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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: YosemiteSam on June 10, 2019, 12:15:53 PM

Title: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: YosemiteSam on June 10, 2019, 12:15:53 PM: I'm trying to convince myself (and thus, my wife) on the hot tent idea. I'm curious if anybody has had much experience with the various small stoves for use in hot tents. Are they worthwhile? Or just something you pull out on occasion? Is it a hassle to fuss with all the time or, assuming the wood is prepped, is it something you mostly sit back and enjoy?

In our area, we'd only have a use for it from late Oct - March. It rarely gets much below 35 degrees in any place we'd be camping as a family and almost never below 25. Our sleeping bags are plenty warm so this is mostly for evenings and mornings before we get moving for the day. But, naturally, the wife and kids are more likely to come along if there are a few more comforts.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Tucker on June 10, 2019, 12:53:39 PM: IMO- wood stoves seem to function best in canvas tents.
Being warm and cozy is sure nice. Having dry clothes everyday is a real bonus.
I have one of the oval shaped air tight stoves for my yurt and like it. The top is also flat and easy to set the tea pot on it. My wife likes a hot cup of tea, a good book, and a lawn chair inside while I’m out hunting in the cold and wet weather.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Tucker on June 10, 2019, 12:54:49 PM: Oops... wood stove not installed in the above photo, but you can see the flap where it would go!
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: wayne rollinson on June 10, 2019, 01:13:05 PM: [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
I made a stainless fire for my tent, it's marvelous, lovely warmth from it and great if i can camp near my vehicle. i would say to anyone wanting one for a tent to go for it,regards wayne
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Orion on June 10, 2019, 01:17:13 PM: I use a wood stove in a canvas well tent during extended stays/hunting trips. Seldom need it, but is very nice for drying out things and keeping them dry if it rains for a couple of days in succession. Most stoves are of the size that you have to stoke them frequently. About a half-hour is about all you'll get after the last stoking so it's not something that's going to keep the tent warm overnight.

Quarters are often a bit cramped in most tents so a hot stove may not be a good mix with young kids.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: jess stuart on June 10, 2019, 01:37:41 PM: Two or three dog stove. I have the three dog model works great and very well made
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Ron LaClair on June 11, 2019, 07:42:06 AM: I have one like this for my tent. They make them in all sizes, pick your stove by the size of your tent. Google "wood stoves for tents"

[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 11, 2019, 08:15:44 AM: I recently joined BHA as a life member and will be getting a seek outside tipi and stove from them as a thank you.
Very excited to try hot tent hunting. It will be Nice to knock the chill off those September mountain mornings.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Biathlonman on June 11, 2019, 09:10:42 AM: I’ve got a small EdT titanium stove for my Kifaru Sawtooth. I rarely use it because as you mentioned it’s a bit of a hassle to set up, gather wood and feed. However, when the conditions are right for it it’s an absolute game changer. I did a 10 day elk hunt where we had 30s freezing rain and snow for a few days in the middle. Having the ability to fire up the stove and be toasty warm and dry is a real difference maker. There also seems to be a great deal of difference being warm and crawling into a warm sleeping bag as opposed to everything being cold.

Overall, I’m really glad it’s in my araenal of tent options, but in reality I only use it once every 5 years or so.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Mike Orton on June 11, 2019, 12:46:52 PM: You might want to check out https://www.snowtrekkertents.com/tent-stoves/ (https://www.snowtrekkertents.com/tent-stoves/) They have some scaled down stoves. I'll be buying a complete outfit from those folks this summer. I like the lighter weight of their products.

I currently use a Davis Tent and a Cylinder stove, but that's a heavy outfit.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: YosemiteSam on June 11, 2019, 02:08:27 PM: Admittedly, when looking at the cost and weight of some of these things, I'm hard pressed to figure out the advantage of a large tent with a stove over a used travel trailer. The only horses I have are under the hood of my chevy so I'm either hauling it on my back or camping next to the pickup. Of course, it's a lot easier to store a tent...
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Biathlonman on June 11, 2019, 02:22:32 PM: My two man tent and wood stove go about 8 lbs. easy load when it’s a palace for 2 guys.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Mike Orton on June 11, 2019, 02:26:06 PM: Y'Sam, I can't speak for others but for my situation I'm set up with a quad and a quad trailer that is purposely built to fit within the parameters set forth by the US Forest service for use on their trails. I can get back much farther with my Iron Horse than I can with my pickup.

Furthermore, my situation not withstanding, many folks will pack a small stove and a large tent onto a string of horses. I'd be inclined to do that but at present I'm not set up for the other 11 months to feed and water a string a hay burners.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 11, 2019, 04:17:10 PM: I have a 3 dog for my Egyptian canvas EENA, I put a charcoal skid in mine that keeps it about 2.75" off of the bottom with bolts and washers. Using charcoal on the bottom of the stove, it tends to smother itself with its own ash. i prefer charcoal to wood, because it is a more even, longer lasting heat without the wild temperature variance that wood can have. When i get up to pee at night I just throw a few charcoals on the heap and it will still be good in the morning. A large set of tongs for placing charcoals and a long handled flat scoop for removing ash, allows me to keep it going without the need of shutting it all down for clean up.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: jess stuart on June 11, 2019, 07:28:31 PM: Pavan that's a great idea with the charcoal. Is it just regular briquettes?
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 11, 2019, 07:30:00 PM: yes
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: 76Aggie on June 13, 2019, 10:46:12 AM: Y'Sam, the hot tents have their place. Most of my tent camping is done without the stove. I have very lightweight titanium stoves with my Seek Outside tents. I have a warm sleeping bag so my primary reason to have the stove is to dry clothing out when it gets damp or wet. the warmth in nice though. Have been on tent hunts where it was virtually impossible to dry anything out that got wet. With the stove, that is no longer an issue.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 13, 2019, 02:03:23 PM: Also have small nylon tents for canoe trips and a larger Big Agnes nylon. I would not put a hot stove in the Big Agnes. My favorite smaller tent is a 9 by 9 Egyptian canvas Baker tent with the front out, with side wings zips on and the front with the stove hole on it. It makes a 9 by 14 that way with a nice front porch to hangout in. It has been on numerous canoe trips where it can be set up as quick as anything else. The only drawback is that it fills a number three Duluth pack with a nice flat 40 pounds. You gotta carry all of that stuff on canoe trips. Any way, the Baker style tent can be dried and heated very easy with a small fire in front of it. The smoke goes up and away and the reflective heat rolls nicely through the tent. The old candlepin a can can be a bit of a de-humdifier and warming device, but you need to be careful with those. A couple from Kansas borrowed half a roll of my boat tape on a lake in Quetico, They managed to melt a hole through their rental wedge tent, with the Candle in a Can gizmo that they bought at Piragus. On canoe trips my favorite heating devices are made of really smooth merino wool, socks, long johns and stocking cap.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: YosemiteSam on June 13, 2019, 04:44:28 PM: Thanks for the replies. Good stuff. For late season hunting, I've been packing in solo deep down a coastal canyon. It's rarely that cold but it does rain and the humidity is high. But I don't know if I'd bother with the 4 lb of stove weight on my own -- especially if most of the wood on the ground is pretty wet by that time anyway. Seems I can barely get much of a fire going down on the canyon floor by December when everything is soaked. I'm sure I could find some drier stuff somewhere but there are only so many hours of daylight in December and I prefer to spend most of them hunting.

I've mostly seen it as something to use for camping with the kids and with the scouts in the winter time. My oldest will be moving from cubs to boy scouts next year and they camp year-round. Parents have a lot of free time on their hands at some of their events so somewhere comfortable to hang out sounded pretty nice. A family member asked about how many trips I take with the kids each year. I never really counted and it hit me that I'm out for overnight trips with the boys 6-7 times a year, plus a couple with my wife and several nights (8-12 per year) on my own for hunting, scouting, etc. I realized I can certainly justify more comforts if I'm going to use them that much and possibly more in the near future.

Hunting-wise, it might come in handy in a few more years once the boys can hunt big game (minimum age of 12 here) AND help with the hauling. But that would only be once a year at most. Just weighing the options.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: degabe on June 13, 2019, 10:09:02 PM: Why not a small propane stove?
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: scrub-buster on June 13, 2019, 10:10:25 PM: I don't use it in a tent but I made a small wood stove out of a propane tank to heat my work shop with. I used 3" car exhaust for the chimney. I don't see why it wouldn't work for your application.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 14, 2019, 08:15:57 AM: I've done the propane thing, ok if you're truck camping. propane makes moisture in the tent and I always woke with a headache.
I'm looking at my small stove, lightweight tent combo for packing in 1-2 miles from the truck for a few overnight trips.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Broken Arrows on June 14, 2019, 09:21:13 AM: Check out Seek outside, they may have just what you are looking for. I have their 8 man Tipi with their large stove It is nice to take the chill off before bed and when you wake up.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: old_goat2 on June 14, 2019, 02:33:04 PM: (https://i.imgur.com/nXppcfI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BnApcx5.jpg)

Game changer for sure! Stoves are generally easy to set up second time, once they are burnt in, generally don't even need a saw to collect sticks to burn in them, but the bigger diameter wood you use, the longer the burn will be! If weight is a concern, make sure you get a cylinder stove!
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 14, 2019, 03:03:42 PM: You are in a small meltable back packing tent, perhaps a stable candle job would be all that would be need to take a bit of chill and humidity out of the air. We have used one on early season canoe trips, they are safest if hung and not on the floor of the tent. With bigger canvas tents, the three dogs are safe with the charcoals and kids. With the big nylon domes and in a campground situation, a flame proof rug and an electric heater is really convenient and safe, but of course a stout extension cord and a place to plug it in is a big help.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 14, 2019, 06:33:32 PM: OG2 , nice photo. Is that a seek outside tent?
Hoping to have a photo just like those in september with my new tent n stove.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: old_goat2 on June 14, 2019, 06:48:02 PM: Kifaru Sawtooth and they just happen to be on sale for Father's Day weekend, 20 percent off. SAW20 is the sale code, just got an email from them.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Fletcher on June 14, 2019, 09:55:28 PM: Like degabe, I was thinking about a Buddy propane heater. They are easy to use, economical and work very well.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: old_goat2 on June 14, 2019, 10:20:25 PM: Quote from: Fletcher on June 14, 2019, 09:55:28 PM
Like degabe, I was thinking about a Buddy propane heater. They are easy to use, economical and work very well.
They do work well, but that tent and stove combo in my post above weighs less than the Lil Buddy heater!
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Broken Arrows on June 16, 2019, 10:52:30 AM: Old_goat2 is that a one person setup or could you go with two? Could you add a picture of the stove broken down?

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: old_goat2 on June 16, 2019, 11:46:26 AM: Quote from: Broken Arrows on June 16, 2019, 10:52:30 AM
Old_goat2 is that a one person setup or could you go with two? Could you add a picture of the stove broken down?

Thanks,
Dave

It's two person with plenty of room for gear and a pile of firewood. If you do YouTube, search "Kifaru cylinder stove" and there's a good video of the stove and you can search the shelter also, Kifaru Sawtooth, Kifaru's website also has good pictures and videos, they aren't sponsors or I would post a web link. I think I have a picture of the stove packed up and attached to the outside of my backpack, it's in the black nylon bag.

(https://i.imgur.com/NN9r5yg.jpg)
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Kevin Dill on June 16, 2019, 12:03:59 PM: Many years of tipi and woodstove camping. Don't be afraid.

(https://i.imgur.com/24AvICUl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PPPf9XTl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KBrtK1sl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3q4TyKTl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Mi6w66El.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1kpJzsdl.jpg)
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 16, 2019, 10:00:33 PM: Man, you guys are getting me excited. Can't wait for my stove n tipi to get here.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: reddogge on June 16, 2019, 10:37:10 PM: Quote from: YosemiteSam on June 11, 2019, 02:08:27 PM
Admittedly, when looking at the cost and weight of some of these things, I'm hard pressed to figure out the advantage of a large tent with a stove over a used travel trailer. The only horses I have are under the hood of my chevy so I'm either hauling it on my back or camping next to the pickup. Of course, it's a lot easier to store a tent...

I'd say no title fees, no tag fees every year, no new tires.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 17, 2019, 08:04:38 AM: Gotta have a place to park it, hard to take trailers down some forest roads.
If I can get a trailer in somewhere so can someone else.
I think the small tent / stove option is for the person wanting to park and walk off away from the crowds , like me
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Kevin Dill on June 17, 2019, 10:03:39 AM: There is something very traditional and satisfying about tents with woodstoves. Nothing beats the feeling of self-sufficiency in knowing you've got a dependable shelter, nice stove, and a supply of good wood waiting for those cold wet times. The smell of a sulfur match and crackle of dry spruce is part of the wilderness experience for me. I love drifting off to sleep while watching the glow from a nice fire.

RV? Maybe, but I've been saying no to wheels for a long time. ;)
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 17, 2019, 10:23:09 AM: Kevin, it's against the rules to type the wheels word in here:)

LOL

:laughing:
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 17, 2019, 11:50:21 AM: My hunting truck is a 6 cylinder Subaru Outback, my trailer is a 4 by 6 box cargo trailer. I see that Ford is coming out with a full size van that will have all of the same power line features as the four wheel drive F 150 pickups. My old Ford van had a fold down leather back bench seat that was more comfortable to sleep on than my bed at home and screened windows to let in some fresh air. i miss my van.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 21, 2019, 11:33:52 AM: 6/21/19. 1st day of summer and it was cold enough last night to freeze the dew on my truck, and thats only at 2500ft elevation. I'm sure quite a bit colder up the mountain where I hunt
Sure am looking forward to a nice warm tent.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: old_goat2 on June 21, 2019, 11:58:16 AM: Quote from: kevsuperg on June 21, 2019, 11:33:52 AM
6/21/19. 1st day of summer and it was cold enough last night to freeze the dew on my truck, and thats only at 2500ft elevation. I'm sure quite a bit colder up the mountain where I hunt
Sure am looking forward to a nice warm tent.
Snowing in the Yampa Valley this morning
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: two4hooking on June 21, 2019, 01:07:06 PM: I bought the 8-man SO tipi this past Spring and used it twice for Spring gobbler and the Baltimore shoot to get acquainted. XL stove will be a game changer in Idaho for elk this year.

Get some longer spikes for the cardinal points if it will be really windy and be sure to stake out the guy out lines. I had mine blow down while I was away from camp but miraculously the stove was hot but not enough to burn / melt a hole.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 21, 2019, 03:29:38 PM: Two things I found when canoe tripping with my Egyptian canvas 9 by 9 Baker tent in Canada. 1. When there is a lot of granite a loop of parachute cord and a rock works better than a stake in the ground. 2. A rope through the loops made very tight with a truckers hitch between two trees is better than using the pole set. Two other things, 1. I also found that wool socks and wool long johns was easier to maintain than a fire. 2. It is easier to stand up when getting dressed on a rainy day than to do all kinds of contortions, trying to get dressed in a little nylon dog house on a rainy day. Okay one more, if someone wants to go along on an early season trip and they insist on using one of those damn hammock tents, leave them home. Two things are guaranteed to happen. 1. They will want you to load up their stick burner heater can and start the fire under them so they won't need to get out. 2. They are going to be so achey and stiff and have a headache from breathing smoke all night the next day that it would be very tempting to put them out of your misery than to do all of their share of the work.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on June 21, 2019, 05:55:07 PM: To each his own I guess.
I'm just happy when someone wants to camp/hunt with me regardless of what they use.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Kevin Dill on June 22, 2019, 10:37:00 AM: If there's one thing you must do with a tipi, it's getting it staked down securely. Everything depends on the stakes holding. So many things can affect that. Soft soil allows for stakes to move over time. Wind and fabric movement can cause stakes to 'work' and loosen up. Driving stakes at the wrong angle means they may not hold as well. Over several years I've switched the majority of my stakes out to MSR Cyclone stakes. They hold like a bulldog, and I'm reminded of it when it's time to strike camp and go. One thing to always remember is to keep the center pole adjusted very snug in windy weather. A taut pitch means the tipi flaps less, and makes for less stress on everything.

Very nice to fire up the stove and do your hygiene chores without hurrying, and without shaking like a nervous chihuahua.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: YosemiteSam on June 25, 2019, 05:56:05 PM: While backpacking with the wife recently, she told me that she'd rather see me spend $15k+ for a small trailer than $1k for a large tent & wood stove -- at least until the boys are old enough to hunt with me and carry their own weight. So I'm interpreting that as a "clear mandate" to buy both eventually but the travel trailer for now ;)

I appreciate everybody sharing their experiences, however. It still has a lot of appeal. I think I'll revisit this in about 5 years once my oldest can join me for the backpacking hunts without me carrying most of his gear.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: old_goat2 on June 25, 2019, 06:20:18 PM: Quote from: YosemiteSam on June 25, 2019, 05:56:05 PM
While backpacking with the wife recently, she told me that she'd rather see me spend $15k+ for a small trailer than $1k for a large tent & wood stove -- at least until the boys are old enough to hunt with me and carry their own weight. So I'm interpreting that as a "clear mandate" to buy both eventually but the travel trailer for now ;)

I appreciate everybody sharing their experiences, however. It still has a lot of appeal. I think I'll revisit this in about 5 years once my oldest can join me for the backpacking hunts without me carrying most of his gear.
Spend 14k on the trailer and buy the shelter too!
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 25, 2019, 07:05:02 PM: The two most 2nd happiest days of your life involve campers. The two most happiest days involve lake homes, been there done that, and yep it's true. The most rewarding thing i ever spent money on is bought packs, camping gear and top of the kevlar canoes and headed for the boundary waters and Canadian wilderness with the family. You would be surprised how many folks take toddlers on Canadian canoe trips, a rough wilderness adventure by most people's standard, the kids handle it fine. I met a little boy on his second birthday in Canada, his daily achievement was holding up two fingers, he was on his fourth Canadian canoe trip with his four, bi-yearly consecutive, siblings and parents. Bi-consecutive, he was two, yep mama was pregnant with number six.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: YosemiteSam on June 26, 2019, 01:05:06 PM: Pavan, an old friend of mine from AK used to share some of his stories of canoe camping trips. Last I heard, he spends most of the year in AK and the winters down here in CA. Those trips sound like a dream. At the moment, our rivers are running at class 4+ so canoes are out of the question, as are kids... Not to mention guys with wives who want them back safely...
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: pavan on June 26, 2019, 05:01:06 PM: i could not live in California, it is way to far from the Canadian shield country. The most beautiful place on the planet is Quetico.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Redfeathers on October 27, 2019, 10:59:24 PM: Kevsuperg, you get a chance to try out your Seek Tipi?
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: ozy clint on October 27, 2019, 11:20:29 PM: Camping in a hot tent with woodstove in cold weather is one of life's simple pleasures.

I second what Kevin dill said.

The cutting of the wood is part of the experience.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on October 28, 2019, 08:11:47 AM: Hey redfeathers.
Didn't get to use it as much as I wanted but did get some time in it.
Easy to set up. Got quite a bit of condensation on the inner tent, single wall. I was set up on grass though.
Stove is nice but the burn time is short. Fire needs constant attention is you're trying to stay warm.
Overall I like it . light, easy to pack but not sold on the floorless part yet.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: Redfeathers on October 28, 2019, 10:45:52 PM: Kevsuperg, I'm sure you have looked at Seek Outside's website or info was sent with the tent, they have some good info about condensation on their website. Thanks again
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: kevsuperg on October 30, 2019, 10:37:39 AM: Oh come on. Who reads instructions. Ha
I just need a Little more time in it and pay more attention to where and how I set up.
I'm really happy with it . couldn't be easier to set up.
Title: Re: Small Tent Wood Stoves
Post by: two4hooking on October 30, 2019, 02:21:37 PM: (http://i.imgur.com/otaa7CP.jpg) (https://imgur.com/otaa7CP)

This thread needs some pics. Nothing like some hot pancakes after a little hunting. The benefit of the flat topped stove as opposed to the round models.