BWCA CCS Lean owners, a few questions Boundary Waters Gear Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Gear Forum
      CCS Lean owners, a few questions     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

apk
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
10/10/2019 09:49PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi everyone,
I am hoping a few owners of a Lean 1/2/3 from Cooke Custom Sewing can chime in with some answers to a few questions.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I have really combed this forum and read a lot (maybe most?) of the existing conversations here about the Lean, but still have these questions kicking around.

1. Does the Lean warm up with body heat much?
-
I am used to double-walled tents with pretty snug tarps that can be buttoned up tight in in colder weather, resulting in the inside of the tent getting significantly warmer due to trapped body heat. The Lean, even with the awning flap rigged down, seems much more ventilated. Does it trap heat much? Does it sleep a significantly cooler than a more conventional double-walled, zipped-up-door tent?

2. What size Lean would be about right for a family of 4?
-
I tend to think the Lean 2 will be the best bet for us with a smaller footprint than the Lean 3 but still plenty of room for four people. The Lean 3 I am sure would be really nice, but overall might be a little big if we needed to set up in a tighter spot. We do like a little elbow room and room for a modest amount of gear (a stuff sack per person with spare clothes, book, etc, room for shoes to be kept near the entry). For those that have slept 4 people or a family in a Lean, what size do you recommend?

3. Do you find you really need to set up with the tapered end toward the wind and weather?
-
With a conventional tent I find I can just decide where to orient the door based on where I want my head (higher than my feet) and not worry too much about wind direction. With the lean it seems there might be less freedom in setup, just given requirements for tie outs, slope, wind direction. I might be wrong, but that thought pops into my head. Even with a couple poles to make the setup more terrain independent.

4. Do you sleep with your head near the entry? Or at the tapered end?
-
Sort of related to question #3. Wondering what people do and if you always try to orient a certain way on sloped ground.

Thanks for the input from any CCS Lean owners!
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
10/11/2019 08:01AM  
1. Does the Lean warm up with body heat much?
Not much if any too much volume and single wall.

2. What size Lean would be about right for a family of 4?
My opinion is limited as I used a Lean1+ solo butb did double up in a rainstorm with a paddlig partner and his dog with plenty of room for our packs. I'd think a Lean 2 would do, especially with kid's.

3. Do you find you really need to set up with the tapered end toward the wind and weather?
Not so much. The front awning can be staked out to provide a well angled wind/rain break.

4. Do you sleep with your head near the entry? Or at the tapered end?
Have in the past also angled, but prefer head to front to see out.

Sort of related to question #3. Wondering what people do and if you always try to orient a certain way on sloped ground.
Can't help there as I can sleep in just about any position.



butthead
 
bwcasolo
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
10/11/2019 08:27AM  
ken, do you use the lean anymore these days? do you have the ground cloth, or floor for it?
seem's like a hammock situation, where you need to have the right area to set it up.
I have always thought about having a lean, but then i bought my hammocks.
 
bwcasolo
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
10/11/2019 08:27AM  
 
10/11/2019 12:00PM  
I sold it last year. Fond memories, no complaints, too many tents.
Never had a problem finding a place for it or setting up. Never took pole on canoe trip, did use them if needed truck based camps. I have a bathtub floor from a Golite Shangri-La 1. Still use it when tarp camping.

butthead
 
Northwoodsman
distinguished member(2059)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
10/11/2019 12:34PM  
With the Lean it's easy to close down the ventilation. Many of my tents have a fly that doesn't go all the way to the ground which prevents cutting off the air flow so to answer your question, it depends on the tent that you are comparing it to. If you do cut off the ventilation you will have considerable condensation inside.

I have a Lean 2 and and Lean 3. The Lean 2 is very spacious for 2 adults. You could get 3 in it fairly easy. The Lean 3 is fine for 4 adults and all their gear. The Lean 3 is large (10' x 11.5') so as a sleeping shelter finding a "perfect" site can be a challenge. Finding a level spot for that size is difficult, finding one with the proper trees is difficult at best. I would recommend a set of poles to give you some flexibility.

The pad you have available usually dictates where your head is. The same goes with the orientation for weather.

You can't beat the Lean for the weight and the size. Up north (MN and the BWCA) I really like using them. I live in Texas and I won't use them down here, there are too many critters (snakes, scorpions, tarantula's, etc.).
 
apk
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
10/11/2019 05:59PM  
Thanks for the replies! I appreciate the input. It really does seem like the Lean offers an amazing amount of space for the weight. I think it would work great for my family. Will probably go with a Lean 2 when the time comes.

If any other Lean owners have input I am all ears!
 
stormrider1
senior member (63)senior membersenior member
  
10/13/2019 08:15PM  
1. Does the Lean warm up with body heat much?
I would say not so much.

2. What size Lean would be about right for a family of 4?
We normally have two Adults and all the their gear in a Lean 2, we have fit 4 Adults when another tent sprung a leak on a trip. When I go with my family, 2 Adults and 2 kids and gear fit, but its a little tight, i like to bring a tarp with so i can keep some gear outside the lean.

3. Do you find you really need to set up with the tapered end toward the wind and weather?
No, you can tie the front flap down pretty tight if need be. We are usually at the mercy of what spot is best available to set up in when it comes to orientation.

4. Do you sleep with your head near the entry? Or at the tapered end?
I prefer my head towards opening, but sleep either way depending on location, I would rather have my head on higher ground if their is a slope.

After having the lean I dont see myself going back to a tent anytime soon, it is definitely a little more work to set up, but the weight to space ratio is worth it for me.

 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Gear Sponsor:
Myrmel Maps