Welcome Home!

“You’re hiking the AT? That’s so cool….but seriously? You’re going to live in a tent for five months?”

Of all of the people that I talk to about the fact that I am going to hike the AT, this is a pretty common question I get asked. Yes, I’m going to live in a tent. Yes, even when it storms. Yes, even though there are bears in the woods. Yes, even when its cold. Yes, even if Harrison and I are mad at each other (well, I will be, he can sleep outside 🙂 )!

That being said, a tent is a pretty important purchase. Harrison and I spent weeks doing research on different brands and weighing out the quality, price, and weight of all of the options we came across. Since we will be hiking as a pair, we decided that while weight is incredibly important, we would be willing to sacrifice a bit in that department in order to optimize the quality and price. After a ton of debating and arguing, we finally settled on a winner: an REI Half Dome 2

REI Half Dome 2 in True Teal

So far we love it! It weighs in at about 4lbs 10oz, but it packs down nicely, and with one of us carrying the tent, and the other one carrying the sleeping bag, it makes the weight less than if we were each carrying a solo tent and sleeping bag. Set up and take down is a breeze, it only takes about 2 minutes with the two of us. When assembled, it is super strong and sturdy, holding up amazingly to wind and rain. After a night in 100% humidity, we had absolutely no condensation on the inside of the tent. There are two vestibules, each offering a huge amount of covered space, enough for all of our gear and then some. Even with the rain fly on, the tent still allows for a bit of air circulation. The inside of the tent is spacious, more than enough space for the two of us. The multiple color options is a huge plus, and we get to rep our UNCW teal! Go Seahawks! REI is such an awesome brand. This tent is a steal compared to similar models. Plus, as REI members, we get 10% back on all purchases in a yearly dividend. I want to buy everything they have, all I want for any holiday from here on out is money to spend at REI.

Getting to know my soon to be home…

Overall, super happy with this tent so far! Every time we get a new piece of gear it feels like Christmas. It also makes this whole thing feel more and more real and less like a crazy dream. THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING!