BWCA Tent fly and floor Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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wingnut
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09/26/2014 09:16AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Plan to use my 12x14 wall tent for hunting this year and wanted to ask peoples opinions on flys and floor material. Right now I'm using the green grassy outdoor carpet on top of a blue rip stop tarp for a floor with a fire resistant cloth under the stove. I'm thinking that a fly might be a good Idea to keep the roof protected from burn holes and double protection from leaks. I could also get the fly 8' longer than the tent making a good sheltered area to get in and out.
 
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09/26/2014 06:15PM  
Sounds like you've thought this out pretty well.

I like the idea of having a fly that extends out the front, gives you a "porch."
wingnut
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09/26/2014 08:00PM  
What do you use for a floor? do you use a fly as well?
09/27/2014 12:14PM  
I have a Snowtrekker 10 x 13 EXP Crew tent. I don't use a fly. It's never leaked. The Snowtrekker made fly is intended for shedding a heavy snow load, but it's not necessary for normal rain, etc.

For a floor, I use a heavy canvas tarp that I got from Farm and Fleet. It's not slippery like a plastic tarp. I leave the front three feet of the tent floor bare (where the stove sits) so I don't have to worry about sparks.

You can see the tarp floor in one of the photos.

09/30/2014 07:09PM  
Fly is not needed but won't hurt. Putting a floor in is a negative (in my experience). The biggest advantage to these walled tens is you can walk right in and not worry about messing up the floor. If you are outside the bwca and on private land or QUETICO you can use pine bow which is absolutely awesome and smells great. Dirt, water etc falls down and the ground warms right up, and it creates a warm environment. You can hang your wet clothes for drying and the floor will stay dry.
09/30/2014 07:47PM  
For sure, spruce and balsam boughs make the best floor for the reasons mentioned by George and they smell great. However, they are, as George points out, not an option in the BWCA.

Another flooring alternative that I have seen but never tried are the square interlocking pads that they sell for kids tumbling. They're cheap, easy to use and even give you a bit of insulation.

Kids pads
wingnut
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10/02/2014 06:57AM  
I'll probably go with a fly because the tent will be set up for a few weeks. I'm surprised the tent manufacturers don't use flame retardant poly for tent fly's with stoves.

I can see where the pine boughs make a good floor especially because you don't have to pack them in or out. My set up is a base camp, I'm guessing the tent without the steel frame weighs close to 100 pounds. I struggle just to pick it up.
 
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