UL tent system idea
I've already got a waterproof/windproof bivy, (military surplus bivys can be had for $40-$70, and weigh about 2 lb. I prefer the older style camo ones cause they're wider around, and I've got a thick air mattress and with this newer digital camo bivy, my quilt gets compressed some) and a poncho ($15-20) that lays out about 5x7 feet. 4 guylines will be used with the poncho, to maximize surface area. I can pitch it low and sleep with my pack and head under it when it rains, but I'll also be able to pitch it high and drape a mosquito net over it. (I've seen them on Amazon for beds, cribs, etc) All this plus 2 basic tent poles.
Idk the final weight, maybe 3 lbs? But hella versatile. If I wanna hop a freight train, my bivy let's me choose from a wider range of cars. And then if I wanna meditate on a hill, and not get eat by skeeters, I can pitch the poncho and mosquito net.
So that makes 5, maybe 6 uses:
1 poncho for day rain
2 poncho/bivy for night rain
3 poncho/net for mosquitos and for its adjustable height.
4 bivy for trains
5. Poncho as a
curtain. I can pot a squat with this thing on anywhere without exposing myself to others.
6 I bet you could wear the poncho like a dress, (provided you've got a waterproof jacket as well) in real heavy rain. I haven't tried this yet to see how well it works, but coupled with waterproof shoes or waterproof socks, I think it might work at least in a pinch.
And all for what I think will be about 3 lb, and will all have been gotten for under $100.
