Survived a night of winds in excess of 60 knots in a Kifaru 8 man tipi on the Alaska Peninsula chasing caribou. Tent did fine. Stove was a real treat.
Regarding tipi size with stove, sleeping on pads reduce the manufacturers stated size by half. If sleeping on cots reduce by half minus 1. So an 8 man tipi is really a 4 man on pads and a 3 man on cots.
It is possible to increase the wind buffeting capability of a 3 season tent to almost a 4 season level by a few simple modifications. Sew a few extra guy loops to the tent. On all guy out points add a loop of shock cord by closing the loop of shock cord through the guy out tab with 2 stainless steel hog rings. These rings are used to close sausage casings (not usually stainless) and also in furniture/auto upholstery. You need hog ring pliers. LEM has the least expensive. Use the yellow Line Lockers from Campmor on the guy out lines. If you are anticipating heavy weather put rocks on the tent stakes but make sure they are on the stakes not the tent fabric. A vestibule definitely helps the tent shed wind better. On some tents (Eureka Timberline) fabric needs to be added to the factory vestibule to increase wind shedding.
Using these modifications I have survived straight line winds in the BWCA in a Eureka 4 man Timberline which normally does not shed wind very well. I am convinced they are worthwhile mods to the Cabela Guide tents. Be advised the mods increase the weight of the tent by a surprising amount.
