Backcountry hot tent - SO twilight, Cimarron, Argali Absaroka

[Bak222]

Looking for a hot tent to use as a spike camp for 2 people. We will have a wall tent at basecamp, but after a few years in the same area we’re gonna try to spike out to cover more area and not spend so much time hiking in/out each day. 3rd season CO, so weather is variable but has typically been snowy and very cold at night. Want a stove for warmth and drying things out. I’ve never done this so hoping people with more experience can chime in. Weight is a factor, but will be split between two people so not the main factor.

Currently looking at the following:
- Seek outside Twilight 3p
- seek outside Cimarron
- Argali Absaroka

Really like the setup of the Peax solitude with the crosstrek stabilization, but after reading on here it sounds like their CS and quality may be questionable. Open to other options as well, but after weeks of reading these are what seem like may be the best options. Also open to stove recommendations. Thanks for any input or things I may not be thinking of!

 

[Bubblehide]

I have the Absaroka and half nest along with the Argali stove. It's a nice setup for 2, but could sleep 3 if really needed, but you'd all be squeezed. If your winter camping, tarps to sleep on inside is all you'd really need, with stove. You may want to consider that option. Of those you mention, considering weight, bulk and room, I'd go with the Absaroka.

The is a cheap Chinese stove thread here on Rokslide Rokslide somewhere. It's a stove option. However, you also need to have food, cooking and water figured out (you likely already do).

 

[Bak222]

I have the Absaroka and half nest along with the Argali stove. It's a nice setup for 2, but could sleep 3 if really needed, but you'd all be squeezed. If your winter camping, tarps to sleep on inside is all you'd really need, with stove. You may want to consider that option. Of those you mention, considering weight, bulk and room, I'd go with the Absaroka.

The is a cheap Chinese stove thread here on Rokslide Rokslide somewhere. It's a stove option. However, you also need to have food, cooking and water figured out (you likely already do).

Thanks for the insight. Yes I have food, cooking and water figured out. The specs on the absaroka seem great, my main concern with it is durability. How long have you had yours? I also like the fact that Seek Outside is made in the US, thats not a dealbreaker for me, but definitely a factor

 

[Iltasyuko]

I have the Argali Absaroka. I can’t comment on long term durability as it’s only a couple years old. I can say it is sewn at a high level of quality - as good as any other tent. I use the SO box stove which works well. I have the half nest but for your timing in the season you could go without ofc. Absaroka is a nice product and I would recommend it to anyone.

 

[Bubblehide]

...The specs on the absaroka seem great, my main concern with it is durability. How long have you had yours? ...

I've had mine for about 2 years. So far, no issues.

 

[98XJRC]

I have the Cimarron and have no complaints with it. I'd like a smaller shelter for when it's just me and will be looking at the Argali Rincon when that time comes due to the fabric. Silnylon has more stretch when wet vs the silpoly. Now without having experienced any issues I can not from first hand experience tell you how much of a difference this would make.

I'm still not sure on how I feel about the twilight due to the entrance being on the lower end. It almost feels as though a reverse design of the Kifaru Sawtooth.

I use a Kifaru stove that I purchased used off the classifieds and don't have any complaints other then wishing it had a bigger box.

 

[TXAggie11]

Cimarron user here. No complaints. Did well on a late november elk hunt in wyoming last year. Survived 5” of snow and 40+ mph winds one night. Sometimes hard to find a spot to put it given the footprint size. Pretty easy to set up.

 

[Bak222]

Cimarron user here. No complaints. Did well on a late november elk hunt in wyoming last year. Survived 5” of snow and 40+ mph winds one night. Sometimes hard to find a spot to put it given the footprint size. Pretty easy to set up.

Yea that’s a little bit of my concern with the twilight. Seems like a better layout for space with a stove, but the footprint is a little larger which could present issues

 

[Bak222]

I have the Cimarron and have no complaints with it. I'd like a smaller shelter for when it's just me and will be looking at the Argali Rincon when that time comes due to the fabric. Silnylon has more stretch when wet vs the silpoly. Now without having experienced any issues I can not from first hand experience tell you how much of a difference this would make.

I'm still not sure on how I feel about the twilight due to the entrance being on the lower end. It almost feels as though a reverse design of the Kifaru Sawtooth.

I use a Kifaru stove that I purchased used off the classifieds and don't have any complaints other then wishing it had a bigger box.

Yea I'm not sure about it either being I've not been able to see it in person. Honestly the zipper less door (which I imagine is the reason the door is in the lower side) is one of the reasons I like the twilight. I’ve had zippers fail before, although it was on a Davis wall tent, but failed zippers in the backcountry could really suck.

One of the seek guys on here mentioned the reason they don’t use the silpoly is due to it failing at the seems in high winds. Seems like silnylon and silpoly both have benefits and trade offs depending what’s important to you.

 

[TL406]

I had a gen 1 argali door zipper break on me this spring in the backcountry. I was able to make it work without much issue to finish the hunt out. Got back to town and argali just warrantied me a new gen 2 version. They tweaked a few things on this new gen, including the failure point on the door zipper on my gen 1. I haven’t used that new tent yet but I have no concerns and plan to use it almost exclusively going forward. It’s perfect for 2 guys - haven’t run a stove in it but used it a decent amount otherwise. It’s very storm worthy with all the guy out points and handled quite a bit of snow one night this spring.

 

[Medicwp]

I have a Cimarron lite and it has been great, September breakfast cooking heats it up just fine and we just about ran ourselves out in late November using the stove.

 

[Gotcha_]

Looking for a hot tent to use as a spike camp for 2 people. We will have a wall tent at basecamp, but after a few years in the same area we’re gonna try to spike out to cover more area and not spend so much time hiking in/out each day. 3rd season CO, so weather is variable but has typically been snowy and very cold at night. Want a stove for warmth and drying things out. I’ve never done this so hoping people with more experience can chime in. Weight is a factor, but will be split between two people so not the main factor.

Currently looking at the following:
- Seek outside Twilight 3p
- seek outside Cimarron
- Argali Absaroka

Really like the setup of the Peax solitude with the crosstrek stabilization, but after reading on here it sounds like their CS and quality may be questionable. Open to other options as well, but after weeks of reading these are what seem like may be the best options. Also open to stove recommendations. Thanks for any input or things I may not be thinking of!

I just got the Cimmaron, here are my hot points for why;

- Argali is silpoly, and while it does not sag has a lower strength overall than silnylon.

-Silnylon has higher tear strength and puncture resistance.

-Silnylon can be sewn with lesser/smaller reinforcements for tie-outs because of the higher tear strength, which means a lighter tarp (strength:weight ratio). The possibility of real snow loading made me go towards silnylon. If I am carrying 3 pounds, I want it to be the strongest.

Peax uses 20D silnylon, while the Seek outside uses is 30D.

I got the Cimmaron kit. After ordering, I tested it in 8" of heavy heavy snow. The tarp sagged, but more so because the weight drove the main post in the ground. Tapped of the snow, re-set the tarp, it was good to go. The sagging was an issue as the condensation got on my bag. Any tipi you'll deal with that, one thing to definitely consider with Silnylon as it makes it worse.

Ti stove is standard, nothing special, so you can definintely get another brand.

 

[Brad@Argali]

I just got the Cimmaron, here are my hot points for why;

- Argali is silpoly, and while it does not sag has a lower strength overall than silnylon.

-Silnylon has higher tear strength and puncture resistance.

-Silnylon can be sewn with lesser/smaller reinforcements for tie-outs because of the higher tear strength, which means a lighter tarp (strength:weight ratio). The possibility of real snow loading made me go towards silnylon. If I am carrying 3 pounds, I want it to be the strongest.

Peax uses 20D silnylon, while the Seek outside uses is 30D.

I got the Cimmaron kit. After ordering, I tested it in 8" of heavy heavy snow. The tarp sagged, but more so because the weight drove the main post in the ground. Tapped of the snow, re-set the tarp, it was good to go. The sagging was an issue as the condensation got on my bag. Any tipi you'll deal with that, one thing to definitely consider with Silnylon as it makes it worse.

Ti stove is standard, nothing special, so you can definintely get another brand.

One point of clarification. The myth that silnylon is stronger than silpoly is simply not true, particularly when the fabric gets wet. There are multiple factors that affect tear strength and seam strength. Fabric weight, PU vs. silicone coatings (PU coatings decrease tear stength, silicone increases tear strength). Additionally, not all fabrics are created equally, so the specific fabric used varies widely across nylon or poly based tents. I wrote a whole article on this very topic I'll paste below if you want more information. Just do your homework and fact check claims made by manufacturers (including me).

Tent Fabrics and Coatings

 

[sasquatch308]

We have 2 argali’s that have been great. Zero issues at all with ours. Went through some heavy rain and high winds a few nights and stayed dry. Durability had been amazing and the quality of fabric and build has exceeding my expectations. We have the full nest as well and it’s great 2 people and a lot of gear. We put our packs under the tent but outside the nest to stay dry and keep our comfort as best as possible. Highly recommend it. I almost got a SO and will probably get one that’s larger just as an option. We use 2 SO tarps to put up when we need to to add storage and dry space.

 

[Bak222]

One point of clarification. The myth that silnylon is stronger than silpoly is simply not true, particularly when the fabric gets wet. There are multiple factors that affect tear strength and seam strength. Fabric weight, PU vs. silicone coatings (PU coatings decrease tear stength, silicone increases tear strength). Additionally, not all fabrics are created equally, so the specific fabric used varies widely across nylon or poly based tents. I wrote a whole article on this very topic I'll paste below if you want more information. Just do your homework and fact check claims made by manufacturers (including me).

Tent Fabrics and Coatings

Thanks for that article, Brad. Good to know. I ordered a winnerwell fast fold stove. Now I need to decided on a tent for it. Currently leaning toward the SO twilight, but not many real world reviews since it’s fairly new. The argali is still high on the list though.