Appreciation post: that rainy trip to Shenandoah made me ditch my expensive tent
I was camping at the Big Meadows campground in Shenandoah last April when a sudden storm flooded the floor of my high end tent, soaking all my gear. After that night, I switched to a simple tarp and bivy setup that cost me $60 total and has been bone dry ever since. Has anyone else found that cheaper, simpler gear actually works better than the expensive stuff in real weather?
Ugh, the same thing happened to me with a "waterproof" tent I dropped way too much money on. Got caught in a surprise downpour in the Blue Ridge and woke up in a puddle with my sleeping bag soaked. Swapped it out for a basic tarp shelter and a cheap bivy sack and it's been a game changer. Light, packs small, and I sleep way better knowing I'm not trusting some overpriced zipper or seam tape. Simple really is better for most of the weather I actually see out there.
Woke up in a puddle with my sleeping bag soaked, been there, bought the t-shirt that was also soaked. My last "ultralight" tent basically became a swimming pool for me and my gear. Now I just bring a tarp and pray the bugs don't find me before I fall asleep.