Tents

[paleoman]

#3352

I’ m looking for a tent for fall use here in Michigan (meaning it’ ll be cool!). This will be a smaller tent- 4 man. What opinions here on canvas vs nylon ? I’ m familiar w both and feel canvas is better in colder weather. Then I’ ve not spent time in a 4 season nylon tent- the ones with double wall construction. The Eureka ECWT, though no longer made as far as I know looks like the contender type in nylon. Looking to get back to my roots…lighten up on the gear and make a quick, simple and functional camp for a few days to a week or more. Thanks for any insights!

[chamookman]

#19176

For Me, a Wall tent with a wood stove is hard to beat. Nylon tents heated with propane heaters are prone to condensation – NOT good in camping situations :wink:. Used to spend a week (2nd week of NOV.) in a Tepee with a Friend in the Alabaster Swamp by Tawas every year. They are the absolute best for cold weather – if You’re inclined to lean that way. I’ve always said that Everyone should spend a cold/sleety/windy night in a Tepee – it’s a wonderful thing ! Bob

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#19390

Unless I find myself prematurely unemployed, I plan to pull the plug on a canvas wall tent and woodstove this year. I’m looking at models by Montana Canvas and Reliable.

I’ve gone back and forth on the traditional canvas tent, vs. an ultralight option like a Kifaru, but cost is about the same. You get a lot less weight/bulk, but they don’t retain heat like a canvas tent, and they are usually quite a bit smaller for the same amount of $$, in my experience. Besides, I’m mostly looking for something for basecamps in places I can drive to, or would be horsepacking it in.

If the plan comes together the way I hope, I’ll get the tent soon, and then find myself happily unemployed in time for September…:D

[Troy Warner]

#19517

I have a 9×12 wall tent and a 15×15 pyramid tent for a base camp. The pyramid is the easiest and fastest of the two to set up and take down. I made a take down 4×4 post for a one pole support for the pyramid and can have it put together, tent staked out and up in 15 minutes, then it’s just a bit of tweaking to tighten the base.

For summer time camping at shoots or just a weekend getaway I use our 4 man green river. For back packing I have a 2 man with the nylon floor and ground sheet with screened top and a fly to keep the rain out. With 2 people it gets a little condensation on the short walls but with one person I haven’t noticed any condensation in the mornings. Any dampness in the air will obviously be transferred into the tent but if the air is dry it is dry.

Good luck

Troy

[david Keech]

#19599

I have the cabela’s Big Horn II guide tent.Works well for me..Have used it in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Wayne National Forest in Ohio in temps down to 12 degree’s and stayed warm using the Big Buddy heater..I run a 5′ propane hose out thru the zippered floor to the tank for the grill..Last all week then some..also got the extra floor liner and the vestibul..

[sinawalli]

#19708

Canvas if you don’t pack, nylon if you do. That said, nothing and I mean nothing beats coming back from a long hard day of hunting in the cold to a wall tent with a wood stove in it!

[Munsterman]

#19925

Many years ago in Montana, I and two friends were hunting the Bridgers. One of the guys got sick and decided to stay in camp this particular day. During the day, the temps plummeted and a storm blew in. By the afternoon, there was about 8″ of snow on the ground and the wind was howling. We got back to camp to find our buddy in his underwear, snuggled cozily in the wall tent stoking the wood stove ! The thermometer hanging from the ridge pole read 82 deg . !

There’s nothing like a good canvas wall tent and a wood stove!

[paleoman]

#20902

sinawalli wrote: Canvas if you don’t pack, nylon if you do. That said, nothing and I mean nothing beats coming back from a long hard day of hunting in the cold to a wall tent with a wood stove in it!

The only thing that beats that is a pre-cooked meal bubbling away on the stove! Have hunted with a friend many, many times out of a classic wall tent set-up. He’ s out of state in Wi., and as much as I love going up there, I drive through way too much opportunity here in Mi. that I need to explore.

[lyagooshka]

#20955

A guy I know went to the doctor. He told the doctor every time he tried to sleep we was awakend by bad dreams. First he would dream he was a Tee Pee, next he would dream he was a Wig Wam. The doctor told him he’s just two tents.

(Sorry, just had to throw that one in there. Really slow news day on my end.)

😆

[bruc]

#22214

I like that Alex 😆

I had to read it twice though 😉

Bruce

[Larry O. Fischer]

#22365

Canvas wall tent with a wood stove, for truck camping. Fly in or back packing would recommend looking at one of the high tech tee pees, but don’t forget the wood stove. I have seen some light weight titanium stoves.

[pewanogo]

#23550

Canvas for your purpose. Cool weather during Mi hunting season causes nylon to “rain” inside. Coleman still makes some canvas that works nicely. We use canvas to sleep in and a tubular frame with tarps to cook in. Third week in October in the UP has presented all weather challenges and we’ve been comfortable throughout

[Patrick]

#55706

Any other brand recommendations for wall tents?

[sinawalli]

#55710

Problem with a teepee is that you are paying big $$$ for what essentially is a tarp! When it’s arse snapping cold out, you want a stove! Inside a wall tent! Where you can sleep off the floor.

[paleoman]

#56673

I just “ate it” for a Montana Canvas Range tent. Will be on the “Yooper Peninsula” here in Michigan for at least a week in a few. Want the warmth of canvas to return to.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#56760

Nice. A buddy of mine has had a MT Canvas tent for years and we’ve done many trips with it, and it’s pretty sweet.

I went back and forth a lot on the whole ‘trad wall tent vs. lightweight tipi’ thing, but ultimately ended up going with the latter for ease of packing into the backcountry. I ended up getting a Seek Outside 6-person tipi and woodstove last spring. The entire setup weighs < 10lbs.

[Patrick]

#59533

paleoman wrote: I just “ate it” for a Montana Canvas Range tent. Will be on the “Yooper Peninsula” here in Michigan for at least a week in a few. Want the warmth of canvas to return to.

Good luck! Love the UP.

Smithhammer wrote: I ended up getting a Seek Outside 6-person tipi and woodstove last spring. The entire setup weighs < 10lbs.

I like that a lot. Hadn’t heard of that company before.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#59807

Patrick wrote:

I like that a lot. Hadn’t heard of that company before.

Great folks, and made in Colorado. The make several other interesting lightweight backcountry shelters, and some pretty cool packs as well. And they’re a BHA supporter. 😉

http://seekoutside.com/

[adirondackman]

#61319

I have used many tents through the years and never liked one of them. From condensation through the lack of really feeling out in the wilderness I just never warmed up to a tent. I prefer making an old fashion Indian lean to or a Tarp when I don’t have the time or materials to build one. As far as staying warm nothing beats a lean to with a fire in front of it. I can build a good lean to in about 45 minutes. However once you get above the Timber Line a Tent is almost a necessity.

[Don Thomas]

#62030

The choice depends entirely on the purpose, and I’ve covered the spectrum over the years. If weight isn’t a consideration, a canvas wall tent with a sheepherder stove is impossible to beat. I’ve survived some truly nasty weather in comfort that way on Kodiak and the Alaska Peninsula. (Montana Canvas is a great choice.) On a long backpack hunt, weight becomes the prime concern. This summer I field tested a Big Bertha 2-man (actually a 1-man, as is always the case)on a long backpack hunt. There were no creature comforts, but it held up very well to some nasty weather and weighed barely more than three pounds. Since I had to carry it 20 miles before we started hunting, the light weight was huge. In places where weight considerations are in between (float trips, horseback) and wind is a major consideration, you can’t beat the Alaska-made Hurricane Huts.They keep you dry in any weather, and it’s impossible to blow one down. Don

[Anonymous]

#62067

Smithhammer wrote: [quote=Patrick]

I like that a lot. Hadn’t heard of that company before.

Great folks, and made in Colorado. The make several other interesting lightweight backcountry shelters, and some pretty cool packs as well. And they’re a BHA supporter. 😉

http://seekoutside.com/

Angie and Kevin are GOOD people that make an equally good product.

[jason samkowiak]

#62534

I have a davis canvas wall tent 12×14 with a cylinder stove. Its an amazing tent and great for truck camping. I have also spent quite a few nights in northern Michigan in many other dome, bivy, 2 man, and other tents.

Nothing extreme weather wise like many of you guys have. But cold wet conditions with temps at zero many times.

Im very happy to now have a wall tent. but in the nylon tents I found a hot water bottle in the bottom of your sleeping bag heats you up nicely and the bag keeps the warmth in for a long time. Also the disposable hand warmers work great as well. put 3 of them in your bag and they heat it up nicely as well. either option is a great way to stay warm and beat the condensation factor.

a tip for those of you that have wall tents and are truck camping. Disc-o-bed makes amazing cots that stack like bunk beds giving you double the sleep capacity in your wall tent. I can sleep 4 in my 12×14 tent and have the stove and also a table and chairs area inside and not be cramped. with out the disc-o-beds we are cramped with 3 people and no table area.

The cots are used world wide my many military, relief aids, shelters, scouts, etc. super strong amazing cots and get the xl as they are very roomy and super comfortable.

[paleoman]

#64052

I don’t know Jason….some big bear of a bean eater up above ya..looks too much like a submarine bunk:lol:

[Author]

Posts