Best tent for Alaska sheep hunt

[USMCret]

Does anyone have any experience with https://durstongear.com/products/x-...6e08cd7450cbbdddc64c6cf2e8891f6d48747c6d56d2c
Or if you are a sheep hunter what do you think about it? Is there something that I’m not thinking about with this?

 

[jpengel]

I own a X-mid2 Solid. Initially considered it for sheep hunting due to weight, two door two vestibules, snow shedding and possible wind shedding design.

Also considered the pro, however at the time I thought the cost, single wall / condensation risk, and potential durability with the DCF were reasons to buy the solid.

I have used the x-mid on scouting trips early season, and a buddy used it this fall as a solo tent on a three day 3 person hunt. But, I have always opted for a different tent when it came to long duration sheep hunts for a few reasons:
- Vestibule - (not an issue for single person, but info may help someone) Typically share a tent on 2 man sheep hunts, and the vestibule space / shape is a little small and crammed for 5-10 days and all the gear for two people.
- Weather unknowns - i've pitched in the yard and left it up in high winds and it does well, but for some reason can't bring myself to trust it on long duration deep backcountry hunts where weather is unpredictable
- Pitching - x-mid is pretty finicky tent to pitch. If the surface is not flat and tent pitched in a true square you can have slack in the tent which can impact wind shedding, and contact with inner and outer tents if not using the pro. Also its a trekking pole tent, so if you are going minimalist and use your poles to pitch, you have to take down the tent every day. Or you bring stand alone poles that add weight and bulk (as opposed to just one for a tipi)

As a single person tent the x-mid is a palace, but the pitch can still be an issue to manage. I will most likely be looking at single pole tipi tent designs in the future if i go away from a freestanding tent.

X-mid2 in sheep country:



As for the thread title, my vote for the 'best tent for Alaska sheep hunt' in the 2 man tent category is the SG Skyscraper 2.

 

[Mark at EXO]

So is the tent in the snow the Allak and is that your current recommendation? When were you sheep hunting with that kind of snow?

The Allak is what we had available after packing off the mountain with the busted Niak. The red label Allak is obviously built stronger than the yellow label Niak, but I continue to use my Niak a lot. (I am taking it on a mtn goat hunt in AK next week.) I still trust the Niak and think it is a great tent — including for sheep hunts. Most tents that hunters take on the mountain would have had problems in the specific spot and storm that we faced.

That snow happened on the night of Sep 1.

 

[USMCret]

So I think that most have got me convinced on the Helle. Just wondering for some of the more experienced guys wondering on your wisdom of the tunnels vs the domes? This looking at weights and the yellow and red is killing me. Niak at 3lbs 15oz vs Soulo at 5.5 Akto at 3.12

 

[schmalzy]

So I think that most have got me convinced on the Helle. Just wondering for some of the more experienced guys wondering on your wisdom of the tunnels vs the domes? This looking at weights and the yellow and red is killing me. Niak at 3lbs 15oz vs Soulo at 5.5 Akto at 3.12

I’ve only had one trip with the akto; if snow not realistically expected it’s a phenomenal choice. The only reason I sold mine was due to snow performance. 3” or so of wet snow really impacted mine. I wanted something that withstood that better. But if snow not a big concern I think it’s an awesome “lightweight” choice.


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[Jimss]

I’m also a hilleberg fan. Nice having a large vestibule for gear, drying out, and cooking.

I also use just the fly early season for an ultralight version without the weight of the inner tent.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I own a X-mid2 Solid. Initially considered it for sheep hunting due to weight, two door two vestibules, snow shedding and possible wind shedding design.

Also considered the pro, however at the time I thought the cost, single wall / condensation risk, and potential durability with the DCF were reasons to buy the solid.

I have used the x-mid on scouting trips early season, and a buddy used it this fall as a solo tent on a three day 3 person hunt. But, I have always opted for a different tent when it came to long duration sheep hunts for a few reasons:
- Vestibule - (not an issue for single person, but info may help someone) Typically share a tent on 2 man sheep hunts, and the vestibule space / shape is a little small and crammed for 5-10 days and all the gear for two people.
- Weather unknowns - i've pitched in the yard and left it up in high winds and it does well, but for some reason can't bring myself to trust it on long duration deep backcountry hunts where weather is unpredictable
- Pitching - x-mid is pretty finicky tent to pitch. If the surface is not flat and tent pitched in a true square you can have slack in the tent which can impact wind shedding, and contact with inner and outer tents if not using the pro. Also its a trekking pole tent, so if you are going minimalist and use your poles to pitch, you have to take down the tent every day. Or you bring stand alone poles that add weight and bulk (as opposed to just one for a tipi)

As a single person tent the x-mid is a palace, but the pitch can still be an issue to manage. I will most likely be looking at single pole tipi tent designs in the future if i go away from a freestanding tent.

X-mid2 in sheep country:

As for the thread title, my vote for the 'best tent for Alaska sheep hunt' in the 2 man tent category is the SG Skyscraper 2.

I’ll second this opinion of the X-Mid. I used the 1p solid in 2022 on a 10 day sheep hunt. The drawbacks Joe highlights are what I also found to be true. I’ve gone back to using either a DCF Duomid, which pitches easier and only uses one pole, or a Hilleberg Niak for all my sheep hunts.

 

[docdb]

I went with a MLD Supermid on my last sheep hunt in the Brooks (2018). Loved the space! With that said the weather wasn’t ever really bad. I slept in my Niak last night on an overnighter here in Geogia. I really like the Niak, but a useable vestibule is nice (ie Helags/Anjan)

 

[rhammond31]

My Kuiu storm star has been amazing!

 

[carsonkeys]

My Kuiu storm star has been amazing!

I’m surprised there isn’t more buzz about this tent given the specs. Either I’m missing something, or this tent flys under the radar.

 

[Cspraggins]

My Niak kicked butt last year in some tough conditions. Withstood 8” of snow, 50+mph sustained winds with gusts north of 65mph. Would recommend to anybody hunting sheep in August/september.

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[USMCret]

I’m surprised there isn’t more buzz about this tent given the specs. Either I’m missing something, or this tent flys under the radar.

I was wondering about that but at 5lbs 4 oz for the storm and then the but maybe the mountain star at at 3lbs 7 oz seem more of an attraction. I did find some reviews with problems with their carbon fiber poles and not sure what the weight would be with the aluminum and actually have a call in to them now, There is the one review of the mountain star folding with some snow. It almost seem like if you go with a 4lb tent you are taking slightly more risks for the extremes happening and it you are willing to go 5lbs you are much safer. So are you willing to roll the dice on that pound. I saw one person state that this is the one area that you might not want to risk and that is probably solid advice, because it’s the one thing that could be hunt ending one way or another

 

[carsonkeys]

My Niak kicked butt last year in some tough conditions. Withstood 8” of snow, 50+mph sustained winds with gusts north of 65mph. Would recommend to anybody hunting sheep in August/september.

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I’ve talked myself into and out of a hilleberg yellow label a dozen times now. I’m probably packing my fears, but my limited experience tells me I’m looking for a proper 4-season tent (I’ll probably talk myself off that ledge at some point, too).

 

[USMCret]

I’ve talked myself into and out of a hilleberg yellow label a dozen times now. I’m probably packing my fears, but my limited experience tells me I’m looking for a proper 4-season tent (I’ll probably talk myself off that ledge at some point, too).

I’m in the same boat, going to look at the storm and the mountain Kuiu later this month, does any know of somewhere in anchorage that I can actually put my hands on the Hillebergs ?

 

[carsonkeys]

I’m in the same boat, going to look at the storm and the mountain Kuiu later this month, does any know of somewhere in anchorage that I can actually put my hands on the Hillebergs ?

Barneys

 

[adventure907]

My tent anecdotes from this past sheep season:

One of my guides Kuiu tent broke poles in a "moderate" windstorm.
In the same windstorm, the clients Stone Glacier Solus withstood the gusts.

The Hilleberg Rogen and Niak proved themselves once again and are my two gold standard, all around sheep tents. The Niak, in my humble opinion, is the best all around sheep tent for one person, early season sheep hunts.

The Hilleberg Soulo is the undisputed "bombproof" sheep tent, just a little on the heavy side.

 

[JDBAK]

I’m curious if there’s any Bibler users out there, how they’ve compared to the various Hilliberg tents in extreme winds.

 

[rhammond31]

I’m surprised there isn’t more buzz about this tent given the specs. Either I’m missing something, or this tent flys under the radar.

It’s probably the weight. But I’ve been on a sheep hunt in August and woke up to several inches of snow. I’d rather be confident and carry a lb or two

 

[adventure907]

Everyone likes pictures so thought I'd add a few....

Soulo

 

[adventure907]

Soulo and Unna

the Unna is another great tent. I've had mine since 2009 and it's just as good now as it was when I first bought it.