My Hammock Experience

A couple of years ago, I went on a multi-day river trip who used hammocks, and who couldn't believe I hadn't tried one. The following year, I did another river trip with a different friend who used a hammock, and sung their praise. Although I was skeptical, especially since decades of kayaking had taken their toll on my lower back, I headed out on a short kayak camping trip with a hammock in my boat instead of a tent, and with an acceptance of the fact that I was probably going to have a miserable night's sleep. Much to my surprise, I had one of the better night’s sleep that I’ve ever had camping, and learned some valuable lessons about hammocks (and tents) in the process. Here's what I can share with you:

The Benefits of a Tent

There are a number of benefits to tent camping. Some of the most notable benefits are that they come in wide variety of sizes to accommodate solo campers, or entire families/groups, and they offer more versatile space to stretch out and store gear. This roominess is also a real benefit if you're stuck at camp, and dealing with rain or bugs. The tent becomes a refuge—a place where you and others can relax comfortably – maybe even play a game of cards.

Tents are also versatile. You can pitch them pretty much anywhere as long as the ground is reasonably flat. This makes them a solid choice for all kinds of terrain, from mountain tops to beaches, and river banks.

The Benefits of a Hammock

Before doing a real hammock camping trip, I would have struggled to identify any significant benefits of the hammock. But I quickly learned that there were many. Being elevated off the ground has a number of benefits. For one, you don't need to worry about waking up in a pool of water, as you do with a tent. They’re also incredibly easy to get in and out of. This means no more crawling around on your hands and knees. You simply sit down into the hammock, and when it's time to get out, you swing your legs out and stand up. Hammocks are also more convenient when kayak camping, because the hammock packs into a number of very small bags, which fit inside a kayak very well.

When it comes to sleep quality, I was pleasantly surprised. I have some lower back issues, and I wasn’t sure how a hammock would feel over the course of a full night out. It turns out that they can be very comfortable! Fortunately, I did some research before my first night out in a hammock, and learned that using a sleeping pad and/or underquilt goes a long way to keeping you warm on cooler nights, as it provides insulation underneath your body, where your sleeping bag doesn't help.

Hammock vs Tent: A Quick Breakdown

• Comfort: Both can be comfortable if set up correctly. With a tent, you’ll want to find the flattest possible ground, making sure your head is higher than your feet if a perfectly flat surface isn't available. With a hammock, the key is tension—make sure it’s not too loose, and use a sleeping pad in the hammock for comfort and insulation. If it's a particularly cold trip, consider an underquilt.
• Sleep Quality: When set up properly, both a tent and hammock can provide a great nights sleep, if you have the appropriate accessories. For a tent, this means not skimping on the sleeping pad you use. I highly recommend a sleeping pad that inflates to 3-4″, and a camp pillow, if getting a good night sleep is a priority for you. For a hammock, this means using a sleeping pad or underquilt to insulate you from below, and having an integrated bug net if needed. This is why I was using the ENO JungleNest Hammock.
• Setup: Tents require flat ground, while hammocks need two trees spaced just right. Both are easy enough to set up once you get the hang of it, but if it’s raining, setting up a tarp first can make the process a lot easier for both options.
• Weather and Bugs: A tent offers more space to escape bugs and bad weather. But with the right bug net and tarp setup, a hammock can be just as effective, though less comfortable for lounging in during long rainy spells.

When to Choose a Hammock vs Tent

For me, the decision now comes down to the trip itself. If I know the area well and am confident that there will be plenty of trees to hang a hammock, I’ll likely bring a hammock—it's cozy, it's easy to set up, and it's nice to avoid the hands-and-knees scramble of tent camping.

On the other hand, if I'm not confident that there will be appropriate trees for hanging the hammock, or if I’m heading into a bug-heavy area where the weather could trap me in camp, I will bring a tent so that I have more space and protection to hang out.

Whichever you choose, it’s all about enjoying the great outdoors and making the most of your camping experience. That being said, trying new things adds a layer of adventure to your trips, and so if you haven't already done so, give hammock camping a shot—you might just discover your new favorite way to sleep under the stars.

Stay tuned for more gear reviews, tips, and Backcountry adventures!

The post Hammock vs Tent: Which Is Right for Your Adventure? appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Okay, okay… I'm sure some of you want me to zip it after all these dad jokes, but dang it, I'm pumped to tell you about Sea to Summit's (relatively) new Telos TR2 tent in this review. These guys have been making killer gear for a long time, but this was their first foray into the tent game.

So naturally, I raised my hand and asked if I could get a hold of one in order to share my thoughts with this backpacking community. I have to tell you right off the top, I was genuinely thrilled with what they brought to the table. But let's dive in and unpack all the reasons why. 

About the Sea to Summit Telos TR2 Tent

Straight from the horse's mouth: 

“[This] two-person freestanding tent will radically change your perception of what an ultralight backpacking tent can be. Sea to Summit's engineers made it their mission to design a tent that is easy to set up and is filled with clever, functional features.” 

Price: $599 (USD)

Capacity: 2 Person

Design Type: Freestanding

Season Rating: 3-Season

Dimensions: 84.5 x 53 x 43 in.

Height: 43.5 in.

Floor Area: 28 sq ft.

Packed Weight: 3 lbs 10 oz. (Can be lightened with different set up modes)

The Fair Share Storage System

Right off the bat, I loved how Sea to Summit packaged the Telos tent. The rainfly, main shelter, and poles are all compartmentalized so that they can be separated for different carrying strategies. Everything can still be hauled as a single unit, OR you may choose to pack the poles inside your bag, pass off a piece to your hiking partner, and/or stow your wet fly on the outside of your pack, away from everything else. 

Stand-Out Features of the Telos TR2

The Telos has one of the highest ridge lines I've ever seen in a lightweight 2-person tent. To accomplish this, Sea to Summit took the usual design of two downward bending poles and flipped the script so that there is this nice V-shape, high-tension ridge – thereby freeing up loads of head room and boosting the livability.

On top of this (or rather, underneath), there is a subtle pull-tab design that makes it easy to disconnect the fabric from the ridge when it comes time for teardown. The specialized roof also allows for a ventilation port with a U-shaped zipper right at the apex of the tent. This is precisely where all the heat and condensation tends to collect throughout the night, so there's no better spot for an adjustable vent. 

Color Coded Attachments

Looking lower on the tent, you'll be happy to find color-coded attachment points complete with nifty little snaps. This makes setting up the rain fly that much easier. And speaking of making things easier, I know a lot of people skip over their tent's guy lines, but the ones on the Telos are so simple that you'll have no excuse not to. 

The first thing you'll notice upon climbing into the Telos TR2 is how big the entrance is. Sometimes ultralight tents force you to basically army-crawl inside. If it's rainy and the tent is sagging, it can be even more of a squeeze. So once again, props to Sea to Summit's high ridge line design for freeing up such a spacious doorway. 

Remember the compartmentalized packing design I raved about a second ago? Well, two of those sleeves can buckle to the inside corners of the tent, giving you extra storage for all your nicknacks (i.e. sunglasses, cell phone, lighters, knives, etc.).

The sleeve for the tent poles actually attaches up top, which gives you an ambient light source if you chuck your headlamp in there. And adding to those corner pockets are traditional envelope style storage areas that will help to reduce clutter even further. You guys know how obsessed I am with organization! 

Something truly revolutionary is the fact that the interior tent can be torn down while the rain fly remains built. This will save you a ton of headaches when you wake up to inclement weather. 

Hang Out Mode

Sea to Summit has a great habit of making their gear useful in multiple ways. And I've never seen anything like their “Hang Out Mode” in a tent design. Using my trekking poles (or their specifically designed poles) and the rain fly, you can quickly create an open-concept shelter that feels way more social than a tent.

If it's sunny, then this mode will offer some shade without detracting from the breeze, and if it's pouring rain, then you can fashion yourself a little card-game spot to wait it out with friends, or a place to cook meals. If the weather refuses to break, then your tent can eventually be set up underneath the canopy, and then with a few quick maneuvers, the fly will attach right where it needs to be for the evening. 

Overall Thoughts on the Sea to Summit Telos TR2 Tent

Setting up the Sea to Summit Telos

Even though I really dug all its design features, the Telos TR2 tent is objectively a bit more complicated to set up than your average tent. But with that said, it's still very user-friendly – no YouTube instructionals will be required. If you just follow the color-coded feet I mentioned earlier, and play around with the guy lines and Hang Out Mode, then you'll be able to figure it all out on the fly (hey oh!). 

This shelter truly excels in terms of livability. The Telos is spacious, easy to get in and out of, comfortable to sit and move around in, and has excellent storage and organization options to help keep your space clean. 

Now, I tested this tent on one of my favorite trails on a sunny and still day in Sedona, Arizona. So in order to put the Telos through the ringer, I had to create some nastier conditions with both my leaf blower and garden hose when I got home.

Telos TR2 Tent Wind and Water Protection

I'm happy to report that the Telos TR2 aced my simulated storm test. Plus, Sea to Summit is the type of brand that goes all-in with whatever they choose to do. So when they entered the tent market, I knew they produced something that could take a punch, and withstand the test of time. 

Who is the Sea to Summit Telos TR2 tent for?

The Telos TR2 is an outstanding tent, but there's no doubt about it, $600 (USD) is pretty pricey. So if you are new to backpacking, I think you might be better off starting with something more basic, probably heavier, and nowhere near as versatile, but that's also in the $200 – $300 range.

As you progress, and find yourself wanting something to take those backcountry experiences to the next level, then the Telos will have your name written all over it. And for you hardcore ultralight backpackers out there, keep in mind that even though 3 pounds, 10 ounces is already quite light, you can get it closer to sub-3 by losing some of the internal extra touches. 

This concludes my total gush on the Sea to Summit Telos 2-person tent. If you want to dive a little deeper into this tent, as well as the even lighter Altos TR2, click here to see how they compare. And for more low-downs on everything hiking and camping-related, head on over to BackpackingTV. 

Sunglasses: WileyX sunglasses

The post Sea to Summit Telos Tent Review appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Relax! You're two tents! 

Now that everyone's in the spirit, let's talk shop. Sea to Summit's new lineup of lightweight backpacking tents made waves last year for backpackers everywhere. The Telos TR2 and Alto TR2 tents share many overlapping features while still presenting some key differences that keep backcountry folks debating around the fire (and in the YouTube comments section). For this rundown, I recruited Dan Becker, who has implemented the Alto TR2 tent for most of the last year. Since I am a proud owner of the Telos TR2 tent, we can both speak to the specs and from personal experiences in the wild. 

ROUND 1 – THE SEA TO SUMMIT TELOS TR2 TENT

Details:

Price: $559 (USD)

Capacity: 2 Person

Design Type: Freestanding

Season Rating: 3 Season

Dimensions: 84.5 x 53 x 43 in.

Height: 43.5 in.

Floor Area: 28 sq ft.

Packed Weight: 3 lbs 10 oz.

The Sea to Summit Telos TR2 Tent Review | Eric's Breakdown

The first thing worth pointing out is the high-tension ridge, which created some high-tensions in the comment section of my stand-alone review. I think it's a great design because it makes the walls of the Telos much more vertical, which expands the headroom throughout. A common concern that people had in regards to this feature was that the vertical stature might make it vulnerable to heavy wind.

I got to test this out firsthand while holed up in my Telos through a night of 20-30mph winds, with gusts upwards of 45-50mph. Despite the considerable force, the tent didn't budge, nor was its structure compromised. The walls naturally gave a bit, pushing inwards against my body, but nothing beyond what I would've expected in those conditions. Though winds can still blow much harder than that, I didn't actually have my guy lines set up on that night, so those would combat the gusts even more if necessary. After my experiences, I'm not personally concerned about the integrity of the Telos tent.

Telos TR2 Tent Top Ventilation

Another hot-button issue online was in regards to the top ventilation point. The idea is that the heat and condensation wants to escape from the apex of the tent, and therefore a zippered window was put in at the ridge to act as a chimney. Some people worried that water would leak in through this vent from the outside. I can confidently vouch for this not being an issue. If you take the time to set up your Telos, with all the proper tension and angles, then this should not present a problem. I appreciate the apex ventilation because it really does reduce the trapped condensation that tends to bead all over the ceiling of many tents. 

Storage Space for the Telos TR2 Tent

Storage space is another strong selling point of the Telos. There are two corner pouches and mesh envelope sides that are great for stowing phones, keys, books, and all the loose gear that needs a home at the end of the day. The Telos is a good choice for people who like to be organized.  

Potential nifty tent feature?

A potentially nifty feature (in theory) is the Lightbar. The sleeve that the tent poles come in is actually designed to double as an overhead light fixture. It has a piece of white plastic that lines the sleeve and reflects the light of a  head lamp, which can be inserted after the tent is set up. The problem with my Telos was that both the Lightbar and the ceiling had female clips, and so there was no way to attach this dual-function accessory. This could be an early-issue defect, but I would recommend scouting this out before purchase. 

Telos TR2 Size and Dimensions

Here's a little note on dimensions for those looking to utilize the 2-person designation. Because of the 10-inch taper towards the foot of the tent, sleeping pads must be strategically selected in order to share the space. I use a 25-inch-wide sleeping pad for my solo adventures, which could not be doubled up in this tent. That being said, I'm in love with the headroom in my Telos. 

A critique of mine comes in regard to the anchor clip for the tent door flap. In my opinion, it's positioned too low, which makes the door sag in an annoying way when resting open. 

The Telos did see a marked price jump recently, but I still think that it's a worthwhile purchase for experienced backpackers looking for a luxurious shelter. 

ROUND 2 – THE SEA TO SUMMIT ALTOS TR2 TENT

Details:

Price: $499 (USD)

Capacity: 2 Person

Design Type: Semi-Freestanding

Season Rating: 3 Season

Floor Dimensions: 84.5 x 53 x 38 in.

Height: 42.5 in.

Floor Area: 27 sq. ft.

Packed Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz.

The Sea to Summit Altos TR2 Tent Review | Dan's Breakdown

Since the Alto TR2 is a semi-freestanding tent, it does require 2 stakes to properly set up. The pole structure of the Telos makes this an optional step. Interesting to note, the head of the Alto requires staking, which is counter to many other semi-freestanding tents that I'm familiar with. I believe this helps contribute to the weight savings. This is an obvious advantage from a spec comparison as the Alto is about 11-ounces lighter than the Telos. Sneaking in under 3-pounds is a nice barrier to beat. 

In terms of the door flap, the Alto seems to anchor much cleaner. There was no extra slack to manage. It rolled up like a tight backcountry doobie. 

Altos TR2 Headroom

Similar to the Telos, the headroom in the Alto stands out. One of my true measures of a two-person tent is if the occupants can sit comfortably, maybe playing cards while waiting out a storm, and not just have to lie down, packed like sardines. The headroom holds well as you transition from the head of the tent to the foot. This owes to the creative, upward-bow design of the Tension Ridge (same design as the Telos). 

Nifty tent feature confirmed

The Lightbar did attach in the Alto (as it certainly should have in the Telos), which highlighted the utility of this feature. 

Altos TR2 Tent Top Ventilation

In terms of ventilation, I've used the Alto in a range of conditions (i.e. warm, freezing, deep snow) and in all cases there was zero condensation inside the tent. This has been mind-boggling for me, so definitely props to the Sea to Summit ventilation system in these tents. 

Packing the Altos TR2 Tent

In terms of storage, there are also attachments for the stuff sack bags, which can then double as junk-drawer-like compartments, and the envelope pockets are still present. Plus, it provides loads of interior hooks to hang stuff from. The weight savings do not come at the expense of storage. 

A notable trade-off for the Alto is the extra tapering of the tent floor. This will limit the sleeping pad options even more if 2 people are camping for the night. Prospective Alto owners might want to look at tapered sleeping pads to boot. 

Who are the Sea to Summit Alto and Telos Tents for?

Overall, the Alto TR2 offers almost the exact same features as the Telos TR2, with the main points of differentiation being the structure design and the extra taper of the footprint. These alterations contribute to the weight savings, which can be the deciding factor for some hikers. If you don't mind the trade-offs, or if you're on a tighter budget, this might be your winner.

The main argument for the Telos is that it's more suitable for rocky terrain or any other conditions in which it's difficult to get stakes in the ground. The freestanding design allows for more flexibility and less fortification of the tent's base. The vertical structure definitely also boosts the overall comfort for the shared camping experience.  

No matter what the final decision, both the Telos and the Alto tents are luxurious options that have garnered Sea to Summit a lot of well-earned attention. Because of the price points and extra finesse required for setup, these tents would be better suited to passionate backpackers, rather than budding vagabonds. If you pass this basic sniff-test then there are some minor comparisons to weigh (literally), but both versions will provide a premium, reliable, feature-rich, lightweight shelter option. 

I hope you enjoyed this article. For more information, check out all my gear reviews and tips on BackpackingTV. 

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