Terrific set-up. Thanks!

Should have mentioned the dimensions of the tarp.

"What am I getting myself into !" LOLOL....Natureman, you KNOW we just have to watch and see what you are fixin' to fall into to ! That is one awesome, gnarly trail. The view is spectacular ! What a sense of elation when you reached the rocky-top. Heck yeah, I'd be whooping it up too ! Whoo Hoo !!! I truly love all the trees, so lush in that greenery attire. Looking at the land you are traversing, I wondered about the peoples of the past that lived & explored there. Was glad to hear you use apps to help keep you on trail. It's something I've never used, but in a forest like that I'd sure consider it. That twig stove is awesome. Definitely gets the job done, so lightweight and utilizes natural resources for a fire. This was a fantastic hike. You made it a big success and I enjoyed every minute. So now we know what you "got yourself into ! " Fantastic job Natureman !

Yes, I can see & even feel your frustration. But look at how you initiated a plan "B" ! And your campsite looks cozier than my living room. This video was a good example of how one stays determined and resourceful. How true we encounter unexpected situations in nature, but like you wonderfully showed here, one "rolls with it". And success is the ultimate outcome. This was a great video covering a scenario that wasn't all peaches & cream. But you rose to the top with patience, ingenuity and integrity. So hats' off to you Natureman ! That beautiful lakeside view was stunning and worth all the effort. 🌅🦋🌲

Nice set up and tarp cover there mate , hope you're well mate 👍 atb

I couldn't wait to have time so I could savor this video. Just adore Nature ASMR footage...need that "chill therapy" and this film really provided what the "doctor ordered". It was a beautiful camping spot by the water. Loved the tangled pieces of driftwood lining the beach. Your hammock looked very comfy and no doubt your spirit was refreshed by such a great, peaceful outing. Appreciate you filming and sharing these precious moments in nature. 🏕🌲🐾🙏

Love it. Trade the weight of the rain fly for the tarp and get lots of versatility. Great for those sultry summer nights.

An excellent demonstration showcasing your awesome primitive camp. Like how you explained each facet of the tarp set-up. The way you utilized your trekking stick was totally cool ! Your tarp reminded me of a Stealth Bomber. No taking off at warp speed now Natureman !! 😄 Seriously though, this was a very enjoyable video. ❤🏕

I like this setup Gil. Provides protection from all kinds of weather and also allows you to pack up your gear under the tarp if it’s raining when you leave. Good stuff Brother!

This is the type of setup I used years ago when my wife and was camping a lot. Had a really inexpensive tent from Walmart that lasted for years! Never used the rain fly, set up a tarp overhead (weather determined the configuration) and it worked great! Rain? No problem. Hot sunny day? Kept the sun off of us and the tent perfectly. Snow and/or wind? Pull the tarp down tight and low… perfection! 👍

What a very timely and helpful demonstration with the bivy tent / tarp combination. Sometimes we end up learning by doing things the wrong way or least efficient way. Tenting in the humid summer months is no exception. I have a Coleman Skydome (2) man tent that I love. But I traditionally use it in the cooler months. I decided to try doing an overnight in that tent night before last. It was “dog pant” hot outside and 5 degrees hotter in the tent with absolutely no air movement because of the design of the tent, rain fly and vestibule. Note to self: not a good configuration for hot months in Indiana. I had toyed with the idea of swapping the rain fly out with a flown tarp to optimize the mesh portion of the tent but didn’t act on it. Thanks to you, I will now try. Again… I always appreciate your content, your humility and friendly demeanor. Keep up the good work! 👍

smart setup there

Love your vids. You gotta do an overnight and film it. You can do it! Put this gear to the test! Ps I couldn’t lol.

From what I see this is not a good idea for a three season tent. Watch the outdoor gear review channel and you will find out why this is not a good 3 season tent. Luke knows gear. This tent is not the worst but I won't use it in summer you will roast.

Tent is looking good Gil. I like that it blends into your surroundings and holds up well in the wind. Can’t wait to see you do an overnight adventure Brother!

Definitely blended in well with the surroundings. I like my gear to blend in with my surroundings as much as possible, I prefer not to be seen by others. That of course has its downside should you get lost or go missing… I’ll take my chances. 😉🙃

Yes, the first thing I noticed was how beautifully the tent blended in with the green woodsy environment. I always desire to blend in with nature, not clash with it. Hence really appreciated you brought that point out. Your backback "house" certainly proved to be the ticket for you and your gear with leg room to spare. One can't go wrong with such features and you wonderfully showcased the positive points. A great video that you thoroughly and gently narrated. Thank you Natureman ! I enjoyed this very much.

Greetings Natureman. Am so glad to have come to your channel. Am an adventurer too and primitive camping rocks my world, hence I thoroughly enjoyed this video, the first one I've so far delighted in. Enjoyed your positive & fun attitude which made this tutorial easy to take in. Am honored to sub and learn from your channel. Sincerely, Marilyn.🐸🐢🐍

Good video - greetings from Norway 😀

Outstanding work man, tent looks phenomenal!

Not really buying that this guy really uses stuff like this tent.

Hot summer day, mid 70s. **Laughs in Texan

an inner tent (bathtub floor with a moskitonet on top) is only slightly heavier and way more useful

Nice tent and great job on the video Brother . 👍🏼🤠

good video sir. love from India

Naturehike makes good tents. I have an Opalus 2 and it's great, but you better go over them with a fine toothed comb when you get them because the company does not honor their warranties and if you have a problem after the initial 30 day return period you're screwed. They don't even give you the courtesy of telling you to get stuffed, just flat out ignore you and the reason they do this is because they don't offer replacement parts or repairs. Their sole solution to warranty claims is full product replacement, which they are not going to do if a pole breaks or a stake loop comes unstitched. I had to deal with these people over a Vik1 that developed a tear in the vestibule door. Months and months and got no response at all, not to emails, seller messages or chat attempts, until finally I went to Amazon and told them their third party seller was dodging their warranty and they took the return and refunded my money themselves. Then the carry sack for the Opalus ripped and I tried to get a new one. I was even happy to buy one, and this time I got a response, but the response was "We're just the seller. You need to contact the maker", so I contacted the maker and what did they tell me? "We're just the maker. You need to contact the seller", except the maker *is* the seller. Naturehike is a direct to market company. There is no middle man between the customer and the manufacturer. Really, let my loss be your gain and check every square inch of these tents as soon as you get them.

Looks like a great option!

Reminds me of a certain rock connoisseur he doesn’t rock, but you definitely do! 😁 Always, bringing us witty puns and entertainment, causing us to think outside of the box and get dirty with nature! 🌲⛺️ Never a dull moment with you my fam! And those tent pitching skills will definitely come in handy! 🐊

Looks like a nice lightweight option Gil. For myself I would go two man to have a little more room but I think you’ll be happy with your purchase Brother!

Thank you.

I did this exact same thing a few weeks ago! It works great. Used the poles for porch mode also. Worked great in the rain. (Dropped a corner lower to prevent pooling.) I used some mini carabiners for the tent to prussic on the ridge line and skipped them all together for the tarp. I use a taught line hitch to tighten the tarp. Super effective.

Use smaller tarps to make walls if needed . I have the same tent with a wider tarp & a smaller tarp to block 1 end if needed then I can pull the opposite corners down to make another door / wall

Have you ever been over to Edmonds Hose Trail, where it meets Cedar Swamp road in the Freetown State Forest? It's so beautiful there, as there was a controlled burn a few years back. Unlike most of the forestland around this area, there are views for hundreds of yards, do to the burns and lots of new growth and the Red Pines give the area such character. I was out there today and the sights smells and sounds of birds, along with the quietness of being miles from roadways made me want to stop and just relax with my dog. i would love to be there every day to have my lunch and relax. I think you would love that spot to set up a shelter and have a snack and a nap.

Thats a sweet set-up! Nice to try that subscriber suggestion & give them credit.

I'm happy that you tried my tip :D You know, as long as it's good for you, then everything is OK. I have two more tips to make it even better. A) Use a small wood toggle instead of a carbiner. The pressure will be split better on the loop than the tiny edge from the carbiner. And it's also lighter. B) For the poles. You have one cord attaching it, right? Now what is THE strongest shape in the world? A circle/bubble, right? And what is the second strongest? A triangle. That's why most metallic trusts with triangles. Now, let's apply this to your setup. Your actual setup is *---- *=pole --=cordage So let's do *< this instead. Here's how to do it: I) right now, your rope is in line with the loop from the tarp, right? So let's move it either to the right or left. Your choice. Once done, it'll be wobbly and that's ok, we'll fix that next. II) take a second rope and attach it to the pole either with a bowline or a clove hitch, then take the other end to the ground ans stake it so you'll have a triangle with the other rope. The thing is to have TWO cords going to the top of your pole, and those poles making a V. So the top of your triangle is the pole where the two ropes meets, and the bottom of the triangle is on the ground and formed by the two cords stakes wide appart. Want something ever way more cool? You can do the same without any trees. Here's how. Some will set like this ----*--------*---- ---- is the cordage going to the ground * is the trekking pole ------- cordage going from a pole to the other * trekking pole ---- cordage to the ground. Everything is in-line and it's not the best. For my setup you need 3 ropes. One long one and two forter ones. a) set your tent b) stake a pole at each ends (length wise) c) take the longest rope and make a clove hitch on the right pole, making sure to leave enouch length so it can reach the ground at an angle, not straight! d) go to the other pole and do the same e) now, take the left over rope from the left and stake it at an angle to the RIGHT f) do the same on the other end but on the LEFT So you'll have rope starting form the ground on the left, going to the trekking pole, then straight over the tent to the 2nd trekking pole and then going right to the ground. Now let's secure that. g) take a shorter length of rope, make a bowline then pass that loop on top of the pole. This way, the bowline is on top of the already set rope so it can't slip down. Magic! f) take the remaining rope and stake it at the opposite angle from the one already staked it has to be like this >*--- h) do the same on the other end. So the result will be: >*------*< instead of ---*------*--- i) Now, place your tarp on top of the highly secured ridgeline and use prussik knots to make it tight j) add a rope at each corner of your tarp and stake them at an angle. True story: I once knew I'd be on rocky ground and it was going to be very windy that day. So first, I brought extra long and heavy duty metallic stakes. Second, I did the above mentioned setup and made sure the ridgeline was almost flush with the tent and set everything tight. i also used small bungee cords to stake the tarp so it'll have a slack under windy condition instead of tearing appart my tarp. Then I left for a hike. On my way back, the weather got real bad. I mean REAL BAD! Extremely high winds. I met few people camping at the same spot and all were in despair because their tents got ripped appart. But.... not mine! My setup saved the day and my tent & tarp were the only one who performed 100% that day. P.S. I'm going to make that setup, take pictures and email them to you

Nicely done, I have also got myself the items to make this same setup but haven’t done it yet. Perfect timing 👍🇨🇦

Great setup

Oh man! This is a gorgeous location, reminds me of a scene in Jurassic Park! I keep expecting a velociraptor to come charging out of the background! 😅 🤣

Nicely done mate, that's a really nice set up , atb 🏕 👍

some cool views there bud

Some really interesting areas for you to enjoy Gil. I like your new stove Brother!

More great spots to explore! Really like the large flat rock, cool spot to hang out. Thanks for the adventure! 🙃

Nice hike and video 👍

To be honest, it's not the wrong campsite.... First, why using those poles to support the mesh??? You have a perfect ridgline! Just add two prusik knots to the ridgeline then use a small stick to link the loop of the prusik to the loop of the mesh. And that's it. Faster, more stable, less gear. As for the bottom corner of the mesh. Either bring steel pegs (some Dollar stores sells big heavy metal ones at 4 for $3), or add a longer cord to the loops and anchor them to a rock. And that's it, you're all set! Besides that, you had a giant log you could have attacjed two of the loops to. Also, for the two big poles you've brought. You've made the classic mistake of anchoring them with one cord only and inline. Bad.... The best way is to use three cords in a V patern (>-----< and not +------+), or you can use just one. 1st OPTION: V SHAPE USING THREE CORDS This setup is using a ridgeline to link and anchor both poles. And two small cords, one at each end to set a V shape anchoring. You only need to know three knots: tensioning knot, bowline, and the clove hitch Stick the trekking poles in the ground where you want them. If the ground is too hard or you have regular poles, then just use some rocks of logs to hold them still the time you install the cordage. Go to the first pole, then make a clove hitch on the pole, leaving enough length to reach the ground and some more. Now here's the "pro trick": take that additional length and attach it to a stake using a tensionning knot. BUT NOT in a straight line with the planned ridgeline. Stake it at a 45 degree from the ridgeline. Then, use a small cord and make a bowline that you'll pass around the same pole. Then, go stake it to the ground at the opposite 45 degree angle. This way you'll have two cords, at a V angle reaching the top of the pole. Next, do the same on the opposite side. So it will look like this: >-------< 2nd OPTION: V SHAPE WITH 5 CORDS Same as the first option. But you set a ridgeline linking both poles, then use two small cords on each side for the V-anchoring. The first version is faster, more stable, and uses less cords.

Tarp tents do tend to be lighter, but its freestanding tents for me. The advantage for me is simplicity. When I get to camp I don't want to have to fiddle with trekking poles and guy lines and having to stake the tent out to give it shape. The poles on a freestanding tent do all that for me, just click the segments together and insert into the grommets on the four corners. Very simple and very quick to set up. I never stake my tent down as there really isn't a need to unless you are in an exposed area with high wind. Also a freestanding tent can squeeze into a tighter spot since you don't need clearance for guy lines. I personally think freestanding tents perform better in bad weather. Great video and good luck with your purchase!

That's a nice cook kit... but that little hangout spot under a roof is great! I could hang out there all day! Especially on a rainy day... perfection! Great spot to review gear as well. You certainly do find yourself some great spots to explore and hang out for the day.

Whats up Brother ...Good to see you out enjoying yourself . Having different cooking options is a great idea .

Free standing tent for me. Always. Back when my wife and I were camping a lot we used a cheap ($30) two person tent from Walmart for almost 10 years! I never used the rain fly, but I’d set up a large tarp over the tent for protecting if it rained or snowed, kept the sun off the tent in the warmer months and it worked incredibly well. That setup lasted for 10 years till we stopped going camping. I always bought cheap free standing tents because I ALWAYS had a tarp setup over it.

Lots of joy with your adventures, nice set-up for summer, but what about the mosquitoes?

Lovely demonstration man, your content is always appreciated!