Tent Selection

[Jdeck09]

Hi everyone,

I need to add a new tent for my next hunt. I currently have a Luxe 2 man with a liner. I need capacity for two more people. I am kicking around the following options: Absaroka 4P, Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 3, or something like a durston.

I know the Argali is a better tent than the Luxe. My concern is having two tipi style tents, which might limit me on a future hunt.

The Big Agnes isn't horribly heavy and gives me a little flexibility for a camp site.

Am I over thinking this?

 

[K_pem]

Two more people? Are you saying that you want one tent to fit 3 guys in?

 

[Jdeck09]

Two more people? Are you saying that you want one tent to fit 3 guys in?

My Luxe is basically a one man with gear so I'm looking for something for the other two hunters.

 

[K_pem]

Gotcha. So a 2+ man is kinda what you need; are you looking for a super light option or sturdier?

 

[Jdeck09]

Gotcha. So a 2+ man is kinda what you need; are you looking for a super light option or sturdier?

Exactly. Honestly, thats where I am stuck. I know the Argali will be a lot lighter and will have more SQ ft. I guess I am worried that if we keep hunting in a group of 3, we might find ourselves in a scenario where a tipi wont work and I'll end up buying a 3rd tent.

 

[TaperPin]

I’d buy the two of them their own tent just to not have to listen to them snore, not smell them after a week in the woods, have to get woke up multiple times a night as they get up to pee, or listen to one of them jerking off in the middle of the night. lol

 

[FlyGuy]

We have a 3 man elk hunting group and typically we pack in several miles. each person carries their own tarp. It’s often much easier to find 3 small flat spots vs finding one very large flat area. (One person and tarp can set up with just a deer bed sized area that’s flat in otherwise steep terrain.) this gives us lots of flexibility if/when the hunt plan changes. And, I can create some distance from the snoring.

A big tent makes a lot of sense If you are car camping, riding horses in, or even packing but going to a known & well used camping location each time.

If you want to sleep 3, I would suggest buying a 6 or 8 man sized tent.

 

[Jdeck09]

I like that idea. I'll think on a bivy/tarp style for me and maybe squeeze them into the luxe.

 

[Levy_ken]

Another thing to keep in mind is that though a tipi style tent will have more square footage, the actual usable space can be underwhelming depending on the angle of the walls.

Tipi tents have their place, but I’ve found that some of the tunnel style tents or designs with more vertical walls are more efficient when it comes to space vs square footage/footprint. We have a Tarptent Hogback (4 person) that comfortably fits our family of 4 and still can squeeze into some tighter areas. Also only 4 pounds total. Not necessarily saying that that specific tent would be ideal for 3 grown men and gear, just my experience.

 

[il_cop]

Everyone carries their own in my crew. Maybe someone carries a communal tarp for cooking/hanging/glassing if we know we're going to stay put for a while.

Food for thought.

 

[K_pem]

Exactly. Honestly, thats where I am stuck. I know the Argali will be a lot lighter and will have more SQ ft. I guess I am worried that if we keep hunting in a group of 3, we might find ourselves in a scenario where a tipi wont work and I'll end up buying a 3rd tent.

My thought is that if these are YOUR tents and you have the Lux tipi style already; provided that you potentially would have other hunts in the future that would justify it, getting a Hilleberg or another super sturdy tent would be nice to have in your arsenal.

Otherwise like others have mentioned, a bivy and a tarp would be a good idea.

 

[Jdeck09]

Everyone carries their own in my crew. Maybe someone carries a communal tarp for cooking/hanging/glassing if we know we're going to stay put for a while.

Food for thought.

I am the planner/pack mule in our group. Luckily, we are using mules on this trip. I tend to buy the gear because I know I am going every year and I like the flexibility. They tend to only go every few years or if they get lucky in the NM draw.

Its a fair point though.

 

[Jdeck09]

My thought is that if these are YOUR tents and you have the Lux tipi style already; provided that you potentially would have other hunts in the future that would justify it, getting a Hilleberg or another super sturdy tent would be nice to have in your arsenal.

Otherwise like others have mentioned, a bivy and a tarp would be a good idea.

Thats a good point. If I can convince my wife to make the move out west, I'll make the investment in the Hilleberg because my back country hunting time will increase exponentially.