Tough decision

[couesbitten]

I usually take off the entire first week of our rifle elk season her in WA, and there is normally between 3 and 6 of us in camp. I currently have a 15x21 Canvas Cabins wall tent that has dual stove jacks (if it gets really cold), a heavy vinyl tarp floor, 6 cots, and for when there's more than 4 of us in camp, I designed a 10 ft extension off the front with a wooden door for cooking, ice chests, and firewood. Now, I love my wall tent, and you absolutely can't beat it for comfort when you're elk hunting for a week, but man it's huge, doesn't go up in 20 minutes, weighs a LOT when you count the inner frame, stakes, floor, wood stoves(s), tarp on roof, etc. I'm giving serious consideration to purchasing a large (12 - 16 man) tipi to replace it with. I realize that with a wall tent, that virtually every inch of floor space is usable, and that isn't the case with a tipi. If I do it, I'll probably hang onto the wall tent through this season and try it with the tipi before I sell the wall tent and then realize that I made a mistake. But by the same token, I can see where a big tipi would be more likely to be used for a 3 day deer hunt, camp trip etc., where I'm just reluctant to take all of the wall tent stuff with me and set it up for anything less than 4 days.

I'm looking for some feedback from you guys to help me decide, if you've made the switch in either direction, share your thoughts and experience so that I can make a more informed decision. Thanks

 

[Akheimdahl]

Talk to AKtroutbum about the seek outside tipis. He sold me on one.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Cous, What you can't put up that mansion in 20min?!?! It has an internal frame doesn't it?
Honestly given the cost of a large tipi, I'd just get better at setting up the wall tent.
But with that said, I picked up that 14x14 Beckel TT tent (modified square tipi) from Old Salt for like $300. It does well for smaller groups and sets up in a flash. Just an idea on a cheap solution for smaller group hunts.

But I have to admit, a HUGE tipi would be pretty cool to try. Can they be rented to try?
Hunt'nFish
Hunt'nFish

 

[fillthefreezer]

im with ya. i want a 12man in a bad way

 

[Ryan Avery]

I can set mine up in less than 10 minutes. It's the shit

 

[BroodBuster]

Tents are like boats, no one does everything and you need a family of boats.

The tipi won't replace the wall tent or vice versa.

Sounds to me like your ready to grow the family.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Tents are like boats, no one does everything and you need a family of boats.

The tipi won't replace the wall tent or vice versa.

Sounds to me like your ready to grow the family.

Totally agree! I have two Wall tents, 12 man, sawtooth and a super tarp. I use all of them. I like the 12 man when I'm by myself or only setting up for a few days. The wall tent is much more involved so I use it for longer stays or when it's really cold.

 

[colonel00]

We have an Alaknak from Cabela's that we like for hunts that we can drive up to. I believe ours is 12x12 so that might be a little tight for 6 guys but the 12x20 should be fine. Get a vestibule to go with it and you would have plenty of room. Just a different option to throw out there as a quasi-tipi option.

Oh, and they have a stove jack and you can unzip a section of floor to use a stove too.