Tent advise needed.

[jasonpumper]

Ok, here is the deal. I have around 1100 to spend. I have a wife and 4 kids from age 12-7. I would really like to have a tent that I can pack in during hunting season and do some winter camping with, but also need something capable of camping with the entire family during the summer. I can't afford two, I don't think? Size, weight, and cost are my concerns. I like the idea of having a wood stove also. Fire away with your best suggestions to help me decide. I'm leaning toward something like the 8 man kifaru?

 

[Backpack Hunter]

It's hard to beat a tipi for size and weight.

 

[Beastmode]

It is going to be tight with 6 people in an 8 man but it is doable. Are you going to be backpacking with this shelter? If not the 12 man might be a better option. Don't count out seek outside. They make a very good product and a little cheaper.

 

[jasonpumper]

Yes on backpacking. Maybe not with the entire family, but defiantly during archery season. Maybe I should just buy an elcheapo for the family and something like a 4man for hunting. Damn I wish I were rich.

 

[jmez]

If you are only camping during archery season you can get some really cheap 1-2 man backpacking tents. Mine was $60 on ebay. Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2. Not the lightest out there but has held up well to snow, rain and wind.

 

[muleman]

The Nemo Hexalite 6p is a big space efficent family tent. Not the lightest for backpacking. But doable considering I used to regularly pack in a 13 pound 4 season bomb shelter for three people.

Last year I was able to score a Hexalite 6p for just over $300 new and on sale. If you got a Hexalite 6p you should have more than enough money left to get a another light weight, stove ready shelter for hunting.

I agree 6 will be tight in a 8 person tipi. I have similar family dynamics and we are at critical mass in a Vertex 8.

 

[Beastmode]

I think you can get a good family tent easily for under $400. This leaves you $700 for a great archery shelter. Just a thought. While a tipi is great I wouldn't want to haul my 8 man around during archery season by myself or with a kid or wife. It's doable with one other guy but not the lightest option. Do you only archery hunt? Will it be solo or with someone who can help carry the weight?

 

[gustafsj]

Do you backpack with the family? How about splitting the family in half and get two smaller shelters? My wife won't go for it, but maybe yours would.

We have 3 kids and use a 10x10 pyramid shelter that works pretty good for us. I would like to upgrade to the Seek Outside 6-man tipi at some point though as I would like to use it for backcountry hunting at some point.

You could do a tarp for an awning with the 6-man to keep your gear outside the sleeping area. Then you might have enough room for all six.

 

[NJDiverDan]

Need a bit more information. For the hunting shelter, how many people? Just you? You and buddy? And for the family, is this just summer camping?

If the above is the case I would recommend two separate shelters. Get a good family cabin tent for under $400 as stated above. You can have plenty of space for the family. Then focus on getting the best shelter for packing, ie Megatarp, Sawtooth, etc. depending on how many.

 

[larryschwartz]

I would go with the SeekOutside Li'l Bug Out tent. Buy two bases (pyramid style tipi's) and a tarp connector. You wind up with one tipi for the kids and one for you and your wife wit a tarp'ed over connecting tunnel between the two for gear. See the picture a the bottom of this page.

http://seekoutside.com/products/ultralight-tipis/little-bug-out-shelter/

With this combination you can take just the bug out base when you hunt by yourself and the combination of the two bases and the tarp give you LOTS of different configurations to meet your varying needs.


Larry

 

[jasonpumper]

Man, I really like the versatility of the Li'l Bugout, wish it were a tad bigger, and checking out some of the videos, it looks like you would be pressed pretty tight to the walls, and not sure if it pitches tight enough for wind? Anyone on here have real world experience in one with the weather? Rain, snow, wind? It may be something that I could make my own tarp, a little longer, and connect the two for more square footage with the family? Does the nest act as a liner and keep the condensation from dripping? Definite maybe!! I am trying to get my kids out and start backpacking more with me and my wife. We PROBABLY wont be doing much extreme as a family, but when scouting, and during hunting season, I want a shelter that will cover myself and at least one other in all weather. Thanks for the great advise.

 

[jasonpumper]

Gustaf, My wife AND I would be ok with two different shelter, but out kids are freaked out about the idea!! I would have fun with that! I remember worrying about spending my first night alone in the woods, but was so tired nothing bothered me! I really have about 2000 to spend, but have to get sleeping bags and packs for 4 kids too, that really adds up quick. I guess we should have spent more time watching tv when we were young, and not fooling around!!

 

[gustafsj]

Jason, my thought was the wife take half the kids and you take half. But yes, it would be fun if the kids were in their own tent. ;-) As for kids sleeping bags, I have picked up used North Face Tigger bags on eBay. They are pretty lightweight for a 20F poly fill bag and compress fairly well. As for packs, so far just a lightweight kids school backpack has worked fine so far. Our oldest is 7. They just carry some clothes/jacket and maybe a toy and/or stuffed animal. My wife will carry all the sleeping bags and other spare clothes along with some of the food in a lightweight pack. And I'm the pack mule for everything else.

 

[jasonpumper]

Well, I went to kifaru and purchased the 8 man and large stove. I think ill pick up the Cimarron later this summer if you all like it. Now, what kinds of lights do you all pack to hang up and brighten a tent the size of an 8 man? Curious about size and weight as I will be packing in short distances, maybe a mile or two. Thanks for all the response. Now I just can't wait for it all to get here!