Gear review for the CCS Lean 2 Plus shelter

CCS Lean Webpage

I had actually been coveting one of Dan's Tundra Tarps. The major downside I kept coming back to was the lack of protection from skeeters. I know there are other ways to deter the pests but I've been trapped under a tarp and feasted upon in spite of full sleeves, bug dope and cigars. This led me to look at the Lean Plus series of shelters. I waited til the Midwest Mountaineering Spring Outdoor Expo-when I could wait no longer. I snooped around Dan's booth and generally creeped out Dan and Dave. I was partly waiting for an appearance from bogwalker or other celebrity BWCA.comer. After all the time spent loitering and asking questions and formulating the plan to explain my purchase once home I made the purchase. Dave Morlock (sp?-Mr Cook's helper) kept telling me to get the Lean 2 Plus and that I wouldn't regret it. He prophetically stated that I'd leave my tent at home. The Lean 2 Plus could fulfill my needs for both a shelter to sleep in and someplace to escape the bugs/rain during the day.

The Lean 2 Plus is a minimalist shelter-weighing in at 50oz (a hair over 3#). The space to weight ratio cannot be beat! It is constructed with 1.1 oz silicone coated cloth for it's waterproof-ness, durability and lightweight. The real weight savings with this shelter comes from the single wall construction and lack of poles. The lean shelter is essentially hung from a ridgeline (approximately 5' off ground) tied between 2 structures (trees, optional poles, improvisation encouraged). The ground perimeter of the structure is staked out and the body and awning are guyed out to create a huge space. The lean 2 plus is 7 feet wide at the ridgeline (after being staked out its about 9 feet wide at ground level of entrance/bottom of the zipper) approximately 8'8" deep (from the ridgeline) plus up to another 5 feet under the awning. That makes for a sheltered area up to 9' x almost 14'. The optional footprint for the Lean 2 plus is 7'x 10'. At 70 ft^2 the square footage is bigger than any 3 person tent. When you consider the actual square footage being more like 80 enclosed plus up to another 35 of awning coverage you're talking about a structure labeled for 2 that in reality could house a small army. The Plus designation means that the shelter has sod cloths around the perimeter and a zipup bug screen.

As there are no poles you will be relying on a lot of rope. I highly recommend the reflective rope Dan sells. At least 2 hanks (80' lengths). The reflective rope is super easy to see at night if you're wearing a headlamp. The plain yellow rope appears to be high quality as well but you're liable to get clotheslined if you're not careful because there will be a few ropes strung.

I have taken the Lean 2 Plus on 3 trips this season. It never got out of my pack for the fishing opener. It has really shined on the last 2 trips though.

At the beginning of June I led a group of 4 to Gabbro. We raced the rains to a campsite and promptly erected the Lean 2 Plus. At the time the wind was not an issue but I am thankful that we set it up with the opening facing north. We hung the ridgeline between 2 trees and used prussiks on that ridgeline to keep it from sliding and keep it taut. We staked out the perimeter and hunkered down for a couple hours of rain. The four of us spent the hours under the shelter dry and protected from bugs. I made a couple ventures into the woods to retrieve firewood and was able to drag a couple logs back and saw them under the awning. Firewood was split and then stacked under the shelter to keep it dry. We had a great fire that night! The following day the winds from the south really picked up. I am guessing 30-40+ mph gusts at times. Thankfully our pitch of the Lean 2 was aerodynamically sound with the long sloping face into the wind and the opening leeward. At one point a gust caused 4 stakes to pull from the ground. The Lean 2 nearly took off-looking like a parachute being deployed. But the ridgeline kept it in place and it sustained no damage whatsoever. At that point we got serious about staking it out and guyed it out from multiple points. I was worried I might just have to take it down because of the southern exposure and no good place to pitch the shelter out of the wind. But it shed the strong winds after that for 2 straight days without blinking. We didn't sleep in it on this trip but did some cooking and enjoyed its comforts very much.

On my most recent trip the Lean 2 Plus served as my sleeping quarters primarily. Were it not for the beautiful weather we were going to use it as a daytime rain/bug shelter as well. We moved everyday on our route from Ram Lake through the Misquah Hills, Winchell, Brule and back out through Bower Trout. This meant that I got a lot of practice pitching and taking down the shelter. At every campsite we found a good spot to pitch the Lean 2 Plus (with an enclosed flat sleeping surface large enough for at least 1). Sometimes I had a "nightstand" stump or a small spruce in the shelter with me:) I did not bring any poles. With "strategically placed" trees (God wanted me to pitch the shelter here I remember thinking) and some creativity I was able to string a ridgeline rope and pitch the shelter without much difficulty (1 man job). I will mention here-learn the trucker's hitch knot-it is the bomb and I use it all the time now-you can find the instructions on the CCS website. Frankly I really enjoyed the engineering and creativity needed to pitch the shelter! Tear down was also easy. The stuff sack makes compression a piece of cake. While the shelter often was put away dewy-it dried quickly. The sod clothes and bug screen kept me bug-bite free at night. I slept on a ground cloth (purchased separately) which kept me dry from dew as well. Because the floor is separate from the body of the shelter you may have an ant crawl in or over you and my one lingering concern is for mice wandering in-especially come fall when they seem to show up in plague proportions.

Overall I am super impressed with the Lean 2 Plus. Solid construction and durability. Setup and tear down is easy and kinda fun! In the future I will probably be leaving the old tent at home more often (Dave was right). We will have to see about the fall though because I had a hard time sleeping with the mice climbing the tent walls last fall and I am sure they would find there way into the Lean 2 Plus. A relatively minor concern.

I should also mention that customer service has been great and it is a pleasure to buy from a fellow paddler and one who supports our forum.

All in all I highly recommend the Lean 2 Plus shelter (and all of Dan's products for that matter). They work-period.

tg

As a Lean 1 Plus owner I agree with everything you said. I may never take a tent to the BW again.

I purchased the poles that Dan sells to go with the Leans. They work great, but I don't think I'm going to bring them in a few weeks just to save on some weight. They really are not that necessary. P.S. tg...now that's what I call a gear reveiw. Good job.

I am a Lean 3 Plus owner and could not have said it better than TG. We used ours for 3 nights on Sawbill in July for the family of 5, yes 5. Cant go wrong with CCS gear!
CB

Great gear. My friend Larry has one we have used often and it is great!!! Dan makes some great stuff.

Sorry TG-never made it to the expo this year. You would have been waiting along time.

I like the idea of bringing it as a screen room durig bug season even if you dont sleep in it. Consider me pushed over the proverbial purchasing edge. Thank you

PJ just like the extra room for Baxter!
Great review of an excellent shelter.

butthead

Awesome detailed gear review. I would definately consider purchasing one of these and have been thinking about off and on for a year or so. I am a big fan of CCS gear and have two of the packs and a tundra tarp.

Thanks

butthead...is it 20-Sept yet?

Intriguing.

PJ...sure seems like it, just packed for the 3rd time!

"will we get to sit in jail that week"

butthead

I haved used my Lean 2 plus for about two years, and about ten trips now both solo and tandem with the misses and haven't used a tent since. With some practice setup is fast. I do like bringing Dans lite weight poles I believe the weight is minimal and the gain can be alot on some campsites. I have a Lean1 that I have used on some winter camping trips and backpacking outings and it also works great.

I have a lean one plus. I love the shelter and the quality. I have used it all summer and like it when my boy and I go. It does take a lot of rope and a bunch of stakes to get it taunt and really wind resistant. It takes me much longer to set up than a tent, but it is much bigger shelter. I like the flap in the front, good on a rain bound day.

i couldnt get beyond the rodent thing. :)

Would a wood stove fit inside the bigger one for winter camping?

glad you guys enjoyed!

bigzig-i'm sure there is plenty of space BUT not sure you would want to use a wood stove in there-not sure how the siliconized nylon would stand up to a spark or accidental brush up against the hot stove-prolly not well. canvas would probably be more durable and insulate better too. that question may be best directed to Dan Cooke himself-but maybe someone here has tried it before.

tg

tg,

He may not be a BWCA.com "celebrity", but Dave Morlock is quite a celebrity on the Canoe Country Bulletin Board and elsewhere. Some may recognize his Board Name, "Beaglefur". His photos are often in the Boundary Waters Journal and elsewhere. He builds fine cedar strip canoes including "Becca" (nibi mocs' canoe). He is also a guide.

You'll find that the Minnesota canoe industry really isn't that large and that all these guys all know each other and often help one another out.

I believe it is Dave who is the photographer of one of Bell's full page advertisements (seen in the BWJ, etc.) and his "helper" for that is his model paddling a Bell, Dan Cooke.

Great review of the Lean 2.

Hey Bannock-Dave was a great help and it was clear that he is a wealth of information and experience. I love the information and answers I get from the online paddling community but I really value the relationships you can build with kindred spirits (online or in person at expos or stores). I met a great paddling partner here last year and I look forward to meeting more of you guys!

tg

Someone have a picture of this?

I have probably gone a bit soft - the no floor shelter was what I started camping in over 50 years ago and quickly gave up for a floored shelter as soon as finances allowed.

I am also a big fan of CCS, and know their products to be of high quality but as kanoes stated, "the rodent thing" is bothersome - heck we had a mouse chew/bore a hole in the side of our tent and absolutely nothing in the tent to eat.

The other concern is that of torrential rain, our trip a couple of weeks ago had a storm drop 2.5" in under 4 hours, far faster than the ground could absorb in a timely fashion. Our tent had a tub floor which was floating where no weight kept it down. Not a drop inside and in time all was well. Agreed, this maybe an extreme example, but it does occur.(Rains of Sept.07)

This shelter has appeal, being made by CCS, the quality is assured. I just have a couple of concerns that will for the time being keep me in a floored tent.
Boppa

excuse my hair

Most people put a footprint under their tent anyways. Just put the footprint in side of the lean on top of the ground flaps. It will keep the rain out just as well as a bathtub tent.

tg,

Great review. Thanks for taking the time to post your experiences with the Lean Plus. I have been interested in this shelter for awhile and whether it would suit my camping needs. I'm wondering how the awning attaches to the main body when you need to "button up" for bad weather. It's not too apparent in the pictures. It looks like there are nylon webbing loops on both edges, similar to my Tundra Tarp? Do you have to run line through the loops? How do you secure it and is it fairly weather tight if you have wind hitting the door area from the front? Is it easy to secure the awning to the tent body from the inside? It looks like the mosquito netting is zippered to the main body? Does this make it difficult to get to the awning's closure points? Thanks for your help and any clarification you can offer about closing off the Lean Plus to bad weather.

cw

hey CW-
good questions! you are correct that the screen door zips to the main body of the lean 2-two full height zippers one on each side allow you to enter from either side. if the bugs aren't bad/existant you can unzip it and roll the screen up. in terms of the awning it is cut to be at least a foot wider at its far end versus the end that is attached to the structure (at the ridgeline). this allows you to have the awning extend beyond the sides of the lean's opening (that is if you stake out the sides close to vertical from the ridgeline or just a little bit flared). the awning is the same height as the structure so will reach the ground if you need it. there are loops sewn into the lean 2 at many positions for guying out but they are not really for attaching the awning to the lean 2 proper-or at least i don't think that's what they were designed for. what i have done is tie out from the corners of the awning to stakes in the ground maybe a couple feet in front of the door opening. this leaves a narrow tunnel like path to get in or out from either side of the structure. setup like this there is little room for water to enter. with the size of the shelter you will be sleeping well away from the entrance. short of a very horizontal rain/snow this will keep you high and dry. if you pulled the awning all the way to the ground you could be totally enclosed with it wrapping part way around the sides. you would still be staking down to the ground most likely in this scenario. i am not sure how to explain it better-you can check the CCS website for some more info-scroll over the pics for a schematic drawring i believe. otherwise if you are in the twin cities and want to come over to see it some dry day you can help me set it up in the backyard. take care-
tg

Sat out a 'hellacious blow' on Horse Lake Sept. 26th, facing into the wind! Had the awning staked with 3 lines about a foot long [narrow tunnel]. With the screen zipped, stayed dry 2 ft. back from the screen. Biggest problem was dealing with water running under the 'Lean+', pay attention to the ground tarp and gear on the ground.
Still VERY happy with my 'Lean 1+'!


butthead

Being 6'5" tall, I REEEEAAAALY wish there were a 6' tall version of the Leans. I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

Leaning over to walk inside is tough on an old back.

Ken

Ken,
I would see if Dan could make you one a little taller. I have a Lean 1+ and love the shelter. Lots of room for the weight.

tg,

Thanks for your very clear explanation of how the front door buttons up for bad weather. I'm surprised the ground water run off has been a problem for some. I would assume the topsoil would absorb it pretty quickly? I think a ground cloth is a must anyway to keep your sleeping bags clean. These Lean Plus shelter appeals to me because I like the idea of walking into the front end with your boots on, not worrying about tracking in sand and dirt. I also like to boil my water for some coffee while I'm still in my bag. The floor-less shelter with a five foot height at the entrance would make this fairly safe with a canister stove. Yes, I got a caffeine problem I need to support.

cw

CW

Topsoil? What topsoil? Run off can be a real problem. Just be careful where you place your tent or Lean.

A 'true friend' will also share his tent when a river runs through yours! Thanks PJ!

butthead

I wasn't going to bring it up :) And you're welcome.

this thread is making me take my old eureka lean-to out of mothballs...it will be coming along in may now. best 40 bucks ive ever spent.

Jan-as much as I love my Taj3 I'm not sure how many more trips it will make to the BWCA-I love the Lean2!

I almost forgot another update...(trip report to follow)

Got the Lean 2 Plus out again the second weekend of October. Recalling the plagues of mice we endured last fall north of Mudro I was a little nervous about not having a zipper and bathtub floor between me an the vermin. But I left the tent at home and went with just the Lean 2 Plus. It would serve as my night quarters and daytime shelter out of the rain for the 3 in our party. My buddies cuddled in their tent up the hill.

The Lean 2 shined once again! It was the MVP (Most Valuable Pieceofgear) on our trip. It was a pretty wet weekend but everything under the Lean including me and all of our gear stayed nice and dry. Even in a sometimes horizontal rain. Thankfully there was a good place to pitch it that was neither a valley nor river bed for runoff rain. We spent much of our time under the shelter. Cooking, drinking, bullsh#@%ing. We stacked our split firewood under the awning to keep it dry and were able to maintain a fire (outside the Lean) this way in spite of periods of heavy rain.

I didn't see any mice in the shelter which was one of my fears going in. Maybe the sodclothes deter them? Certainly the open bug screen didn't though (rolled up the whole weekend). I don't know if I'll be able to take a trip without it now!

tg

Any new updates?

At canoecopia, I was facinated with CCS and the Lean 3 plus. I thought of using it as a primary shleter for trips with the guys. My wife could not get past the "security" of a real tent.

But now, my wife is asking (really demanding) some sort of bug shelter. We are taking 6 kids who really get eaten up. She wants some place to hide from the bugs for the few times a day when they get really bad.

So, should I buy a Lean 3 as a bug/rain shelter?

definately! (and i dont even own one...yet) the lean 1 plus is next on my must have list.

Mad,
As I have stated above I have a Lean 1 plus. I love the shelter as a main shelter for light weight trips or trips where I need the extra room. This shelter works great as a lounging area in blowing snow, rain or buggy areas. They pack really small and if it is going to be buggy, it may replace the tarp. Plenty of room to eat in or hang out under.

Mad_Angler; I'd say yes for sure! My 'Lean 1+' has become my primary camping shelter, chosen over, Eureka's Mountain Pass Solo or 4 person Alpine Meadows, Walrus Hurricane Hole, for myself or with a friend.
If you just want to use it as a rain shelter, roll up the screen and hang it high for more headroom. If the bugs get bad lower it, stake it and zip it up.

butthead

Mad-
i was up early this week and have never seen such horrific mosquitoes. we had the taj3 to sleep in and the lean 2 plus for hanging out and cooking in. it didn't rain on us but the lean 2 plus (plus includes screen and sod cloth) was worth its weight in gold. we were reluctant to ever leave the lean. i have used it a couple times as a primary shelter (to sleep in)-otherwise it has come with me on nearly every trip just for bugs/rain. in terms of size the leans give unparalleled coverage/weight. i've had 4 adults comfortably sitting and eating under the lean 2. could easily sleep 3 under it-probably even 4. for your large group the lean 3 might be the way to go. i've been thinking the lean 1+ might be adequate for my needs (usually 2 paddlers-probably just me and the dog sometimes in the future).

fwiw-i bought the ground cloth for the lean 2 but I am thinking about using a bivy in the future if i sleep in it. for cooking/escaping bugs or rain there is no need for the ground cloth.

tg

My wife is thinking that a Lean3 might be a bit claustrophobic. She is thinking of a more open screen tent. I really want the lean3...

Do folks find the Lean 3's to be claustrophobic?

My lean 1 plus is large enough for sleeping two and a dog. Three can hang out under easily. The lean 3 is huge! The benefit of the lean over the tundra tarp with screen is that the leans can be useful in snow and blowing rain as well. I have used my lean in the winter and it works great. Thinking about having Dan put a stove boot in it. Lean is much more flexible for mutiple seasons.

Thanks for the thoughtful and detailed review TG. I see one in my future someday and it's nice to hear how much you've enjoyed yours.

mad-like kyle said the lean 3 is huge! with the awning out a 15' x 10' footprint (~10 x 10 enclosed and protected from buggers with the screen down). i have never felt claustrophobic in my lean 2. in fact they feel very open and light. mine is white which lets a lot of light in and allows you to see out a bit. i will say that the silnylon does not like to breath so if it is hot/sunny out it can get a bit warm under the lean. you might also look at dan's screen tents (essentially a tundra tarp (flat square tarp) with 6' screen walls). it will be heavier, more vulnerable to wind and not useful as a primary sleeping shelter but it will have a ton of space, higher ceiling, feel "less" claustrophobic and probably stay a bit cooler even on a sunny/hot/still day.

if you are in the twin cities you are welcome to check out or borrow my lean 2+ plus

tg

I just received my Lean 1 plus a few weeks ago. So far, so good. It's sort of like having a Bill Mason campfire tent that weighs less than forty pounds. Even the "one" takes a larger tent pad than the average two-person tent and I think I will order the pole set for the tent to give me more pitching options.

waterdog....I recommend the pole set. With the pole set you can set up the Lean without tying off on trees.

the poles are nice-i bought one so I could dry it out in my backyard after trips but i never bring it up north because i can always find a few decent trees between which to string a ridgeline. i will say that the perfect trees have not been right next to the fire so if you want it setup near the fire grate the poles might come in handy.

tg

Question for the Lean Plus owners. How effective are these shelters for keeping out the mosquitos and flies? I can't tell if the front screen panel has that same strip of ground cloth sewn into the bottom?

Thanks,
CW

hey CW-the lean plus is pretty effective at keeping the skeeters out. not 100% because sometimes they will find their way in under the sod clothes/front but thats not many we're talking about. you probably let more in when you unzip the door to enter/exit and that is an issue with any tent. the front/screen panel does have a strip of cloth about 12" x width of lean-color matching the body of the lean (the sod clothes are usually a different color red or green). this strip of fabric when the door is zipped closed is partially vertical and partially laying on the ground like the sod clothes and helps seal things up.

hth

tg

tg and other Lean+ owners,

How does this shelter work in 20 degree temps. Is condensation a problem for fall camping?

I have used mine down to about 10-15 F. They vent very well because of the open design. I just tilt the front awning down a little to keep any moisture out. Have not seen much condensation to speak of. Guess it depends if you put your head towards the back or front to sleep. I have the Lean3 Plus, so I have alot of room for air to move around.
CB

CW-I have experienced significant condensation-still very present but not as severe when awning "fully deployed/open". i have spent nights down into the 20s in the lean. i have seen the condensation issues up into the 50s though. this is with sleeping one in a lean 2+. i have slept both ways head near the back of the lean and head near the open end depending on the lay of the land but i haven't spent enough nights each way to notice any pattern with respect to condensation. a couple of times i had water dripping down onto my down bag and woke up a bit cold and wet. in the future when i plan to sleep in the lean (usually shoulder seasons when i do most of my trips) i will probably use a bivy. i still LOVE the lean 2+ and will continue to use it (its one of the most versatile, multiuse shelter out there) but i think being mindful of condensation is important. its one thing that seems so much worse with the silnylon materials than it was with the old PU coated and polyester rainflies. having a taut pitch with steeper walls will help water/condensation run off. you may need to adjust pitch of the lean 2 after a couple hours due to sagging.

hth
tg

Condensation will and does happen, but I do not find it a problem with the 'Lean 1+' I use. A tight pitch helps, so does the lack of a floor. It is colder than a tent [lots of square footage], might need a warmer s-bag/nite clothes. I have used mine year around [yes WI winters also] and am very happy with it!

butthead

CW

Used my Lean1 for six days this October and had nothing but rain everyday and all day for the duration of the trip. Stayed completely dry ! Traveled each day so packing up a wet Lean was no fun,but took a few moments before packing to shake off all the water and I was just fine. With the forecast of rain for the week, I took a large sheet of poly 7'x 10' so I was planning on making a bathtub floor and this turned out to be a good thing. I had no issues with ground water at all, and plenty of room to spread out with long nites of rain. Wouldn't trip without it !

Good discussions. Thanks for all the great feedback. Seems like there's varying experience with the condensation issue in cold weather. The only absolute for abatement would be a woodstove in the cold months. Maybe Dan will noodle that down the road and come up with a new design? Necessity is the mother of invention. I know about the Kifaru's but I'm just not interested.

So the separate ground cloth laid over the Lean's soil cloth really keeps the run offs out in a killer rain storm? I've woken up to major puddles under my bathtub floors so that potential gives me pause. I'll need a three to four man something for next year and weighing my options. Have always been attracted to the Lean pluses in theory, just not sure about practice. Thanks again for all your reviews, feed back and help.

cw

I really like these shelters!

But here is my question to those who sleep in them: What do you do about ticks? I've been on campsites that are just crawling with them (usually mid-late May). I can live with the skeeters, the black flies, the horse flies . . . but there is just something creepy about ticks. The way they stalk you just icks me out!

no worries ticks sleep at night;)

Lean-to style shelters are one of the oldest styles around. The Whelen Lean-to (now made by Frost River Designs), was designed by Col. Townsend Whelen back around 1920 and was made to be a campfire tent. He was an ultralighter and his canvas design only weighed a few pounds (made from 6 oz. canvas). He would use his shelter down to below 0*, but he was able to pitch the lean-to within 4' to 6' from the campfire because it was cotton canvas. Keeping his fire stoked through the night would keep him cozy. Of course this wouldn't work well in the b-dub since most fire pits don't have a nice flat spot near the fire grate. Also, since silnylon, or any nylon for that matter, is very flamable, one cannot practice this method. I like the newer lean-to's that are available, but I've always wanted a campfire lean-to, just to try his method. I have an industrial machine that I can sew canvas with but found that sewing large sections is difficult, to say the least. The old Frost River wanted $145 for the Whelen and the new Frost River Designs wants $200. I guess that I'll have to keep practicing with my sewing!
Most condensation in a lean-to style shelter comes from the ground (I've experienced this in my Silshelter). Using a ground sheet can help.

I dont worry about them, but that is the reason Cedargirl prefer tents. I grew up with old canvas Scout tents with no floors.
CB

With Canoecopia fast approaching, I am thinking of a lean3+ with the 20% copia discount...

But I'm still on the fence... any new information to push me over the fence??

We have 3 other tents and the Lean3 Plus gets used more than any of those put together. It is lite ,tough and has more than 100 square feet of usable space. My go-to shelter.
CB

PJ's Lean 1+

You can get em in yellow!

butthead

Does anyone know if Dan offers the Canoecopia discount on his website during the event or is it a "onsite" discount only? No chance of traveling up to copia from down here in Georgia.

Nice photo butthead.

I've used it on 2 trips. I love it. Won't go back to a tent.

Hey Badger-I have looked online myself and not seen the discount in the past but that doesn't mean he doesn't offer it. Would be worthwhile to call and chat with or email him and see if he can do something for you. I imagine he would still make more selling one 20% directly to you versus selling to store with their markups. If that doesn't work decide what you want and work out a deal with someone here to buy one and mail it to you. I have never been to copia but Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis holds a large spring expo and Dan's stuff is usually ~15% off there if I remember correctly (that's where I bought my Lean 2+). If you can't find someone going to Canoecopia you can hit me up and I would be happy to help you out and get you whatever deals are available at the Midwest Spring Expo.

tg

So I broke down and got a Lean 3+ at Canoecopia. I've wanted one for a while and finally broke down and got it. The 15% discount pushed me over the edge.

I sealed the seams last night. I think I'll set it up in the basement just to check it out.

The Lean 3+ is really big...

I am planning on taking my Lean 3+ as the only shelter for a Memorial trip with my dad and I.

I was just reading threads about spring bugs. How does the Lean plus work with black flies and mosquitos?

Is it so big that you can't kill all the mosquitoes and they keep finding you all night?

Do the sides/bottoms seal well enough to keep the bugs out all nite?

Thanks for the great review. I was inspired to buy a yellow Lean 3 plus which is due to ship soon but I have not received it yet. I am eager to get it and start fiddling around. Thanks also to those who posted photos which I found very helpful to study. I am a little anxious that the Lean 3 is so large that I will have trouble finding room to pitch it but I am eager for the challenge. I am taking it on my BWCA fishing trip the first week of June.

you're going to love it!

Any thoughts on color?

I was thinking of red or green, but at Midwest this last weekend Dan suggested the white will reflect light better. What is the longevity of the white as far as becoming dingy? Is the yellow a compromise that will reflect light and not show the dirt?

I really like the white idea for reflectivity, just concerned about what it will look like in a few years. I bet someone here can help with my concerns.

Thanks.

quote Sparetime: "Any thoughts on color?


I was thinking of red or green, but at Midwest this last weekend Dan suggested the white will reflect light better. What is the longevity of the white as far as becoming dingy? Is the yellow a compromise that will reflect light and not show the dirt?


I really like the white idea for reflectivity, just concerned about what it will look like in a few years. I bet someone here can help with my concerns.


Thanks."

Exactly the same questions I asked myself. White was my initial choice but after considering all the factors like you mentioned, I chose yellow as the middle ground. Another thing I wondered about with white is weather it would be bright under a full moon and not so conducive to sleep. I like it bright in the day time, but want it dark at night for sleep. Also, I wanted a light color to absorb less heat in the sun so yellow as the compromise. I suppose you could probably custom order one with two colors since they make them in house.

my white lean 2+ is a few years old and definitely shows some dirt. a lot of it brushes off once dried but up close there is a definite light grey hue to places on the tent. from a distance it still looks pretty clean. i like how bright it is inside-never had an issue sleeping under a full moon. one thing you will notice is how warm it can get under a lean in the sun-depending on the wind direction it can be pretty still inside. i suspect my lighter tent body even reflects some of the light and stays cooler than darker silnylon. i like the white...i will have a hard time deciding though between white and yellow for my next ccs piece.
tg

ps-is anyone planning to bring their lean to the campout at baker park? if not i will bring mine to show and tell.

Dan mentioned at the expo that its the thinness of the 1.1 material that lets the heat through more than heavier fabric. Makes sense, light shade vs dense shade. That said a lighter color should reflect a little better.

I bought my Lean 3+ at Canoecopia. They only had one and it was green. I figure that it will blend in better.

I'll let you know if it is too hot.

Couple of questions about the Lean 2 plus--

How many of you guys actually sleep in it? Or do you use it more as a bug free kitchen/hang out area? Also, if you do sleep in it..do you eat in it too? I realize we are not in Grizzly country, but, while the chance is remote, do you worry about food smells getting into your sleeping gear and causing a problem with a not so happy, nuisance bear?

I sleep in it. Why not? I have cooked under it and hung out in it during bad weather. I'm not very phobic about smells and bears.

Yes I/we sleep in our Lean 3 Plus and I have used it as a cook shelter. We used a small stove as it was raining out.
CB

I sleep in mine. Haven't slept in a tent in over 4 years.

Looks like I have one more seam to seal but I will do that later. Pitched my brand new yellow Lean 3 today for the first time. Was kind of fun but like most outdoors things it was worth practicing once at home to get the kinks out. Next time I will pitch it a little higher. Having more trees around will be nice too.

Lookin good there JH. Nice to see I am not the only one that "yard camps".
CB

Thanks for sharing - let us know how it does on your trip.

I slept outside last night. It was 34 degrees. I wore lightweight synthetic long johns, wool socks and fleece cap. I have a 20 year old Marmot down bag rated for 20 degrees with a Cocoons silk liner. I slept on a cot with a Thermarest knockoff pad and stayed comfortably warm. I noticed some condensation on the ceiling when I woke up, but it was minor and no drips. Very heavy dew this morning. Getting ready for my trip the first week of June.

As with any single-walled you will get condensation. That's the only complaint I may have against the Lean. Obviously the more "open" you keep it at night the less of a problem you will have.

I have found also that if you sleep with your head at the opening it vents better.
CB

I just got back. I used a Lean3+ for 4 days over Memorial Day...

The shelter seemed good. We just had two people and a dog. The space was amazing.

It was a bit limited in setup opitons. It was good thing I brought 2 old tent poles. My site did not have a good spot fot the Lean without the poles. With the poles, it was setup in a very nice spot. But once you add the poles and the floor, it isn't quite as light as advertised...

I did like the big open door. I enjoyed being able to see the lake out the door and hear the waves lapping on the shore.

We also had a pretty good storm on Sunday night. It blew with about 25-35 mph winds. I had to close the door on the shlter because the wind was blowing right in the door. I was concerned about getting wet but the door blocked all the water. We stayed quite dry.

I do have a few concerns:
- First, I don't know about really bad mosquitos. We did not have any bugs. But the bottom of the shelter didn't seal very well. It seems that determined mosquitos would find their way into the shelter. That would lead to a very long, unpleasant night.
- Second, my shelter faded quite a bit. It started out a very bright shade of green. After just 2 days in the sun, the top is very faded. Now the top is an olive drab. It looks sort of funny with the bright green bottom and the olive green top...
- Third, the floor was a bit small. It didnt reach to the edges and that allowed big gaps for bugs to get into the shelter.

So, I'd give it an overall rating of 5 out of 10. I will try it again and see if it was just me...

Mad-Angler - thanks for the report. I wonder if something like that 303 protectant would help with the fading... Also, are you supposed to put rocks or something on the inside of the floor "flaps"? would seem that just setting it up with staking wouldn't really keep those floor edges down. I don't have one, so will hope others chime in with suggestions.

Mad Angler....

I have a Lean1+. It is huge. Easily big enouhg for 2 people. I cannot imagine how big a 3 is. You could probably erect that over the entire kitchen area of a campsite. :)

How you are you getting gaps between the bottom of the Lean and the ground? Are you trying to loft it too much? Or maybe you need a few more stakes. I have never had a problem with mosquitos getting in my Lean (unless I left the screen open.)

As for the ground cloth, I don't even try to cover the whole area under the Lean. Why bother? I bring a dog too so I just put the ground gloth under my sleeping bag otherwise the dog tracks too much dirt on it.

One of the things I really like about the Lean is that you can play with different setup configurations. Go narrow and tall or squat and wide. You are only limited by your own imagination and the spot you choose.

I used to bring poles that Dan sells for the Leans. I quit doing that. I can make a pole in the field if I really need to. I can even set it up without stringing the ridgeline between trees. Stake the bottom out first then erect some sticks as poles. Or you could canoe paddles if you really got desperate.

I also recommend playing with the loops in the back and guy-outs for different effects also. You can have the back-half looped, with the center higher or string a straight ridgeline for it.

The key to fun and successful Lean setup is to think outside the box. There is no wrong way to set it up. I know Butthead likes to find a stump to place inside his....uses it like a nightstand.

Sorry if I sound like I'm shilling for CCS...I just really love my Lean.

Here's a second review... I just got back from a week in Quetico. I took my 4 daughters along. They used the Lean3+ as their tent and bug shelter.

To jump to the conclusion, I'd give the shelter a rating of an 8 now. That is quite a step up from my first impression.

Now for the details...
It took a while but now I can set the shelter up much faster and better. I don't follow directions well. After all my work, I basically rediscovered the directions given on the CCS site.
- Find trees
- Tie ridgeline
- Start at back of shelter and start staking my way to the front
(if I can't find trees, I like to stake out the shelter first, then set up the poles)

The shelter worked like a large 6 person tent and screen house. It is very light for a shelter and screen house.

Now for my dislikes and why I still can't rate it a 10:
- I'm still disappointed with the fading. I have an olive drab shelter when I bought a green one.
- I wish the floor was attached. Without an attached floor, you have to be VERY careful to not set up in a low spot.
- Since it is a single wall tent, condensation is an issue in the morning.
- It can get pretty hot since it doesn't have any ventilation.
- The shelter is pretty expensive. Once you add the shelter, stakes, poles, and floor, you're around $550-600

" I'm still disappointed with the fading. I have an olive drab shelter when I bought a green one.", Mad_Angler

I think I fixed the 'olive drab' coloring. Got back from a couple of days camping and was disgusted at the amount of bird droppings on my Lean 1. Put it in the bathtub and carefully soaked and rinsed it in lukewarm water. Looked like a new tent! Checked some photos from May and can definitely notice the improvement. I think it received a heavy coating of pine pollen during my 2 week camp trip last May, that the rain it's been in since didn't wash off! Anyway the bird crap is gone and it looks good!

butthead

quote butthead: "" I'm still disappointed with the fading. I have an olive drab shelter when I bought a green one.", Mad_Angler

I think I fixed the 'olive drab' coloring. ...butthead"

Butthead,
I don't think cleaning has anything to do with my fading. Parts of the shelter that haven't seen the sun are still bright green. If I expose any of those parts to sun, the fading is nearly immediate. Within a few hours, the bright green has been replaced with olive drab.

mad-is the fading on the entire body of the lean and the brighter green on the sodclothes only? they are made of a heavier weight material which may not change like the lighter 1.1 body. i can't say i've noticed any fading in my shelter-then again it is white:) if anything it has taken on a light grayish dirt film (which is tough to wipe off of the silnylon).

tg

quote tg: "mad-is the fading on the entire body of the lean and the brighter green on the sodclothes only? ..."

TG,
The fading is on the entire tent. The sod cloths are generally still bright green because they have not been exposed to the sun as much. However, you can tell which parts of the sod cloth has been exposed and which have not.

I want to stress that this seems like an unusual situation. The Lean is nice, well built shelter. However, something was wrong with this particular lot of fabric. I am not exagerating when I say that it literally fades after only a few hours of sun exposure.

Lean 2 Plus worked great last week on my six day trip. Two of us stayed in it the whole trip. Two sleeping bags and a lot of gear and there was still extra room. No problems pitching anywhere, all with ropes. Initial setup is easy, tweaking takes much longer. Learned many tricks after several different campsites. Friends had doubts we would stay dry during rain and wind. It rained about 24 hours straight with very heavy rain and wind. We stayed nice and dry inside. Friends were impressed with how it responded. Loved having the floor seperate. We were able to fold up part of the floor when entering with dirty boots. If it was warmer last week we would of slept with the canopy up and screen open, but was near freezing so we would make a tunnel out of the canopy at night. Then open it completely up during the day for easy entry and exit. I'm very confident to use this in all upcoming trips.

way to teach them skeptics!

waiting for dan to run an anniversary deal on the leans-would be very tempted to get a lean 1 to add to my collection:)

Those look nice, but *MAN* do they seem expensive! IDK if I'd pony up that kind of cash for something that is not free-standing.

Bumping this up for Koda :)

Quick question - How do you "button down" the overhang when it is raining and/or blowing hard? It looks like you would have to somehow reach your hand out the side and push a stake in or ??? Hate to have a cougar bite me, unless she was really pretty.

Go Bears - They need it tonight, although they just kicked a field goal.

I may pull the trigger on one of these at Canoecopia, but I want to make sure it is a good choice, so I don't have to hassle Dan with a possible return. He is a good guy. He promptly replaced a pack that I bought a year ago that had a small seam failure.

Bad shirt Tom - Illinois flatlander

thanks for revisiting this thread.

quote quark2222: "Quick question - How do you "button down" the overhang when it is raining and/or blowing hard? It looks like you would have to somehow reach your hand out the side and push a stake in or ??? Hate to have a cougar bite me, unless she was really pretty.


Go Bears - They need it tonight, although they just kicked a field goal.


I may pull the trigger on one of these at Canoecopia, but I want to make sure it is a good choice, so I don't have to hassle Dan with a possible return. He is a good guy. He promptly replaced a pack that I bought a year ago that had a small seam failure.


Bad shirt Tom - Illinois flatlander"

I stake the awning down to the ground. Usually with about 18 inch lines between stake and flap. It's enough to keep out rain and wind yet allows for air-flow.
Maybe Dan could set you up with a 'custom print', something unusual!

butthead

You have to get out of a tent mentality to be happy with these. The flap does not cinch down tight like a zipper. It cinches down tight enough though and the area in the Lean is large enough that you are protected. I had the same concern and it works out fine. You do need to be good with knots to enjoy it though. I find it sort of fun to get it rigged out in various configurations. It does have small tie downs all over the edges so you can be creative in locking down. But it is not air tight like a tent.

quote jeroldharter: "You have to get out of a tent mentality to be happy with these. The flap does not cinch down tight like a zipper. It cinches down tight enough though and the area in the Lean is large enough that you are protected. I had the same concern and it works out fine. You do need to be good with knots to enjoy it though. I find it sort of fun to get it rigged out in various configurations. It does have small tie downs all over the edges so you can be creative in locking down. But it is not air tight like a tent."

I agree that it is fun playing with all the different configurations that are possible with this shelter, that knot skills are important, and that you have to get out of the tent mindset.

Well, I would ask Dan for a "bad shirt" pattern, but now, I would be a sure buyer if he could do a Chicago Bears logo on he Lean 1. Probably not cheap to get an NFL authorization though.

Bear-free Sunday - Bummer. Looking forward to the Vikes-Packers game on Sunday though.

Tom

CCS lean 2+ and CCS tarp last Sept. Both worked great all trip, especially during the rain. You can see the front of the lean is down forming a tunnel. It was still open enough to get in and out and allow air flow, but didn't let in any weather.

Here is another photo of the awning down.

Reflective rope is great around camp.

I am a Lean 3 Plus owner and on the first trip the tent stayed in the dry bag. No need for a tent.

yes roll up the front net and canopy and tie in a canvas tarp with a stove jack.

Hey Ken - I pulled the trigger on a Lean 1+ today at Canoecopia, along with the groundcloth. I went early so as to avoid being run over by a tractor. Can't wait to set it up. The basement is too full of garage sale stuff and a pool table to set it up inside, and it is still pretty muddy outside. Pool table is not for sale . . .

Nice looking Tyvek on your new canoe. What model is it? Looks like a tandem with the high bow.

I also bought some of the MSR Groundhog stakes. The Easton ones apparently had some issues with the tops being easily yanked off, although they may have solved that situation by now.

The Subaru Outbacks looked really good. I have a 2002 Volvo XC70 that runs really well, but if anything goes wrong, it is very costly. 110,000 miles on her. She is a good ride.

Tom of the bad shirt clan.

You should see my kilt - got it at Farm 'N Fleet, like my shirt.

Well, set up the Lean 1+ again today. Better results, but not perfect. I think you need a fairly level piece of ground. Also, it really helps if you can get the main guy-rope well above 6-7 feet up, preferably farther. The reason is that when you starch cinching down the rear end and and corners, it pulls down the main guy rope. If it is not really, really tight, you end up with about 4' of vertical at the opening to the tent, and then it all goes downhill from there.

I did figure out a way of using two carabiners instead of Butthead's figure 9 gizmo. They work really well for suspending the ridgeline. They are about a buck a piece at Home Depot.

To summarize, in my opinion, you need a really, really, high ridge line. Once you have that, I think that the setup is easy. Ken (Butthead) - Any thoughts????

Badshirt - well, you know the rest of it. Going up after Labor Day. Thinking Baker, but.... Don't want to do Brule. My son and I almost capsized there. Most scary.

Tom

I put my ridgeline about 6 feet high initially. When rigged, it is about 5 feet high which is about right. I run it through all of the loops and then use Prussik or Klemmheist knots to pull the corners taut.

I use the CCS yellow rope for the ridge line. Maybe you are using something with more stratch? I use a truckers hitch and put all my eight on it for a taut ridgeline.

Quark

Don't worry about making it look perfect. Just deal with whatever nature throws at you.

If you notice in the CCS setup instructions, you will see that the ridge line is originally set quite high, and pulled down as it is staked out. Part of the fun of the Leans is experimenting with all the variations that various camp sites will throw at you. Just remember, it don't hafta look purty, just keep you dry and bug free.

quote quark2222: "Well, set up the Lean 1+ again today. Better results, but not perfect. I think you need a fairly level piece of ground. Also, it really helps if you can get the main guy-rope well above 6-7 feet up, preferably farther. The reason is that when you starch cinching down the rear end and and corners, it pulls down the main guy rope. If it is not really, really tight, you end up with about 4' of vertical at the opening to the tent, and then it all goes downhill from there.


I did figure out a way of using two carabiners instead of Butthead's figure 9 gizmo. They work really well for suspending the ridgeline. They are about a buck a piece at Home Depot.


To summarize, in my opinion, you need a really, really, high ridge line. Once you have that, I think that the setup is easy. Ken (Butthead) - Any thoughts????

Tom; I'm short so I hang the ridge low, then pull it up tight after staking out.

butthead


Badshirt - well, you know the rest of it. Going up after Labor Day. Thinking Baker, but.... Don't want to do Brule. My son and I almost capsized there. Most scary.


Tom"

quote awbrown: "If you notice in the CCS setup instructions, you will see that the ridge line is originally set quite high, and pulled down as it is staked out. Part of the fun of the Leans is experimenting with all the variations that various camp sites will throw at you. Just remember, it don't hafta look purty, just keep you dry and bug free."

Exactly

Anyone using this for backpacking as well as BWCA? I really want a hammock, but with younger kids this may be better. Planning a BWCA trip and Isle Royale this summer.

Trying to lighten the load too. Currently my two person tent weights in at around 8 lbs. Been a great time, but time for something lighter. Especially for backpacking.

I have various hammocks and a Lean3. For backpacking I would prefer a hammock, but with kids the Lean is probably the winner. It can serve as a tarp, tent, mosquito protection, space for the kids to hang out in bad weather, etc.

I don't know why not. Would you use a tent for packpacking? OF COURSE you can use one backpacking :)

One thing I was amazed at (I just bought one this spring) is how SMALL it will pack. I had it up for a while to seam-seal it, and with all the rain we've had up here I was able to see that I did a decent job of it. Anyway... when I took it down, I just decided to "stuff it" in the bag. And guess what? The bag is twice as large as it needs to be. Which explained why there were TWO areas one could cinch it closed with. One in the middle of the bag, one at the end. Just so I don't have a super wrinkly lean, I did not store it all scrunched down. But when I'm tripping? I definitely will! I'm not sure of the dimensions of the stuff sack, but somebody else here who owns one probably knows. I've got the Lean2Plus and I'm thinking it may be the last shelter I buy!!!

C'mom Amok....there's a reason they call it a stuff sack. Besides, you can't wrinkle a Lean+, the minute you set it up, it smoothes right out. Folding up tents (tarps and Leans, etc) puts creases in them in the same places over and over, which ain't good for them, but that could be a whole new thread subject.

So....stuff it! ;-)

Bump

I'm excited... just ordered a CCS Lean 1 Plus with a ground cloth.

Bump.

Also a question: has anyone ever put a wood stove inside a lean+?

I'm really like the idea of this stove:

kifaru stove

I can't imagine that one of these stoves in a Lean would be safe enough for most people but that is up to you. I liked Ripple's winter tent and stove, stove with a hot water tank on one side and an oven on the other. Perhaps not weight conscious but how nice to have hot water on tap and warm baked goods.

A wood stove in a nylon tent is not a safe thing to do. Nylon melts at about 450 degrees. Can you imagine being in there in a fire with hot nylon globs dripping on you?

But I know what you mean about it being a tempting thing to do. I do a lot of spring, fall, winter camping with a stove but use a light canvas tent, like those made by Snowtrekker. It is a wonderful, cosy feeling to sit in a warm, dry tent with the wind blowing a cold rain outside. I too have a Lean+ and I thought it would make a nice light rig with a small stove. I experimented with rigging up a light canvas tarp for the roof and front panel but I couldn't get the joints sealed well enough to be sure to keep the weather out. I abandoned the idea.

I know this is an old post but I would LOVE a version of this in canvas so I could put my stove in it. Fast set up, roomy, lots of ventilation...I think it would make a really sweet winter tent in a canvas version

quote SteveElms73: "I know this is an old post but I would LOVE a version of this in canvas so I could put my stove in it. Fast set up, roomy, lots of ventilation...I think it would make a really sweet winter tent in a canvas version"

Get in touch with portagekeeper as he has an old Boy Scout Baker style tent the only differnece between it and a lean is it's made of out canvas and has a short knee wall in the back of it. as opposed to angline down the whole way. I know others have used it for winter camping with a stove.

Kifaru makes nylon tipis that are made for stoves. They've been around for years.

CCS also makes a nylon tipi that is made for wood stoves.

I used a Kifaru tipi with a wood stove while moose hunting in Alaska last fall. It was sweet to have a nice, warm, dry place to relax in the evenings...

I think I'l take my tipi and stove to the BW in a few weeks.

Thanks for the tip! I don't know I think I'd be pretty nervous about a stove in a nylon tent. Not even just from the stove itself but one stray spark.....

quote SteveElms73: "Thanks for the tip! I don't know I think I'd be pretty nervous about a stove in a nylon tent. Not even just from the stove itself but one stray spark....."

A stray spark would just put a small hole in it. I've seen plenty in tents from being to close to campfires.