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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Mike Vines on October 11, 2011, 10:36:00 PM
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My 33 year want for a tipi became a reality due to my very loving wife. You see, I was 6 years old when I watched my very first western movie with my dad, and from that day forward I have always wanted a tipi.
I'm planning an elk hunting trip with a couple friends for 2014, and need to break up my big purchases to keep the homefront quiet. So, I finally got enough nerve to ask my wife if it would be OK, and her responce was "I'm not even going to try and understand it. If you want it, just get what you want." I was floored. I went on a 3 month research project and met many wonderful people along the way.
I only knew of one person that had a backpackable tipi like the one I wanted, but his tipi was up in Alaska on a long hunting trip, so alot of questions would be asked in lew of being able to see and touch the tipi.
There are some very well made tipies out there, and through research, there are also some that are best left in the box. I was in search of an 8 man tipi (sleeps 3 with gear comfortably, and 4 if you really needed to), and the price range of available tipies was $150-$2000 plus. After alot of phone calls, PM's and emails to a whole lot of people (I found anyone I could that either had what I was looking for, or knew more about them than I did, which really wasn't that hard). I found a company that was made in the USA, and from what I was able to decipher,they took the best part of all their competition and made the ultimate basecamp/spikecamp shelter there is available.
I bought what I believe was the best price to quality ratio that I could possibly have bought. My search led me to a Seekoutside.com 8 Man Tipi with a full liner and a titanium wood buring stove. The tipi and liner material are a SilNylon (silicone impregnated nylon), and couple with the carbon fiber center pole and carbon fiber stakes and titanium wood stove, the whole package weighs in at 11#.
As a size comparison, I'm 6'3" tall, and 220#
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0022-3.jpg)
I was kinda skeptical on how easy it was supposed to be to set up, but I read the instructions 2 times before atempting the first pitch. I can honestly say that the first time took me 17 minutes from the time I opened the box till the tipi was fully erect. I thought I had missed a few steps, but everything was done like the instructions said to do it. The first time I set it up was this past weekend, and I was more concerned with getting it seamsealed during the warm weather we were having, than anything else. It was a great way for me to kill the afternoon at deer camp. The seamseling took me about 1 hour, and the whole time, I just kept looking at all the features that were included in the tipi. The back door for ventilation is a huge bonus, the rain fly on the main door zipper, the stake loops being made of webbing (not rope), and then there is the carbon fiber pole and stakes. I think that the carbon fiber is absolute genious.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0021-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0020-2.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0018-4.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0016-3.jpg)
I installed the liner the next day. The part of the country I'm from, almost guarantees condensation on the inside of the tent, so a liner was also on the order for the comfort factor. The liner was installed Sunday morning, after all the condensation had dried from the inside of the tipi, yes there was a lot. I was in no hurry to get this done, and it was installed in probably a 1/2 hour. I'm just going to leave the liner attached to the tipi, so that from here on out I don't have to hastle with doing both.
Complete breakdown and packed away took me 10 minutes and everything fit into one stuff sack the size of a plastic grocery store shopping bag, and the best part of them all, the tent/liner/woodstove all together weighs 11#. Yes I said 11 pounds. This is a huge bonus for the guys who want to pack in 5-10 miles and set up base camp there to hunt out of. It will get you in, where others only dream about.
I have not had time as of yet to do the initial burn of the woodstove, or cut the stove pipe hole, but if the stove is anything like the tipi, it is going to be a winner.
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All I can say is SWEEEEET!!
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I get the corner..... :p
Looks nice Mike!! And 11# is hard to believe but that is impressive. :cool:
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Originally posted by Bud B.:
I get the corner..... :p
Looks nice Mike!! And 11# is hard to believe but that is impressive. :cool:
Bud you can have the corner, your just going to keep going in circles trying to find it. I do think we are going to be very comfortable down at the St. Jude Hog Hunt. This is one of the surprises I have in store for that hunt. The other is going to remain a secret till we all are down there.
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Nice thread
A tipi is also on my wish list
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Ok this is a nice review of what look like a nice piece of gear! I will definitly check them out.
Good for you and keep us informed of hoe it performe in all condition you will accounter in the future!
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Pretty cool Mike. Will you post pics of the stove when you start setting that up to burn it in?
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I've seen one person on here that has a Tipi "DOC" & I too think their neat & I want one myself but only 11# including the stove?
WOW
I may have to save my $$$ to get on in the future.
Can you show a pic of the stove?
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Pretty slick.
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Looks good!
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Wow Mike!...really nice looking setup you're working on. Mind telling us which stove (make and size) you went with?
I've had an 8 man tipi for 4 years now. No doubt it's the best hunting shelter I've ever owned. I hope you get much pleasure from yours!
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Nice
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I have spent extensive time in both of the top end ultralight tipis available up until now; Kifaru and TiGoat. I met up with Mike Sunday to look at his new gem and it is a gem. If I was starting from scratch, that Seek Outside takes the best features from both. I was very impressed.
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I bought the large stove that Seekoutside.com sells. As soon as I do the stove setup and burn in, I will post pics of that too. Right now it's hunting season and that takes precedence.
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interesting..I'll have to check this out when I get home (cant see pics or view the web page her at work lol).
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I'd be interested to see the inside set up with your floor material, stove and gear when you get time.
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I'm pretty sure it's floorless.
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The tub floor is an option. I checked out the website. Nice website too, I might add. These folks are for real.
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Yes, this is a floorless tipi. They do offer a floor, but I would much rather not have one and not have to worry about taking my boots off at the door.
As soon as I get the stove set up and installed, I will report back.
Yes Kevin, you are correct. This company is for real.
The stove is collapsable, and in my eyes, is going to be a very valuable.
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That's cool. Can't wiat to hear how it works for you on a hunt.
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The first hunt is going to have to wait till March when we go on our St. Jude hog/turkey hunt down at Hog Heaven. I had hoped to have it a couple weeks ago, but the tipi was in production (my fault for waiting to order it), and I did not want to rush them and be unhappy with the outcome. I will set it up in the yard later this month just to get the stove installed and also get some more pictures for you all to see the whole set up.
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Fine looking tipi you have. Please keep us informed of its performance as you get more acquainted with it. You mentioned the amount of time it took to set up and pack away, was this by yourself or with help?
Scott
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Originally posted by glass76:
Fine looking tipi you have. Please keep us informed of its performance as you get more acquainted with it. You mentioned the amount of time it took to set up and pack away, was this by yourself or with help?
Scott
All by myself. All my hunting buddies wanted to help, but I told them I wanted to see if I could do it myself, which I did with no problem.
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I LIKE it! Yeap I'd stay with the floor less design also it's the berries when your out hunting!
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Mike, how is it for roominess inside. I have a 12x12 canvas pyramid tent, but its 11' tall so the side walls are straighter, which gives it more room. Im curious with the shorter tent if you lose a lot of standing room?
I used a Kifaru paratipi this fall elk hunting,which is a good shelter, but a little too tight for two hunters, backpacks bows and quivers. The canvas tent was a great base camp, but Im thinking about getting a tipi like yours for for base camp next year with the option of using it for a spike camp tent. I mayt still use the paratipi, but as a solo shelter. Still up in the air on that one.
I love a canvas tent for base camp, we packed itin a mile. Not gonna do that again. Ugh!
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That looks like it would work great on an Elk hunt.........or any place else for that matter!
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Originally posted by Autumnarcher:
Mike, how is it for roominess inside...Im curious with the shorter tent if you lose a lot of standing room?
Both Steve O and I were standing in it having a conversation, and were atleast an arms length apart.
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John, everything is a trade off. 8 man is no problem standing, lots of headroom for a couple over 6' guys. It is a perfect size for 2 or 3 hunters IMO. Your canvas job is going to be a lot heavier and much less wind resistant. I got rid of my 4 man Kifaru because I could not stand up in it. I can live with that in my one man and one pound Supertarp, but not my main base camp! With all that said and with my 8 man Kifaru in hand, I am seeing how many pounds I can take out of my almost 100# 12x12 Alaknak. I bet I get it close to 40#...not a bad bag to put in a Super Cub or a darn llama could pack that in for a base camp with headroom!
Big Mike, I will have your 90% pants with me tomorrow and Friday.
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Give me a call, and we will set something up for a pick up.
GO TIGERS
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Sweet setup
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Steve-0, you're right on the mark. I have the 8 man Kifaru and we do pack it on Llamas for deep elk trips. If you put it in a compression sack its smaller than most sleeping bags. I love it. The problem I have is fitting more than 2 guys in it with gear. (It slept four on a river trip in Alaska but was very cramped.)
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FWIW: I am able to pack my 8 man tipi (Kif) and inner liner into a medium Granite Gear compression bag. It's definitely smaller than the average mummy bag stuffed. Makes for very compact packing.
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Thats pretty cool.
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Heres a question how good do they stand up to wind it looks like in a strong gale they would blow over.
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The tipi has stood the test of time. It is probably the best suited for taking wind because of is conical shape.
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Originally posted by Steve O:
I have spent extensive time in both of the top end ultralight tipis available up until now; Kifaru and TiGoat. I met up with Mike Sunday to look at his new gem and it is a gem. If I was starting from scratch, that Seek Outside takes the best features from both. I was very impressed.
What features make the Seek Outside so much better??I'm a complete novice with these tipis
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The cone material on top, the material thickness of the SilNylon, the vertical and moon shaped seams, carbon fiber adjustable pole, carbon stakes, web stake out points. Like I said, I did about a 3 month search before I decided to spend my hard earned money, and I wanted the best bang for my buck. That is why I went with the Seekoutside.com 8 man tipi.
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Too cool, Mike! I like it!
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Neat!!!!!
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Hey Mike,
Could we see a pic of the tipi with the liner in it?
Thanks,
Scott
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Originally posted by swp:
Hey Mike,
Could we see a pic of the tipi with the liner in it?
Thanks,
Scott
Your gonna have to wait a little while. I put it away for right now. I've got alot of irons in the fire right now, and we are getting ready to head to Texas to do some killing also. Might be able to get back out with it Thanksgiving.
If you contact Seekoutside.com I'm sure they will gladly get you any pictures or info you could possibly want.
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Mmm interesting might give it serious thought how much heat does the stove pack out has anyone tried one ?
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On their website is an awesome review on the titanium stove. Actually that was the review that made me decide to add the stove to the order.
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A medium stove cranked up all the way in a 6 man Kifaru will drive you out of the tent; 'course, you don't have to run it wide open ;)
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Dam good buy mike might look at one later on my par Ted is always going on we need a bigger tent lol
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I have one more question with a floorless tipi in really really heavy rain wouldn't the rain get under the tipi and soak gear and you. Im not picking holes in ur tipi or anything but was curios
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I spent over a week in my 4 man in SE Alaska last year and other than two hours when we set up and tore down camp, it rained, rained, and RAINED! After the first couple days and with a storm carrying 4" of rain and 50 knot winds, as a precaution, we made a little trough around the "uphill" side of the tipi just in case. I don't know if it was necessary or not, but I have never had the ground in the tipi get wet after setup. Typically the ground dries out from the heat of the sun and stove.
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Cheers mate
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I love floorless tents. My 12x12 canvas pyramid tent is floorless. I've camped in some pretty good rains, and never had a problem. Winter camping, the floor may get a little muddy after warming the place up for a while with the woodstove, but every tent I've ever had with a floor turned into either bathtub, or a filthy mess.
With the floorless, you can keep your boots or shoes on, spills etc are no big deal, you can split firewood indoors etc.
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Floorless is the ONLY way to go. Can you imagine telling a native american indian he needed a floor in his tent? Totally a white man thing! lol
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Originally posted by LC:
Floorless is the ONLY way to go. Can you imagine telling a native american indian he needed a floor in his tent? Totally a white man thing! lol
must be the 12.5% in me that made me do it.
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great to pack in i love tipis the one i had wasa 16 ft sioux tipi w 22 ft poles it was made of canvas it had a liner and it took about 30 mins to set up i used to haul it to a lot of shoots in the northwest when my kids were young .
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Originally posted by Mike Vines:
The tipi has stood the test of time. It is probably the best suited for taking wind because of is conical shape.
Tipis and camps in general were set up along side creeks in wind protected areas, not on top of hills in open prairie. The biggest problem with wind is getting set up when there is no wind, then ground staking.
A couple things to remember, wind speed increases with height, a twenty ft tipi is going to get more wind than a six ft tent. Mountaineering tents are low profile to be used in open high wind speed areas. The Tipi is just the opposite, designed for being used in protected areas of wind speeds under 25 nauts, beyond that would consider it sketchy. Having been in 30 nauts sustained in a wall tent, and sleeping in the truck in speeds above that, worried the tent would implode breaking the ridgepole.
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I have a Seek Outside Cimarron and love it for backpacking. You won't be disappointed. I didn't get the liner so I won't use it in buggy places, but we don't have to worry about that too often in the Colorado high country. Good luck and enjoy. They do a great job of shedding wind and rain.
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Wow another ancient thread.
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Originally posted by kevsuperg:
Wow another ancient thread.
But a good one.
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That's the thing about the search function,you can reasearch a topic,develop specific questions to ask and get specific answers and not generalizations. There are always side bar discussions-some germane others not.
I use the search function often to good effect
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This Seekoutside Tipi, was one of the best purchases I made. Sadly, in a moment of weakness, I sold it to fund another toy, and the "other toy" is long gone too.
Wish I had just kept the Tipi. I would have been MUCH better off and happier. Oh well, that just opens my opportunities to dive into the world of wall tents now.
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Join BHA for life get a seek outside tipi.