Hot tent options??

[Tbob]

Hey all,
I'm about to pull the trigger on a tent/stove combo for backpacking and hike in hunts.. So far I think I'm going with a Bearpaw Wilderness Design Luna 6 pyramid style tipi shelter and a lightoutdoors 18inch standard TI cylinder stove. This will be for packing in the summer (scouting) and hunts between Sept-Dec in WA and possibly ID and MT. This will be for 2 guys and a possible 3rd from time to time. I was told by the tent maker that there will be "plenty of room for 3 guys/gear/and stove".. The stove guy says I'll be lucky to get three guys and a stove in there and little to no gear.. He said it's doable, but will be really cramped..
   I was hoping to hear from some of you more experienced guys with hot tents about this combo and space. This is my first time with this type of set up and for the money I'm going to spend I'd like to just do it just once..
  Any thoughts, opinions and advise are all welcome.. Thanks!!

[Stein]

Listen to the stove guy.  When you put a stove in a tent, it eats up a ton of area because you can't have people or gear near it.  I just spent a weekend in a 4 man tent with a Mr. Heater by myself and it was semi-cramped.  I couldn't have fit two guys and gear.

If I am considering a tent just for weight, I go small and suffer in the tent.  For comfort, go bigger and suffer on the trail. 

[dreadi]

 We have a 12x14 tent with a stove. Two people + gear + cooking space = full. We had a rack for clothes to dry and standing space to do change clothes move things as needed. This year we are bringing a 10x10 to cook in.

[kselkhunter]

Looking at the specs on that model online, the stove guy is likely correct.  But, you could always pack a tarp just in case and put gear under the tarp and keep humans and stove in the tent.   





 


 

[vandeman17]

I have a megatarp and stove. 2 people is about as many as I would want to do in there, especially with the stove since you can't put gear next to it. I would consider your choice of tent and stove as a 2 man max. 

[X-Force]

Ive run the Kifaru Tut and Sawtooth and they both have had enough room for 2 guys/gear/stove. I don't see an issue with a 6 man Tipi but the Luna looks pretty small for a 6 man (6' tall 10x10 floor) Seek Outside's 6 man is 7'10" tall and 14' diameter.

Seek Outside 4 man is 6' 10" tall and 11' 10" diameter.

[jackelope]

It's always seemed to me that a stove in a backpack tent eliminates about half of the usable tent floor space. My guess is that in order for a tent to fit 3 guys, gear and a stove, it would have to be enormous.
I have a GoLite SL5(5 man? 9.5'x9.5' 6'-ish tall) and have done some research regarding putting a stove in it and it becomes a 2 person/some gear tent at that point. Really it's good for 3 guys and moderate backpacking gear without a stove and that's a squeeze.
 

[whacker1]

i have a 6 man seekoutside tipi w/Smith Cylinder stove from Kifaru.  It is perfect for 3 guys, gear, and stove if you have a nice flat spot to set up in.  However, it is beyond comfortable for 2 guys, because you have so much space- standing room, cook yourself out to dry, etc.

less than 7.5lbs total including carbon pole, stove, stakes + a couple extra stakes.  perfect for splitting gear.  1 guy carries the tent and the other guy carries the stove, stakes, and pole. 3.75 lbs each.  Great for long stays.

I still take a 2 man dome tent if it is for 2 nighters.

[Tbob]

Just what I was looking for guys! Thanks so much!

[Bushcraft]

Some of the stoves out there - and I'm operating from the viewpoint of using nearly every sized Kifaru stove and some homemade, are akin to backcountry nuclear reactors.  If you stoke them up to the point were they are actually working they put out a lot of heat.  And 8-man with a large is a great combo, whereas a 6-man with a large stove ripping along will have everyone demanding both doors be opened wide and will come home from the trip with a very nice tan. 

Bottom line, you've got to get the right stove output for the shelter size.

[jrebel]

I spent last weekend in a 10x10 with two other guys......no way the stove would have fit and we had very minimal gear. 

[kselkhunter]

Some of the stoves out there - and I'm operating from the viewpoint of using nearly every sized Kifaru stove and some homemade, are akin to backcountry nuclear reactors.  If you stoke them up to the point were they are actually working they put out a lot of heat.  And 8-man with a large is a great combo, whereas a 6-man with a large stove ripping along will have everyone demanding both doors be opened wide and will come home from the trip with a very nice tan. 

Bottom line, you've got to get the right stove output for the shelter size.

I have the Seek Outside 8 man tipi with XL stove that I bought as the bundle from their website, and I have had the stove heat cranked up so high I had to strip down layers and open the doors.   Granted those titanium stoves don't hold heat long overnight, but are great for getting stoked fast to dry clothes out.   

[whacker1]

Some of the stoves out there - and I'm operating from the viewpoint of using nearly every sized Kifaru stove and some homemade, are akin to backcountry nuclear reactors.  If you stoke them up to the point were they are actually working they put out a lot of heat.  And 8-man with a large is a great combo, whereas a 6-man with a large stove ripping along will have everyone demanding both doors be opened wide and will come home from the trip with a very nice tan. 

Bottom line, you've got to get the right stove output for the shelter size.

Yes, I have the smith cylinder in a medium.  it will still cook you out, but not as quickly as some of the larger stoves.

[Tbob]

Anyone have any experience with the seekoutdoors Redcliff?? Looks like a better option than the Luna 6 for size at least? Little more spendy, but I'd rather buy once and cry once than get something I won't be happy with.. So now with all the discussion I'm liking then SO 6 man tipi or the Redcliff option.. Just want to make sure I've got the room for the stove and three guys with some gear if possible.. Really don't want to have to bump up to the 8 man tipi if I don't have to... And thanks so much for all the discussion! Glad i posted about this and now have a better idea of what to expect!

[kselkhunter]

The guys joining me on this year's elk hunt use the Redcliff and like it. Not sure how much they're on this site, but will probably chime in if they see this thread.  If you are set on accommodating 3 guys, gear, an stove the 6 man tipi is 18sq ft bigger and a foot taller for more headroom.   

[whacker1]

The guys joining me on this year's elk hunt use the Redcliff and like it. Not sure how much they're on this site, but will probably chime in if they see this thread.  If you are set on accommodating 3 guys, gear, an stove the 6 man tipi is 18sq ft bigger and a foot taller for more headroom.

I think the redcliff would be small for the 3rd guy to be included inside with the use of stove.  No gear, and it would be a different story.  I had a Nemo 4P before and it was perfect for 2 guys and gear, but no stove at 100 square feet.  That 132 would give room for the stove, or 3rd person, but tough for both stove and 3rd person.

[Magnum_Willys]

I have the seek 8 man with XL stove.   Fits 3,  4 in a pinch.  Wouldnt prefer 6 man for 3.

[jackelope]

Sorry to thread jack, but I'm curious if these stoves hold heat for very long at all?

[92xj]

I run a 12" lite outdoors.  Packed full and ripping I need to add fuel every 20-30 minutes.  From ripping red hot to cold to the touch (besides the very bottom where the coals are) 1.25hours max, maybe. No huge pieces of wood will fit to create that multi hour coal bed to last a long time.  Not meant for long burns, mainly hot burns, warm up the tent/tarp, dry clothes be warm getting into bag and then let you sleep system do it's job through the night, in the morning, fire the stove up while inside your bag, tent/tarp is plenty warm in 10 minutes, get out and of your thing.  I do have some North Idaho energy logs cut down to size that will fit in my stove.  The next time I burn it I am going to do a little testing to see hoe long I can produce heat without opening the door.

[Magnum_Willys]

Sorry to thread jack, but I'm curious if these stoves hold heat for very long at all?

Used my XL to heat a 20 ft alaknak in the snow couple weeks ago.  It keeps logs burning 2+ hours and coals to restart fire to 3 hours.   Thats medium banked down.

I would get up and restoke at midnite and 3 am.  I was pretty impressed.  Thats with 3” to 4”  x 12” logs.

[ian_padron]

A good tip for holding heat longer is to surround your stove with the biggest rocks you can find. Those puppies will hold heat way longer than the titanium. Just build a little wall around the stove with the rock, prevents you from accidentally melting sleeping bags and jackets as well.

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[kselkhunter]

A good tip for holding heat longer is to surround your stove with the biggest rocks you can find. Those puppies will hold heat way longer than the titanium. Just build a little wall around the stove with the rock, prevents you from accidentally melting sleeping bags and jackets as well.

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That's a great idea with the rocks.  I melted part of a jacket last year not realizing how hot the stove was and the jacket was too close.   

[2MANY]

And then man invented the wall tent.

[Magnum_Willys]

And then man invented the wall tent.

My 8 man teepee weighs 4# my wall tent without poles about 25# with poles at least
60#.   But with horses or road camps the wall tent or alaknak is way better. 

[dreamingbig]

I have the BCS Grande which is the precursor to the Redcliff.  You could fit 3 with a stove but two and gear fit better with a stove.  Here is a pic...  oh and yes a wall tent is nicer but you aren't getting one 7 -10 miles in without stock.  This one came in on my back.




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[2MANY]

I love the look and idea of these systems.
The only room for improvement would be increased burn time on the stoves.
Being warm and able to dry out is what extends a hunt.

Good luck to all this year.

[elkoholic]

I have the Luna 6 but do not run a stove. It would be tough to fit 3 guys with gear and a stove. 2 guys with gear would be perfect.

[Tbob]

So I called Seekoutside today to ask them about the difference between the Redcliff and the 6 man Tipi.. Dude assured me that the Redcliff would be perfect for 3 guys, packs and a stove.. 4 guys easy without a stove.. He said the 6 man tipi would be like the Taj Mahal for 3 dudes, a stove and gear..
    I think after all this great discussion I'm going to go with the Redcliff as its a bit lighter and easier to pitch than the 6 man tipi (per the the Seekoutside guy),  Like I said earlier it'll likely be used by me and my brother and a 3rd guy from time to time. So the lighter weight and easier pitch will suit me a little better in the long run I think. I'm okay with being a little cozy when the 3rd guy joins us for a hunt from time to time.. I'll let y'all know how it ends up going.. It'll be awhile though, as I'm headed to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand for a few months of sun while all my WA friends enjoy the rainy winter.... Enjoy!
    Thanks for all the input here though! Definitely helped me out and actually changed up my plan of what to get. When spending almost a grand on a backcountry tent this place definitely helps! Thanks again!

[JimmyHoffa]

Where you set the tent up can change the temps quite a bit.  If it isn't going to be windy, I set up under healthy trees with a lot of canopy above.  Good for quite a bit of heat vs being out in a meadow, especially on a clear night.

[Tbob]

Good call JH! Thanks for the tip!

[Magnum_Willys]

Sizing depends on use also - if just sleeping quarters you dont need much.  If 3 guys want to eat lunch outa the rain or kick back by the stove in the evenings then an 8 man for 3 guys will just do the job.