Before I start...

[Missouri Sherpa]

This is a Tipi tent system I put together for an expedition last fall.  The tipi tent is from Walmart of all places.  They do not keep it in stock on the floor but you can order it online.  The tent is just over 18 ft diameter and about 11 ft tall for the center pole.  This is a very spacious shelter compared to what you usually think of in a tent, has some elbow room and plenty of headroom.   I  disposed of the flimsy 3/4 inch center pole that came with the tipi and fabricated a more robust center pole using army issue tent poles of 2 inch diameter.  I cut them down to 30 inch lengths so they would fit into an army duffle bag.  I made some hangers out of 3/8 inch steel rod.  They slide into holes drilled into the center pole so you can have a place to hang and dry clothes and an LED lantern.  I purchased some silicone nylon ripstop fabric to make a rainproof fly and hired a seamstress to make the fly to my specifications.  triple stitched and rolled seams and hem.    I ended up spending more on the seamstress than I did on the tipi itself.  Silicone Nylon is very effective as fly material, seems to repel water.  Very light weight and folds up to a small package.

 We packed in to our usual campsite in Happy Valley at 10,000 ft elevation and had over a foot of snow on this TIPI the first night.  Everything stayed dry inside and it sheds snow like a steel A-frame roof.  I bought a couple of asbestos stove jacks for the wood burning stove but never got around to stitching them into the walls.  One stovejack for the Tipi and one for the Sil-nylon fly.  I bought some 16 inch nails with plastic hooks to anchor the tent instead of the weak, short stakes that came with the Tipi.  They hold this structure down very well, no bent stakes and they pulled out with just a little effort.  The Tipi, Silnylon Fly, center pole, Hangers, stakes, paracord anchor ropes and stove jacks all fit in a regulation green army surplus duffle bag.  Whole affair weighs about 30 pounds.

I did not get to use this for the whole week, but that is another story.  I will be using this again, replaces my old relite canvas Alaknak tent and Fly, and my 10'x12' sheepherders tent.  I have been using the Alaknak and/or Sheepherders tent for the past 20 years.  They have served me well and I have been reluctant to give up on them.   This tipi has over twice the space, takes up half the room when packing in on a mule and weighs half of what the tents do. 

[Killdeer]

That is just the kind of info I am looking for! Thank you!
I love how you made it work for you.

[ozy clint]

I have a 12 man kifaru tipi and stove. It's a palace. Tipi fits in a pillow case and stove flat packs and fits into a pillow case but is half as thick as a pillow. Whole setup weighs 20 pounds.

Oh yeah, I should mention it's a palace!

[Ron LaClair]

ozy, we need pictures

[Killdeer]

What kind of weather, and for how long have you stayed in your Kifaru?
How is the condensation?

[ApplePie]

Felt my ears burning... and am very interested in responses to this post as one of Killy's camp mates. I'm the one who brought the Baker Tent to camp this past fall 

The Alaskan Guide Gazebo has been a great cook shack. For me, a cook shack is part of base camp, standalone, four season, floorless, large enough to stand up in (7' minimum), and large enough room for cooking and lounging for several folks when the weather turns. Additional pros would be stove jack and ability to fly out a front awning.

When not in camp with the Gazebo, I run a Yanes Kuche Kitchen (see pic) with my 10x12 Montana Canvas wall tent with wood stove. The Yanes is similar to a Eureka Northern Breeze. It's not built as strong as the Alaskan Guide series, so I'd hesitate to call it a four season tent. In short, I'm still looking for the perfect cook shack.

I've heard stories about the "Hurricane Hut" from Barney's in Anchorage, but I don't think that's being produced anymore. If anyone has info about this tent, I'm curious to learn more.

[Killdeer]

I changed my mind.
My prerogative as a female, and I am also in my late-blooming midlife crisis.
A whiff of sanity wafted by me, and I decided on a smaller tent for me, a thousand dollars cheaper and 30 pounds as opposed to 44 for the big one.

Looking at three stoves;

Anevay “Frontier Plus”.
33 lbs. can open hob on top to access flame. Really like their flues and tipi system. Hard to get.

Colorado Cylinder Stoves “Spruce”
42 lbs. without pipes.
Solid, strong, no nonsense stove.

Four Dogs “Little Dog”
45 pounds. Airtight and baffled, sent an email to Four Dogs to see about availability. Hard to get.

All of these have approximately the same capacity, at least a 4” flue and are close in weight.

Those guys are gonna have to make do in the old gazebo with the Pregnant Lady.
.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Probably a wise decision for truck camping...and the stove definitely is 
I didn't poke my nose in earlier, but on the kifaru type tent deal....they are fantastic.....for what they are made for.  When flying in on a supercub when ounces matter and I need something to depend on in true wilderness I'm packing my sawtooth and I'll manage the cons (mainly condensation, and a bit cramped for 2 guys) for the pros (super lightweight, wilderness bombproof etc).  When I'm camping by the truck I'll take a tent less bombproof, throw a blue tarp over it to improve "water tightness" and enjoy the extra room.  If a hurricane comes I'll get in the truck and go home    I use my cabelas alaknak for truck camping.

R

[Killdeer]

Home is an Alaknak? Way cool!
I think of my XWT like that. But no stove jack in that.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Fixed my poor grammar (well some of it at least). I should be careful of dangling my participles in public.   

[Killdeer]

Better than exacerbating.

[Ron LaClair]

My last tent (canvas) with a stove, slicker'n snot on a doorknob. Still have it.

[Killdeer]

Sweet! I like the stewbait ya got there.
 

[Ron LaClair]

Tree Rats is my favorite finger food

serve with mashed taters and squirrel gravy

[ozy clint]

ozy, we need pictures

Ron, here's a link to a recent thread- https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=174370.0

The tipi pics start on page 3.

here's my favorite- 

[ozy clint]

What kind of weather, and for how long have you stayed in your Kifaru?
How is the condensation?

we spent a week in it in the trip in the above link. rained while there. never had snow on it yet but i am in Australia so that's not so common. condensation is not an issue with the liner.

[Killdeer]

Clint, that thread shut me up for a week. Very moving, very proper.
Not too often do you see a person graced with such friends.

[tecum-tha]

Have an 8 man and a 16 man Kifaru Tipi with stoves for elk hunting in Colorado/other places.
They work great, but are spendy.
I would not hesitate to buy a Seek outside Tipi Tent and one of their Titanium stoves either.
There is a difference in fabrics between these two.
They are lighter than 43# with stove by far.

[Killdeer]

Well, Four Dogs suddenly had some stoves in, so I bought the Little Dog with a tipi kit. I have pretty much settled on a Tentipi 9, just figuring out some details.

Just what I need. More stuff.

[ozy clint]

Clint, that thread shut me up for a week. Very moving, very proper.
Not too often do you see a person graced with such friends.

I am humbled by your kind words.