Setting up the tipi doesn't take long at all. I'd say more like 5-10 minutes for the canopy itself, and that's mostly just driving stakes. We spend more time setting up house inside the tipi, setting up stove, cots, table, getting in firewood, and so on.

We have a 12x14 Davis as well, and use the cylinder stove in the 12-man tipi. We put a stack robber directly above the stove, and so far no ember holes.

No experience with the 8-man, but for solo, I would imagine you should have enough room for cot, small table, stove, wood, etc. I can tell you that the 12-man is a palace for two with all the gear in it.

Here are a few pics of the 12-man, set up for comfort,

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montanamarine/library/Tipi/12%20man?sort=3&page=1



"flyover country"

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