Winter Hot Tent Help.

**snidetripod** · 07-21-2014, 17:57

Does anyone have recommendations about which tarp would be good for a Hot Tent application?
***edit*** will be reposting this in DIY section, when I start building.

**MDSH** · 07-21-2014, 18:29

This is my DIY version, which is not a full sized hot tent but was designed for a candle lantern heater, yet to be built. Bought a used Svea 123 shortly after building this but did not get a chance to use it inside. It's footprint is 5x5 feet. Used a 4x4 foot Woolrich stadium blanket for a ground cloth. It was my first-ever single-digit hang and done in the back yard.

This is shown in the only ice/snow storm we had here last year.

Attachment 89804

**BrianWillan** · 07-21-2014, 18:44

You could take a look at the Smokehouse, from the user SmokeHouse. He has shown several pictures of his creations.

Myself and Oldgringo, go the canvas wedge tent with small wood burning stove with stove jack in the door. Not the lightest option, but works great in winter.

Wawhiker uses a MSR Twin Brothers tent to hang his WBBB in it. It's a tight squeeze, he modded it to install a stove jack for his really small wood burning stove.

There are other examples of people adding stove jacks to grizz beaks for their hot tent needs. I prefer to use a breathable fabric like canvas for winter hot tent use.

Do a little searching and you will find what you are after.

PM me and I will send you a video of my canvas wedge hot tent with my bridge hammock in it.

Cheers

Brian

**snidetripod** · 07-21-2014, 22:21

I looked at the Smokehouse, I think it was his second one in multicam. I really like this design, I just would like it in a breathable, fire retardant material. I have heard that condensation is a real bugger in these things and I don't want to wake up to snow on the inside of my tarp.
That being said, does he offer plans? I could easily use this design with canvas or maybe something lighter, I like the fact that there is a lot of room inside. It definitely needs a snow skirt on it though. In the winter I use my SF and stake it down tight to the ground so I can build up the snow around the edges, it works great for keeping the cold northern winds at bay. With a snow skirt, you could pile snow up the sides, adding more insulation.
Thanks for the advice on the Smokehouse. It could be something I can run with.

**fallkniven** · 07-21-2014, 23:04

no skirts needed around here...

**snidetripod** · 07-21-2014, 23:24

Nice Fallkniven. You have some great gear, I am jealous.... Snicker Snicker.
Did you make that yourself or is it one of Smokehouses designs?

**Ratdog** · 07-21-2014, 23:35

I was wishing I had a drop wall on a couple days. Spent all winter sleeping in this rig every night.

Light snow day

Not so light snow day. Loved the insulation the piles of snow provided.

**snidetripod** · 07-21-2014, 23:45

So, I have done some research. I will be making my hot tent out of flame retardant, rot proof canvas. It will be heavy, but that is what pulk sleds are for. I will also be ordering a TI stove from Seek Outside, the same one WawHiker uses. I like the dimension of it, it is not too small, but just big enough to put a kettle on.
Now, time to draw up some plans and wait for my canvas.

Feel free to post pics of your hot tents here, it will help me with ideas.

Hmmm, I wonder how tyvek would work?

**snidetripod** · 07-21-2014, 23:48

Originally Posted by Ratdog

I was wishing I had a drop wall on a couple days. Spent all winter sleeping in this rig every night.

Light snow day

Not so light snow day. Loved the insulation the piles of snow provided.

Ratdog, how did your pole mod handle the snow?

**Ratdog** · 07-21-2014, 23:55

It hung in there all winter, don't remember popping a pole.
What it did do though was create a flatter surface for snow to gather, the it would slide off in chunks.

Check some of the winter camping threads from this past winter. We had plenty of good discussions and pics of a few designs that were great at shedding snow. (Internal pole mod with steep pitch)

Another excellent source of info are the frozen butt hang threads.

Canvas is a solid option, I got by with ripstop down here in the mid atlantic, but up north, canvas seems like an excellent solution for stays of any duration.

There are many stove options, diy ammo boxes, four dogs, small barrel stoves but with all of them, consider a quality stove jack setup. Fire sucks.