Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Kifaru para tarp?

Thanks Lanche, no rush, whenever you get around to it. I read a post from someone a few years ago that used someone's mid (IIRC it was MLD's) and said that two packrafts tucked in there nice. I don't have a packraft buddy yet so I was thinking solo. This shelter has me intrigued:

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/tarps/69-haven-tarp-cuben.html

At ten ounces, that is light enough for solo use, and I think a packraft would fit under it no problem. The silnylon version at 18oz is half the money

http://www.golite.com/Shangri-La-2-Tarp-P47002.aspx

This looks like a better option.

JWP,

The fly weight of the SL-2 is 21 oz. The Sl-3 is 23 oz. So for 10% more weight you get 30% more space and a shelter that will shed the wind much better, plus you'll only have one pole in the SL-3 to work around compared to the 2 in the SL-2. I've owned both models and much prefer the SL-3, but I much prefer the SL-5 at 29 oz over both of them. Twice the space of the SL-2 and I can stand up in the very center of the SL-5. So thats the only one I own now

You sold your SL-8?

HAHA, nope still have it....no way I'm selling that think its sub 5 pounds for the shelter part and still sub 6 easily if you use 2 sets of trekking poles as the supports counting all the guyout lines, seam sealed and 20 MSR Groundhogs....though I should weight it now that it has a stove jack in it.....its 180 sq ft of goodness.

I have the Gatewood Cape, but still have only set it up in the yard. I can't figure the damn pitch out on it. If anyone on here has tips, please holler. I bought it for an emergency shelter, a glassing shelter in bad weather, and rain gear.

I feel much like alaska lanche, for a dedicated shelter I prefer more space. I have used Para Tarps, SL 2's and SL 3's but seldom go with anything other than the BCS anymore.

For emergency shelter and/or glassing protection, I do like the Go-Lite poncho tarp. Sets up quick and has a variety of pitching options.

How many people can you get in the SL-5?

I've slept 4 (myself, my wife, my sister, and her husband) in the SL-5 with the standard SL-5 nest. Worked well and able to fit all our packs either in the nest or in the vestibule. Granted we weren't hunting so we had less gear, but it was very mangable for four of us. If we were going for a week though I'd likely bring the SL-8

Hmmm

Damn that might change my mind.

I was thinking the Little Bug out system for the four of us. Wife and two sons, everyone is six foot or taller.

Although you probably can't fit four in the SL-5 with a wood stove.

Four people over 6 ft?...I'd be thinking along the lines of a 8 or 12 man tipi...

+1

The problem is not all four of us go every time, sometimes just one or two. I don't want to pack a 8 or 12 lb shelter when it's just me.

The Lil Bug Out seems like it would work well for you then. It's modular so you can just pack a base/base or base/vestibule if it's 2 of you, or take 2 bases and tarp if 4 of you are going. Plus, it's easy to distribute weight between all of you.

Lanche: sorry for the delay. Off work and chasing gobblers.

The Scarp fly-only setup is under 2# and seems much roomier than with the tent mesh and floor.

For those interested, the Scarp setup with floor and mesh inner liner is a little unique.
By Tarptent: "Interior never gets wet during entry, exit, setup or takedown in storms." .
The fly is always covering the inner during setup.

For anyone wanting a better review from a wt-weenie, here you go:
http://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/tarptent-scarp-1-long-term-review/

Lanche: check pm

Four can be done in an lbo with stove. You might stash some gear outside, you might not. Last year we had 3 6 ft men and a stove in it. I had one side to myself.
We had a tarp outside with gear sort of spread out underneath it. One of the guys carried in a LOT of gear. We also had wood stashed under the tarp as well as enough for the evening inside,
Weight for that configuration for shelter not including poles etc is under 3 lbs. for poles you can link trekking poles, use a 1 ounce extender or a cf pole that is under 6. Stakes you need 8 but 10 is better and you can use it stakes for the guy outs if you want to guy it out.

Really for the base tarp base , including poles and cf stakes its barely over 4 and very livable as well, since people dont need to crawl over each other to enter exit unless they r using nests.

The new 3 piece vestibule is really nice for a 2 guy and stove tent. The weight of that is 26 ounces not including pole and stakes , but it's a nice size, close to 70 sq ft. The lightweight fabric we are using on these is really nice as well. Very high quality and high waterproof rating.

I have a Ti Goat vertex 7.5 and with the stove it weighs a little over 6 pounds. On our elk hunt last year on Afognak Island we slept 5 people in it. I've also used the SL 5 a lot - it weighs a little less with the same ti goat cylinder stove but only sleeps 3 or 4 in a pinch (with a stove you need a place to stack wood). Patrick

I'll also add that I used to use the Kifaru Paratipi a lot - I even used it on a ten day Brooks range sheep hunt. The Kifaru para tipi is very good in the wind but is a little low. Check out what i wrote about the Ti Goat tipi here on our family blog -

http://saltonstall.blogspot.com/2012/10/teepee-time.html

Here is a blog post about sheep hunting with the Kifaru paratipi (with the tigoat cylinder stove).

http://saltonstall.blogspot.com/2011/09/more-brooks-range.html

Patrick

Patrick,

Good to see you on here...been following your blog for a couple years now..always enjoy reading about your adventures on the emerald isle. Coming down your way twice this fall, maybe we can meet up.

-Luke

For unexpected nights, I carry an outdoor research helium awning tarp. I've also cut a tennis ball in half and put them in the bag as well so I can just use regular sticks to support it no matter what arrangement I need. After using a shaped tarp, I certainly wouldn't want to go back to the old square tarps.

Mike.