As public lands gain popularity due to exposure on social media and attention from retailers like Patagonia and REI, more people are beginning to explore our revered and oft-fought-for wilderness. Outdoors amateurs and tenured travelers alike are stepping into the wild to experience nature at its best—without roads and with all the fun challenges inherent in being away from home.
As we leave the city lights in the rearview mirror and begin exploring, having a reliable shelter for the long nights is a priority. A wall tent fits the bill, providing many features that benefit all varieties of outdoor recreation. From bowhunting to backpacking, a wall tent is the base camp that morphs an overnight trip in the great outdoors into a great overnight trip in the outdoors.
For an outdoors amateur, a wall tent is a nice transition to spending the night outside. Much like a micro-cabin, these tents have four walls and a 9’ ceiling so you can stand at full height. They easily fit bunk cots and some are designed to accommodate a wood-burning stove.
Those who are well-versed in outdoor recreation will appreciate the thoughtful features of a Barebones tent. Take, for example, the Barebones Outfitter Tent and the Barebones Lodge Tent: they each feature breathable nylon-polyester fabric and screened-in doors and windows that make it easy to regulate the temperature inside the tent. Barebones shelters also include an innovative extended tub-style floor that attaches one-foot up the tent’s walls, keeping both bugs and moisture from creeping in. Amateur campers will feel comfortable knowing there won’t be uninvited guests crawling into the tent, and if the weather turns for the worst, the basin floor will keep running water at bay so your bedding and equipment stay dry. You can also wander in and out of the tent freely as the doors feature magnetic closures that help prevent flying friends from crashing the party.
Barebones wall tents are mildew-resistant, antimicrobial, and provide all-weather protection thanks to the treated, custom nylon-polyester fabric. The rooftop can hold a 1,000-lb snow load and is rubberized to ensure all rain and snow will slide off and the roof won’t collapse or absorb moisture. For short-term camping trips, the durability and breathability of the fabric is a nice perk, but for hunters or landowners that are looking for a permanent tent structure, Barebones’ unique fabric is the difference between pitching a tent every visit and leaving one up for as long as necessary.
Maintaining heat in a lodge tent is crucial if you are planning to hunt or hike in all seasons, so Barebones fabric is also fire retardant. A custom flame-retardant stove mat and a pre-cut ventilation port allow for a wood stove in the corner. If you are using a wood-fired stove, you can sleep soundly and comfortably as the stove heats the tent inside and the vents pull the smoke outside. If you prefer to use electricity, there is an access panel to run cables from either an exterior generator or solar panels.
Assembling a wall tent like the Barebones Outfitter is second nature for enthusiasts, but can be an effort for first-timers. Fortunately, the result is well worth the work. The rigid structure can withstand winds up to 90 miles per hour when staked and tied down with the included nylon cords. In inclement weather especially, the relief of knowing you’ll be returning to a stable, comfortable lodge tent for the night is immense.
Barebones tents boast a tool-free setup, which means you won’t have to pack additional gear. The lightweight aluminum poles lock into place with a snap; when it’s time to clean up, the entire tent breaks down into three durable bags with easy-carry handles.
Hunters and backcountry skiers or campers can use the Barebones tent as a base camp or outpost. Store your tools and gear in the tent in the off-season and then revisit your premium location and resume camping as if you’d been there yesterday. The Barebones shelters have more than 120 square feet of floor space with 9-foot pitched ceilings and 6-foot walls, making it easy for you to spread out and stand up. Up to eight men can sleep comfortably in the Barebones tents, and creative campers can fit even more overnight guests.
Because they are so long-lasting and durable, Barebones tents are also used as shelters for humanitarian efforts through a partnership with Tifie Humanitarian, a group that works to give displaced people essential amenities like shelter, power, water, food, and education. Barebones and Tifie have worked together to provide 290 shelters abroad across Jordan, Fiji, The Philippines, Nepal, and Syria, as well as domestically in California and Puerto Rico. Similarly, if you live in a natural-disaster-prone area or simply value emergency preparedness, a Barebones shelter is a valuable asset (and our unmatched warranty adds another layer of peace of mind). Store it in its carrying bags and you’ll be able to quickly access it and take it with you should the need strike.
Setting up a Barebones Lodge or Outfitter tent lets you come and go. Even with months between visits, you can always return to a comfortable oasis in nature. For landowners that want to have a long-term structure without building a micro-cabin or outpost, the Barebones wall tent provides sufficient refuge from the weather and doesn’t need to be covered or put away during the interims. For those looking to prosper from their home-away-from-home, the Barebones tent can be used as an Airbnb location or a temporary rental for guests, as well as an extra room for visiting family.
Regardless of the activity, every person should make time to unwind in the great outdoors. Heading to the backcountry for mountain biking, hiking, or even hunting has the power to alter how our brains work. A semi-permanent tent makes for a great night’s sleep for outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen that want to experience the myriad benefits of getting away—including seeing nature in its rawest form, developing new skills, and sleeping under the stars.
