On today's blog we have a guest author, Sean Jansen.
Sean has been doing incredible journeys for a long time. He has traveled to surf, fish, hike, bike, paddle and more. He has accomplished the PCT trail and paddling the length of the Baja Peninsula.
I had been looking for months, years really. I have long been a soloist in nature, someone who never invites or even considers going on a trip or expedition with someone else. But over time, I began to date and have experiences with partners that wanted to partake in the same activities I did. At first, we would go backpacking or camping and use my one-man tent and cuddle the night away. It was romantic for the first few nights, then after a while the lack of sleep took over and the need for a two-man tent was part of the conversation.
I began looking and was simply appalled at the price tag of the usual name brands that I have used in the past. I always bought their one-man tents and never had an issue with their price. But it was astounding the price jump up to a two-man tent. Even splitting it with a partner was a stretch in the budget. Not to mention whether I even wanted to keep the partner around long enough to justify the purchase. But when Near Zero came across my forefront thanks to The Adventure Source, the shipment was received, and I was happily surprised at their two-man option.
Near Zero has all the usual refinements and design concepts that Big Agnes, MSR, Nemo, and even REI has, but with a price tag that allows you to keep shopping for other gear at the store should you need it. Lightweight camping gear has hit the outdoor industry in stride, but what also followed closely behind it in the race was the outrageous price of these tents. Near Zero showed up out of left field and has been the dark horse in the industry.
I was fortunate enough to take both the tent and my partner on a 600-mile backpacking trip through the rugged terrain of Southern California and we had a joy trekking through the desert, coastline, and the high alpine mountains that make up the geography of the California coast. We encountered rain, thick fog, extreme heat, and even a small flurry of overnight snow. And through all that, this tent shined.
It kept us warm at night when the mercury dropped below numbers beyond comfort, and it had ample space for her and I to stretch out and sleep comfortably without really touching one another. It was sturdy and strong in overnight winds that whipped up out of nowhere, and when grueling through a long and hot day, surpassing 15 miles of hiking, the weight of the system wasn’t noticeable.
Whether you are setting out on your very first backpacking trip or you’re a seasoned vet, there is something to like about this tent, even beyond the price tag. If it’s just an overnighter with your dog, a romantic getaway with your partner, or a weekend with your son or daughter, this tent should be an option worth considering and one that will allow you to enjoy the flexibility of purchasing other gear for your trip without worry of overdrawing your account.
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