Many families have chosen to ditch their oversized homes and make the switch to tiny living. While this type of lifestyle might not be for everyone, it’s certainly interesting to see how it all works!
Located in Gatineau Park, Quebec are some prospector-style tents that would be a dream come true for any minimalist. Come, take a peek inside – as they might have you considering jumping on board too.
Danielle from Exploring Alternatives tours us through one of these rentable 4-season tents. The first thing you should know though is that they are completely off-grid.
To get to the property Danielle and her partner Mat actually had to trek four kilometers through the snow (wearing snowshoes). But it’s not something that would keep them away!
She explains:
“We love living in tiny spaces and we’re always looking to experience new ones. So that’s why we trekked all the way out here to check out this tent. It’s actually really unique and different from anything we’ve seen.”
The tent is divided into four separate living spaces (although they might be slightly tinier than you’re used to). There’s a living room, kitchen, dining room, and an area for sleeping.
In Gatineau Park where the temperatures are frigid in the winter – it’s important to stay cozy and warm.
Fortunately, the tent comes equipped with a wood-burning stove to keep the whole place toasty. Also, it’s insulated with double layers of canvas and has solid doors and windows.
If you enjoy having quiet evenings with soft lighting, that’s good. Because in these tents there’s one solar panel and one LED light, which is located in the dining area.
The tent measures out to 15×18 feet (270 sq ft). For Danielle and Mat, however, it seems more spacious because of its 10-foot ceilings.
Believe it or not, these prospector tents can sleep four people because of its tri-level bunkbeds.
As for the kitchen, it’s a wee-bit minimal. There’s a propane fridge to use in the summer, but in the winter food is stored in a cooler outside. Also, plan on bringing your own water in and melting snow if you run out.
When it comes to cooking Danielle shares:
“You’re actually not allowed to cook indoors with any kind of gas stove – so there’s an outdoor barbeque you can use.”
But where’s the potty room? Just travel down the trail and you’ll discover an outhouse.
Although these Gatineau Park tents are for renting, Danielle and Mat think that with some adjustments they could work for long-term living.
They shared on their YouTube Channel:
“Measuring approx. 15 x 18 feet, this tent would make a very comfortable tiny house, although we would make a couple of changes to make it more liveable over the long-term, including the addition of an indoor composting toilet, a couch in front of the fireplace, larger windows, and a more powerful solar system so that we could power more than 1 light.”
Tiny living would take some getting used to, that’s for sure. Yet there’s something intriguing about a simple lifestyle that could provide more financial freedom.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, 53% of adult Americans surveyed responded “yes” or “maybe” when asked whether they’d consider downsizing to a home less than 600 sq feet.
Get a closer look at these 4-season tents in the video below! What do you think, could you spend some time in one?
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