined: Aug. 2005
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 12:10 pm |
|
|
Many tents come supplied with a separate slender sack for their poles for that very reason, the only thing to beware of is tucking the lower end of the poles into a side pocket or tethering the sack to the bag so there's ZERO chance of arriving at your night's campsite and finding somewhere back along the way the tent poles quietly slipped out of their restraints and are now resting somewhere back on your route.... as you move along pack contents adjust so there's never any reliability in how tight you may have tensioned the holding straps on a vertical load like that.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 7
|
JRinGeorgia
Group: Members
Posts: 318
Joined: Jul. 2012
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 1:10 pm |
|
|
^I always put poles inside the pack for this very reason...
--------------
- JRinGeorgia
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 8
|
hike500
Gilbert, Arizona
Group: Members
Posts: 491
Joined: Oct. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 2:15 pm |
|
|
I would just stuff the tent in a outside pocket or the bottom of your pack. The same thing I do with my sleeping bag, although I do put my down bag in a garbage bag first to keep it clean. This way you use every bit of space in your pack plus it is easier to break camp.
--------------
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow"
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 9
|
TrailTramper
Group: Members
Posts: 1324
Joined: Sep. 2009
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 3:02 pm |
|
|
If space is an issue, you can get a tent more compact by folding it first, rather than by stuffing it without folding.
Try this: Lay the tent body out on the floor. Fold it in thirds lengthwise. Then fold it in half crosswise. Do the same for the fly and lay the fly on top of the tent, along with the bag of stakes. Roll them all up tightly, together.
No matter how wide you fold it, the tent will stuff into your pack. If your pack is 16" wide and the tent is 22" wide, the tent sack will stuff into the bottom of your pack.
Some people don't put the tent in a stuffsack. They just lay it in the pack, often on top of the sleeping bag. I do use a stuffsack, to keep the tent and fly from unrolling and to protect them a bit more.
When specs say a tent is 22" long that refers to the folded poles.
Personally I would never carry poles outside the pack. They take up very little space in a rear corner of the pack.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 10
|
backpacker101
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Oct. 2012
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 4:07 pm |
|
|
Thanks a lot to everyone for giving their precious two cents, really. I had no idea about the poles length and everything.
I'll use all your tips, I think I'm going to fold and put the tent in a stuff sack on the bottom compartment of the backpack (if I find a 100% secure way to do it, I'll attach the tent on the bottom of the backpack, as I find it awkard-looking that the backpack is so high when it doesn't go below the belt). Because I'm paranoid, I think I'll put the poles in the backpack.
Thanks again.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 11
|
CharlesTheHammer
Group: Members
Posts: 241
Joined: Jan. 2011
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 4:44 pm |
|
|
If I dont have enough room in my pack for my tent and all the other stuff, then I just tie the tent to the outside of the bag! There are straps with most backpacks that are made for the purpose of strapping stuff on the outside. That way all the tent parts are still together in 1 place, but make sure the tents bag is wrapped tight, and I usually wrap the poles in their own bag, and then wrap them deep inside the rolled up tent before I slide the tent back inside its bag, then I tie the tent horizontally to a lower section to the outside of my pack, and that has worked for me for years!
That way I dont have to carry a larger pack than I really need either, because I dont have to fit absolutely everything inside it....
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 12
|
TrailTramper
Group: Members
Posts: 1324
Joined: Sep. 2009
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 5:52 pm |
|
|
With a 65+10 pack there is no reason to attach any major gear to the outside of the pack. Stuff is not supposed to hang below your hips. That's a 70s idea. What's all this fuss about a tent that weighs less than 3 lbs? Put it in the pack.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 13
|
|
|
| Post Number: 14
|
CharlesTheHammer
Group: Members
Posts: 241
Joined: Jan. 2011
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 10:02 pm |
|
|
(TrailTramper @ Oct. 23 2012, 5:52 pm)
QUOTE With a 65+10 pack there is no reason to attach any major gear to the outside of the pack. Stuff is not supposed to hang below your hips. That's a 70s idea. What's all this fuss about a tent that weighs less than 3 lbs? Put it in the pack.
My pack is just a bit smaller than that, and in winter on multi day trips, while carrying my 2P 5.2lb tent, I tie it to the outside if I dont have room for it inside, and I've been doing that for 20 years with no problems, plus I'd personally rather have that extra 5.2lbs low on my body, being supported by my waist, than high up in the pack over my shoulders! I have never heard anyone say that putting lots of weight up high is a good idea, if you can lower it.
Thats what I was taught long ago, and its never been an issue.
BTW: Who said anything about "below the hips"?
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 15
|
CharlesTheHammer
Group: Members
Posts: 241
Joined: Jan. 2011
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 10:14 pm |
|
|
(rayestrella @ Oct. 23 2012, 6:51 pm)
QUOTE
(TrailTramper @ Oct. 23 2012, 4:52 pm)
QUOTE With a 65+10 pack there is no reason to attach any major gear to the outside of the pack. Totally agree. Don't be that guy.
^Thats definitely the extreme end of improper packing. I personally wasnt recommending anything like that. I just think that if its winter, and you dont have the room for your tent in the pack, and its down to having to either run out and buy a new pack for $225, or pack something 'carefully' to the outside of the pack, then I'd rather do that than to buy another, larger pack that I wont hardly ever use.
But if its down to choosing what to attach to the outside, then obviously a bunch of loose items like a stove, pots, pans, filter, etc., isnt the right plan. But if your 5 lb , 2P tent is packed correctly, and you can tie it tightly to an area on your pack that ISNT below your butt, then I dont see a problem with it, and its what I was taught in the early 90's, and its worked fine for me...
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 16
|
tomas
Group: Members
Posts: 2415
Joined: Oct. 2006
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 11:50 pm |
|
|
I've got the same backpacke as yours and use a BA Seedhouse 1 for a tent which I simply pack vetically into the backpack. So I'm a bit confused as to why you're concerned about the tent being packed in that manner. You'll have tons of room left over.
--------------
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 17
|
RebeccaD
Double Arch, Arches N.P.
Group: Members
Posts: 9993
Joined: Jul. 2004
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 12:01 am |
|
|
I use a 60L pack and my spouse a 70. When we do family trips (up until now. This is changing!) we each carry a tent. At the beginning of the week, the tents are outside. By the end, they are inside, packed vertically. If the tent is wet, it goes outside regardless, usually still vertical. I hate horizontal stuff.
--------------
Bits of writerly thoughts and random short fiction found at
The Ninja Librarian Blog
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 18
|
TrailTramper
Group: Members
Posts: 1324
Joined: Sep. 2009
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 1:43 am |
|
|
OK, let's do some math. The Eureka Spitfire is 5" x 22". That works out to 432 cu in (volume of a cylinder = pi x radius squared x height), which is 7 liters. The pack is 75L. That leaves 68L after putting the tent inside the pack. No need to "run out and buy a new pack for $225" (Charles The Hammer).
. . . unless wet then yes, maybe outside.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 19
|
|
|
| Post Number: 20
|
dayhiker9
Group: Members
Posts: 5309
Joined: Apr. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 12:34 pm |
|
|
I try to put everything inside the (internal frame) pack. I find that bulky and heavy stuff tends to swing around on the top straps. I don't want my tent snagging and ripping on stuff along the trail.
On the other hand I try to keep rain gear and tent handy. My first choice is use the external pocket(s) and the top of the pack. On the other hand these packs are often designed to carry skis, ice axes and/or snow shovels , perhaps snow shoes, ski poles? so it is possible to carry stuff on the outside.
Since I use a closed cell pad (2 on snow) it goes on the outside, one on top, the second one on the bottom. While bulky, I guess it is because it is light it works fine, unlike say a sleeping bag. My Aether 65 pack's "bottom" straps are actually on the bottom front of the pack, but so close together that the pad probably hangs down a bit, but since these pads are very light it isn't a problem. The anchor points are so close together I doubt this was made for something this bulky, in fact the straps were just a bit too small for my pad so I had to replace them.
The only tent I have put on the outside is my Double Rainbow, it is quite long too, but narrow and light so it easily goes into the water bottle pockets and side ski/compression straps, and then I use a (toy?) 'biner, or just run the pack strap thru the stuff sack's cord loop that closes it, in case it comes out, it is still attached to the pack. I could also put it down the center of the Aether.
I might try seeing if it will fold into the outer pocket or top of the pack in its stuff sack without the poles, never tried that.
My other pack , the GoLite Pinnacle, is quite large, but I put the full length closed cell pad inside and a large sleeping bag, which together almost fill the pack. I used to put the tent on the inside of the pack, but on the outside of the pad, but find it easier to put it on the outside. It has a large outside pocket , but if the pack is full it expands into the space for the pocket.
And of course another reason to put stuff outside, is when you are bringing more stuff, hopefully a rare occurrence. I did this with a bear canister (empty) once, if I did this regularly I would probably get another pack.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 21
|
pastywhite
Group: Members
Posts: 1564
Joined: May 2009
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 2:13 pm |
|
|
Yes, the poles will need to be vertical. You can pack the rest any way you like.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 22
|
rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6419
Joined: Nov. 2004
|
|
Posted on: Oct. 25 2012, 11:42 am |
|
|
There are a couple good resons to keep everything inside your pack. Mainly to keep everything protected. Stuff lashed on is just more points to catch stuff like tree branches and rock.
It also keeps your center of gravity closer to your spine, where you want it. the more weight sticking out the more off-balance you will be.
As far as the "weight is better by the hips" remark, uh-uh. Your pack's suspension system does the work of transferring weight. Place heavy items close to the back and near the shoulders, but not over them as that gets into center of gravity issues too.
I just thought of another good reason that was evident on my trip I just got back from. This is a pic from yesterday. It was raining as I started the hike so the cover needed to be on. Extra stuff on the pack would keep it from fitting. That is a 34 L pack by the way. The 2P tent is inside at the very top and the poles are in the side pocket.
Attached Image
--------------
I measure happiness with an altimeter
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 23
|
|
|
|
|
|
Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
