A few years ago I picked up a 70s vintage Caribou Mountaineering pup tent for $15. I knew that that had been a good brand, and the construction was ripstop nylon. I figured for $15, the fly by itself would make a nice lightweight shelter, and it did. I carried it for emergencies and spent a couple of nights in it, etc. The problem was that it didn't go all the way to the ground, and the front wasn't enclosed. Proper pitching would alleviate this, but it's hard to beat a full coverage shelter when the weather hits, or even in variable winds.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to see if I could pitch it differently. I discovered that I could pitch it tight to the ground, but then couldn't get through the front opening, and there was still a hole there. A yard of Wal Mart coated ripstop, a zipper, and some seam sealer later, and Voila!

BTW, I use both trekking poles in an A frame.

A few years ago I picked up a 70s vintage Caribou Mountaineering pup tent for $15. I knew that that had been a good brand, and the construction was ripstop nylon. I figured for $15, the fly by itself would make a nice lightweight shelter, and it did. I carried it for emergencies and spent a couple of nights in it, etc. The problem was that it didn't go all the way to the ground, and the front wasn't enclosed. Proper pitching would alleviate this, but it's hard to beat a full coverage shelter when the weather hits, or even in variable winds.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to see if I could pitch it differently. I discovered that I could pitch it tight to the ground, but then couldn't get through the front opening, and there was still a hole there. A yard of Wal Mart coated ripstop, a zipper, and some seam sealer later, and Voila!

BTW, I use both trekking poles in an A frame.