Andrew Skurka on the Best Backpacking Tents for Any Adventure

If you're interested in joining a guided wilderness expedition lead by Andrew Skurka, go to: https://bit.ly/49uZ4NB Your tent is one of the most important aspects of your backpacking gear list. Picking the wrong tent for your trek isn't just an expensive mistake -- it can mean extra weight, poor pitches, poor sleep, or even leave you cold, wet, and miserable in the wrong conditions. So, in this video Andrew Skurka breaks down everything you need to know about picking the perfect backpacking shelter for your backpacking trip or thru-hike. In this video, Skurka covers: - How to Choose the Best Backpacking Tent for Any Trail or Climate — How to match your shelter to real-world conditions like bugs, wind, rain, humidity, snow, and long-distance hiking goals. - Single Wall vs Double Wall Tents: Which Backpacking Shelter Is Better? — He breaks down the pros and cons of single-wall and double-wall tents, including setup speed, condensation management, weight savings, and comfort. - Best Tent Fabrics for Backpacking: Silnylon, Silpoly, and Dyneema Explained — Modern tent materials, covering waterproofing, durability, stretch resistance, snow performance, and why Dyneema shelters cost more. - Trekking Pole Tents vs Freestanding Tents for Thru-Hiking — Andrew discusses the biggest differences between trekking-pole shelters and traditional pole-supported tents, including weight, interior space, and ease of setup. - How to Prevent Tent Condensation While Backpacking — He shares practical condensation prevention tips like campsite selection, airflow management, thermal cover, and shelter ventilation strategies. - Best Ultralight Tent Setups for the Appalachian Trail, PCT, and CDT — Andrew recommends specific shelter systems for major long-distance trails, including hammocks, tarp-and-bivy setups, mids, and lightweight single-wall tents. - The Most Important Backpacking Tent Features for Comfort and Performance — The video covers key shelter considerations such as interior room, stormworthiness, bug protection, ventilation, and weight efficiency. - How Tent Weight Impacts Backpacking and Thru-Hiking Performance — Why ultralight shelters matter for thru-hikers but why heavier, roomier tents can improve comfort on casual backpacking trips. - Expert Reviews of Popular Ultralight Backpacking Tents — Rapid-fire opinions on shelters from brands like Durston, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, and Mountain Laurel Designs, highlighting real-world strengths and weaknesses. - Why Tent Stakes and Guylines Matter More Than Most Backpackers Think — Andrew finishes with advice on stake selection, guylines, pitching techniques, and why your shelter is “only as good as your weakest stake.” Photo and field video credit to Andrew Skurka. Check out Andrew Skurka Adventures 👉 @skurkaadventures Check out Andrew's personal channel 👉 @skurkaandrew Read the full article on The Trek 👉 https://thetrek.co/andrew-skurka-on-mastering-ultralight-tents-shelters/ Follow Andrew on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/andrewskurka/ If you're thru-hiking this or next year and you're interested in blogging or vlogging for The Trek, start here 👉 https://thetrek.co/thru-hiker-resources/apply-to-be-a-blogger-vlogger-the-trek/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Instagram @thetrek.co 👉 https://www.instagram.com/thetrek.co Follow us on Facebook at The Trek 👉 https://www.facebook.com/theTrek.co/ Are you thru-hiking in the near future? Consider blogging for The Trek! 👇 https://thetrek.co/thru-hiker-resources/apply-to-be-a-blogger-vlogger-the-trek/ Get the best from The Trek every week, directly to your inbox: https://linkly.link/2G2v6 Check out our suggested Appalachian Trail & Pacific Crest Trail Gear Lists AT: https://thetrek.co/thru-hiker-resources/appalachian-trail-faq/ PCT: https://thetrek.co/pacific-crest-trail-thru-hike-gear-list/ ------------------------------------------------------------- #backpacking #hiking #camping #thruhike #hike #ultralightbackpacking #howto #campinglife #hikingadventures #campinggear #backpackingtips #hikingtips #campingtips #backpackinggear #andrewskurka #mountains #appalachiantrail #pacificcresttrail