Tent Recommendations

[yandy]

I'm thinking about doing the John Muir Trail this summer and I need a tent. I want something that is strong and weather-proof, yet packs down light and small. Erect, it has to be big enough to fit me and a 70 litre pack.

Any recommendations are welcome.

Cheers

Andy

[griddable]

The REI tents are a great bang for your buck, I was looking at the 2-man half dome when it was on sale. The last issue of backpacker's had an extensive gear guide, with lots of great-looking tent recommendations.

An alternative route, if you'll be amongst the trees, is to go with a nice hammock. Hennessey Hammocks (http://hennessyhammock.com/) and Jungle Hammocks (http://www.junglehammock.com/) are super comfortable and versatile, can be used open, zipped up with mosquito netting, or with a rain fly. You can put your pack underneath (or tie it into the hammock, as they can take a lot of weight) to keep it out of the elements. The Jungle Hammock also has massive pockets on the side for extra storage. An added bonus is you wouldn't need a sleeping pad. They aren't cheap, but I've never met anyone who regretted their purchase.

One of the Hennessey Hammocks
http://www.rei.com/zoom/rr/2a8f320b-8b1a-450e-9996-10439453c17e.jpg/440

One of the Clark Jungle Hammocks
http://www.campist.com/archives/clark-vertex-jungle-hammock.jpg