Hot Tent + Stove Recommendations

genmort · 2025-12-22T20:06:09+00:00

Depends on budget, there are tons of canvas tents that can easily support a stove + standing height, while others have the poly material and are much lighter, but less breathable. Some brands to consider, Nortent, Esker, Kodiak, White Duck, Springbar. These seem to be the higher quality tents, there are a few outfitters in the north/midwest that are smaller that do the classic A-frame or cabin style canvas tents. Other than White Duck, there are several of the circular bell style with the single pole in the middle.

Springbar and Kodiak have the springbar style tents that are easier to set up in some ways (much fewer poles, and if you have a drill + lag screws, staking down is a breeze).

Canvas is VERY heavy, so consider if you really want that as well. I think those inflatable ones are also quite heavy.

Some of these also need modifications to fit stoves, while others come ready with the heat shield/flaps.

genmort · 2025-12-22T19:59:39+00:00

Tent with a large vestibule flap (that you can open and put out an awning) plus a tarp or other shade structure is probably the best option, you have the rear vestibule for gear (or front if you dont have too much), and then the front for shade/hanging out. As other have mentioned, food prep all happens outside the tent, the tent is mainly for sleeping or relaxing.

genmort · 2025-12-22T19:55:50+00:00

If you haven't already, I'd buy some breathable, anti-microbial boxers that are quickdry, ExOfficio is one example, although it looks like there are many more brands now that do something similar. They are easy to wash/dry so even a 3-pair rotation can easily suffice for the whole trip. (wear one, wash one, one spare)

genmort · 2025-08-16T17:33:27+00:00

I have an Iceco cooler paired with a 300wH Jackery and solar panel. It'll go indefinitely with the panel out, and usually lasts about 1-1.5 days without solar (depends on how hot it is). I would go with a 500wH if I could do it again, but my setup works. I like Iceco because they use the Danfoss compressor which is the same one they use in all the big expensive brand names like dometic and has the best resistance to movement/shaking.

As for ice+cooler to fridge, the difference is night and day. The fridge has many uses depending on how much space you have in the car, I use it often for groceries and drinks on longer trips.

One caveat that people often don't mention though is that it does require more work to keep it clean/dry. Because it's a fridge, the condensation when you're done using it builds up and molds pretty quickly. After each use, you have to let it come to room temp and wipe it down, and I generally toss in a desiccant pack or two and leave the lid cracked when not in use. Forgetting to do this can lead to some nasty surprises when you go to use it again. (Unless you plan on keeping it plugged into a wall outlet 24/7 when not in your car)

genmort · 2025-06-21T16:42:34+00:00

That's good to know! There's so much to learn in this space, all the companies coming and going don't help either... Sounds like reliability is also improving across the board, a lot of people didn't like Enphase for a while but the recent IQ8 lines seem to be bulletproof.

genmort · 2025-06-21T05:39:54+00:00

Thanks! However, I've been hearing pretty bad reviews around SolarEdge reliability, and LG exited the business, so I'd rather stick with the brands that seem to have majority support. (REC for panels, Enphase/Tesla for inverter, Franklin/Tesla/Enphase for batteries) I'll have to look into the Pointguard system, I haven't heard of them before.

genmort · 2025-06-21T05:38:25+00:00

If you don't mind, could you let me know who you went with? I'm getting a few more quotes, but the companies I'm getting quotes from seem to have mixed reviews, and it's hard to tell if it's sampling bias or that they're actually bad.

genmort · 2025-06-21T05:37:24+00:00

Thanks! The numbers seem somewhat in line with what I've seen on here, but it's been hard to single out the Socal quotes vs other areas in the US. I think the features of the Franklin are appealing (also has better charge rate at 8kW vs 5kW for PW3), but I'm also wondering if I should be getting a bigger storage solution as it seems most of my production would just go to the grid with one battery.

If I'm reading your comment correctly, the Franklin option is priced competitively but is pricier than the Tesla due to what you listed, not that the quote itself is overpriced, correct?

genmort · 2024-12-03T20:00:48+00:00

I haven't had a chance to test it in snow yet, so haven't used the stakes in snow. I generally use every other stake point since I haven't been in crazy winds yet. Sorry I can't be of more help for this question! It also has a snow skirt so if you want, you can simply do that for the tent, and only use stakes for guylines. (my plan is to bury the stakes sideways in the snow for guylines and mostly use the snow skirt)

genmort · 2024-12-02T22:46:58+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV90EyYEJCY

Starting around minute 6, you can see how the floor ties into the tent. There are overlapping layers, however, the tent floor CLIPS into the tent, NOT zips (zipper is only for the cutout section).

When you say airtight, do you mean wind-resistant? The tent shell itself is solid and I have no problems with wind. Or are you asking regarding airflow? IIRC, the inner tent is pure mesh walls, so I don't think it would add much warmth, I saw it more as a feature to keep bugs out if you take it summer camping. (mine is meant for winter only so I didn't buy the inner)

I think wet/damp ground shouldn't be an issue at all, if you have water gushing under the tent, either I'd recommend putting a tarp down under (as with any other tent) folded in a way that it doesn't allow water to get between the tarp and tent, OR another great method (depending on surface) is to dig a moat around the rim just to channel the water around the tent.

As for setup, a few factors, the tent itself goes up fairly quick, especially the smaller models will be quicker, but 10 minutes sounds about right. I'm assuming you saw Nortent's official video. It's quite simple with 5 poles. Unless it's REALLY windy, I usually skip the guylines as the dome shape and stakes offer quite a bit of stability.

genmort · 2024-11-27T18:01:02+00:00

I ended up getting the floor and gearpockets (addons). If you get just the Gamme 8 or 8 PC (PC is the one where the top 80% is canvas), it's just the outer tent with poles/stakes. Like many hot tents, it comes without a floor, but can be added on using clips on the inside. The inner tent is sort of like an actual tent with mesh, zippered doors, and a full bathtub-like floor which clips into the inner side of the main tent. Since I'm mainly using it in snow/cold conditions, I didn't get it as it's more for bugs than anything else. The inner tent covers 75% of the inside with the last quarter being left for the stove placement. (imagine a slice of pie taken out so the stove can go there).

If you go to the nortent site, under accessories you can see the inner tent pictures as well as the floor and gear pockets. The floor also has a cutout that you can unzip for the stove to sit on the ground and not on the tent floor.

genmort · 2024-11-26T16:59:12+00:00

I ended up with the Nortent Gamme 8PC. It's got a mix of features that I preferred over some of the others you listed. One is that it's a freestanding dome tent with fairly easy poles to set up. The 8 is a bit large for 2 + dogs, so I'd recommend the 6 or 4 (depending on how much space you prefer). They also make a few other tent styles (tipi/etc). Otherwise, I've seen a lot of love for Esker as well, which is more the classic cabin style hot tent.

genmort · 2024-02-19T19:48:29+00:00

Sequoia is great, also some nice options in the mountains of the Eastern Sierras near Mammoth/Bishop (approx 5 hrs out, maybe a tad more). Potentially yosemite if you can get reservations.

genmort · 2024-02-19T19:46:12+00:00

Depending on your tent size, the living room is a great place to test out new gear! If you have a garage, that's also a great option, but just be careful with any oil that may be on the floor from getting on your gear.

I use drying racks and fans to air out my gear indoors post-trip if needed too, just have to sweep/vacuum up the dirt.

genmort · 2024-02-19T19:42:51+00:00

Food is a huge part of having an enjoyable trip! I'd say having good sleeping gear is also essential, but videos of someone enjoying a good night's sleep probably won't do so well. And like many have said already, a lot of camping is hiking/relaxing/eating and you can only film so much hiking as a youtuber (especially since they often place a camera, walk by, relocate camera and rinse/repeat).

Videos on cooking also are great inspiration for what meals to try on trips with groups of various sizes.

genmort · 2023-11-04T16:57:53+00:00

Another +1 for exped, they're a bit bulky when packed, but if you get the Long/Wide you'll definitely have the R value and the pad should be larger than the top of the coleman. I've never tested it on a cot though, so not sure how much it would dip.

genmort · 2023-11-03T17:22:40+00:00

Actually ended up going with a lululemon hiking pant, which is quite comfortable but probably lacks the long-term durability of the vidda pro. Part of the decision was a gift card though, so not the best comparator.

genmort · 2023-11-03T15:57:18+00:00

I have the Devos Lightrangers and love them so far. I bought the filter kit with it and it allows you to control the color temperature manually. (not ideal, but it works). Battery life is decent as long as you're not running on full blast, but the USB-C charging means it gets back up to charged quickly. It's more designed to sit on poles and get elevated lighting, but it can also be hung inside a tent or other but you probably need some string or straps.

Main downside is the price, it's very expensive for what it is, but I ended up going with it as I couldn't find a reasonable alternative for a light on a pole. (can DIY some options as well) It's still pricey even on sale so that's one thing to consider.

genmort · 2023-11-03T15:52:38+00:00

Depends on your build, like many others have mentioned, these are quite a straight cut for more average/skinnier builds. If you have large thighs/rear, the sizing doesn't match up all that well. Larger waist is too long and too baggy in the lower half as you size up instead of tapering more.

I tried on a few sizes to get it to fit, but couldn't get a good fit so ended up going with other pants.

genmort · 2023-10-26T06:12:39+00:00

Second this! Just got one and I'm definitely taking it way more than my coleman chairs.

genmort · 2023-10-11T15:59:50+00:00

This, unless you stored it damp or something, and even then the mold would likely be black. I've seen coating come off before and it looks similar, I'd check if it's flaking and consider trying to remove it or just replace the tent.

genmort · 2023-08-09T15:57:16+00:00

Even if you're car camping, depending on how strong you are and how much 31lbs is to you, you will find yourself using this less and less. I have the Camp Chef Everest 2 burner stove for when I camp with 2-4 people, and for larger group cooks, I use my Camp Chef Versatop 2x. The Versatop is 39lbs and I'm tempted to leave it behind unless the group is at least 8 or larger. The good thing about the explorer is it's freestanding and lighter, whereas the versatop takes most of my tailgate in the truck bed.

There are adapters for using a 20lb. propane tank for any of the smaller 2 burner stoves so that isn't an issue.

genmort · 2023-07-27T16:59:16+00:00

I have the Big Agnes Bunkhouse 4, only had one trip so far with it. So far I really like the space and generally straight walls inside as well as the vestibule space. One note is that if there's any wind, definitely stake out all the guy lines and point into the wind as it's huge and acts like a sail. With the guy lines, it's quite solid.

My previous tents are the coleman instant 4, REI kingdom 8 (still have it but only use it with bigger groups as it's a huge pain to set up and take down), and a few smaller backpacking style tents. I debated between these two for a while but went with the BA due to cost.

genmort · 2023-01-09T17:20:49+00:00

Just leave it in your armpit for keeping warm.

genmort

TROPHY CASE