PDA

View Full Version : Winter Tent



jcramin
09-01-2009, 16:40
Just a couple questions. I am looking for a winter 3 person tent to use in cold weather and maybe snow. Would I need a Expedition type tent ? Or would a good 3-season tent work ? I am concerned about the warmth and keeping the heat in, if that should be a concern ???

I have a Kelty Gunnison 3.1 which has a full cover fly. Would this work for winter cold snow camping ?

I dont mind buying another tent for this purpose if something else would work better, I just dont want to spend the money that some of these expedition tents cost.

Thanks,
J

Jim Adams
09-01-2009, 16:49
I have a Kelty Vortex-2 (pedecessor to the Gunnison), a Gunnison-2 and a Gunnison-3. All are great 3 season tents. The 3 person will be a little colder than the 2 because of more area inside to warm up but the big factor is snow load. Where will you be using the tent in the winter? If the snow loads are light then the tent will fuction fine however it isn't something that you want to actually take mountaineering due to snow weight and wind.

geek

Cool AT Breeze
09-01-2009, 16:52
For the most part four season tents can take a snow load. Tents will only be about 5 to 10 deg. warmer than outside unless you can burry it in the snow. So get a good sleepingbag and keep the tent.

jcramin
09-01-2009, 16:55
Well I will be tenting in the south or midsouth. Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi Missouri, Kentucky. So no major snow issues, but I was just thinking just in case. So keeping my Kelty and avoiding major snow would be the best choice then I guess.

Thanks,
J

Jim Adams
09-01-2009, 17:16
Well I will be tenting in the south or midsouth. Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi Missouri, Kentucky. So no major snow issues, but I was just thinking just in case. So keeping my Kelty and avoiding major snow would be the best choice then I guess.

Thanks,
J

It will work fine just beware that if you happen to get caught in one of those every hundred year blizzards then you need to constantly knock the snow off of it throughout the storm and use all of the tie down guy lines that you can to keep the wind from shredding the tent. BTW, your 3 man Gunnison @ 30* with 2 people sleeping overnight will have an interior temp of right around 38*-40*. If you had the 2 man Gunnison in the same situation the inside temp will be around 45*-48*.
Enjoy winter camping...it is a blast if you are prepared for it!

geek

MintakaCat
09-01-2009, 17:24
I use a Kifaru ParaTipi. Kifaru makes larger tents but they do cost a great deal. However, when it comes to winter camping they are hard to beat.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/march8b.jpg

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/solocamp7.jpg

Good luck and stay warm:D

Wags
09-01-2009, 18:50
i'd go to 'buy' section of the forums and PM wyominglostandfound about the tipi he has for sale there

Cool AT Breeze
09-01-2009, 18:58
I don't think I would carry a tent with a stove in the south. I think it would be the bomb up north.

Earl Grey
09-01-2009, 19:17
What stove is that?


I use a Kifaru ParaTipi. Kifaru makes larger tents but they do cost a great deal. However, when it comes to winter camping they are hard to beat.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/march8b.jpg

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/solocamp7.jpg

Good luck and stay warm:D

Lyle
09-01-2009, 19:23
I use a Kifaru ParaTipi. Kifaru makes larger tents but they do cost a great deal. However, when it comes to winter camping they are hard to beat.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/march8b.jpg

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/solocamp7.jpg

Good luck and stay warm:D

Pictures like this just scare me, I would never be able to sleep.

Give me a regular tent and a good bag. In AM, if its really cold, bring your cooking stove in for about 2 minutes = 70* tent. Get dressed in comfort.

Cool AT Breeze
09-01-2009, 19:25
It's a great way to base-snow camp. Very safe.

Wise Old Owl
09-01-2009, 19:26
I use a Kifaru ParaTipi. Kifaru makes larger tents but they do cost a great deal. However, when it comes to winter camping they are hard to beat.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/march8b.jpg

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/9/3/7/7/solocamp7.jpg

Good luck and stay warm:D
You hike with all that??? Wow!

Gray Blazer
09-01-2009, 19:29
That's pretty neat. It looks like it all folds together. How much does it weigh?

brooklynkayak
09-01-2009, 19:42
The difference between 4 season and 3 season tents is the snow weight issue. Warmth comes from trapped in air, trapped air means condensation in your sleeping bag, condensation means poor insulation, equals a cold nights sleep.

Let the air flow to keep everything dry and use a nice warm sleeping bag with warm clothes.
Also, when it gets cold, you need something to keep you head warm, either as part of the bag or a balaclava. I found out the hard way when I slept with my head buried in my bag and woke up with the top part of my bag damp from my breath condensing in the down.

brooklynkayak
09-01-2009, 19:51
PS. I do agree that most pyramid/tipi type tents make better 4 season shelters. Stronger, more wind resistant, snow slides off and they are almost always lighter than more popular 4 season designs.

They can also be pitched to be cooler in the summer than the more popular 4 season designs.
They are also usually the least expensive 4 season tent.

The usual argument against them is the lack of floor and bug screen, but a chunk of tyvek and/or a bug bivy/tent takes care of that argument.

Gray Blazer
09-01-2009, 21:52
I paid more than I wanted to for a tent, but, I like this one. Hubba Hubba. Two man supposedly. Will fit me and my dog and my pack although it has two nice vestibules. Not really guyed out in this photo.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/2/1/7/220.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=35777&original=1&c=member&imageuser=6217)

Cool AT Breeze
09-01-2009, 22:01
GB I dont remember if you use poles or not but, you can guy out that tent to your poles stuck in the ground next to the tent. It pulls the fly out instead of down giving you better ventilation.

Cool AT Breeze
09-01-2009, 22:02
By the way nice picture.

Bulldawg
09-01-2009, 22:07
I paid more than I wanted to for a tent, but, I like this one. Hubba Hubba. Two man supposedly. Will fit me and my dog and my pack although it has two nice vestibules. Not really guyed out in this photo.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/2/1/7/220.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=35777&original=1&c=member&imageuser=6217)

DAMN nice picture. Where is that at?

Gray Blazer
09-01-2009, 22:24
Thanks for showing me how to set it up Cool AT Breeze. I could have spread the poles out also since it doesn't need stakes. It's bomb-proof according to Jimmy(?) at MtnX. I haven't tried it out in the snow yet. I need to photo shop that sign out of there. It was taken on top of White Top, VA.

Panzer1
09-01-2009, 23:47
https://www.kifaru.net/paratipi3.htm
https://www.kifaru.net/stovspex.htm

ParaTipi & Stove Packages
ParaTipi & ParaStove package: $736.00
ParaTipi & Small Stove Package: $759.00


Here's a good review:
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=581844


nice stove but a little pricey.

Panzer

Gray Blazer
09-02-2009, 07:02
https://www.kifaru.net/paratipi3.htm
https://www.kifaru.net/stovspex.htm

ParaTipi & Stove Packages
ParaTipi & ParaStove package: $736.00
ParaTipi & Small Stove Package: $759.00


Here's a good review:
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=581844


nice stove but a little pricey.

Panzer

Nice, but, can they guaruntee (sp?) the romantic nights without the frigidity?

Spellcheck not working.

George
09-02-2009, 08:30
big vestibules are a feature of 4 season usually not found on three season, for winter camping you have a lot of snowy gear that you want covered but not in the tent, you may need to cook in the vestibule and if you really get socked in you may be digging cat holes in the vestibule so 2 large ones starts to sound minimal. some 4 season have optional poles for more snow/wind loading that can be left behind for milder weather but they are all still very heavy tents

Gray Blazer
09-02-2009, 09:23
Almost any tent will do. Here's a K-mart tent after the Nantahala Blizzard of Mar 06. The tarp set up over it collected enough snow for the hot chocolate and coffee for the entire Hiker Feed. Good thing cuz there wasn't a water source nearby and you'll notice the frozen jug of water (was frozen for 4 days).

Gray Blazer
09-02-2009, 09:29
Whoops, there it is......

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/2/1/7/100_1978.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=12458&original=1&c=member&imageuser=6217)

jcramin
09-02-2009, 12:28
It will work fine just beware that if you happen to get caught in one of those every hundred year blizzards then you need to constantly knock the snow off of it throughout the storm and use all of the tie down guy lines that you can to keep the wind from shredding the tent. BTW, your 3 man Gunnison @ 30* with 2 people sleeping overnight will have an interior temp of right around 38*-40*. If you had the 2 man Gunnison in the same situation the inside temp will be around 45*-48*.
Enjoy winter camping...it is a blast if you are prepared for it!

geek


WOW thanks for the great info on temps. We live in Memphis Tennessee so we dont get too much really cold weather. But I sure would love to do some snow camping.

J

Jim Adams
09-02-2009, 12:28
Whoops, there it is......

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/2/1/7/100_1978.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=12458&original=1&c=member&imageuser=6217)
GB,
Nice shot. Did you have fun or did you freeze? (or both?:D). Any tent will work under most conditions if maintained properly on site. Also your tent can be made warmer by putting a tarp closely over the fly creating another air chamber for insulation and will usually move any condensation out to the tarp. Above all have fun...winter camping is great!

geek

Gray Blazer
09-02-2009, 13:14
GB,
Nice shot. Did you have fun or did you freeze? (or both?:D). Any tent will work under most conditions if maintained properly on site. Also your tent can be made warmer by putting a tarp closely over the fly creating another air chamber for insulation and will usually move any condensation out to the tarp. Above all have fun...winter camping is great!

geek

It was the most fun I've ever had and I almost did freeze to death one night. I have since gotten my winter gear together and I think I would be comfy down to 7 degrees or whatever it was on that trip.

I adapted that tarp to fit over the Walmart puptent and used it for 3 more years. Kept dry when others (thru-hikers included) got soaked and/or frozen. It weighed 7 lbs. So you know I was glad to get that MSR Hubba Hubba.

David@whiteblaze
09-02-2009, 13:40
can u use pain and post a pic with bright orange arrow pointing to the frozen water jug? i cant find ice amongst snow. im from fl so it all looks like a big cotton candy machine blew up b4 they could add flavoring.

Summit
09-02-2009, 15:31
can u use pain and post a pic with bright orange arrow pointing to the frozen water jug? i cant find ice amongst snow. im from fl so it all looks like a big cotton candy machine blew up b4 they could add flavoring.Did you click on the pic to blow it up? Hard to miss, and I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other! :p

Jim Adams
09-02-2009, 15:36
It was the most fun I've ever had and I almost did freeze to death one night. I have since gotten my winter gear together and I think I would be comfy down to 7 degrees or whatever it was on that trip.

I adapted that tarp to fit over the Walmart puptent and used it for 3 more years. Kept dry when others (thru-hikers included) got soaked and/or frozen. It weighed 7 lbs. So you know I was glad to get that MSR Hubba Hubba.

That is so cool!
Unless I'm thru hiking somewhere I no longer hike in the summer. October to April is where its at! Far more fun than summer hiking.:cool:

geek

David@whiteblaze
09-02-2009, 15:42
well... i ckicked on it and it blew up my computer... took an hour for my dad to "rebuild" it. but, yeah i see it now, i thought the white thing in the tree was it and the jug on the ground was a snow covered roll of paper towels.

Gray Blazer
09-02-2009, 18:19
Here's another shot from the hiker feed on Rocky Bald. Everyone from WB was invited as well, but, the only one who showed up was Wolf 2300. Mr. Parkay was there as well. He was thruing that year.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/2/1/7/100_1983.jpg

wyominglostandfound
09-02-2009, 18:23
looks like valley forge to me.....

Disney
09-02-2009, 18:36
It was the most fun I've ever had and I almost did freeze to death one night. I have since gotten my winter gear together and I think I would be comfy down to 7 degrees or whatever it was on that trip.

I adapted that tarp to fit over the Walmart puptent and used it for 3 more years. Kept dry when others (thru-hikers included) got soaked and/or frozen. It weighed 7 lbs. So you know I was glad to get that MSR Hubba Hubba.


Man that looks cool (pun intended). It looks like a typical out for a weekend setup. Except for the 'HEY, let's do it in single digit weather' factor.

David@whiteblaze
09-02-2009, 19:52
where does your name come from - grey blazer - ive heard of white and blue and yellow blazers, but never grey.

Cool AT Breeze
09-02-2009, 19:55
Think pink blazing for old ladies.

Gray Blazer
09-02-2009, 21:49
where does your name come from - grey blazer - ive heard of white and blue and yellow blazers, but never grey.

A Grey Blazer rides GreyHound.

I am Gray Blazer.....named after my Gray Chevy Blazer which has been spotted at many AT mountain gaps in GA/NC/TN and even VA. When it gets retired I will be White Honda. I know that explanation is disappointing, but, it's true.

David@whiteblaze
09-03-2009, 09:04
hey, its better than anything i had thought of.

Gray Blazer
09-03-2009, 10:36
hey, its better than anything i had thought of.

Yeah, my son is kinda disappointed with the explanation. He thinks I should tell a better story about wisdom and gray hairs or sumpin like that.

David@whiteblaze
09-03-2009, 10:41
that's what i thought it was and i thought to myself, "Hey, theres a guy who has a *classic* name, I should ask what it means and embarrass myself. then, if the guy says thats not what it means, then ill embarrass myself by saying hes ancient or something."

bobp
09-03-2009, 20:49
I have a Teton 2, which is similar enough to your Gunny for comparison. I've used it in the winter successfully. I haven't had 6 inches of snow dump on me, so I can't vouch for its load-handling. The biggest problem you will have with the Gunny (assuming you don't end up in a blizzard) is that you can't really control the ventilation the way you would like to in the winter. The Gunny has a mesh top and a lot of mesh on the sides. It is all covered by the fly, so you won't get wet, but it doesn't hold heat the way solid nylon fabric (say, in a Timberline 2-man) would. You can also get some snow through the mesh if things are blowing hard enough.

I use a good winter sleeping bag and a pad, and I'm fine. I do sometimes have a problem with condensation. Even though there is a lot of mesh, if your head is near a nylon part of the side, that nylon is going to be COLD and your breath will condense and freeze on contact, so you want to be careful about the position of your head.