12 man tipi - real world set up times and use

[schmalzy]

Currently use a 10x10 Kodiak but have a Bronco now instead of a 2500 truck. Kodiak is great but huge to store/transport and also kind of a pain to dry out.

Considering switching to a 12 man SO tipi for better packability and more utility. Primary use is car camping with my boys in late April and summer, base camp for archery and rifle seasons, and general use. Normal use would be 2 full size cots but would like plenty of room to add a third if needed and still use stove comfortably.

I’m kinda neurotic about setting up camp; I hate spending a ton of time. I can get the Kodiak up solo in about 15 mins. Can I do the same with the SO 12?

Open to all thoughts and opinions. Mix of dispersed camping but also a solid amount of state parks/campsites. We go to Salida quite a bit and want to be able to utilize that campground.

Thanks,


Edit: just wanted to add; I have a decent amount of experience with smaller floorless shelters and use an HMG ultamid 4 man for backpacking.

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[Dennis]

With my Kifaru 12 man I would say 15 minutes without setting up stove seems about right. Four stakes set pole then add remaining stakes. However I ever timed it so purely a guess.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I’ll bet it takes close to a half hour to set up fully stake out and guy out a 12p teepee. I’ve used the SO 12p a lot.

Have you looked at the Argali?

Yukon 8P Tent

With more head room than a tipi, the Argali Yukon 8P Tent has loads of space and walking-around room thanks to the two pole design and tall peak height. With dual doors, steep side walls and 32 guyout points, the Yukon 8P feels like a wall tent and is the ultimate packable group shelter.

argalioutdoors.com

You’ll get a lot more useable space and it’s what I intend on replacing my teepee with.

 

[taskswap]

I haven't tried that one but I used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9A36KW one year. It's no longer sold but a ton of similar products are on the market so I can at least share some experiences that may translate.

Setup time on that one was about 9 minutes if you're in a rush. One time I was doing some shooting on BLM land at a time when mosquitoes were VERY dense - almost a fog - and I was getting bitten like crazy. I figured I'd see how fast I could set up the tent to get some shelter. It wasn't a perfect pitch by any stretch... but it was quick.

I would say the average teepee sets up faster than a typical tent if you don't care about perfection. You pretty much stake out the floor/footprint, crawl in, and rig the center pole. Most other tent styles have at least two poles (and some have more) and you're usually "suspending" the tent from the poles with external clips, hooks, or sleeves. With a teepee that last bit is done from the inside so you're already out of the elements by then, and since the pole just sits vertically between a top pocket and bottom floor reinforcement, there are no hooks to clip in or bends/tension/threading poles through sleeves to fuss with.

 

[schmalzy]

I’ll bet it takes close to a half hour to set up fully stake out and guy out a 12p teepee. I’ve used the SO 12p a lot.

Have you looked at the Argali?

Yukon 8P Tent

With more head room than a tipi, the Argali Yukon 8P Tent has loads of space and walking-around room thanks to the two pole design and tall peak height. With dual doors, steep side walls and 32 guyout points, the Yukon 8P feels like a wall tent and is the ultimate packable group shelter.

argalioutdoors.com

You’ll get a lot more useable space and it’s what I intend on replacing my teepee with.

I haven’t. Thanks for the link, definitely looks tempting.

Whats your main gripes (if any) with the 12p?


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[PNWGATOR]

I haven’t. Thanks for the link, definitely looks tempting.

Whats your main gripes (if any) with the 12p?


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No real gripes with the 12p, you do loose useable space due to the teepee design ie sloping walls. The 12p is great for late season hunts for two guys a stove and a woodpile. Lots of room to dry clothes and gear.

That said, if I had to make the purchase over again and wanted floor less and a similar weight, I’d choose the Argali. If I wasn’t as concerned with weight and volume, I’d choose an Arctic Oven.

 

[schmalzy]

No real gripes with the 12p, you do loose useable space due to the teepee design ie sloping walls. The 12p is great for late season hunts for two guys a stove and a woodpile. Lots of room to dry clothes and gear.

That said, if I had to make the purchase over again and wanted floor less and a similar weight, I’d choose the Argali. If I wasn’t as concerned with weight and volume, I’d choose an Arctic Oven.

Appreciate it. Volume is a big consideration as I’m in a bronco and will have others with me.

Thanks again for the feedback.


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[rayporter]

in the BWCA when the skeeters are hungry 2 guys can set up a 12 man pretty quick.
in the mountains once in a sleet storm we drove about 6 pegs and threw the gear in and waited out the storm then drove in the rest of the pegs.
what is it, 18 or 20 pegs or so? i did count them once.

i dont cut a pole for the 12 man but for the six i cut a pole when i get there. it is possible to cut one if you need to cut wt or volume. i carry and old leather glove to put over the top of the pole. i also have a kifaru 5 string stuff sack that will compress the 12 man a bunch.

if you wish to see how much room is in one , tie some strings around a power pole tied out to replicate the size.

 

[Bcoonce117]

Out of curiousity would you consider backpacking a 12 man tipi? I have 3 kids that when the time comes, hopefully will all 3 be on the mountain with me. And probably one adult. The thing is absolutely massive just looking at footprint specs

 

[PNWGATOR]

Out of curiousity would you consider backpacking a 12 man tipi? I have 3 kids that when the time comes, hopefully will all 3 be on the mountain with me. And probably one adult. The thing is absolutely massive just looking at footprint specs

Personally, I wouldn’t.

 

[ozyclint]

I reckon it would take me less than 15 minutes to setup my Kifaru 12 man. About another 10-15minutrs for the stove

 

[BAKPAKR]

I don’t have one but my friend did and we used it on a couple of hunts. I wouldn’t use it for backpacking but it was awesome for car/boat camping as four cots fit in it. A cot with a thick Exped downmat on top of it will spoil you.

 

[rayporter]

i have the six man for backpacking. the 12 is for canoe or horse camping. if you have enough people someone could carry the 12 if you were not going too far.

 

[grumpybear]

Have the SO 12. Setup time depends on if you are using the stove and liners. I’m slow but tipi alone +\- 20 min. Plan on getting cordage annd extra stakes for the guy outs, it is needed in any wind. The tipi packs down very small and is easy to store. Overall would recommend. Very comfortable.

 

[grumpybear]

One other thought- it is hard to find developed campsites large enough for this tipi.

 

[Tremain4414]

I have the 8 man tipi and the Argali Yukon. The Yukon setup time is quicker and has a much better layout. I prefer it in just about every way compared to the tipi

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I’ll bet it takes close to a half hour to set up fully stake out and guy out a 12p teepee. I’ve used the SO 12p a lot.

Have you looked at the Argali?

Yukon 8P Tent

With more head room than a tipi, the Argali Yukon 8P Tent has loads of space and walking-around room thanks to the two pole design and tall peak height. With dual doors, steep side walls and 32 guyout points, the Yukon 8P feels like a wall tent and is the ultimate packable group shelter.

argalioutdoors.com

You’ll get a lot more useable space and it’s what I intend on replacing my teepee with.

Are these made in the USA or china?

 

[PNWGATOR]

Are these made in the USA or china?

Know they’re not made by Seek Outside.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Know they’re not made by Seek Outside.

I googled it. Argali is made in china….bummer

 

[Tremain4414]

These tents are made overseas.

Fellas-Happy to address this head on and as honestly as I can. I'm going to give you a long answer. Our tents are a product of Korea, sewn in Hong Kong.

My focus is on making quality products over all else. We use the fabric we do and the manufacturer we do because I think they are the best, literally, in the world at what they do, and I would put our quality of our materials and sewing against anyone's. And when you use the best companies overseas, it is not "cheap" just because it is made overseas. You can make tents cheap overseas by using cheap fabric and cheap manufacturers. We don't. The best waterproof fabrics in the world come from South Korea, which is where we source our fabric from. And we pay a premium for a very high quality fabric. There is no cost savings for us by buying our fabric in S. Korea because we use one of the best fabric mills around. Might not believe me, but it's the truth. Second, there is a marginal cost savings on labor to have our tents sewn in overseas. But, they are quite literally the best in the world at sewing tents and they pay their employees well. These are not sweat-shops.

So, when it comes to pricing, we do everything we can to price it as affordably as we can. The cost of any product is not just a function of where it is made, although it certainly impacts it. Our Yukon tent comes with a half floor, tent and two poles for the listed price. That's as honest and direct as I can be with you on the topic. Let me know if you have more questions.

This is what Brad at Argali said on another thread about the Yukon. Not sure where the SO is made, I think I read a while back they were also made in an Asian pacific country but recall which