Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Ed T's Backcountry Shelter

I'm with Ed to, Condensation would be the first thing I would want to fight.

A liner is pretty easy for us to do. We have them pretty well figured out. I know a lot of people have other issues with non completely enclosed shelters, so your feedback is very important as we try to find the best , lightweight solutions.

Here is my personal opinion:
- condensation is the biggest issue, it can be minimized in a lot of areas and in different ways but there are times it happens. Frost is a problem as well. A liner solves this
- Flying insects, mostly solved via screen doors and sod skirts
- Crawling insects, snakes, rodents - mostly solved with a sod skirt and some dirt over it, but at other times only a complete enclosure solves this and even then in some areas rodents will just eat through your tent, regardless of single wall, double wall or whatever
- Dirt and water mostly solved through groundsheets and floored tents get dirty as well, and I have had water come through floors as well. It's mostly about location
- Bugs inherent in the ground such as chiggars, pretty much need a full enclosure

What I would like to do is see how most folks are using the tent and get some feedback from them (it's very important for customers to communicate with us) and then find what seems to be the best solution for the majority of people.

Looking at the diagram, I assume the answer to this one is yes... but I'm interested in your response as well.

An "inside" picture with a couple sleeping bags laid out and a stove in place would probably answer a lot of questions. In fact, the more pictures of all the pitch options the better, as you guys have time.

Very interesting stuff.

Given I looked like a meth addict from scabs after my last floorless TP hunt, I'm going to rank bug protection as #1. But that varies from region to region, and from season to season.

Ground protection is a 2nd, but might move to #1 if I'm on a hunt w/o a cot.

Condensation.. most of my gear gets wet anyways. What's a little bit of condensation going to do..(grin)

Calvin

What bugs were they ? Sounds like only a full enclosed nest works for you.

I would like to see some pictures of the shelter in action.

Also, do you have a picture of the Breakaway tarp on it as the awning?

Thanks

Will get more photos soon. We've been super busy getting it ready and the 8 man etc.

Ed , what are your impressions of the Taupe color, forgot to ask you.

Kevin,

I really like the Taupe. It will belend into most any setting, yet the inner fabric has a sort of brightness to it so you don't get the feeling you are inside a cave.

You and Angie did a great job in getting this design as close to ideal as can be.

sent a PM instead

FWIW I've had the kif tipi in AK a couple of times. I"ve yet to have a bug problem but i typically sod sealed the edges regardless to prevent that....

This shelter should be the same.

BTW it asked uses... light backpack use for my wife and myself only. The ability to have room to sleep comfortably, especially if we have the pole out of the way to be able to zip 2 bags together is great. Helps up the heat rating of the bags with 2 bodies together.

Stove up front somewhere would be nice, we often prefer to crawl into the bags and cook while laying in the bags.

Room for the backpacks/stuff sacks would be the grand thing too so I didn't have to stuff the packs outside and cover them with something else....

PS I can envision a kind of awning as a super place to sit outside, out of drizzle and such, and just relax as needed... for the weight of a few ounces possibly.

My version of what you're talking about

--thumper338

Yep thats a version for sure. Not for the wife and I but for me alone, that would easily suffice.

I've talked her into bivy bags before.... but getting the damn frost off the down bags in the AM sucks trying to get rolling for the elk and such.. back to the tipi type ideas...

Look a little closer and you'll see that this is very near to Kevin and Ed T's shelter... Here's another pic without the tarp on the font. The peak height is 8' and the footprint is roughly 8x10. My setup weighs a bit more, but it only set me back $50. This will be it's third season. If it does wear out I can replace the tarp for $15 and be good for another 3-4 years.

Thumper, That is real close to what I want to try and build for a few outings.. Can you please elaborate on what you are using for a stove jack and how you sewed it in if there is one?

Also what are you using on the tarp (where there's no grommets) to make a tie for the guy wires?

Oh yeah, I didn't argue it wasn't close. Just prefer them ready to go and lighter and less bulky than tarps.

But it works for you and thats all that matters. And the design shape looks great.

Before I'd go that route though personally, I'd buy some paranylon and sew my own for the savings.

I've shown this on here now and again for a few years now. The yellow portion was an I.D. silshelter that was always a bit to small for my tastes.

Mine is also 7 ft at the center pole which makes a great place to stand to get dressed and of course it's also really nice and warm up there if the door is closed.

I made mine easy to seal to the ground with a big sod skirt and by accident rather then design it sets up really quickly utilizing a long string off the bow "front" that is removed once it's staked out. (two stakes on the back corners, set the pole and up it goes) it makes it really easy to get a good pitch. "early photo before it was finished"



Nice work Ed and Kevin, I originally made mine to test the heated shelter idea before investing in the Kifaru but it worked so well I just kept it.

479.00 for that? You can do same thing with a 12.00 tarp. And have a floor for another 8.00 . Geez.

Here is a little video showing setup and setup variations

It looks like you guys hit a home run with that shelter and stove combo.unfortunately I've already got more shelters than I can justify.Best of luck
P.S.
Just in case I find that I have to have another.
,what is your lead time ?
Tim