Mountainsmith Mountain Shelter LT

      Now that I am addicted to elk hunting in Colorado, most of my gear purchases are related directly or indirectly to that passion. One of my recent gear purchases was the Mounstainsmith Mountain Shelter LT. what caught my attention on this tarptent shelter was the weight, the area, and the price.

 Mountain shelter LT weighs in at around 2-pounds including the 15-stakes and guylines. On a recent trip with my wife we got a queen size air mattress in and had room for gear at the foot and in the huge vestibule. The retail price is $129.00
compared to similar products, it is a great value.

Full Weather protection with a huge Vestibule

The mountain shelter LT is a 2-person shelter, or a one person and all your backpack/hunting gear. I am not sure I would want to spend a week in the back country sharing this with another dude. there is enough room, but I wanted something I can put my pack, boots and bow inside each night. I also think that condensation could be problematic in some conditions with 2-people.

I don't carry trekking poles while hunting,But this can be set-up this a ridgeline rope, or there are always sticks in the woods that could be cut to length and the end protected with a patch of duct tape. a small folding saw is probably the route I would take and cut poles on site.

The Mountainsmith Mountain shelter LT compared to Eureka Timberlite3 and Eureka Solitaire

The first official use of this tent was for a family camping trip for trout fishing. my wife and I Used the Mountain Shelter and had lots of room, even with saturated ground and cool damp conditions the tent walls were damp to the touch with condensation, but it was not dripping.

Mountainsmith Mountain Shelter LT with a Kelty Acadia 4-person tent in background.

The next use was on a boy scout camp-out with my son in ground saturated, windy cold conditions. I was the only one sleeping in the tent. The first night was windy with rain sleet and snow. The second night was clear and cold with a temperature of 22 degrees in the morning, and there was light frost on the inside and outside of the tent, however it wasn't excessive, or what I would consider a problem.

There is a lot of room in this tent, But I think condensation may be an issue with 2-men.

I am pleased with this tent, pitching is fast and easy, it is very resistant to the wind
weighs almost nothing and didn't steal too much from my gear funds.
I highly recommend this tent, but I don't think it is for everyone. During the heat of the summer when bugs and spiders are everywhere here in Pennsylvania, I am reluctant to use this tent. high in the mountains of Colorado where bugs are not as numerous I wouldn't hesitate to use it