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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Winter Camping and Activities Hot Tent Basics Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| Mnpat |
11/01/2015 08:03PM Look up ruta lucara for a nice shelter. They have a large mid and some nice stoves at a good price point. good luck |
| awbrown |
10/25/2015 07:32PM Just got back from the Winter Camping Symposium........great way to find great information and there's lots of winter gear at the swap meet. One additional thought. Hot tenting is a great way to comfortably extend your shoulder season camping. Nothing beats that great warm evening........ |
| pastorjsackett |
10/24/2015 09:58PM Also--thanks butthead...that winter trekking web site was super informative. |
| pastorjsackett |
10/24/2015 09:56PM Last year I was thinking about a trip...now I am back dreaming again. This could get interesting...I am enjoying the threads. |
| Mnpat |
10/18/2015 09:22PM If your going to be pulling it without dogs stay with nylon. IMO the perfect bwca tent is a pyramid. Easy setup with only. 5 stakes needed and the square shape has a lot of usable space. I sewed 2 tents for winter camping both using 1.1 silnylon. One 10 x 10 mid and one 13' round tepee. Both weigh under 3 lbs with stakes and pack to softball size. I use an aluminum center pole that's almost 2 pounds. If I made another one I would use 2 plus foot of straight walls on the bottom for more sleeping room and make the walls less steep for better in wind. I set up on my fishing spot and usually sleep right there also unless it's extremely windy then I will tuck into the trees for the night. Good luck You won't regret getting a winter tent  
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| OldFingers57 |
10/18/2015 07:35AM Some other places to rent tents from are Sawtooth Outfitters and Piragis Hot tent rentals |
| Campcraft |
10/18/2015 06:45AM Split the cost of the tent and stove between the four guys. You probably won't use it by yourself anyway. |
| SteveElms73 |
10/15/2015 12:34PM Ya I enjoy the night time as well. We normally head off for a night hike (an easy one) and maybe do some night photography. The nights are long though when it starts getting dark before dinner! |
| Gadfly |
10/15/2015 12:00PMquote zachmiller: "Exactly. Boring and Loooooooooooong." I don't think they are boring at all. Because I am typically moving around a lot during the day I like to kick back and play a couple games of cribbage before bed. I typically like to have my fishing lines in the water by 5 so I probably go to bed a little earlier than most as well. |
| zachmiller |
10/15/2015 11:23AM Exactly. Boring and Loooooooooooong. |
| NotLight |
10/14/2015 08:56PMquote zachmiller: "quote Jaywalker: "quote zachmiller: "Maybe I'm biting off more than I can (or rather should) chew." I looked at hot tents too. It was too much $$ and weight for me. Plus, for me, I have limited vacation time to recoup that investment. I figure I'm better off cherry picking 3-4 day weekends where the daytime forecast is in the teens or above, and just sleeping under a tarp. I'd buy one of those SeekOutside tipis if I had more vacation time. Nighttime in the cold gets a bit boring. |
| SteveElms73 |
10/14/2015 06:09PM Ya it's amazing eh? Winter has become my favorite time of year to camp around here. I love going to the park when you have the whole place to yourself :) |
| zachmiller |
10/14/2015 05:56PM Your picture gets me all excited though. Man. Old man winter will be here soooooooon! |
| zachmiller |
10/14/2015 05:50PMquote Jaywalker: "quote zachmiller: "Maybe I'm biting off more than I can (or rather should) chew." I was simply referring to $$$...value doesn't seem to be where it needs to be for me to invest in something that would only get used once a year. I've got 100% of what I need right now to do 3-5 day winter trips...it's just not in a cozy and spacious tent. My down coat took sub-zero trips from being bearable to being enjoyable. I would imagine a hot tent is an awesome step up...but investing in everything required for just one trip a year is probably not worth it. Renting on the other hand...that might be the ticket. I'd never have rented canoes/portage packs...but that's because I take 4-5 bwca trips a season to my 1 bwca trip in the winter. (I don't foresee myself backpacking a hot tent up a 14er in January) |
| Jaywalker |
10/14/2015 05:40PMquote zachmiller: "Maybe I'm biting off more than I can (or rather should) chew." No, you're not. Keep going. I second both Oldfinger and Butthead, and will add suggestion to watch some of Wintertrekker's videos on Youtube. One thing that may be helpful for you in starting to figure out your hot tent options is understanding the weight of the material. Some light weight silnylon options will be in 1.1 or 1.7 ounce material, so they will pack down and be light. Snowtrekker tents, who have a pretty big following in this area, use a 7 ounce canvas, which will be heavier and larger pack size than nylon, but lighter than other canvas. Its a very tight, high quality weave and is not used many other places. Most canvas wall tents are 10 oz, and still others including army are 12 or 14 oz. The higher the weight, the heavier and larger the packed tent will be. To help you visualize the size I've attached a photo of my double pulk system I used on my last trip. The red bag, sitting on an ordinary kiddy sled, is about 1/2 filled with my Snowtrekker tent and poles - and I've got one of the bigger models (Basecamp 8 1/2 x 11). My stove took up about the back 1/3rd of my black Paris Expedition sled. I managed to pull both pulks several mile including some trail breaking. I could easily have fit 3 guys in my tent, but that was just a solo trip. Since you mention your have some DIY skills, you might consider building a traditional style toboggan. From all reports, toboggans made from HDPE or UHMWPE plastic simply glide easier across the snow. I am planning on making my own this fall, but you can buy a kit from Black River Sleds for about $150. I like the idea because it would give me 9 feet of packing space vs about 7-8 feet on my double pulk system, and should pull easier. 
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| SteveElms73 |
10/14/2015 11:28AM Mine was $20 at Canadian Tire...looks pretty much like the Mendard sled. Not ideal but it works ok |
| zachmiller |
10/14/2015 11:13AMquote SteveElms73: "I've lugged my stove (full sized Kni-Co) along with this tent and my other gear in one trip between my dad and myself (so 2 toboggans). The stove and tent will take up one normal sized kids toboggan, if that helps at all." I don't have a kid, or a toboggan, or a kid-sized toboggan. We're still using utility sleds from Menards. Maybe I'm biting off more than I can (or rather should) chew. |
| SteveElms73 |
10/14/2015 11:02AM I've lugged my stove (full sized Kni-Co) along with this tent and my other gear in one trip between my dad and myself (so 2 toboggans). The stove and tent will take up one normal sized kids toboggan, if that helps at all. |
| zachmiller |
10/14/2015 10:55AMquote SteveElms73: "Another option is to get one from an Army Surplus store. That's where mine came from. It cost about $300 and is used but I'm ok with that. I don't ever stress about getting the odd spark burn in the canvas (can't say I'd feel as easy about it on a $2000 Snow Trekker!). They are a bit heavy but not ridiculously, and have a fair bit of room inside. Mine sleeps 4 comfortably but you could sleep 5 in a pinch. If you had 4 guys to share the load can it be pulked or is this something that's better suited to driving in? Otherwise I do think renting sounds like a valid option. I'd probably only be taking one trip a year using this setup. Thanks for the tips fellas |
| SteveElms73 |
10/14/2015 09:48AM Another option is to get one from an Army Surplus store. That's where mine came from. It cost about $300 and is used but I'm ok with that. I don't ever stress about getting the odd spark burn in the canvas (can't say I'd feel as easy about it on a $2000 Snow Trekker!). They are a bit heavy but not ridiculously, and have a fair bit of room inside. Mine sleeps 4 comfortably but you could sleep 5 in a pinch. 
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| Kawishiwashy |
10/14/2015 09:06AM Depending on where you live, Craigslist will occasionally have some or some that could be modified. I usually search for "canvas tent." |
| SevenofNine |
10/13/2015 07:50PM Hate to tell you but buying a hot tent may require a second mortgage. :-) Look at theses vendors Seekoutside Snowtrekker Tenttipi |
| OldFingers57 |
10/13/2015 06:21PM Another idea is attend the Winter Camping Symposium up by Duluth Oct 23, 24 and 25. Also you can rent Hot tents from a couple of the outfitters on the North Shore. I know the one outfitter in Grand Marais, Stone Harbor rents them. |
| butthead |
10/13/2015 05:07PM Winter Trekking, as good a place to start as any. butthead |
| zachmiller |
10/13/2015 04:18PM Hey folks, Where would a guy start when it comes to getting a hot tent setup? I've been winter camping for a decade or so now, so have enough gear and experience to feel comfortable stepping up the game now. I'm looking for something that could be pulled on a pulk(s) and can accommodate between 3-6 dudes (4 w/ some elbow room would be ideal). I don't know the first thing about hot tents, and don't really know where the best resources are if I want to learn. I can be somewhat DIY, but do have funds I could use to invest...just don't feel like walking into a cabelas and taking out a mortgage. Can anyone get me started? |
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