KOCH BROS.
I'm looking for a super emergency bug out tent.
Something that would allow six people to cook and use a portable propane heater within it.
Something that could handle minus 30 degrees temperatures.
We have had a number of blackouts, storms etc etc..
I need something a city boy can put up in a hurry.
Answer
I too, question why a "city boy" needs a tent in an emergency. Any exposed fabric shelter is never going to offer more protection from severe cold than the most basic solid structure, even a shack or garage. I fail to see what low temperature "emergency" would drive you and 6 friends to flee to a tent rather than to stay in place in whatever structure you live or work in.
In fact, the only non-permanent shelter that would be superior in low temperatures would be a snow cave or Inuit style igloo, where the thickness of snow would block wind and insulate. You can learn to build one but it takes several people a few hours to construct one.
I used to winter camp a lot and have slept in tents down to minus 20 dead air temperature. It's a challenge. I have a two-man double walled tent that pitches tautly with a 4" air gap between the attached non-waterproof fly -- it also has a catenary cut so that, properly pitched, it sheds wind well in storm conditions. I used it for Alpine mountaineering and we kept warm in it due to the small volume and having down sleeping bags with about 10 inches of loft. It was a fairly effective arrangement, but not one I would endure given any other options. In fact, a 2-gallon water jug inside the tent froze solid overnight, which tells you how paltry a couple layers of nylon is against sub-zero weather. Unfortunately, that tent model has not been in production for 20 some years (Cannondale Aroostook). There are other competent mountaineering tents, but they are for brute survival and none is "warm" or spacious enough for 6-way partying.
A tent large enough for 6 people doesn't efficiently retain much heat. And I would NEVER use a stove or heating unit of any type in an enclosed tent. The only winter tent arrangement that can safely use a stove for heat is a fireproofed cotton canvas outfitter's wall tent with a built in chimney and unit stove for wood or other combustibles that is designed for safe ventilation. Tentsmith in New England sells these.
http://tentsmiths.com/period-tents-wall-tents.html
But if you are just looking to survive a power outage in weather like we have this week, stay indoors. A tent is better than NO shelter but certainly inferior to any structure with a solid roof and walls. If you have to evacuate to the wilds for some reason in cold weather, take a camper trailer with a propane heater. These are dirt cheap these days since people can no longer afford to pay for the gas to haul them on vacations. We rented a self-contained motorhome for a trip to Arizona last December and there was a freak cold spell where it got down near zero one night. We were toasty warm in the camper with the propane furnace running and all the comforts of home. You can pick up a used camping trailer or motorhome in functional shape that will sleep 6 for under $3,000 these days.
A yurt is a good suggestion for wintering shelter -- my brother has an 18' traditional wood frame and wool felt Mongolian one in his yard as a guest lodge, with a vented pellet stove to warm it. But it took a professional crew an entire day to set it up and it is not really portable. Plus it cost about $10,000. There are some cool geodesic dome tents in virtually every size marketed, but they will still not keep you warm.
Overall you are better off investing in warm sleeping bags and insulated clothing. Plus do some research on safe heating options that won't suffocate or burn you and your crew.
I too, question why a "city boy" needs a tent in an emergency. Any exposed fabric shelter is never going to offer more protection from severe cold than the most basic solid structure, even a shack or garage. I fail to see what low temperature "emergency" would drive you and 6 friends to flee to a tent rather than to stay in place in whatever structure you live or work in.
In fact, the only non-permanent shelter that would be superior in low temperatures would be a snow cave or Inuit style igloo, where the thickness of snow would block wind and insulate. You can learn to build one but it takes several people a few hours to construct one.
I used to winter camp a lot and have slept in tents down to minus 20 dead air temperature. It's a challenge. I have a two-man double walled tent that pitches tautly with a 4" air gap between the attached non-waterproof fly -- it also has a catenary cut so that, properly pitched, it sheds wind well in storm conditions. I used it for Alpine mountaineering and we kept warm in it due to the small volume and having down sleeping bags with about 10 inches of loft. It was a fairly effective arrangement, but not one I would endure given any other options. In fact, a 2-gallon water jug inside the tent froze solid overnight, which tells you how paltry a couple layers of nylon is against sub-zero weather. Unfortunately, that tent model has not been in production for 20 some years (Cannondale Aroostook). There are other competent mountaineering tents, but they are for brute survival and none is "warm" or spacious enough for 6-way partying.
A tent large enough for 6 people doesn't efficiently retain much heat. And I would NEVER use a stove or heating unit of any type in an enclosed tent. The only winter tent arrangement that can safely use a stove for heat is a fireproofed cotton canvas outfitter's wall tent with a built in chimney and unit stove for wood or other combustibles that is designed for safe ventilation. Tentsmith in New England sells these.
http://tentsmiths.com/period-tents-wall-tents.html
But if you are just looking to survive a power outage in weather like we have this week, stay indoors. A tent is better than NO shelter but certainly inferior to any structure with a solid roof and walls. If you have to evacuate to the wilds for some reason in cold weather, take a camper trailer with a propane heater. These are dirt cheap these days since people can no longer afford to pay for the gas to haul them on vacations. We rented a self-contained motorhome for a trip to Arizona last December and there was a freak cold spell where it got down near zero one night. We were toasty warm in the camper with the propane furnace running and all the comforts of home. You can pick up a used camping trailer or motorhome in functional shape that will sleep 6 for under $3,000 these days.
A yurt is a good suggestion for wintering shelter -- my brother has an 18' traditional wood frame and wool felt Mongolian one in his yard as a guest lodge, with a vented pellet stove to warm it. But it took a professional crew an entire day to set it up and it is not really portable. Plus it cost about $10,000. There are some cool geodesic dome tents in virtually every size marketed, but they will still not keep you warm.
Overall you are better off investing in warm sleeping bags and insulated clothing. Plus do some research on safe heating options that won't suffocate or burn you and your crew.
how long do portable wood stoves typically last for?
Q. something like this:
http://www.preparedness1.com/images/Tent%20Heating%20Stove%203.JPG
i've never used one and i don't even know how they operate, and i was wondering what the difference was between this and a tent heater like this:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5164572_operate-tent-heater.html
http://www.preparedness1.com/images/Tent%20Heating%20Stove%203.JPG
i've never used one and i don't even know how they operate, and i was wondering what the difference was between this and a tent heater like this:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5164572_operate-tent-heater.html
Answer
The wood stove shown is at the upper range of quality and weight. Its life is more a function of the care given to it both in use and in storage. With reasonable care, it will outlast the wall tent it is designed for. Along with heat, the flat top is for cooking.
This is luxury camping where simply spending time in the wild is not the goal. Remote camps, both personal and commercial outfitters use large wall or cabin tents and heat and/or cook on something like this. The point in the trip lies elsewhere, such as hunting or fishing, day hikes, horseback rides or photography etc. Base camps often have hot showers, full size beds, gourmet meals and other amenities.
For a family, a wall tent, stove, and either pack animals, 4 wheelers, or a small utility trailer behind a SUV may be a more adventurous choice than a large camp trailer.
The other tent heater (and similar) makes me nervous. A tent packed near its capacity with people has a fairly high Co2 concentration, adding CO, even a small amount just seems like a bad idea in a good tent. If it is cold enough to use the warmer, the windows and doors are likely zipped making them fairly air-tight.
Wall tents are generally designed to have a wood stove. Family tents are packed with warnings to not have any sources of combustion inside them!
There are bigger propane heaters for use in the more open wall tents. Then it is just a choice of available fuels. In a family cabin tent I'd avoid both.
The wood stove shown is at the upper range of quality and weight. Its life is more a function of the care given to it both in use and in storage. With reasonable care, it will outlast the wall tent it is designed for. Along with heat, the flat top is for cooking.
This is luxury camping where simply spending time in the wild is not the goal. Remote camps, both personal and commercial outfitters use large wall or cabin tents and heat and/or cook on something like this. The point in the trip lies elsewhere, such as hunting or fishing, day hikes, horseback rides or photography etc. Base camps often have hot showers, full size beds, gourmet meals and other amenities.
For a family, a wall tent, stove, and either pack animals, 4 wheelers, or a small utility trailer behind a SUV may be a more adventurous choice than a large camp trailer.
The other tent heater (and similar) makes me nervous. A tent packed near its capacity with people has a fairly high Co2 concentration, adding CO, even a small amount just seems like a bad idea in a good tent. If it is cold enough to use the warmer, the windows and doors are likely zipped making them fairly air-tight.
Wall tents are generally designed to have a wood stove. Family tents are packed with warnings to not have any sources of combustion inside them!
There are bigger propane heaters for use in the more open wall tents. Then it is just a choice of available fuels. In a family cabin tent I'd avoid both.
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