REI Quarterdome T3

In case you're new here at JustSON, then I'll let you know what the rest of the readers already know. I like the outdoors. Wait, correct that. I love the outdoors.

And yesterday I bought a new tent.

A few weeks back I'd teased with the idea of buying a new backpacking tent. Since mine was going on 10 years old.

The thing that kept me from just rushing out and buying a new tent was the fact that mine was still in great condition. But tent technology has come so far in 1o years. This tent has more room then my current backpacking tent yet weighs over two pounds less.

Now two pounds might not sound like a lot, but in backpacking two pounds is a "ton." I had a friend who taught me at an earlier age, when you're backpacking you don't measure the weight of your pack in pounds, you measure it in ounces.

This new tent is awesome! I ended up opting for the REI Quarterdome T3. Here's the specs on the tent:

Season	3-season
Sleeping capacity	3
Average minimum weight	4 lbs. 7 oz.
Average packaged weight	5 lbs.
Floor dimensions	84 x 68 inch

As for hardware, the REI Quarter Dome T3 won Backpacker Magazine's Ultralight Tent of the Year Award for 2008.

After running all the numbers I figured out this was the best tent for my needs while backpacking. I only needed a 3-season, as I have an awesome high-winds, 4-season, dome tent.

The best part about shopping at REI is the fact that they let you set up the tent right there in the store before you buy it. I set up the Quarter Dome T2 (which is the two person version of the same tent) but found that it was much too cramped for two people to fit in there comfortably. The employee helped me throw in two groudpads and two sleeping bags. They were half ontop of each other, and that was without bodies in them.

We set up the T3 and there was enough room for two people, with the packs still outside under the rainfly. Plus, on the campouts that I go on by myself I'll have more than enough room to let my pack come inside the tent. And probably out of the rain since this IS Washington.

The difference between the T2 and the T3 was less than one pound. For the added space and higher comfort level, I figured I could cut some weight somewhere else in my pack. And the T3 was still over two pounds lighter than my current tent.

So now I have three tents. I think I'm set for years to come. And good thing I got the extra room in the T3. Since I am a freelance journalist, that tent would be way cheaper than rent.

I'll be taking it out in a few weeks for a weekend backpacking trip. At that time I'll write a review of the tent.

What to do when backpacking in bear country

A few days ago I was talking with a friend of mine and he asked me, "Casey, you do a lot of outdoor stuff, what would you do if you came across a bear? Would you run away?"

At first I didn't know if he was serious, then I realized that while I had grown up learning many outdoor techniques in the Boy Scouts, others hadn't. I explained to him what I would do if I encountered a bear, and better yet how I would try to prevent that encounter in the first place.

I'm no Bear Grylls, but I am an Eagle Scout. Follow these guidelines to help minimize your risks of an encounter with a bear when in bear country.

How to help avoid a bear:

• Find out local bear activity- If you're going to an area ask the local park rangers what type of bear activity has been reported lately. They'll also be able to tell you what they recommend for that area to prevent bear attacks.
  
• Make lots of noise- Making noise will help to alert any nearby bears to your presence and help lessen the chance of a sudden encounter. These sudden encounters are what cause a majority of the reported bear attacks. A startled bear is an angry bear. One way to make noise is to shout, "Yo bear!" every couple seconds. Another is to sing or talk loudly. You can also wear a bear bell, but those aren't super loud and in areas near rivers and streams, probably won't be heard over the rushing water.
• Avoid hiking in the dark- While it may be fun to take a trip off into the brush in the middle of the night, you never know what might be sleeping on the other side of that berry bush.
• Hike in groups- If you're going on your own adventure, then that may be hard, but if you are with a group, stick together. The increased number of people as well as the fact that you will most likely be talking will help to warn a bear you are coming.
• If you come across a cub beware!- Wherever a cub is, a mother bear is sure to be near. Never, I repeat, NEVER get between a mother bear and her cub.
  
• Use a bear box- A bear box, or food storage container, is a thick canister for storing your food in. This will not allow the bear to eat your food and allow you too keep your food a good distance from your tent.
• Cook and camp in different clothes- The clothes you cook in will smell like the food you cooked. This smell will make your tent smell good to a hungry bear. Keep the cook clothes separate and with the food in the bear box.
• Cook away from the tents- Set up a designated cooking and eating area. Only have food in that area. If a bear does come into camp, chances are they'll stay around the area where the food was and leave the tents alone.
  

What to do if you do spot a bear:

• Do NOT run- Bears are fast. Really fast. Even faster than you hyped up on Red Bull and adrenaline. A bear can run at over 40 miles per hour and accelerate from 0-25 mph in around 6 seconds. Trust me, you can't outrun this fellow. A bear also might see you running away as a game or sport. Catch the camper if you will.
• Slowly move away- If you spot a bear and it is unaware of you, slowly back away the way you came. Detour a large distance around the bear or just make camp somewhere else.
  
• Don't move- If a bear does spot you, stop moving and stand still until the bear leaves or moves away. Then slowly back away.
• Play dead- If the bear does become aggressive and attack you, play dead. Curl up on the ground with your knees to your chest and clasp your hands together on the back of your neck.

And most importantly, when in bear country, ALWAYS carry bear spray or pepper spray. You can buy this at any outdoor store. Oh, and make you know how to use it and practice flipping the safety latch off. You don't want to be reading the directions with an angry bear coming at you.

Hope this helps prevent you from running into any bears. Bear attacks are very rare, but never the less it is better to be safe than sorry. Get outside, have fun, and be safe.

My new home

I decided this weekend that it was time for me to buy a lodge. I figured with the housing market exceedingly low that I could afford something.

It had been over 10 years since I purchased my last dwelling. The times have certainly changed since the last time I was shopping.

You may be saying to yourself, "but Casey, 10 years ago you were only 14. How could you afford a house?"

Well, I might have exaggerated "house" a bit. But it is the only dwelling I own, and that is my tent.

I currently own two tents. Both of them from REI. I have a three season one that I backpack with and a four season one for snow and car camping.

My four season tent is the REI Geo Mountain 3. This means that it is for three people (or two people and gear). I love this tent and I actually got it at a huge discount (70% off) when REI closed the Federal Way store. They put the whole store on sale rather than move the gear. It is really a nice tent. But weighs in at just over 10 pounds. In other words it's not for backpacking.

For my backpacking adventures I have the original REI Half Dome. It is around 10 years old and still in great shape. I take good care of the gear I buy. It hold two people. But I have noticed one major drawback with it. The tent works great with just one person in it. But with two people it really condensates.

In the 10 years since I bought that tent, the tent technology has made leaps and bounds. My old Half Dome weighs in at about six pounds.

Now, just like shopping for a new house, choosing the right tent is a huge commitment. I loved my other two REI tents, so that narrowed the market right away. (The main reason for this is the guarantee REI has on its products. The zipper on my rainfly broke. I took it into the REI store, they fixed it up like new and it cost me nothing. Nothing!)

Since I have my larger tent for car camps I decided I would go with a lighter tent than my old Half Dome this time around. That way when I backpack it will shave off a few pounds.

I thought about buying the new REI Half Dome 2 (it's the new version of my old tent) but after looking at it and reading reviews it only lost 3 ounces and still condenstated pretty bad with two in it.

Well, after hours of research and reading review upon review I have found my new home. It is the REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent. This tent is great. It weighs 4 pounds and the sides are fully mesh to allow better ventilation. And the reviews on it are all great. So it's settled, this is the tent for me.

Oh, and it gets better. I just got my REI dividend in the mail. It includes a 20% off coupon. I love saving money.