Stove or no stove

[Buckhunter24]

Trying to decide between tent with stove or without.

[fowl smacker]

My grandpa always said "better to have something and not need it rather than need something and not have it".

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

My grandpa always said "better to have something and not need it rather than need something and not have it".

 

[huntnfmly]

My grandpa always said "better to have something and not need it rather than need something and not have it".

This is always solid advice

[WapitiTalk1]

Base camp tent, yes. Spike, backcountry tent yes. Yes to both. I’d freeze my frijoles off in Idaho, in SEPT, without.

[Taco280AI]

My grandpa always said "better to have something and not need it rather than need something and not have it".

Doesn't always apply, especially to back country hunting. Are lots of things I'd take if I drive to my camping spot. Packing it in, not so much.

Personally have never used one. Not in Washington, Idaho or Colorado.

[WapitiTalk1]

My grandpa always said "better to have something and not need it rather than need something and not have it".

Doesn't always apply, especially to back country hunting. Are lots of things I'd take if I drive to my camping spot. Packing it in, not so much.

Personally have never used one. Not in Washington, Idaho or Colorado.

Frozen Frijoles Taco 

[Crunchy]

Base camp for sure.  At minimum to dry out clothes, but we burn pretty much all night anyways.  This year we had a ton or rain during our elk hunt in September.  Being able to dry out boots and gear was a must.

[WapitiTalk1]

Base camp for sure.  At minimum to dry out clothes, but we burn pretty much all night anyways.  This year we had a ton or rain during our elk hunt in September.  Being able to dry out boots and gear was a must.

   Huge pert.

[Taco280AI]

One game changer for sleeping, wear a beanie! One time in Colorado was in the teens at night. Slept okay the first night. But the second night wore my beanie, made all the difference and slept well. No stove...  though it would have been nice 

[WapitiTalk1]

One game changer for sleeping, wear a beanie! One time in Colorado was in the teens at night. Slept okay the first night. But the second night wore my beanie, made all the difference and slept well. No stove...  though it would have been nice 

Beenie is huge. Always have one in my BC gear.

[gee_unit360]

Always better with a stove. Always.

[Magnum_Willys]

Dry go light one man tents.   You can stay warm in small tent.   Build fire outside for enjoyment. 
Wet / snowy pack the stove. 

[mburrows]

Need is a strong word. Never "needed" it unless there is snow lots or precipitation. But it sure is nice to fire up the stove as you wake up to get your gear squared away during crisp September mornings

[Tim in Wa.]

well , I usually at least have the stove in my truck and take it to the trailhead.I live near sea level so once I get to a trailhead I decide if I should take it or not.It sure is nice to have if its cold and wet

[Buckhunter24]

Thanks for the votes. Looks like I will end up going with one of the luxe hot tents, I was leaning this direction but pack weight and cost was telling me to tough it out

[WapitiTalk1]

Nothing wrong with the Luxe tents, I run one myself. Here’s the link for the NW distributor. You won’t find a better guy than Jake to deal with.

https://luxe-hiking-gear.com/

[huntnnw]

Never done highhunt, but being on a hunt where you have heat when it’s cold and wet is a game changer.

[Jingles]

Did not vote but will say that while packing for one of our local outfitters I left the Sheep mountain camp in the morning to go get additional hunters at the trailhead 22 miles away and only needed light weigh jacket, By the time I and the clients got back to camp we were riding in 1.5 feet of snow and freezing temps Personally my clothes actually had Ice one them from where it froze. 2 days later we had to pull all the camps because the snow was getting deep and was time to get out of dodge or spend the winter
 
As said above Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

 OBTW was the absolute last time I went anywhere without my slicker and extra coat

[Fl0und3rz]

Did not vote . . .
 
As said above Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

[CoryTDF]

Thanks for the votes. Looks like I will end up going with one of the luxe hot tents, I was leaning this direction but pack weight and cost was telling me to tough it out

Think I would look at LiteOutdoor's before I went with LUXE. I would expand on that but I was told I must pay a sponsorship fee to do so. Just go look at the weights of the setups. I think you will see what i'm talking about. LiteOutdoors's is quality gear and they have amazing customer service. 

[Buckhunter24]

Interesting, I had not come across this company in my searches. Yes they are light and a good price, just sent an email with a couple questions but it seems like a better option, thanks

[Buckhunter24]

I watched a video on the Lite Outdoor Stove, it looks like the metal is super flimsy. Almost like tinfoil. Do you use their stove in their tent or anyone have a recommendation on different stove? I would almost certainly ruin this thing in no time.

[CoryTDF]

I watched a video on the Lite Outdoor Stove, it looks like the metal is super flimsy. Almost like tinfoil. Do you use their stove in their tent or anyone have a recommendation on different stove? I would almost certainly ruin this thing in no time.

This is the nature of titanium stoves. I have tested nearly all of them. You would be surprised how well they work for as flimsy as they look. If you are thinking about packing in a stove you are going to want titanium and that is the trade off. Sure, you could go with a stainless stove like those from Winnerwell but they are heavy. Winnerwell also has a titanium stove called the FastFold that is pretty nice. It is not without it's faults though and in my testing I found that i prefer the LiteOutdoor's stove for trips in which I plan to bring camp in on my back. Just and FYI I do product testing and reviews as a side gig so I have spent a good amount of time with all the products you have been looking at and those I have suggested.   

Also, yes I do use the LiteOutdoors Plateau 5 Man with the 18'' Stove W Baffle. I have also used that stove in my SEEK 6 man tipi. I have used the Ti-Goat, WinnerWell, Seek, Liteoutdoor's stoves in several different combinations as they are pretty interchangeable. Personally, I like to be able to control the air intake and the damper so I sold the Ti-Goat stove. They all do the job though and they will keep you toasty warm! Might have another stove for sale soon.   

[OltHunter]

I will say titanium stoves are nice to have, especially to warm up and dry out.

But, they are a pain to keep going, it can be especially challenging finding wood, and burn times are hard to keep going past 90 minutes to 2 hours.

So you are going to sleep sweating and waking up ice cold generally in a few hours.

In months where there is lot of light, you could be up till midnight and beyond drying anything out since you are getting back later in the day and getting up earlier, you will not be getting much sleep.

So just something to think about and another stress/energy expenditure.

With all that said, I still voted for take it with me and need it.  I have the seek outside XL.

I'm debating cutting up a North Idaho Fuel Log and splitting it up in my group on the pack in.  I'm thinking a few  rounds might last quite a bit longer than a bunch of sticks and found laying around I can find.  See if it's worth the extra weight.  I'm going to experiment this spring and summer with them.

[Magnum_Willys]

The Seek XL loaded up with 3" to 4" logs will burn 2 to 2 1/2 hours damped down with fir.  Longer with hardwood.   But it will put out a lot of heat.   Thats the tradeoff in these little tents - big stove big heat.  Lil stove or little fuel then short burn times.  Its a balance to figure out how dry your wood is to burn as large of log as possible without putting out too much heat or just burn little pieces and stoke every 30 mins.

[Buckhunter24]

I appreciate the detailed advice in this thread, as it helping spend my money right.

Our primary concern is to dry clothes, I have no doubt we can sleep warm enough without a stove.

I believe I will pull the trigger on a tent equipped with stove jack and hold off on stove for now. I plan on doing a couple short cold trips this spring then will decide on stove.

I suspect we will have a steep learning curve if it decides to snow in sept. Up high 

[CoryTDF]

I appreciate the detailed advice in this thread, as it helping spend my money right.

Our primary concern is to dry clothes, I have no doubt we can sleep warm enough without a stove.

I believe I will pull the trigger on a tent equipped with stove jack and hold off on stove for now. I plan on doing a couple short cold trips this spring then will decide on stove.

I suspect we will have a steep learning curve if it decides to snow in sept. Up high 

Something else you are going to want to consider is condensation. You are going to get a lot of condensation in a floor-less tent with warm bodies and breath. It can get bad enough to have a rainstorm inside your tent. The stoves do a good job drying that up. No matter the stove or the tent combo you will still get condensation about 18'' up the sides that will likely never fully dry unless you have really nice weather. I am guessing you will wish you bought the stove after your first trip.

[Fl0und3rz]

I have the seek outside XL.

I'm debating cutting up a North Idaho Fuel Log and splitting it up in my group on the pack in. 

Remove the spark arrestor screen.  I burned some duraflame in my SXL stove, and it clogged up pretty quick.  Perhaps NIFL burns cleaner.

[OltHunter]

I have the seek outside XL.

I'm debating cutting up a North Idaho Fuel Log and splitting it up in my group on the pack in. 

Remove the spark arrestor screen.  I burned some duraflame in my SXL stove, and it clogged up pretty quick.  Perhaps NIFL burns cleaner.

They do, that's one of their selling points.  I ran them in our wood stove in our wall tent last fall and they worked really well, didn't soot anything up. 

[Fl0und3rz]

I will seek some out.

[D-Rock425]

Stove is a game changer when it rains.

[ghosthunter]

Hot water bottle.

Ummm nice.

[slim9300]

Depends on where you are hunting, how long, what time of year, are you hunting solo, etc.

I have many setups and years of experience with both.


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[Colville]

Serious question.  Outside of your socks.... Why the hell are your clothes wet?

If your bag and sleep gear wont keep you warm neither will a stove, it cant last more than an hour in a pack stove.  So if your sleep system isn't warm a stove is no solution.

Youd be amazed how much drying your body heat will do for clothes too.  I both hunt with and without stoves. Except for socks, i dont need a stove for drying unless i fall in a creek!

[Buckhunter24]

Between precip and sweat it's easy to get wet.. when rh is high body heat and the right clothing may help but you're gonna be damp.

[Stein]

Serious question.  Outside of your socks.... Why the hell are your clothes wet?

If your bag and sleep gear wont keep you warm neither will a stove, it cant last more than an hour in a pack stove.  So if your sleep system isn't warm a stove is no solution.

Youd be amazed how much drying your body heat will do for clothes too.  I both hunt with and without stoves. Except for socks, i dont need a stove for drying unless i fall in a creek!

I've been on more than one hunt where I came back to camp and the money in my wallet was soaking wet.  When it's 38 degrees and raining or worse snowing and you are hunting all day up and down the hills through the brush, there isn't a fabric known to man or a technique that I know of that will keep me dry.  I assume I'm coming back to camp soaked and will be drying clothes and have a few spares where possible.

[huntnnw]

Serious question.  Outside of your socks.... Why the hell are your clothes wet?

If your bag and sleep gear wont keep you warm neither will a stove, it cant last more than an hour in a pack stove.  So if your sleep system isn't warm a stove is no solution.

Youd be amazed how much drying your body heat will do for clothes too.  I both hunt with and without stoves. Except for socks, i dont need a stove for drying unless i fall in a creek!

I've been on more than one hunt where I came back to camp and the money in my wallet was soaking wet.  When it's 38 degrees and raining or worse snowing and you are hunting all day up and down the hills through the brush, there isn't a fabric known to man or a technique that I know of that will keep me dry.  I assume I'm coming back to camp soaked and will be drying clothes and have a few spares where possible.

 

[Colville]

I wear synthetic base layers.  I wear synthetic blend pants.  No matter how sweat out I get, I can and will dry by my own body heat once I get away from exertion and under cover.  Laying in my bag with base layers on will leave me stinky but DRY.  I have never had a problem getting to dry without a fire based on the clothes I'm wearing.  A good sleeping bag, a big meal and your body heat and you can take soaking wet synthetics to dry without a fire.  Is a fire easier? Sure. Necessary?

I high hunt most years and get rained on mercilessly most every time.  Fire's real benefit for me is the emotional and comfort lift, but I won't become hypothermic or stay wet without one. 

[Buckhunter24]

Where does the moisture go when the rh is 100%? I've never tried to dry out with no fire while it was raining, but have heard it a number of times. I can't figure out how the water is wicked away/evaporated? Part of the answer I'm sure is I need better base layers.

[Jonathan_S]

Needed no but I can tell you it feels pretty nice to stand in a 80 degree tipi, eating dinner and drying out way faster than trying to sleep in wet clothes.

[jstone]

I am thinking about ordering a stove soon for my floorless shelter. How long do you think it would take to order nowadays?
Need one by the first of September

[444Marlin]

I just got an email from SeekOutside that they are several weeks out on some items due to demand and the pandemic - supply line issues, if you want one of their stoves, I would order it now.  I'd also check with Luxe.

  If September 1st is the deadline, you might be able to afford to be picky about make and model.

[Rob]

I have the seek outside XL.

I'm debating cutting up a North Idaho Fuel Log and splitting it up in my group on the pack in. 

Remove the spark arrestor screen.  I burned some duraflame in my SXL stove, and it clogged up pretty quick.  Perhaps NIFL burns cleaner.

Question.  What is an NIFL pellet?

[Fl0und3rz]

I just got an email from SeekOutside that they are several weeks out on some items due to demand and the pandemic - supply line issues, if you want one of their stoves, I would order it now.  I'd also check with Luxe.

  If September 1st is the deadline, you might be able to afford to be picky about make and model.

Got same email.

Any HWer in NE WA needing one is welcome to borrow a Seek SXL, if I am not using it or planning to.

[Fl0und3rz]

I just got an email from SeekOutside that they are several weeks out on some items due to demand and the pandemic - supply line issues, if you want one of their stoves, I would order it now.  I'd also check with Luxe.

  If September 1st is the deadline, you might be able to afford to be picky about make and model.

Got same email.

Any HWer in

I have the seek outside XL.

I'm debating cutting up a North Idaho Fuel Log and splitting it up in my group on the pack in. 

Remove the spark arrestor screen.  I burned some duraflame in my SXL stove, and it clogged up pretty quick.  Perhaps NIFL burns cleaner.

Question.  What is an NIFL pellet?

NE WA needing one is welcome to borrow a Seek SXL, if I am not using it or planning to.

I have the seek outside XL.

I'm debating cutting up a North Idaho Fuel Log and splitting it up in my group on the pack in. 

Remove the spark arrestor screen.  I burned some duraflame in my SXL stove, and it clogged up pretty quick.  Perhaps NIFL burns cleaner.

Question.  What is an NIFL pellet?

Pellet constructed of the same material as North Idaho Fuel Log?