Floorless Tents for Backpacking

[V I Archer]

I spent a few nights in Fujimo's bell tent and that thing is awesome!  single pole, simple, quick set up.  I really want something like a sawtooth or a cimmaron in the next few years.  My boy is 6 now and I imagine the persistence in him joining me in back country hunts will only grow stronger in the next few years.  The idea of a small stove in the shelter is most appealing.

[pavan]

Once camping in North east Iowa, a young couple set up a beautiful new tipi on the edge of the camping area.  We helped them set it up, they went in and finished all of the inside stuff and came out wearing buck skins.   About 9:30 p.m. this terrible death defying scream came out of the tipi, followed by the young couple running for their lives.  it seems there was a rather large timber rattler that thought the tipi would be a nice place camp in for the night. 

[Gehrke145]

I love floorless tents, but they aren't a do it all system.  Every state/ region is different, in most of Colorado its about as good as it gets.  Where the tipi system is really gold, is running a stove, this is literally life changing!!!!

If you run a single-walled tipi on any green grass condensation is going to be rough (without a stove).

If you need a "do it all" early season warm weather solo rig, I'd get a floored shelter.  If you dip into colder weather the tipi w/ a stove will win out.  If bugs are an issue you can get a cheap mesh bivi, to use with the tipi.

[DXH]

Floor for me as well. After a hard day’s hunt, I want to know I have a dry place to sleep and I’m not having to position absolutely perfect to be able to get a good night’s sleep and I toss and turn so staying in one spot doesn’t happen.

Found that out the hard way on an Elk hunt in Colorado in one of the ultra light weight sleeping blankets vs bag. Every time I would get warm then I would roll over and my back was exposed and let all my heat out..would absolutely freeze every night and my buddy would wake up refreshed and I was exhausted....literally top in the top 5 of worst weeks of my life

Shelter is worth its weight in gold

[kerry]

Another convert to floorless tent.  I have a seek outside 2 - man with stove jack, and kifaru sawtooth.  I like the ability stand up in the sawtooth, and the additional headroom in the seek outside.  Both accommodate the same stove.
I've never been bitten, so I use them in the south as well as colorado.

I understand others who have been bitten wanting a floor though.

[JakeD]

I have a Big Agnes Yahmonite 3.  It isn't floorless, but it is still really light and roomy enough for 2 people and gear.  It is around 4.5 lbs for the whole thing (tent, stakes, pole, rainfly), which isn't bad at all.  It would be difficult for me to go floorless when there are so many lightweight options that allow me to keep my gear a little cleaner and not worry about the bugs.

[okcaveman]

I just recently grabbed a SO cimarron. I've spent a few nights in it so far. Yes, condensation can be an issue, but there are trade offs. In the rain, there is room for my wife and I to have our sleep gear as well as be sitting in low profile chairs. I'll get a bug nest soon and it will keep me safe from all the crawling things in the warm weather, and a stove will keep me warm in the cold weather. And I'll have room to walk in to my shelter without crawling. What's not to like?