walltents and how many they can hold.

[Mr. Friendly]

there's 3 of us, though 2 of us primarily. we're debating what size of tent we need to purchase, or the layout we should have internally (ie. where the stove would go and where the cots would go depending on where the stove is).

having no experience with a walltent (I've never even been in one) but needing one (5500ft elevation late Oct, early Nov) I'd like to hear what those of you who have a walltent or been in one have to say about it. thanks!

edit - we would like to have enough space for a table to use as a workbench to clean our rifles on or keep something off the ground if it's frozen. I'm also wondering about how useful a walltent floor is vs. your standard nylon tarp?

 

[popcan]

We have used one of the Costco tube frame "garages" in the past..

It worked well, but you needed to seal the corners so the wind didn't howl in. (plastic and tuk tape).
Roomy enough that we had a table at the far end for cooking, and put a portable woodburner at the near end. (Made a plywood door on bunjies).

It was strictly for cooking and meals, card playing, etc..... as we all had trailers or campers to sleep in - except one guy whose cot you can see.
200.00 bucks.

..

 

[Mr. Friendly]

I had thought of one of those cheapo 10x20ft model's but wasn't so sure on their insulative capacity or how they'd react if a spark from the stove landed on it (even if you had a screen on the stack to prevent such an event). would hate to be in the middle of nowhere in sub-zero temperature with a melted shelter. LOL!

 

[agilent_one]

The wall tent we used that last few years could probably "hold" 20 or so guys. We've never had more than 7, and usually only 2-3. It does get a little cold in the corner furthest from the stove. I think the tent was manufactured by Norseman tents, and was about 3-5k.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I've got a 12x16 Fort McPherson Canvas Tent with 5' walls. It will hold 4 across the end with enough room for a table for cooking and chairs.

Of course, we only eat and cook inside after making sure the area is bear free. Or someone has a bear tag!

 

[Mighty Peace]

10x12 with 5 foot walls would do but be tight. I will suggest 14x16 with 5ft walls. Have one . There was only originally 2 of us for hunting grew to 6 and it worked. Use to set up this tent in the mountains to leave up all winter for sledding. Fit 6 for those sledding trips.

Great for hunting..got a bit tight when out for 10 days with gear.

Last season we bought a new 16x20x5 walls woth 8 foot porch extension for Deluxe Wall tents....LOTS of room now! Especially when all our kids get a bit older and start coming out for a couple of nights.

I would look at their website and go with a 14x16 or maybe a 12x14 if available...and get the porch extension (5'). They have free shipping across Canada

 

[Onegesius]

Contact Woodstove, he has lots of knowledge on wall tents

 

[riden]

Having a floor down will make all the difference in the world in Nov!!!!!!!!

You plan on a woodstove right? I like the woodstove by the door vs teh back as it can more easily combat the cold air coming in the door.

A wood stove and a table with 3 people. 12x14 won't do it I know that. May be smart to come up with a more inventive method than a free standing table and save a buck or two.

FYI: a woodstove kicks out dry heat that will dry everything in your tent. A propane heater will likely not do that effectively and then you have to deal with exhaust

 

[Suka]

Best way to tell size is always to lay it out on the floor.

Take some masking tape, and put two pieces down on the floor, or street to mark each corner.
Now you have an actual representation of floor size. Set your table, a couple chairs, etc. in the marked area to help you visualize. Remember to include space for whatever gear you're going to want inside, too.

 

[popcan]

Having a floor down will make all the difference in the world in Nov!!!!!!!!

You plan on a woodstove right? I like the woodstove by the door vs teh back as it can more easily combat the cold air coming in the door.

A wood stove and a table with 3 people. 12x14 won't do it I know that. May be smart to come up with a more inventive method than a free standing table and save a buck or two.

FYI: a woodstove kicks out dry heat that will dry everything in your tent. A propane heater will likely not do that effectively and then you have to deal with exhaust

Look at my pic above, of the costco tent... we had a floor down, plus the woodstove by the door -

 

[Demonical]

I have a 12'x16' 'Deluxe' model... meaning it has a zippered screen window in the back wall. Side walls are 5' and the peak is 7'. It has a stovehole in the roof at the left front corner of the tent (as you come in the door).

There's comfortable room for 2 guys, is my opinion, in a tent that size; that is a cot along each sidewall. That leaves quite a bit of room for 2 guys to store their #### so it doesn't interfere with the other guys ####... a couple of chairs, maybe a table over in the corner opposite the stove.

If you were to put a bunkbed across the end wall (where the window is), plus 2 cots on each side, then you could get 4 guys into a 12'x16' tent, but it would be very cramped, when it came to arranging your gear.

If you are hauling the tent in the back of your pickup and setting up alongside a bush road or something, then go bigger. Bigger is always better, as long as weight doesn't become an issue.
Those 12'x16' tents weigh 75 lbs and obviously a bigger one would be even more, so if you were planning on hauling it a ways into the bush that would be something to consider... you can save weight on poles by using poles that you cut at your camp site.

We build permanent tent frames and leave them standing at our camp. They will be useable for years, as long as no trees come down on them. So we just have to roll out the tent and tie it off on the frame...

 

[Mr. Friendly]

I would get the rolled aluminum frame I think...though if we went with wood, it would save us a small bundle at first and let us get the larger tent for this trip. that is a thought!

 

[Demonical]

Mr. Friendly, I don't know if you said anything about where you will be hunting. Is it a situation, where you will be driving your truck right to the campsite, or do you have to haul your gear deep into the bush?

Also, do you always camp in the same place or do you move your camp around?
If you move a lot, then a portable type frame, that you can assemble is a great way to go, but if you stay and hunt from the same base camp all the time, then a permanent structure like we use is pretty darn handy.

 

[riden]

Demonical is right. The frame can be a real nuisance

We have a cable cinched between two trees that we raise it with and we use poles, pegs and rope. Not as tight as an internal frame, but a lot less kit too.

 

[Longwalker]

Good comments previously, I agree with most. We use 12x14 for wilderness trips, cut poles on site, and do not use cots. We planned for three hunters. So there is adequate, but tight space for 4, real nice amount of room for two. I would certainly advise against using a floor in most conditions. I prefer a sod cloth and cheap tarp for the sleeping area. much easier to clean ( shake it out) and you need bare ground under the wood stove anyway. Here's a picture of ours.