Which tent for backcountry 2013?

[HellsCanyon]

No Mike I didn't. I really like the design/setup. However due to the fact that Becca and I couple our bags and pads together the SL-5 floor layout actuallys yields more useable space for us than the BCS does and does so with a lighter shelter. That said if my main hunting partner was another dude and couple bags/pads was strictly prohibited then the BCS would be a shelter hard to beat for what you describe.

Hope that helps.

Helps great thanks Luke!

Mike

 

[Lawnboi]

Unless you are camping on exposed ridgelines and open terrain the BCS will handle anything you can throw at it. I tend to try to camp in as much cover as possible regardless of the shelter I have. There are times I have had to pitch on more exposed locations than I desired, and then had to move to a more protected camping locale. Being as you are in WI I and trees are aplenty this shouldn't be much of a problem there and when you come west the BCS will handle everything my SL-5 does and I've run that sucker through a truck load of different scenarios with no problems.

It won't be used in WI. My main purpose for it would be late season mulies hunting on the prairie. As well as any other later season hunt out west. It gets windy on the prairie I'm still not sure if I would be beter suited with a tipi style shelter

 

[luke moffat]

It won't be used in WI. My main purpose for it would be late season mulies hunting on the prairie. As well as any other later season hunt out west. It gets windy on the prairie I'm still not sure if I would be beter suited with a tipi style shelter

Ohok, yes it can get windy on the prairie for sure. As with any shelter there are trade offs. Given use in the prairie and late season, and the fact that you won't be packing it in further than 10 miles or gaining thousands of feet I think the heavier shelter of a tipi isn't that big of a deal. Plus a 6 person tipi isn't that heavy and makes a great basecamp (car camping) shelter if you so choose as well. Really if you are that concerned about the wind I'd pick the Sawtooth over a 6 man tipi though lighter weight and cuts the wind like no other.

Also the fact that it will only see use a week or two a year during a couple late season mulie hunts as you stated means that it won't have to be absoultely bomber to stand up to 100+ days a season or anything like that to give you many years of service.

 

[bbrown]

I have been impressed with my Oware 9x9 pyramid tent. It does not get mentioned much (at all really) - does everyone know something I don't???It comes in around 28oz without a center pole but including everything else.

 

[luke moffat]

I have been impressed with my Oware 9x9 pyramid tent. It does not get mentioned much (at all really) - does everyone know something I don't???It comes in around 28oz without a center pole but including everything else.

Nope, Oware makes great stuff, I have one of their tarps. They are on par with a GoLite SL-5 which is 9.5X9.5 at 29 oz. Just depends on what you are looking for and who you want to buy from. Oware makes quality products at reasonable prices, hard to go wrong there.

 

[Lawnboi]

Ohok, yes it can get windy on the prairie for sure. As with any shelter there are trade offs. Given use in the prairie and late season, and the fact that you won't be packing it in further than 10 miles or gaining thousands of feet I think the heavier shelter of a tipi isn't that big of a deal. Plus a 6 person tipi isn't that heavy and makes a great basecamp (car camping) shelter if you so choose as well. Really if you are that concerned about the wind I'd pick the Sawtooth over a 6 man tipi though lighter weight and cuts the wind like no other.

Also the fact that it will only see use a week or two a year during a couple late season mulie hunts as you stated means that it won't have to be absoultely bomber to stand up to 100+ days a season or anything like that to give you many years of service.

Have you ever had any problems with high winds hitting the door side of the sawtooth? I know with the paratipi that I used to have I had a scary moment when I opened the door one night into high winds, but it survived just fine none the less.

This season it will only end up seeing around 10 days of use, but who knows what the future holds. It would be nice to have a tent to use when me and my buddy go as well as ill have something I can take anywhere and know ill be good to go.

Right now iv narrowed my options down to the sawtooth, 4man K tipi, and the SO BCS with the add in panel. I already have a K medium stove as well. Right now im leaning twards the tipi, but I have quite a bit of time to think on this one as my bivy and tarp will do me just fine till im on the prarie in November.

 

[edg1967]

Does anyone have any experience with a Exped Tarp Tent. Not the Rainbow, just the Tarp Tent. it has a row of snaps...both mail and female along one side and is about 10 x 10 & made out of silnylon. I bought one on Ebay a few years ago during a moment of weakness thinking it was something else and I can't figure out anything about it. I can't even find anything online about options for setting it up. I just used it for a awning for my 6-man dome tent this year. I might just cut it down and use it for a smaller emergency shelter if I can't figure the stupid thing out.

 

[luke moffat]

Any shelter will have to be opened with a bit of caution with a 30+ mph wind coming directly at the door regardless of tipi or not. Just be sure the door has a 2-way zipper, meaning it can leave the bottom zipped together and open from the top to slide through the slit opening the door is created now, rather than fully opening the door from the bottom.

And yes I was on Kodiak last year for 12 days in November and have a couple storms come through from both ends of the Sawtooth. It preformed extremely well given the conditions. I think the BCS will be more than adquate for your needs as it does have 2 way zippers for this reason and the add in panel is a very sweet option as well and worth the weight IMO. If going K tipi get a 6 main tipi though. LIke I said when not going in very far on easy to hike Pairier with not thousands of feet of vertical gain, that is the perfect time to splurge a bit on weight and haul in a more comfy shelter. Heck I'm thinking of hauling our 12 man tipi in 12 miles next year one way for a caribou hunt for just Becca and I next fall..campin' in style. When you don't gotta contest with brush or super elevation gain/loss it really opens up your options on what you can haul...atleast for me.

 

[Lawnboi]

Thanks for the info, I may have to pick your brain a bit more when I get closer to buying one.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Anybody going to try this thing out this year? http://mountainsmith.com/index.php/mountain-shelter-lt.html

 

[a3dhunter]

Anybody going to try this thing out this year? http://mountainsmith.com/index.php/mountain-shelter-lt.html

Good price point, but heavy.
With kifaru, tarptent or bear paw wilderness designs you can get something similar or bigger for 16-17 oz.

 

[luke moffat]

Anybody going to try this thing out this year? http://mountainsmith.com/index.php/mountain-shelter-lt.html

Certainly looks like a great little tent, especially given the price!!! Could save some coin on your shelter there and use the money to shave weight elsewhere. If you get it let us know how it works for ya.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I wont be trying it out as I already have a Supertarp, but thought it might be a relatively inexpensive albeit heavier version of either it or the Megatarp....sort of in between the two I guess.

 

[edg1967]

Anybody going to try this thing out this year? http://mountainsmith.com/index.php/mountain-shelter-lt.html

It's actually only about 5 oz. heavier than the Megatarp when you factor in the annex which looks like comes standard with this tarp. It may weigh a little more if you sew in a stove boot which would be something to consider.

 

[ohhiitznik]

Looks like a Paratipi like design to me!

 

[luke moffat]

It's actually only about 5 oz. heavier than the Megatarp when you factor in the annex which looks like comes standard with this tarp. It may weigh a little more if you sew in a stove boot which would be something to consider.

True...just A LOT smaller for more weight than the megatarp and not full height across the whole shelter.

 

[Sawtoothsteve]

Just a standard black diamond pole I use as the center pole.

I just take it apart one of the trekking poles and stab it into the other end....ah heck this makes it a lot easier to understand than me typing it out :
http://vimeo.com/40135925

Have to make a point to meet up sometime so you can see it in person, seeing the amount of space you get for the weight in person given the price makes the SL-5 a no brainer IMO.

Luke,

What do you do for trekking poles when you leave the tent in one spot for more than a day? With a bum knee, I need a pole when running about from a fixed spike camp.

 

[dbaker]

that mountainsmith shelter looks nice. i'm sure it's not kifaru quality/durability but for 300 less...? like Luke said you could take the 300 and use it to save the 5 ounces somewhere else.

 

[a3dhunter]

that mountainsmith shelter looks nice. i'm sure it's not kifaru quality/durability but for 300 less...? like Luke said you could take the 300 and use it to save the 5 ounces somewhere else.

I also liked that it was vented to help with condensation. Not bad for the money.

 

[luke moffat]

Luke,

What do you do for trekking poles when you leave the tent in one spot for more than a day? With a bum knee, I need a pole when running about from a fixed spike camp.

Only take the SL-5 when going with another person. So with two sets of trekking poles along on teh trip means one set gets used as a center pole and the other we each use one. With a bum knee though it may be worth your while to just bring the 10 oz pole along...