searching for a backpackable wall tent

[zwickeyman]

Does anyone on here know of a backpackable wall tent that 2-4 guys can split up and pack

Of course there are tons of Tipi's and hybrid Tipi's but looking for more headroom with less footprint

The only one I can find is the Seek Outside Courthouse and it fits the bill but looking for options

Thanks, Dave

[kselkhunter]

Yeah, my suggestion would be one of those Seek Outside wider footprint setups like the Courthouse or Redcliff.  Although I wouldn't try to put 4 guys in the Recliff, that would get too tight.   Courthouse is your best bet for that from Seek Outside if you didn't want to go tipi.


I carry the 8-man tipi from Seek Outside.  I pack it and the stove in for snow trips by myself, and will be doing so again next week.  I also have the "nest room" for it, which comes in handy sometimes for summer time trips when I bring the wife and dogs with me on a backpacking trip.  The 8.5 foot height is nice for moving around inside.  I can understand not wanting the large diameter that it has, but I've yet to have a problem finding a spot to put it.  And 4 guys plus gear is easy inside it, with room to spare (depending on how much firewood I choose to pile up inside it).


Good luck with your search.

[zwickeyman]

Thanks for the feed back

Definitely looking at the 8 man but with a 16' diameter it concerns me. I think the redcliff is a little small as I already have a 4 man Tipi

[kselkhunter]

Here's a photo of the Redcliff next to the 8 man for size reference.

I had to set the 8 man up on a bit of a slant, but it worked out. 

[zwickeyman]

Thanks for the pic, great comparison photo

Looks to me I definitely want the ability to have 4 with a stove even though most of the time will be 2 or 3 with a stove. That 8 man is a monster. I like the weight of the 8 man and the foot print of the courthouse

Thanks for the insight

[boneaddict]

kifuru 8-12 man teepee or seek about the only realistic options unless you have a horse.  I guess you could sled one in or gamecart it, but holy moly.   I mean a large seek or Kif with a stove, probably what 10 pounds. 

[kselkhunter]

Couple of tips on weight.


That 12.5lbs of the Courthouse is with two 8ft aluminum poles.  Those poles are roughly the same height as my 8-man pole, which the aluminum one weighs 2.2lbs so that is 4.4lbs for the two poles.   You can switch to their carbon fiber poles, which weigh 1.2lbs each.  So the 12.5lbs drops to 10.5lbs if you switch to carbon fiber.   


Also, I frequently do not pack a pole if there is no snow on the ground.  I just cut the top off of a deadfall tree and use that as my pole in the tipi.  Saves me the extra weight to pack in the pole.  So around 6lbs for my 8 man (as I have the dual screens) w/stakes if I skip the pole, plus if I bring the liners that's adds another 1/2 lb.   For that Courthouse without the poles you'd be right at 8lbs with stakes, etc. 


Note: my weights above are from weighing my actual aluminum and carbon fiber poles just now.  Looking at their website it says you only save 11ounces per pole changing to carbon fiber.  It's possible my old carbon fiber pole is lighter than the newer models.  Not sure.  I just know what my scale just showed.


Also, with 30 stakes in that Courthouse, you can switch the aluminum stakes out to titanium stakes and probably save another half a pound.


Of course you still have another 3-4lbs for the stove, depending on which size you go with.   

[boneaddict]

Thanks for taking the time to get those figures.

[zwickeyman]

I talked to Seek Outside the other day about carbon poles. They don't have any for the Courthouse but like you say, the one for the 8 man will work. I think most of the places I would be using it I could make my own ridge poles. I  like the idea of titanium stakes too. My stove weighs 3# so with Titanium stakes, made poles and stove I'm at around 11#. Split 3 ways, not bad for a stand up, heated tent with a small footprint in the Courthouse.

This is way better than 3 guys packing their own 2 person tents at about 4# each

I'm liking this idea more and more, thanks for your input

[kselkhunter]

My poles have about 18" of adjustment as they're for both the 6 man and 8 man.  They'd work for the Courthouse.  But with the Courthouse requiring two poles, I think I'd find myself using deadfall for poles the majority of the time....

For titanium stakes, I switched my aluminum out to these.  I really like the bright orange heads on them as they're easier to find.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OPKGAO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Seek Outside customer service is great.  One year I had set my tipi up at an angle and snow load snapped my carbon fiber pole.  Called Seek and they sent me the section that broke for free, even though I told them it was my fault for improper setup and was willing to pay for it.   This year I noticed their stoves have the sliding intake controls now.  My original XL stove didn't have that, so I called and asked if I can buy one of those intakes for it.  They said those older stoves didn't have one, but they did later do a retrofit slider and sent me one of those...again free of charge.  Their customer support is excellent.


Good luck with your research and decision.   

[bracer40]

I’d imagine that using natural poles one could gain some addl hanging points for hanging socks and such items needing to be dried?

[kselkhunter]

I’d imagine that using natural poles one could gain some addl hanging points for hanging socks and such items needing to be dried?

Yep.  I always leave a few branch nubs on the "poles" that I cut.  Comes in handy for hanging boots to dry, gravity feed water filter, and other items.

But for most clothes drying, one of those cheap backpack clothes line strings from REI or Amazon fits nicely in the upper loops around my tipi that you tie the liners into.  I string the clothesline around the interior on those loops, and it works quite well for most items.  For heavy wet jackets and pants, it gets to be too much weight so I just make a little tripod of branches to use for hanging the heavy stuff on. 

[Tim in Wa.]

My hunting partner picked up a Courthouse this year and it was great,we haven't used it in at strong winds  yet though.I switched from a Kifaru 6 man to a Redcliff either of them would be great but I think the Redcliff has more usable space
Tim

[boneaddict]

of course this isnt a product you should want last minute.   or can just run to a store and pick up.......

[zwickeyman]

Morning Tim
Do you have a guess how much more stand up room the Courthouse has over the Redcliff?

Bone, thats a fact. This needs to be a spring purchase