Shelter Decision. Help me!

[Superdoo]

I'm ready to get a shelter. I'm trying to decide between Silex, LBO + Vestibule, and a Cimarron.

Silex - Great for a single man. Easy to set up take down. I'm 6'2" and should be able to sit up in it. I'm a little worried about it being too tight to effectively dry gear out. I like having extra space.

LBO - should give a lot more room, but is there a lot more usable room to hang things? It would be able to give me room to sit in my chair vs. laying down when the weather turns.

Cimarron - Palatial for one and can fit 2 easily. Fitting two means more flexibility and that makes me feel better. Down sides are weight, pack space and footprint size.

I'm probably going solo for the time being, but you never know what the future holds.
The Silex wins if I'm not going to feel cramped and still be able to make sure socks and boots get dry (they are always a battle for me).
The LBO seems like it does fit nicely in the middle, but the pitch time and number of stakes gives me pause.
The Cim would be absolutely awesome, but do I want to carry it???

Let me know your thoughts on this.

 

[jeffpg]

I can only speak about my experience with the LBO. It is neither hard or time consuming to set up, nor are there a unreasonable number of stakes needed... at all.

I have 2 of these in new condition and may be able to part with one.

 

[Poser]

I think that for 1, you can reasonably Eliminate the Cimarron -it’s just too much weight (and space) to justify for 1 person. When it comes to hanging gear, I think you can make almost anything work: run a line across the shelter and hang your clothes up. With the Silex having 2 poles and 2 high points, I think this would be pretty simple. How many pieces of gear do you really need to hang? Gaiters, jacket, pants, probably not much else. I’d lean towards going as light as possible and, when hunting, there’s not a lot of time spent hanging out in a tent.

 

[Ross]

Look to the cimmaron lite to help make your decision with line 2.61 pds

 

[justinspicher]

You can always appreciate more room when your hanging out in it waiting out a storm. The option for a stove is also nice. Only have to buy one shelter to cover both issues.

 

[Superdoo]

So two votes for Cimarron and one vote for the Silex...

 

[Bryanboss429]

Just for one? Silex! Plenty large for one. Yes, you can sit up in it. And plenty of room to hang a few items of clothing to dry out. Hot tent capable, if you order with a stove jack. Mine weighs 25oz with stakes and cordage w/o a stove jack.

 

[tylerb4613]

I went with the silex....

 

[Jagger0502]

I run two tents. For just me I have the silex. Plenty of room for me and my gear. Even had my dog stay in there with me. If I go with two people I ha e the cimmeron. Fits two and gear easily. Weight for both are great for a full 4 sided Floorless shelter. I would recommend either. If you do the cimmeron for just yourself you will be in a palace. But the weight penalty will be substantial for just one person.

 

[archp625]

Just for one? Silex! Plenty large for one. Yes, you can sit up in it. And plenty of room to hang a few items of clothing to dry out. Hot tent capable, if you order with a stove jack. Mine weighs 25oz with stakes and cordage w/o a stove jack.

Can you order the silex with a stove jack?

 

[tylerb4613]

Can you order the silex with a stove jack?

Yes.

 

[Dos Perros]

I kinda don't get the Silex. The Eolus is only 1 oz heavier and you get 13 more square feet of room. Usable for 2 people even.

 

[GregB]

Cimmaron doesn't take up that much room. I just lay it in the bottom of my pack out of the stuff sack, and put the rest of my gear on top. Then just cut pole when you set up camp.

 

[Jagger0502]

I kinda don't get the Silex. The Eolus is only 1 oz heavier and you get 13 more square feet of room. Usable for 2 people even.

I went thru the same dilemma when purchasing my silex and you are correct. A few things that leaned me to the silex was this:

I only ever plan to use it as a one man shelter. I hae the cimmeron for two. With two I wouldn’t be able to fit gear and I don’t like leaving my stuff out where I can’t get to it. So as a solo shelter I gained an ounce...

I also gained a smaller footprint to set up. When setting up on a hill, or deer bed where bigger isn’t always better this would give me a slight advantage being longer and thinner setup

no zippers... which wasn’t a big factor but when those zippers break it’s always at the worse time and it was some peace of mind. Thought the design was cool.

And lastly it allows for a stove - I might be wrong but I don’t think the Eolus does and I wanted a stove option.

I don’t think you would do wrong with either one though. They are both great little shelters.

 

[Superdoo]

I'm resurrecting this post. As I bought an LBO with vestibule and tried it out after Christmas in the cold (13* F). My winter bag is 6'6" and very lofty I put it on top of an Exped UL long wide. I was touching at the head and foot. I got snow overnight and the top of the bag was wet (should have pitched it higher). I tried to run my bag the long way with the head in the vestibule and the foot in the base, but the side wall was touching and I felt like I was way too close to the stove.
Stove is an SXL.

Any tall guys having issues with the bag rubbing in their Silex?

 

[gexpro]

Buy once and go with the cimmaron. I eventually went with one in DCF and stove jack. you will appreciate the room when you are solo and the flexibility of having enough room in the future if you pair up with someone.

 

[Superdoo]

Buy once and go with the cimmaron. I eventually went with one in DCF and stove jack. you will appreciate the room when you are solo and the flexibility of having enough room in the future if you pair up with someone.

Ohh you better believe I'm kicking that around too. Just not the DCF. I won't be getting enough nights a year in it to make the numbers come out.
The Cim is 10 oz. more than the LBO+V and the Silex is 10 oz. less than the LBO+V. That's the part I'm struggling with! Why carry 35 oz. if I can fit well enough in 17 ounces??? It would also be less money, which is nice.

 

[RancherJohn]

The Cimarron gets my vote, especially if you hunt into the later seasons where a stove is handy. Fast to setup, room for 2+gear+stove, and bombproof. I will still carry my Cimarron (2dr + screens + stove jack) on spring and summer trips for 2 or when I know there will be extended periods of rain, the room inside vs my 3 man tents or paratarp is worth the weight penalty (which I think a lot of people focus on too much).

 

[MTElkChaser]

Seriously, buy the Cimmaron. You’ll never complain about more room and an extra 10oz. There will be room for your pad, bag (without touching), pack, all of your gear and room to cook, hang a drying line, etc... You’ll thank us later! Good luck!!

 

[b_doornenbal]

The other option to look at is Lite Outdoors from Canada.... plus you guys south of the border save 30% on exchange.