Kevin, I don't think a sawtooth is out for you at all. As a matter of fact if I don't go with the 6 or 4 man the sawtooth is going to get the nod for the first. The 6 is going to end up a winter tent for me...heat heat heat! -40 leaves something to be desired even in a -60 bag LOL! But I have to ask if you're doing the same moose trip which I assume you are and knowing your conditions and location, what's wrong with kicking the kifaru out the door. You cant get in with one plane, which I'd doubt even with my pack would be possible. I've had it at 52lbs for 12 days solo with spotting scope. Its changed since than and my weights jumped up a to 54/55lbs. My goal is 14 days at 50 solo.
Tutanka,
The hard part is finding a packable tent that's got the standing room and isn't heavy. What can you live without, weight? heater? space? By heavy I mean 4+lbs. I asked some questions that went unanswered for the moment, and offered up what imho is the best option at a fraction of a kifaru in cost and just as durable. I again for the 3rd time will not in any way dispute kifaru's being great tents and have spent time in them! and like I have said multiple times in this post alone WILL own one myself in the near future. IMHO, a tipi with the liner and stove is NOT what I, myself, would consider packable by any stretch of the imagination! Throw in the liner which I've been told and have used is recommended for what I'd be using it for (and we used in a September hunt as well), you up your weight even more. Thsis the reason I threw the kifaru out of the mix. There is no wrong answer here, some are great, most are good with a few being well off the chart (not posts but available tents). I don't believe buying a kifaru is anything better than good for a light weight packable tent even though its quality and room to weight ratio, plus the added stove option, it lacks in the weight department....and of course the 1500appx cost depending on model and features you go with. Money well spent if its a tent you'll use, but not a back packing tent a most folk are going to want to hump any serious distance.
The tent I offered is no longer made and I didn't catch that until after I posted originally, it was by far the best in class that offered everything, weight, room, but lacked a stove. It sleeps 3 comfortably and the weight is crazy light! I was going to post a link to it complete with specs, but found the bad news. That doesn't mean you cant find one if you looked for it. For a person who doesn't need heat and wants to maintain weight I still believe the shangrila 3 without the tub is by far the best tent going! With the tub you've jumped into the 4+ lb range From a little over 2lbs which means the sawtooth comes close enough to be considered.
My point is this there are a plethora of tents on the market. There are 0 bomb proof shelters even though some companies advertise as such. Its pretty obvious to guys who have spent any time in them that some do better than others. If you camp on top of a hill in a tornado, well..you get the my drift! There's some common sense to tent camping in severe conditions! I wont be caught dead on Kodiak in nov with a clip 3 cd...but wouldn't hesitate to run the north face for a later hunt where in an early august hunt the clip 3 cd would be fine. The gales of November were born on the south side of the island!
I've run everything from a tarp and a fox hole (thanks army) though quickly jumped to a bivy up to a northface expedition 25 which btw is a great high wind shelter', but again lacks the height and heating capabilities a tipi offers plus it not light! Unfortunately with the SL3 off the market, I'm back on the prowl. The kifaru 6 man is going to be a winter trap line tent, or winter hunt tent, or a tent I don't have to pack around for any real distance, I have a use for it. The sawtooth has possibilities but not likely going to be a regular tent, even at 4.5lbs its too heavy for a solo tent. 2 guys its ok. For what it is I might as well go with the 4 man with a medium stove and liner or the 6 with the larger stove. The stove is an added benefit, but that jacks the weight up more in the sawtooth, along with the liner. W did a goat hunt in a hilleberg, wasn't overly impressed other than the gigantic vestibule was nice. My 6+' partner didn't fit in the tent either. Its too much room (in the vestibule and not enough in the tent) and it wasn't light at 8lbs I might as well have brought my northface, (ands saved him a cool grand LOL).
The end question is what do YOU want out of it, or in this case the OP. What's the bulk of its use going to be. What's your budget? What is considered light/packable? how much packing is involved (on your back). How many guys are going, is it solo, or a 4 person tent.
The sad story of it is, I had the answer, until I saw the go lite is no longer made at this time!
here's a viable replacement for the shangrila 3
http://www.backcountrygear.com/black-diamond-mega-light-blue-grey.html#.VLf2nU05DkA
Topic: Backcountry Tipi buying help (Read 2672 times)
