Kifaru Tut vs SO Redcliff

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May 5, 2016
New guy here, but been reading posts on this forum for quite some time. I have a SO 8 man tipi and would like to add a smaller shelter for 2. I've been set on the Redcliff, but the Tut has peaked my interest. Any ideas on how they would compare and pros vs cons of each?
 
The redcliff isn't that much of a step down in size or weight from an 8 man. I would be looking more between the Seekoutside Cimmaron, Kifaru Sawtooh, and Kifaru Tut personally.
 
As far as weight, I was thinking the Redcliff would be a couple pounds lighter than the 8 man, and similar in size and weight to the Sawtooth. I want to be able to stand up, so the Cimarron is out for now. Seems like the Tut would fall between a Cimarron and Redcliff.
 
I own neither and have zero experience with either one but in just looking at them on the Internet it almost seems like comparing apples to oranges. The Redcliff is quite a bit bigger with over 111 ft.² footprint and several inches taller.


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As far as weight, I was thinking the Redcliff would be a couple pounds lighter than the 8 man, and similar in size and weight to the Sawtooth. I want to be able to stand up, so the Cimarron is out for now. Seems like the Tut would fall between a Cimarron and Redcliff.

Pitch the Cimarron with 2-4" of air gap between the ground and the bottom of the shelter and its tall enough for most to stand up in right next to the pole just like the Sawtooth. This both increases ventilation and makes for more useable space and negates the need for a liner IME.

I really don't like that Kifaru doesn't give you guylines along the bottom of their shelters to allow for an air gap to atleast give you the option. If the weather is really bad you can still stake down like standard but most of the time air circulation is your friend as the extra useable space you gain toward the edges of your shelter by having it pitched higher. I have pitched floorless shelters down tight to the ground and its amazing how much faster condensation builds up.
 
The Redcliff looks like a lot bigger footprint than the TUT, and a little bit taller, and significantly heavier, per the specs. As mentioned, they seem to be different size classes, 1-2-man, vs 3-6 man.

It looks like the TUT and Cimarron are more similar in size/weight, the TUT being a bit taller, the Cimarron having a bit larger footprint.

If standing room is a must, a lot will depend on your height. I'm 6'3", and could not stand fully upright in 6'10" SO 4-man tipi, without my head touching the fabric and/or pole. To get the real standing room I wanted, I ended up going to a 6-man tipi, at the cost of extra weight/bigger footprint.

Lots of tradeoffs, depending on your wants/priorities.
 
I completely agree with Luke. One thing that is pretty easy to do, is to get some Lineloc #3's from someone like Bearpaw Wilderness Designs and tie these on or have them sewed on with ribbon to the stake loops of shelters like Kifaru, so that you can elevate your shelter as needed.
(You can then also just stake down to the ground through the original loop in brutal cold weather when the stove is going.) Not only will this give the shelter the option of extra height and needed ventilation, but also allows you to pitch the shelter over brush and logs, or allows you to pitch the windward side low to the ground and the leeward side elevated.
 
Pitch the Cimarron with 2-4" of air gap between the ground and the bottom of the shelter and its tall enough for most to stand up in right next to the pole just like the Sawtooth. This both increases ventilation and makes for more useable space and negates the need for a liner IME.

I really don't like that Kifaru doesn't give you guylines along the bottom of their shelters to allow for an air gap to atleast give you the option. If the weather is really bad you can still stake down like standard but most of the time air circulation is your friend as the extra useable space you gain toward the edges of your shelter by having it pitched higher. I have pitched floorless shelters down tight to the ground and its amazing how much faster condensation builds up.

^^^^This is gospel right here. Like Luke said, sometimes pitching it tight to the ground is a must when big winds are blowing, but if you do this during normal conditions you will more than likely experience serious condensation. That is to say, without dry heat, condensation can be severe.
 
I don't have a redcliff but I do have its predecessor the BCS Grande. They look similar. One difference being that the two sides zip completely apart so that I could take just half if I wanted to as a separate shelter. Here is a pic:

4eb1498effc9090b11edf9dca6c83ceb.jpg



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