Seek Outside or Kifaru Tipi Recommendations

[Fl0und3rz]

I am pretty much settled on the Seek Outside titanium stoves, but I am open to information on the relative merits of the two brands' implementations of the eight man versions.

Weight is not a consideration.  Hikes will be short to nonexistent.

Durability is important.

Both have liner and mesh door options.

Seek Outside has some nice options such as half tent inner tents, upper vent, guyouts that double as smaller footprint pitch options, etc.  But I can't determine if the options will be ultimately illusory "benefits" that go unused.

Kifaru has perceived durability advantages, but I dont know if that is just marketing juju.


Thanks for your thoughts.

[Magnum_Willys]

I have used wall tents, alanaks all sizes, 2 mans and tipis.  If not hiking I personally wouldnt go tipi option.  With cots they get small in a hurry and condensation an issue.  They don’t go up that quick either.  For something with heat that you can pack they work but wall tent or alaknak much preferred if weight not an issue.

[Fl0und3rz]

I have used wall tents, alanaks all sizes, 2 mans and tipis.  If not hiking I personally wouldnt go tipi option.  With cots they get small in a hurry and condensation an issue.  They don’t go up that quick either.  For something with heat that you can pack they work but wall tent or alaknak much preferred if weight not an issue.

Fair point.  Thanks.  I likely wouldn't be using cots and all that, and storage and space for drying out a wall tent isn't likely in the cards, for the foreseeable future, whereas getting my boys out in other than fair weather is.

Also Seek Outside has 10% off next four days.

[blackveltbowhunter]

 

    I would add that if your planning to use stock the tipi option is nice if space is limited. I have spent a lot of nights in a 6 man kifaru and it works good. Sheds wind very well and so far robust. Bought it used. No experience with SO.

[Magnum_Willys]

I do use mine for spike camps away from base camp.

[WapitiTalk1]

Fl0und3rz, neither!  I picked up a Luxe Hiking Gear Megahorn last spring and absolutely love it!  It's a bit heavier than the two you mentioned, but, has thicker material and works very well (at really, 1/2 the cost!).   Link to site below, and, I've attached a pic of mine in use in the Idaho backcountry this past SEP (I have a Lite Outdoors stove).  Worked like a charm and kept my buddy and I warn in some seriously cold weather .  I live outside of Rainier... if you want to grab mine and check it out for a few days, you're more than welcome to.  RJ
 
https://luxe-hiking-gear.com/collections/lightweight-camping-tents/products/megahorn-tipi-tent-wood-stove-jack

[Fl0und3rz]

Nice!  Thank you, sir. 

I have seen those.  I am on the right side of WA, now, so I probably won't be able to checknot out.  But I should reevaluate whether I might pack it in a ways and give the Luxe another look.

How well does the venting work at the top?  Does it help alleviate any condensation?

Ultimately, I will likely sew my own smaller, packable version, so the Luxe might fill the bill, for now.  But I do like the Seek Outside's half shelter that would be helpful for protecting the wife from creepy crawlies.

[WapitiTalk1]

No venting issues/condensation noticed during times I used it. The bungled top works well. Inner tent?  Luxe has you covered if you wish to go that route.

https://luxe-hiking-gear.com/collections/lightweight-camping-tents/inner-tents

[Fl0und3rz]

Nice.  I'll definitely check them out.  I am wondering why the price difference.

[WildlifeAssassin]

I have a “4 man” from SO. 2 men and a stove is fairly crowded in real hunting scenarios. It got one small tear from a very large branch impact, damage is much less than I expected from such a large branch. I like the stove but if you don’t have to pack it in very far definitely get the biggest size they have as the little one takes a lot of work to keep fed. Good product, good customer service, US made, not cheap. If it won’t hurt the pocketbook too bad, go for it.

That said the alaknak tents from cabelas are far more comfortable and durable and if I wasn’t going into the back country that would be my choice for sure. If it gets wet any tent is going to need to dry and an 8 man tipi isn’t small. Good luck.

[jackelope]

If you’re interested in liners or bug nets or bathtub floors you can always look at Bearpaw Wilderness Designs as he makes that stuff for most popular brands.
Flounders if you want to try out a tipi in general you’re welcome to take my GoLite SL-5 and give it a whirl. It doesn’t have a stove jack but I’m hoping to add one soon. I have the nest and the bath tub floor for it too.

[Fl0und3rz]

Thanks to both.  The more I look, the more I am leaning to SO, mainly for the features, USA made, and that it could be packed shorter distances.  Not inexpensive, but it gives me satisfaction to support American workers.

On drying, my thinking was that it could hang mostly vertical with a bit of attention to shifting the exposed areas outward for a relatively quick dry time.  This works well for the few silnylon tarps and poncho that I have as well as conventional backpack tents. The Alaknak tents I would think would require more room (not currently available), attention, and time, similar to the wall tent that I share with my brother.

[Night goat]

Tagging...

Absolutely love my alaknak, but too big for much of anything beyond base camp, the alaknak goes where my Jeep goes, with woodstove it comes in close to 200lbs, however its still an ultralight in the wall tent world.

Definatley need something that is backapckable.

Anybody look at the Lil Bug Out by Seek? I like the concept of it being modular...

[Magnum_Willys]

Drying is not a big deal with SO tipis. Drape over your car in the garage overnight.  They arent like wall tents.  I just drape mine over a couple chairs in the spare room.

[Night goat]

No venting issues/condensation noticed during times I used it. The bungled top works well. Inner tent?  Luxe has you covered if you wish to go that route.

https://luxe-hiking-gear.com/collections/lightweight-camping-tents/inner-tents

Hey Wapiti, what kind of waranty do those come with? Dont mean to hijack but, im in the same boat and have slowly been warming up to "buy once cry once" depending budget

I deliberated all evening about buying a Luxe hexipeak XL with stovejack...i got the cash now, I obviously have a need a tent like this....but...

At least with seek or kifaru if something gpes wrong, they have your back. Kinda why I went with my alaknak (cuz cabelas is gonna be around forever, or so I thought.. Hopefilly bass pro will honor the waranty!)