Tents for cold weather

[possumtrot]

I am looking at tents that would be good in  cold weather conditions. Have looked at the Kifaru, Cabelas,... ect. Light weight is not a necessity and does not have to be overly large. I am thinking 12x14 max. Any suggestions? Thanks... John

[JBiorn]

Absolutely! Look into the canvas wall tents(guide tents). If you get one of those little stoves, these are as comfy as your own home.

I'm looking at them now myself.

Jeff

[possumtrot]

I am looking at the wall tents as well. It seems that moisture building up in the tent is not as much of a issue with these types of tents. Especially if the wood stove is being used.

[JBiorn]

Your right-----they are dry as a bone inside, even in a downpour. I used one last year at deer camp(November), it was cold and snowy outside, and I was walking around in my union suit inside the tent.

Jeff

[Pete Darby]

I use a Panther primitive regent tent modeled after a medieval style of tent.  Always dry, always warm and plenty of room.  Never been in a storm that has given it any trouble and I have used it all year round and in wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.

[Roughcountry]

My votes for the wall tent & stove if it don't have ta come in on your back.

[mcgroundstalker]

Used a wall tent for winter camping many times...The 12' X 14' Cabelas is hard to beat...Even with four guys and gear you can be like a bug in a rug...

Never used a wood stove...Had a nice size heating element on a propane tank (in a milk box so it wouldn't fall over)...Also kept a rain fly over the roof of the tent...We used seperate tarps as a floor/ground cover...Did not want to store the tent with a dirty floor...

... mike ...

[HACKSAW]

You might try giving the singing bowyer a shout.
Chad bought a tent last year it is about 13 foot diameter. Put it up easily and we hunted out of it a week at Land Between the Lakes on the Kentucky, Tenn line. We have a folding wooden stove with a telescopic stovepipe.
It also has a liner to hold the heat.
Tell him Hacksaw sent ya!
We are going to wheeling tonight for the trad archery show. If your about we will have camp pictures we will be glad to share with you.
Hacksaw

[Tony Phillips]

Here is my 14x14 pryamid tent with my cylinder stove  it can get toasty inside. Whats nice about this tent is you can have it up in a very short time with its single pole setup.

[JBiorn]

Thats a nice tent Tony! Did you build it yourself, or was this manufactured?

Jeff

[Tony Phillips]

Jeff

I purchased it from Don Strinz, I don't remember but I think he is out of Nebraska.

[Brian Krebs]

I have lived for a month at a time; numerous times in a wall tent.
I had an 8x10 that worked well; except no matter what waterproofer I put on it; it still leaked in a downpour.
Ditto on my 10x12; outfitters in this area put a plastic tarp over their wall tents because of this.
This last fall a friend from Sweden bought a 12x12 Cabelas outfitter series tent; can't remember the dingy dang name; but it has a center ridge pole; and it withstood wind water and snowload with absolutely no problems.
We hung wet clothing on the center pole; and fired up the woodstove; and it kept us warm and comfortable.
Plus it has windows so you can stare at the stars at night; and vents to take the heat away in the summer.
Its not canvas; it repels rain and snow like I mentioned; and it has plenty of room ( and you can attach an additional vestibule (sp?) to the front if you want.
 I am 6-3 and had no problem walking around; and that is an issue when your tent bound.
 It is just plain and simple a fantastic tent.
My oldest son bought the 9x9 version of it; and he thinks its the neatest thing since velcro. He now camps with the family and even the little wife is happy with it.
 I did learn ( plenty of headroom for that) from the Swede; to put a big rock on the woodstove; the bigger the better; it heats up at night and in the morning the tent is still warm; though the fire is out in the woodstove.
Neat trick.
Pointed roof styles like the cabelas and Tony's shed water and snow - and its when your sleeping that it normally snows and you don't know it. I have had wall tents sag to where they almost touched me on my cot; and too; woke up with a puddle of water on my sleeping bag cover from a leak in a wall tent ( always always always if it will leak- it will be on you).
 I like being able to zip bugs out in the spring; and summer; and not having to worry about wind and rain.
Its like a home away from home with a good tent!!

     

[Steve O]

Brian,

You are describing the Alaknak from Cabela's...they are pretty warm in the summer; that is the only drawback I can find with mine.  There is a new model with "sleeping pods".  I wish I could retrofit my old one!

[LC]

Hopefully here is a picture of my "Wall Tent". Made it with standard tarps using one of those flexible cooking sheets for the stove pipe liner. Works great.  Wouldn't want to pack it though.

[Brian Krebs]

sleeping pods eh?? have to check that out. I am happy though with military cots and a foam pad on it; with my canvas sleeping bag cover; I am cozy in it. Alaknak is what I was talking about. If you keep them in the shade in the summer; the venting can keep them cool; but then again; I am camping out at 6500 feet.
Packing the 12 by 12 would be difficult; even with pack animals; its heavy. But it can be done.
 The eastman way is to use fly camps; just a plastic tarp over a pole tied between two trees; it allows you to see animals at all times; but I cannot see how you stay warm in that kind of set up.
 Biggest problem in tent camping is when it starts to rain; if it is not leaks; its that the tent gets smaller and smaller with each hour or day spent in it. Eventually you run off screaming into the pouring rain...
 But that makes the rain stop; so there is some science in it  

[Jerry Jeffer]

There is a thread currently running on Kifaru teepees. Worth looking into. Might help you with some ideas.

[AnointedArcher]

You might try these guys!
http://www.redhawk-trading.com/baker-tent.htm

[Idaho_Trad_88]

Hey Experts,

Looking to pick-up a canvas wall tent from a local outfit , www.walltentshop.com, and was wondering if anyone had experience with using canvas wall tents?  Pros? Cons?

[wingnut]

For a truck base camp a canvas wall tent is tough to beat in any weather.  We have a 14 x 20 with a 5 dog stove for that purpose.  We have used it in Idaho and Arizona for elk, Texas for deer and hogs and it's great.  It really shines when the temp is down around zero and you have a small fire going while laying on cots in your long johns reading a book.

Mike

[Roadkill]

My Springbar just went thru some terrible weather at Western States.  It is canvas with no stove vent.  We got 8 inches heavy wet snow on last day of elk camp-we were dry while many tents around us collapsed.  I have a seek outside tipi but have not tested it in the elements yet.  It is a nylon-type one with stove vent, no floor.  Either has it appropriate application.  Go to some of the larger archery shoots and ask the campers to look at theirs. Advertisements do not tell you what you need to know to make an informed decision,
Bigger is heavier, and more room is not all that necessary. I do not cook in my tents as i want no oils.  Cook under an awning. Just my way