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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: DXH on January 25, 2011, 07:08:00 PM
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looking for a lightweight tent definately 2 people possibly 4. Would be willing to take two tents if 4 went.
Want something very light and sturdy for a backpack hunt
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What kind of price range? They range from fairly inexpensive to ridiculously high priced. A lot of the light weight stuff that says "two man" is a real tight fit for two people. Also, what is your range for weight? Much of the high price goes with the light weight.
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check out "Go-lite". The shang-ra-la is excellent. I love mine and don't think you'll find a more light weight/simple set up except maybe a tarp.
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What type weather will you be in,Summer,winter ,fall, or spring? The Big K has some great prices on Coleman and NW Territory tents.
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Check out Big Agnes Fly Creek tents they are ultra light. I am going to use the Flycreek II this year it is 2 lbs 10 oz pack weight check out **** this is one on there buy it now for $285 tent and footprint. Widow
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We run the Mega-Lights (Black diamond), but Kifaru makes similar and the shang-ra-la mentioned above comes with much praise from owners.
The Teepee type tents seem the best for room and light weight if you can live without a floor.
The Mega-light is advertised at 4 I believe, but 3 is all it will hold and its best with 2 and gear. But its realy light, so having 2 between 4 guys isnt bad. We run them up as high as 6000 foot elevation clear into November with snow and heavy winds with no issue.
Havent run a dome tent in several years, so couldnt speak to any of those.
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I've used tents forever & have had good luck w/many. But, my current Eureka is as good a 2 man tent as I've had. It is an A-fram w/enough room for 2 big folks w/gear & room to spare. Solid rainfly to the ground & ventilation galore. I've had this tent at least 20 years. Patched campfire burn holes & other accidents & still NO leaks Nor problems. I bought it new for $100. You can find used tents on fleapay.
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I've had good luck with a well set up tarp or piece of visqueen. Doesn't get much more light weight or inexpensive than that.
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The golite and megamid offerings are nice.
Kifaru offers the Sawtooth and an assortment of teepee's in the same vein for a lot more money.
If you decide to go the ultra light tarp route, check out hillpeoplegear.com
They have a tutorial on sewing in your own wood stove "window".
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Kelty Grand Mesa. Great little backpack tent for abot $120.00 at Campmor.
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I love my Bibbler bombshelter
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Check this site out. I'm looking into some of the tents they offer for my next high country hunt http://www.wyominglostandfound.com/index.html
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www.tarptent.com (http://www.tarptent.com) Good stuff and very lightweight, Bob
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Have a look at REI website, they carry good quality gear. The type of terrain your heading into plays an important factor. If you are going to see some wide open prairie country or higher elavations, wind can be an issue. Alot of cheaper tents are made for family camping not high winds. REI staff can point you in directions of good strong tent that will withstand wind. Makes such as North Face, Marmot, Sierra Designs, Mountain Hardware all make tough backpacking tents and larger ones as well.
My theory on this is, if headed into hills I'll carry my own tent and everybody else in group does the same. Small two person backpacking tents (6 lb and under) are good for one person and gear at best. I don't have much faith in tarp,bivy or tpee in mountains when weather can get ugly fast. I use a North Face Mountain 25 it's pretty much bomb proof.
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Probably wouldn't work for 4 hunters and their gear but this looks interesting:
http://tarptent.com/hogback.html
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I'm with some of the others, try a tarp.
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I would just add my .02 worth of advice. If you want to hold 2 people, get a 4 person tent. (do the math from there). Tent manufacturers figure you'll be stacked in there like cord wood when they figure capacity.
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If are looking for lightweight and bomb proof look at Hillerberg.
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+1 on the Eureka. IMO, it offers a good combination of weight and price. To get the truly lightweight ones, you'll probably have to spend several hundred dollars.
Also, as has been said, it's wise to look at going up a size to make sure you have room. I actually prefer a 3-man tent, so I can get all my stuff inside and still have ample room. I have a solo tent as well, which saves about 3 pounds, but it is very tight! I prefer the extra room and storage space of the 3-man.
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A nice back-country combo is a small solo tent just for sleeping and some clothes. Plus an ultra light tarp set up away from the tent for pack and cooking. I don't eat or cook in my tent while elk hunting in a wilderness area. If you have to sit around waiting out a storm some morning it's sure better psychologically to sit under an open tarp than in a tent.
I use a Kifaru paratarp for cooking and a Scarp 1 for sleeping. Total shelter weight is about 3+ pounds.
I don't like sharing a tent. Sleep is too precious and everyone seems to get up for natures call at different times.
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For hunting, I'm definitely a Kifaru tipi devotee. Nowhere can you get as much interior square footage for so little weight. For me, one of the supposed "disadvantages" (no floor) has turned into a decided positive. We can walk into our tipi anytime with our boots on and not worry with debris or mud. We can cook in the tipi and not worry about spills. Wet gear can come inside and drip without a concern. I was a skeptic about tipis until I got my 8 man Kifaru. I don't think there's a dome, A frame, cabin, X, wall or any other tent shelter I'd trade my tipi for.
They are expensive, but really only cost about half what you pay up front. That's because the resale value on them is outstanding. I've seen 5 year old tipis in good shape bring 75+% of their new cost.
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Check out this place. I have the lean 2 shelter, and it's huge for 2 people (7'x10'). Light at 35 oz, packs really small, easy to setup (don't need poles) and afforadable. Also unlike a tipi it has head room. And made in the USA too.
http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/welcome.htm
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i have a mountain hardware 4 man, its great for 2, all gear stowed out side, more than 2 it gets awful close. tent weighs in about 3lbs, which isn't bad. it is very study, and guaranteed dry. i've had this thing in 30/40 mph wind gusts and down pouring rain, never been wet. a little pricey, i think it was around 300. it is and has been a great tent, and carries a great guaranty. i have tried the cheap tents, and i'm here to tell you i'll not do it again.
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I have a 6-person Kifaru, which is just about the right size for two people and their gear. Three would fit without too much crowding, but better be real comfortable with your friends if you try to put four in it.
With the ultra light packable, take down (medium) stove, it's very good in cold, nasty, windy weather. Condensation builds up quite heavily in warmer summer weather. A ground cloth would probably reduce the condensation, but I don't use one.
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I'll second REI. (rei.com) I have the REI Arete ASL 2. It's a 2 man, 3-4 season. They make a ASL 3 also. Great reviews and I love mine. A little tight for a 2 man unless you're kin. But very well made and lightweight too.
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/cachambers/Arete2.jpg)
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/cachambers/arete22.jpg)
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Guys, buy a copy of Backpacker's 2011 Gear Guide, due out later this month. BP is probably the best authority on outdoor gear, and they will have info on lots of options.
Personally, I am a tent and tarp proponent. The tarp alone is not enough for me to have confidence in a warm, dry night's sleep. Outside storage makes for a more comfy night. It is not worth shaving ounces if you have to sleep cold, wet, or cramped. If I can't sleep worth a hoot, I can't be motivated enough to hunt worth a hoot either!
Hugh
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I've used a Eureka Timberline for many years. Like Buddy said, you can sleep two easily with lots of room for gear.
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It really depends on weather and territory, but Marmot and Tarptent are great choices.
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Go Kifaru. Crazy expensive, I ate a lot of mac and cheese and ramen after buying mine, but they are darn near bulletproof and have a lot of room for the weight.
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I have two tents both from good will got less than $50 invested in both. And have not had problems from either. Tyler
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I use a tarp for extreme ultralight, tarp with very light bivy for ultralight in weather, GoLite tipi for light in bad weather or with friend, tipi with folding woodstove for light in really bad weather. Tyvek scrap groundcloths for all. I do carry a thick Big Agnes pad. Floorless is a joy if bugs aren't an issue.
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Check out Helleburg tents-
I use the Janu (sp) here in Kodiak.
It's amazing how water proof the double wall design is.
Not for warm weather though.
Jason
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i have a coleman 3 person tent it is Awesome! got it on here as a trade/Gift cant recall when i have had it 2 years now.
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Another vote for a Kifaru 8 man. We use them on llama pack trips and they are sweet. One consideration though. My "8" man is really a two man in my mind. I have slept up to 4 (two ladies ;) )with ultralight cots but it was a pinch. Oh yeah, and they are a second mortgage.
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Eureka Timberline
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I use the heck outta my Eureka Timberline 2....great tent been around for a long,long time
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Whatever the tent, get one you can sit up in. Nothing worse than getting socked in a for a couple days of rain and have to lay down the whole time.
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I use the MSR Hubba 2 man as my personal tent. It is 4.5 # and has done it all. My wife and I can use it on backpacking trips. Its a tite fit for two but really nice for one. More and more we, [me,wife, son, daughter] are going with outside poles and clip systems. They step up so much easier. I second the VE 25 great tent. I only use mine when I'm above 10,000 and I know its going to snow.
MAP
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I have used my Eureka Timberline 4 for 7 seasons it is a little on the heavy side for backpacking. But it gets lighter by the minute in a hard storm.
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I used a Cabelas XPG tent for my last backpack elk hunt and liked it very much.
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Originally posted by Canadabowyer:
www.tarptent.com (http://www.tarptent.com) Good stuff and very lightweight, Bob
Think I found my next tent! Jason
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A two man tent is a one man tent, 4 person is a 2 person, and so on. Look at the diagrams. The tents shows 4 people jammed together tightly. Try and get up to pee at night and your going to step on somebody.
If you need a true 4 man tent, you going to need a 6 man. Look at the temps, weather, terrain, and time of year your going to use the tent in. Pick the worst of each and then post some specifics here and you will get a clearer answer.
I have been camping and hunting in the high Cascade Mountains my entire life. I use North Face Tents. They are not cheap. They also never fail me. I have used the same 2 man tent for hunting, high mountain traversing and camping alone or in small groups for 20 years. Rain, hail, sleet, heavy snow, high winds, it stands up to it all. It is one of the bright orange tents you see on Discovery Channel on the side of Mt Everest.
Getting the right tent is a decision to take very seriously. Buy the best tent you can afford.
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I've looked at the tarp tent website too.
Always looking for a light weight EDC shelter for my backcountry work.
Let me know if you give them a try.
Check out titianium goat stove site too.
Jason
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Kifaru, period.They stand behind their product.
I have an 8 man and a 16 man tipi with all the bells and whistles.
The 8 man is for our drop camps. The 16 man is my basecamp tent.If soemone comes to camp and needs to stay for the night, no space problems there. I have a 1-2 weeks supply of firewood in there. I used to stay the whole elk season in them at 10500 ft, wind, rain, snow, hail etc. My buddies come back every year with a different tent (cabelas or bass pro special offers) and they're ok, but I don't want to carry one of those things on my back. The wood burning stove makes you completely independent of fuel. I used it in the desert for antelope (dig in the walls about 5" for snake protection) and had it in TN humid/cold conditions for whitetails. I highly recommend the liner for eastern climates. Fact is about the KIFARU: The material is unique, it is not a ripstop nylon. They discontinued this stuff for years. Their fabric is really expensive, thus the higher price.
What I saved compared to staying at a motel for my hunting trips paid several times for the tents and they will be operational for years!
Believe me, you can rough it for a few days in extreme climates, but not be 100% focused on hunting if you're wet, can't dry your clothes etc.
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I have used cooks custom sewing Tundra tarp since 1993,You can put it up in any configuration mine is 12 1/2 X 12 feet.
We were in the boundary waters in Minnesota when the blow down happened ,The storm had hit and we had already taken down are tent that tarp was still set up the way we had it set up and we were in such a hurry we just about forgot it ,But until we took it down it wasn't gonna come down ,It is one strong tarp and there are so many tie down also on it (one every foot),One thing that I have attached a mine At each of the Loop points Is bungee cord .It helps in the stress on the tarp ,
I've set mine up as a lean to and also as 1/2 tepee .It is the best purchase I have made for camping ,It is very lightweight ,And out of all the tarps that I have had and tents ,The weather proofing on cooks custom sewing tarp has never peeled off and it is good as new today ,
Very good quality ,I would check them out
http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/welcome.htm
Carl