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Joined: Jun 2006
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Bottom line is that light double wall tent requires way less effort and practice to keep you and your stuff dry, both from your own condensation and from any weather. That has not been my experience over the past 20+ years in Colorado during the bow season. But then again, it all depends on the single-walled tent. Some are well-ventilated, some are not. The SL-5 that I use allows you to pitch it with 6-8 inches of space between the ground and the bottom of the tent walls, and it has mesh vents at the top. That allows enough air circulation that condensation is really not an issue. But a tipi style tent with the walls pitched tight to the ground and no vents does create condensation. And I've never gotten my stuff in the tent wet in rain or snow. Is that the same setup you use in 4th rifle? No. The OP was asking about a bowhunt. During rifle seasons I'd go with the Kifaru 8-man and a stove.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. Sleep, Unlike those Jr high school special needs boys here, I did read that you asked about September. You were clear enough. How cold or wet is of course nature's call for that unpredictable month. I didn't belabor the month point for sake of the trolls on here. I mentioned late fall because common sense obviously would recommend colder weather shelter requirements. Hence the floor and extra half pound makes sense. Shelter wouldn't be my choice for weight savings without lots of experience. September in your location, etc. is a subjective judgement call. Best to you in preparation for a safe and enjoyable harvest. HC
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We use some combination of a Kifaru Super Tarp, Kifaru 6 man Tipi or Eena Miner tent for many years. All are floorless. I like walking into my tent with my boots on. In these tents wind and weather has never been a negative issue - I would say that a personal size tarp, tyvek or that shrink window plastic under the ground pad is important tho.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,026
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,026 |
I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. Sleep, Unlike those Jr high school special needs boys here, I did read that you asked about September. You were clear enough. How cold or wet is of course nature's call for that unpredictable month. I didn't belabor the month point for sake of the trolls on here. I mentioned late fall because common sense obviously would recommend colder weather shelter requirements. Hence the floor and extra half pound makes sense. Shelter wouldn't be my choice for weight savings without lots of experience. September in your location, etc. is a subjective judgement call. Best to you in preparation for a safe and enjoyable harvest. HC How many times have you hunted elk in Colorado in any season? And have you ever used a floorless tent or tipi with a wood stove in the late seasons in Colorado? I have, at down to zero degrees F. Floorless with a wood stove is the way to go in those conditions. Of course, if you'd ever done it, you'd know that.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Careful not to dislocate your shoulder patting yourself on the back pole smoker.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,026 |
Careful not to dislocate your shoulder patting yourself on the back pole smoker. No, what I need to be careful with is dislocating my knee while I'm kicking you in the ass. My knees are pretty stout but your ass is a glutton for punishment. Because your mouth keeps writing checks your ass can't cash.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. Unless you are using a wood stove in your floorless shelter, a floorless shelter is just a real fancy tarp with all of the issues with crawling things and flying things that a tarp has. The potential pluses for a floorless are (a) wood stove and (b) more enclosed in the case of high wind or wind-driven rain or snow. Not being a fan of flying/crawling things, I'd have to use a nest inside a floorless just as I use a bug bivy under my tarp. Either would include a small section of floor to keep from drawing moisture out of the ground into my sleeping bag, etc. as well as keeping the bugs away. When you add all of the components, for a single person setup, there's no gain for floorless/nest or tarp/bivy over the best of ultralight tents .. and sometimes a net increase in weight. What you might gain is flexibility. Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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Joined: Nov 2007
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A young lady I know bought a hammock and a bag made especially for it. The hammock goes right through the bag so it's both an over and under bag at the same time. Her biggest problem in this country is trees. She sometimes has to climb up some pretty steep hills to find 2 suitable trees to hang it. Could you tell me more about that? By PM if it'd be too distracting here. That's interesting for my applications. Thanks! Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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I’ve had enough mice and chipmunks scurrying around the base of tents that and mosquitoes buzzing around inside during the warmer months that I’ll gladly not try to save an ounce or two in total weight on flooring material. To me it seems like there are better ways to save a very small amount of weight.
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I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. In september? So in general that time of year if ya like bugs go ahead get a floor-less.
Your Every Liberal vote promotes Socialism and is an attack on the Second Amendment. You will suffer the consequences.
GOA,Idaho2AIAlliance,AmericanFirearmsAssociation,IdahoTrappersAssociation,FoundationForWildlifeManagement ID and MT.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,026 |
I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. In september? So in general that time of year if ya like bugs go ahead get a floor-less. Man, I must be the lucky one. Bugs have not been a problem in mid-September.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Campfire Tracker
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I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. In september? So in general that time of year if ya like bugs go ahead get a floor-less. Man, I must be the lucky one. Bugs have not been a problem in mid-September. Or early September
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,635
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. In september? So in general that time of year if ya like bugs go ahead get a floor-less. Man, I must be the lucky one. Bugs have not been a problem in mid-September. Or early September I'm one of them lucky ones too.No bugs.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,026
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,026 |
I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. In september? So in general that time of year if ya like bugs go ahead get a floor-less. Man, I must be the lucky one. Bugs have not been a problem in mid-September. Or early September I'm one of them lucky ones too.No bugs. So you don't worry about creepers jeeper?
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Posts: 3,445
Campfire Tracker
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So many variables. If...rain, snow, really cold nights are an issue, I’d go with tent with a floor. For those rare early fall nights in the mountains with none of those issues, you could sleep right on your air mattress. A simple tarp over your bag will keep the frost off you. I look at it, if I need a tent, I need a tent with a tent with a floor. Nah, good floorless shelters do just fine in driving rain, hail, snow, and deep cold. It does take some strategy to pitch them properly for the conditions, though. I'll leave the creepy crawlies out of my statement, since that's a personal and subjective thing to some extent. The only thing I'd add to this is, if you set up in an area with grass it's a good bet you'll have mice in your tent at night so bring a few mouse traps. Some areas are worse than others but a few mousetraps will take care of the problem.. I never get mice in tents. They ALWAYS do get into vehicles. Even brand new ones. Mousetraps, somethin' to consider when they're foraging in the rig.
Don't ask me about my military service or heroic acts...most of it is untrue.
Pronoun: Yes, SIR !
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I have done one trip and looking to back west to archery hunt elk in Colorado in September. Wanting to get a light weight tent or shelter. I see that floorless is lighter but never used one before. Any pros and cons for or against? Thanks. In september? So in general that time of year if ya like bugs go ahead get a floor-less. Man, I must be the lucky one. Bugs have not been a problem in mid-September. Or early September I'm one of them lucky ones too.No bugs. So you don't worry about creepers jeeper? Nope
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bugs have not been a problem in 3 Alaska trips. 2 trips to the boundry waters were so so for the skeeters. a bug coil killed em all. rarely do the flying critters get in and when they do the go the to top.
now i will add that i worry about the chiggers here. i take a large tarp for a floor in warm weather here. but we have not had a problem with them.
if you get a liner for the tipi condensation will not be a problem. i have liners for both of my tipis but rarely take them.
i have never had a water issue because of the lack of a floor. even with a floor water can be a problem. it is very handy to just track in snow or mud and not worry about it accumulating on the floor.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 209
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I'm with Smokepole. Been running the same (SL5) for more than 15 years September through May in Idaho and Alaska. Floorless is not about weight for me, but functionality, and the colder the better it gets (I've been in mine down to 5 below). Wear boots into shelter, bigger footprint, taller center height, and heating option at little weight penalty. Notwithstanding some of the limitations mentioned above, I would much rather be shelter-bound in a tipi than similar weight floored shelter.
Get a Borah Bug bivy if the night creepers concern you.
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I have an SL-5 with the “nest” floor and skeeter mesh option. I use it both ways… very simply, when it’s warm and there are bugs, I use the nest. When it’s cold and there are no bugs, I leave the nest out and use the Ti-goat stove. When it’s cold and there are bugs (it happens), I use the nest and also burn tri-tabs to warm up and dry out in the morning- it ain’t rocket surgery guys.
Intellectual honesty is the most important character trait in human beings.
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