Tx trapper.
For some reason I was thinking that you got the Vertex 6. I will re-read your thread and just for kicks repost the pics. He is about 6 feet. My feet rub sometimes on the 4-man too. Did the Vetex 5 come with a clothes line and the upper side tie offs. I think I see something that looks like a clothes line but didn't see the upper side tie offs.
Razor.
I was not comparing the Kifaru 4-man to the Vertex 5. Just posting the Kifaru shelters that my friend slept in. Which just so happen to be mine. It was not that he didn't like the price. Thinks the shelters we used are amazing. It is a matter of affording the price.
A Vertex 6.5 is 650
A Kifaru 4-man is 773
This is not a great deal difference in price. But both are far outside my buddies range.
A Kifaru Paratipi is 506
The Vertex 5 is 300
But to be fair the paratipi comes with a stove jack and poles the Vertex 5 does not. I don't know what the cost would be to have a stove jack added to the vertex 5. Maybe trapper might know however seeing that a stove jack cost 40 I guess it could not be more than 75 bucks to have one added from their shop on a tent they are sewing up in the first place. Add in 60 bucks for the poles.
Vertex 5 300
Poles 60
Stove jack 50-75?
410 for a stove ready system with stove jack and pole. Not an earth shattering savings. However he has trekking poles so the system would be 350-375 (a guess). This is closer to the price range
Cheaper things would be a Hex. Around 220 give or take 10 bucks and 40 for the stove jack from ti-goat. At 260 he would still have to sew the jack in. Owning a hex I like the Kifaru shelters better as it pitches tighter and closer to the ground. Guessing the same may be true for the Ti-goat shelters. A Mega Mid UL is about the same price as the Hex 3.
Now for size.
The Mega Mid is 51 sq.ft and 2lb 5 oz
The Hex 3 is 65 sq.ft and 3 lb 9 oz
The Vertex 5 is 54 sq.ft 1.75 lbs but add 1 lb for a pole and maybe 5 oz for stove jack etc.
I never seen any sq.ft on my paratipi but the two poles eats up space and the back area is low to the ground and can't be considered living space. This is not a knock on the fine Paratipi. I like mine and the length of the paratipi is huge at 12 feet 6 inches. The other shelters tend to be no longer than 9-10 feet so bitching about extra floor space to store gear or slide my bag into would be foolish. This is not an issue of what shelter is best but rather price range. Something for a man supporting a family has to take into consideration
Dan D.
I got the paratipi and small stove as a gift. One of the best gifts anyone has ever given me. When it came time to get a new shelter I compared both Ti-goat and Kifaru.
Here is what I liked about the Kifaru 4-man.
1. The base Tie offs that allows me to raise the whole shelter off the ground.
2. Two doors. For me this was the icebreaker.
3. Number 10 zippers.
4. Liner option. I got one and it was worth it.
5. Bug netting option.
6. Sil nylon.
Ti-goat.
1. The special vent covers.
2. Single seam
3. Higher zipper
4. Upper additional side tie off system.
I Bet the Ti-goat also had a clothesline. I didn't care for the DWR as I was thinking that in bad weather it would get overloaded and end up with the same condensation as Sil nylon. Sil nylon is stronger and durability was key. I see that the DWR has been discontinued do to low demand. Not saying that my thinking was correct as my DWR bivy works well but guessing that the majority of customers held similar beliefs. Seeing that demand rules they now only offer Sil nylon. I don't remember if sil nylon was an option at the time. If so I overlooked it. Also I liked CB of the Kifaru shelter but the gray was a close second. I don't know if Ti-goat offered gray Sil nylon at the time. However I must have missed that. Anyways gray rocks. I have an ID tarp in gray and like it. Ti-goat now offers a bug net. I didn't see that at the time but like the Sil nylon I could have missed it.
As for durability I never believed that the single seam would fall apart like some people have stated. On the Kifaru side I never worry about my cone blowing out as it never happened on my paratipi and this belief was reinforced by actual use of my 4-man tipi. Felt that both shelters were just as durable. On the issue of customer service and integrity of the ownership here is what I can say. I have had the pleasure of camping with Patrick Smith. A gentleman of the old school. He is the real deal. The guy knows his stuff and is no poser. Found that out when I opened up the camp at the ECR. It was pitch black butt cold with howling winds and Mr. Smith snow shoed thought 4 feet of fine powder rather than taking the snow mobile. I did it before him and it was a hard 2.5 hours, as the trail was not fully broken in yet. Anyone that takes the hard path over the easy for the pure joy of it speaks volumes about their character. It was reinforced when I talked to him in person. Ed. T sent me a new front for my stove even without me asking. Heck I got that thing in 04 and used it hundreds of times. Kifaru customer serve is second to none. Any issues have been taken care of. Questions got a similar response. As for Ti-goat though I have never met the owners they are very fast to respond to any of my questions. I purchased a stove jack and a bag liner from them. Got some stove items too. The gear was priced right and worked just as described. No worried about ordering from them. Also both companies are USA owned. This is a big deal to both my buddy and me. China's HORRABLE environmental and labor issues with their industry mitigate the extra cost of American goods. Also their trade policies are NOT FAIR. I don�t always buy American. I have some Golite shelters and poncho but for the above reasons I tend to buy USA made gear.
Here are the photos of the Vertex 5 that trapper sent me some time ago. I forgot that his tent is the Vertex 5. I was thinking that it was the 6.5. In any case this project will be for next season.