Silex as an every trip emergency shelter?

[Jesse Jaymes]

For years I've carried a Kifaru SuperTarp as an emergency shelter. I have no real reason to change other than living between a few locations. I am in a position to somewhat need duplicates or splitting gear at two homes. And I like gear.

Not sure the weight penalty, but think the SuperTarp and a few stakes are 19-22 ounces? I've used it kinda often. Glassing timber bucks and waiting them out all day, for glassing from inside in schitt weather, etc. Late season cold rains or winds. And sometimes summer thunderstorms. Just handy to have.

This would be rambling the mountains of central Idaho from 5000-7000 feet scouting, winter predator calling (day trips) and September archery type trips. Even if I go out to run a circuit of game cams or scouting I throw the SuperTarp in for emergency. This would be the same.

Any reason a Silex would not do the same but offer even more emergency protection being fully enclosed?

And for floorless.....this is a solid choice for single person early season until snow or colder temps? I don't see much traffic or reporting on a Silex, but I don't troll this part of the Slide often. Did a few searches and only a handful of pertinent threads return.

 

[Poser]

And for floorless.....this is a solid choice for single person early season until snow or colder temps?

Yeah, under heavy snow load, the shelter gets too tight for my liking. Excluding that, I do like the shelter for Summer and Early to mid Fall.

 

[ianpadron]

I find the Silex superior in basically every way and used mine for exactly what you described. Favorite September shelter I've ever owned. Close 2nd is the Kifaru Megatarp.

Only reason I sold the Silex was due to the owner of the company, not the product itself.

 

[stan_wa]

Love the silex
Gonna try a poly crow ground tarp for the air pad this year cause it pained me to carry a 6 oz tveck to just so I could use my 16 oz floor less shelter

 

[ianpadron]

Love the silex
Gonna try a poly crow ground tarp for the air pad this year cause it pained me to carry a 6 oz tveck to just so I could use my 16 oz floor less shelter

Stick with the Tyvek. Poly gets destroyed by ever little rock, stick, pine needle, and is loud AF when you move.

I've used Mylar blankets, then poly, now I just nut-up, the extra couple ounces are worth not having a pinhole in your sleeping pad. Had to build a squatch nest out of pine boughs for a buddy who suffered that fate a couple years ago, 1st night of a 6 night hunt, it was a loooong week for him

 

[Grassymike]

I have a Silex. love it. mine is used as primary shelter mid to late Sept in Alberta hunting Sheep in Mountains. 20 or so nights, snow 3-4 inches, heavy frost a couple times, major rain, lots of wind all no problem. I did have some condensation issues last year, we were in a sheltered spot with no wind and wet way above average humidity. still learning the nuances of this shelter but it needs to be opened up more in this kind of weather. I prefer it to be about six inches off the ground on the bottom edge.However you can open the "doors" more for even more airflow.

 

[stan_wa]

Stick with the Tyve

If the poly leads me astray maybe I’ll shell out for a dcf pad cover ?

 

[whiskybiker]

I've spent a lot of nights in my silex. It's a great little tent. And if you get the non stovejack version. It weighs the same as the tarp you have. Another trick I like to do with it. If you're camping in an area with trees. You can use cordage to tie the cones out to them, instead of using poles. Gives you a little more room inside without the poles.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I'll echo what's been said here already, my DCF Silex is probably my #1 go to shelter for solo hunts, and easily works in a pinch for two people as well.

 

[Marbles]

My DCF Silex is my favorite shelter, it comes along even on multiple person hunts as it gives me the freedom to break off with my own camp if needed for little penalty.

 

[taskswap]

Just curious how much rain do you typically get in the seasons you're out in Idaho? I regularly use a combo poncho/tarp for shelter here in CO but it's usually for short squalls, protection from wind while glassing, etc. I've never had to use it in a true emergency but it would do the job - but I wouldn't want to rely on it in the PNW for instance. I think tarp size and pitch options are more important if you're facing worse weather...

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Novembers in northern Idaho can be very touch and go. But that's Whitetail and day hunts. In those situations I will try to wait out schitty weather, or glass from under a tarp. If it's really schitty, I'll just bail and call it a day.

Central Idaho is much more arid and dry with less chance for multi day rains during General season.

 

[stan_wa]

I have a standard one not the dcf and I want a dcf but for 705 $ that too much $ per oz for me

I think the standard pack smaller as well

I would fully advise getting one !