Tell me about your Arctic Oven

[Killdeer]

I am looking for a new tent. Because the new Alaskan Guides do not have closeable roof vents, I have been looking at the XWT model. I also have been toying with the idea of incorporating a wood stove into my camp, somehow, which led me to look at the Arctic Oven.

I have been all over the AO site, and have asked a few questions of the staff. But nothing beats experience, and I have yet to see any pics of the interior while the tent is in use. How much room is left in a 12x12 for folks if you have maybe a three dog stove?

How is the tent in moderate weather, say temps in the forties and fifties?

What's it really really like to live in for three weeks? How do you protect the floor and walls from the stove's heat? How long will the tent live? What do you know that the site doesn't say?

Killdeer  

[stalkin4elk]

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/forumdisplay.php/33-Alaska-Outdoor-Gear

Do a search in this forum for several good threads and debates.

[chinook907]

Killdeer - I've used Arctic Oven tents for both work and hunting, but unfortunately haven't stayed in them for 3 weeks straight !
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Other than price, I've only heard good things about them.  They are bulky and heavy, but I guess thats to be expected, and of course they wouldn't carry well at all on your back, they're only used for fly-out, boat, truck, or dog team (seriously) trips.
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I've only used the AO 10's, and not the larger 12's.  With the 10's and a wood stove, 3 people in cots is doable but 2 people in cots is way better; the third person would be right in front of the stove and blocking the door somewhat. Checking the site (per your instructions !) the 12 is actually ~3 feet larger, length and width.
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Have not needed to use anything on the floor under the stove or behind to protect the fabric from heat.
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I've stayed in them in temps from ~20F to ~55F.  The insulative material really holds the heat.  We would typically be gone during the day, and would burn 1/2 or 1/4 of a firelog, (or regular wood if we're below treeline and wood is available) to warm things up before going to bed, and maybe do the same in the morning.  In the warmer temps it can very easily get too warm inside with any kind of fire going for long.
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One small awkward thing is the bottom of the door is fairly high, it helps keep snow out, but it can be a little clumsy stepping over it to get in and out.  Definitely not a problem.
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No pics inside the tent, but here's one of the few pics I have of the outside, it has some smaller tents in the pic that add some scale.  The white fencing is a battery powered bear fence, it was a fly-out work trip on a salmon stream crawling with brown bears.
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Hope this helps.

[wingnut]

Dude,

You are trusting a little electric fence to keep out brown bears.  Wow!  I'd want a platoon of Marines.

Mike

[Killdeer]

I thought it was for keeping the beer consumption down, a βεεᎡ fence. Make a man mighty careful!

Killdeer

[snag]

Just don't forget about it when nature calls in the night!
Back to the tent...how much does it weigh? Does it breath pretty good to element condensation?

[David Yukon]

Hi Kildeer, I've own a 10x10, it was a great, warm tent, but not really practical for more than 2 people with a small stove. The 12x12 would be a good choice, but the weight( and a kid) made us change it for a Snowtrekker EXP Shorwall, for more room, lighter weight and lots smaller when packed.

The AO is one of the sturdiest tent I've own, easy to set up, and warm. I camped in there at -40 and it was t-shirt weather inside, and that was with 30mph wind. As for the floor, I used a 1/4 piece of ply wood, that I cover the top side with a thin piece of aluminum sheeting, and that was maybe an inch wider than my stove, and about 6-8 inches longer, so when the stove door was open, the accidental amber that would fall off would land on that "stove heart".

they are good tents for sure, but I think there is better, Like the Snowtrekker(they make all kind of size.

Cheers

[Killdeer]

So you had one but don't have it any more?
Why?

What are the downsides to it? I know it's heavy, but I camp close to the truck. It only has one door, but I can live with that as long as there is a sharp knife in my pocket.

Is the ventilation adequate? I have not seen good pics of that system.  Is there a way to hang things up, a gear loft? Can it be jury-rigged?

Lots of good info so far, but I am an info junkie! I thank you all for the replies thus far.
Killdeer

[chinook907]

Mike - we considered some marines, but, they tend to eat a lot lol.

The battery powered electric fence works great though, they are apparently very sensitive to electricity.  It's mostly there to protect camp while we're gone.  I've come back more than once and the fence was a little off kilter and had obviously be messed with, but camp untouched.  I've also put them around my bee hives after they've been knocked over by bears, and the problem stops.  
 
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Snag - depending on the model they are 40-some pounds or so, plus the stove & pipe.  I can't remeber any excess condensation problems.

Killey- I've strung lines inside to hang stuff to dry.  And David Y's thing of a board with metal for sparks makes a lot of sense, I just haven't had to run a stove much in one like he has.

Sounds like David Y has used one a lot more than I have, maybe he can chime in again.

[David Yukon]

Ok here I am... The  reason we sold ours, are as follow, the weight, the bulk when packed, and the floor layout of the 10x10.

The way the stove is placed in the tent, is almost centered, so you can sleep one on each side for two... Good for two buddy's, but kind of boring for a couple.... If you need to sleep 3 in there,  then one is in front of the door, and that is not practical for any length of time, other than maybe an over night trip.

The ventilation, is great, they have a vent tunnel about a foot from the ground beside the door(fresh air intake, and one on the back wall opposite corner up hight close to roof line(moisture/"bad" air exhaust).

Since the tent is a double wall construction, the moisture tent to build up on the inside of the fly, that is great, so no moisture inside the tent even at -40 wile cooking inside.

You can rig some line inside the tent along the roof line... That said, in the 10x10, you end up with a lot of things in the way. It is actually just over 9x9 inside at the floor seams, and if I remember, it is maybe 5x5 at the roof seams.

The other down side to me is the fact that it is a really dark tent, even during the day compare to a "white" canvas tent. The Wall tent type tent offer way more usable/living space inside. It is way brighter inside.

Like I said, the AO are really well made tent and now with the vestibule option, make a great tent even better. but just doesn't suit our need anymore!

Hope that help. If any more questions, just shoot, I' ll try to answer them as best as I can.
Cheers
David

[Killdeer]

Thanks all!
I don't want a single wall tent (I have had my fill of mice in the bedroom), and the slope of the walls on the AO do reduce the walking around room by 20%. I have limited storage space, and have to dry my tents in a mini-warehouse locker.

So, I am back to the XWT from Cabela's. The only thing I don't like about that tent is that there are only two poles crossed over the top. I felt so secure in the geodesic Guide.

I am still toying with the idea of a wood stove in the cookshack. I would have to run the pipe out of one of the three doors.

Thanks again!
Killdeer

[Canadabowyer]

Killy. Consider a canvas wall tent.I have a 10' x 15' Delux  Wall tent made in BC with a Two-Dog stove.With that little stove it will be plenty warm  for your area because it keeps me toasty here in central BC.Stove only weighs #38 all up and has very handy handles to move it around.We use it with boat, truck and ATV.All up weight for tent,stove, tarps etc. about #200 in 4 or 5 packages. Heaviest package is the poles at #55 but you can split that down if you need to.To keep it mouse proof just get some indoor/outdoor carpet and cut it to fit exactly inside the tent over the soil guards. We can put 4 cots inside and still have clearence for the stove and a path to the door. With 2 cots it is like a bush castle, tons of room and delux comfort. I spent more than 20 nites in it this fall and I am an old guy with a tin hip and knee and I was totally comfortable. Because of the comfort of this camp I spend way more time camped than I have in years.Costs a bit but it is a lifetime investment. Bob

[Whip]

Come on Killy, mice are part of the adventure! It gets you closer to nature, and you can run a trap line right from the comfort of your sleeping bag.    

I've had my share of mice troubles while camping. It is a small price to pay though for living in the lap of luxury, camping in canvas with a wood stove glowing inside.    

[larry]

geesh...what's the world coming to...killy worried about mice and don't want to get chilly.