Shelter Question

[Where's Bruce?]

I'm a hammock camper for reasons of necessity (back injuries) however, I will be camping in some wet and frozen places devoid of things to hang from and am wondering what the best 2, 3 or 4 man tents were for BP camping. Must meet the following criteria:

Dry even in days of wind-driven storms.
Able to handle the heaviest winds (70mph).
A profile that allows me to sit up w/o hitting my head.
Quick to pop up & tear down.
Built to last (doesn't need to be the very lightest) and capable of taking abuse.
Screened to keep out bugs and built in floor to keep out snakes and stuff.

If you might be stuck in a tent for the week of continuous windy wet weather, what tents would you look at?

Also, I see some guys hauling these huge mats into the field, that's the deal with those?

 

[ozyclint]

hilleberg allak. i have a soulo and love it. the allak is the two man version

 

[Beastmode]

From the sounds of thing you are going to want a 4 season tent if you are dead set on having a floor. Otherwise I would look at a tipi stove combo. If I was going to be in miserable weather for that amount of time I would go with a tipi stove combo. This is what I am currently considering. The only problem is that one place I hunt has some really bad problems with crawlies at night. You can't go 10ft without seeing a black widow. So for there I will most likely keep using my big Agnes Copper Spur. Which is a great tent and handled great in a solid 2 day wind and rain storm.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I was hit by a diamondback when I was 12, left a bigger scar on my pysche than my leg. Totally phobic. Want complete enclosure. It's one of the reasons I prefer hammocks.

I wouldn't think I tipi would be ideal in a strong wind. Wouldn't a lower profile tent be better? it would be nice to stand up but if the darn thing blew away...well.

 

[2rocky]

Bruce, Going to Kodiak? I think if you find folks who Backpack into the alpine there, you will have your answer.

As a starting point:
I always start searching a large camping gear cooperative where I can filter a large number of products and compare them. Might be a good place to start...

 

[Beastmode]

Gotta chime in on this one. Ive spent a better part of 5 + years in floorless shelters aside from shaking the sleeping bag out at night Ive never had any issues with snakes or bugs on floorless design shelters. I shake my bag before bed every night just incase any spiders have come to make home in it. If you do this and make sure your sleeping mat is clear of debri and bugs youll sleep nice and sound. Snakes never had an issue with them coming into my Tents/Tipis. The floorless design has some huge advantages over a floored space.

1. you dont have to take your boots off when you get go into the tent/tipi
2. You can run a stove.
3. Gives you a bit of air flow so your not waking up with a wet sleeping bag from Condensation.
4. If its storming bad outside. You can relieve yourself into a bottle in a floorless shelter and if you miss not that big of a deal. Yes I do this and if you say you never have you floorless guys then your flat out lying your asses off or never camped or slept overnight in adverse weather. =)

Lets talk about Tipis Bruce. The kifaru and SOS Tipis are expensive and some of the best backpacking expedition gear for a reason. It aint cause we want to go back to the old cowboy and indian days. Its because they are bombproof. They withstand the worst of weather and are complete solid when it comes to very high winds. You really wont find a better wind capable shelter other then the Hilidabergs. Also think about.... There is a reason the native americans used tipis. It wasnt cause they where easy to build. It was because it is a tried and tested and proven design to stand up to most anything mother nature can throw at it.
But we can talk to we are blue in the face about it. Bottom line is until you send a night and deal with adverse weather in a Tipi then youll never be sold on it.

Having a Tipi with stove is extremely comforting out in the wilds. Its a moral booster, It is great for warming up and fighting off Hypothermia, Its great for drying off your clothes. And how many Tents would you honestly be comfortable sitting in and cooking your dinner in at night? Yep you can do this also in a tipi =-).

James

Being he has a phobia of crawlers and such I would think floorless os out of the question. I would take a serious look at hilleberg. Another option would be a little bug out by seek outside. You can use theor nest inside their shelter and still have a stove. I don't have any experience in one in a flat out storm though.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

This is what I found in my MegaTarp with a stove on a winter AZ hunt!! Smashed him and went back to bed lol.....

I really like a floorless but ya gotta be a little careful

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Does the Allak have sufficient ventilation or does it rain inside with condensation? I never eat where I sleep in bear country so the tipi seems less attractive, especially in the west where stuff stings and bites. If I gotta pee I will use a Travel John. Don't even get outta the bag. Snivel gear for older guys. Never used a stove, campfires when possible but movement and proper attire for heat...a stove might be nice but only for spike, not bivy. Seems like a lot of hassle for trips where you're always on the move. Hmmmmmmm...

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

A Seek Outside tipi with the two person nest is another option that eliminates the worry about crawlers, snakes and such and you can still run a stove.

 

[whitingja]

Check out tarptents. Lightweight and has a floor. They have 4 season versions also.