Shelter help

[mattstanton]

Looking at a bunch of shelters from kifaru tarps to bivys to 1 and 2 man tents like the fly creek and seedhouse from big Agnes. Needless to say my buddy's have their opinions but I'm looking for some more experienced folks to weigh in.

 

[Justin Crossley]

We need some more info about your intended use so we can answer your question better.

 

[BlackWidowTackle]

I like Hyperlite mountain gear echo II.

 

[Shrek]

The ability to put a stove in it would be critical to me. I just can't imagine settling for a cold damp tent now that I've used a stove when it's cold outside.

 

[luke moffat]

The ability to put a stove in it would be critical to me. I just can't imagine settling for a cold damp tent now that I've used a stove when it's cold outside.

Time and a place for everything. IF I was forced to only have one tent for everything for Becca and I to use it'd be a Hilleberg Jannu and we'd just drop the inner nest in the summer time.

 

[mattstanton]

My use is from April through October in oregons high desert and mountain ranges. Bivy scouting and hunting trips. No plans for any winter trips so no terrible weather but mild snow and rain is to be expected.

 

[jmez]

Take a look at the BA Scout. Very light and roomy. Held up well this year in rain and high wind. Light snow should not be a problem for it either.

 

[mattstanton]

I have been leaning toward the sl 3 and putting in a stove jack plus I can leave the nest and just go with the fly for weight savings.

 

[luke moffat]

I have been leaning toward the sl 3 and putting in a stove jack plus I can leave the nest and just go with the fly for weight savings.

If going to put a stove in it I STRONGLY suggest an SL-5 for 5 more oz of weight will yield over 50% more space.

 

[mattstanton]

Will golite install a stove jack or would I have to do that after I received it?

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

You would have to do it yourself or send it to another manufacturer who does installs.

 

[dotman]

Will golite install a stove jack or would I have to do that after I received it?

I just had Bearpaw Wilderness Designs install a large tapered stove jack in my sl-5. Cost was $80 installed and shipped back.

Haven't tried it yet but you will have to cut out the hole for the stove yourself in the stove jack. He did such a good job it looks factory installed.

 

[mattstanton]

So am I correct that you wouldn't use the stove with the nest as the nest is not necessary in cold temps. Just warmer temps where bugs may be an issue.

 

[Rizzy]

I would be concerned about wind in that time frame in the high desert. How does the SL do in the wind?

 

[dotman]

This was my first year with the SL5 and it did fine in 30mph winds (off and on) and driving rain for 8 days straight but I haven't experienced anything more then that with it, kept me dry and wind free for 16 days straight and still looks new. Luke has put this shelter to the test so maybe he'll speak up on his experience but he was one of the reasons I gave this shelter a shot and with just the nest it is pretty light weight yet huge for one.

I'll use the nest only if the bugs are out and inforce or if I'm in warm weather with the family but otherwise I'll just use the fly. I also moved from a completely floorless shelter to this so it isn't a big deal for me. Bearpaw can build you a custom nest that only covers half of the interior space, I think Luke also runs this so I would ask him about this option.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Being from Oregon, we can get away with less of a shelter.
But I still do find that a full enclosed shelter that keeps out the skeeters and ants is worth it.
Nothing worse than throwing down for a mid day nap only to be bugged to death.
Depending on how/where you hunt & recreate, a standup pole tent can make setup on hard ground (read as unstakable) at least possible.
It should be a 2person tent, simply to have room for gear. Double doors are nice as well, but do add a few extra ounces.
Like Luke said, many times you can nix the fly, other times you can use the fly only as a tarp.
Other times you can simply roll with a bivy sack, This is my summer method. (add a fly tarp JIC)

Ideally the shelter you choose can morphe w/ conditions and be setup multiple ways.
OR.... you should plan to use a couple shelters.

I tend to use several ranging from: a Beckel TT tent for base at truck or packing in w/ the mules, a couple cheap 2person "Biker Tents" that I use as spike camp tents, to a simple fly tarp & bivy bag for summer use.
Currently I'm looking at adding something UL along the lines of the Kifaru Mega tarp or perhaps the Tarptent Squall II or Dbl Rainbow w/ their full nest. Leaning toward the Rainbow.
Also toying w/ the hammock concept.
Hunt'nFish

 

[luke moffat]

Just to be clear....I never leave the fly of a shelter at home. I leave the nest at home at times when teh bugs aren't bad, but never do I just take the nest. Not sure how that got confused, but I thought I'd clarify.

 

[HJ Handy]

+1 for Hilleberg. Have a Nallo 3GT and standard Nallo 3. Like Luke, I will leave the inner tent at home when I'm looking for a lighter weight. One nice thing about the Nallo's is if you pitch the outer tent only, the material will sit fully flush with the ground and not have gaps at the bottom for spin-drift unless your surface pitch area is fairly un even.

Nallo 3GT inner and outer tent full kit approx. 6.7 lbs/ outer tent only and kit approx. 5.7 lbs (tent kit is 14 aluminum stakes/stuff sacks/guys lines). Nallo 3 inner and outer tent and full kit approx. 5.7 lbs/ outer tent and kit approx. 4.7 lbs.

For what these tents were designed for they are bombproof when properly pitched and guyed out. Well worth their weight in the mountains.

The Hilleberg's do very fine where I've been. Some photos of the last hunt.

If you go with a Nallo 2 GT or Nallo 2 then your cutting even more weight and still having a bomb-proof mountain shelter.