Hi, I'm a woodsman from Canada and I congratulate you on a superb video. Try digging a tunnel through the snow from outside your tepee and covering it with bark or something like that, so that it ends just at your stove. This will set up a convection current to rid your tepee of smoke. You can then close the door, but must ensure that channel remains open so the CO doesn't do you in. Be careful if you're alone. With everything, be careful.
American Indian TeePee's Outer skin stopped about two feet from the ground, all the way around, and an inner skirt that went from ground level to about four feet high, allowing air to come in from outside, hit the skirt and go up and out the top, taking smoke with it. The skirt causes an upward draft. Ingenious! Thanks for taking the time to show this video. I appreciate it.
+csh 62 the outer skin is 3-4" from the ground and the inner skirt goes up about 5 feet and the distance between depends how thick te poles are..usually 3''
mikha007 is correct with his information on the inner and outer skin. if done correctly it does not take a large fire to keep the chill off. I have stayed in several and it works very well to clear smoke and keep it warm and dry.
I didn't have a stove... just an open fire pit......BUT.....the fire pit was set up right, and to do that when I first put up the teepee it was summer time and the ground wasn't frozen.....here is how I did it....dig fire pit.... then from bottom of fire pit make a trench the size of a soup can.....cut both ends of cans....dig trench out the back of the teepee several feet beyond the teepee....fill trench with cans end to end to the surface. (it lets air in and becomes a draft.....cover trench add some rocks (dry rocks only...never stream rocks they will explode when hot) and lite your fire surrounded by the rocks to hold in the heat....you have just made a great fire!
Mission accomplished. A small firebox is adequate and a practical backpack item. Well done bro . The aluminium screen is a great radiator so top marks for that. Those camping pack meals are lousy. I cook my own rice, pasta with my veggies, beans, spices etal at home then dry it in a cheap drying machine then bag it up with a cheap vacuum bag machine. I keep a good supply of home made dehydrated meals ready to go in any emergency. They are super light take up little space and rehydrate quicker than cooking. Happy camping and bon appetit.
Take a small log about 4 1/2" long. Split it from an end into 4 pieces similar to a sweedish candle. Place in the firebox and light. Those will last a long time and should make less smoke. Digging a Dakota fire pit might be more serviceable. Roughly 10" of snow = 1" of water.
Thanks Steve. It worked really well. I was very surprised. I think it will work well to block wind too if stakes out properly. Thanks for watching brother.
On the trail I keep picking and bagging any dry stuff that burns well so by the time I find my spot I have a decent start. Bark, tree resin, dry twigs and lichens are all good. At home I like to make a little fat wood just in case. I've noticed others using hand gel to good effect too as it has a fair amount of alcohol in it. I'm always looking for new ideas. It's great when folks share 😊
Like your use of the TARP for your teepee. I WIIL make one for an example for atudent ! And I will order the STOVE ! Thank You fir exact , super demos. The use of METAL works great for a shield and reflector ! I am a " real type tipi " camper since 1980. Had 5. 16 ft. dia , 13 oz canvas tipis for my wilderness camp here in W. Colorado . ( 17 poles needed for ea. Ugh as for hauling and set up. ) . Love tipi shelter though ! Used at 10 below, 8 - 10 students in ea. One is a 10 ft. for my Aussie pup and me. It has a 6 ft, 10 oz canvas liner inside that touches the ground , outside cover 4" up off ground = a good draft / draw for smoke - out through smoke flaps ( but, yes I do have a pile of sm. wood ready ! to put on if needed to push smoke up, Ha. Q - Are those white socks on tips of poles to stop the rain drips ?
This past winter I set up a teepee in my backyard and had the same problem with getting smoked out...the fire I was attempting was bigger since the teepee was bigger. But I guess the wood just wasn't seasoned well enough and I had smoke from chest high and higher filling the teepee. I am currently letting a lot more wood dry out and am about to split it, stack it, and cover it so it stays dry...and hope to have better results this coming winter. I would have preferred a camo tarp...but the stores didn't have one in the bigger size I was looking for. So, mine looks like a big brown turd from a distance. I left it standing and haven't done much with it over the past several months...thinking I needed to build a smoke flap contraption on the outside of the teepee. But after watching your vid, I guess I don't need to. Just gotta keep the fire flaming. I set up a couple hammocks inside it. Check out my channel if you want to see it. - Brad
Might want to check if you have enough air flow around the ground level parameter. That will help to push all that smoke up and out the top. To prevent a cold draft in the winter you could set up a 3 to 4 foot inner wall. That will direct the cold air in and up to draft that smoke and not freeze you out. I had to do a very basic set up since I was backpacking but if you are car camping or in the backyard you can easily add the extra features.
To help with your door situation. It is possible to install a zipper in poly tarps. It only takes a couple of minutes. I bought mine from the CAMPMOR store in N.J. (catalog on line), and they also sell tape to fasten pieces of tarp together. I haven't watched your video on making the teepee, so I don't know how you did it. Zipper install--It has sticky tape on it. Peel off the backing and place it where you want it on the tarp wall. Unzip it, run a knife down the middle and you are done. I built a tarp tent for my sailing canoe so I could sleep aboard. Mine was 12' long and was held up with the mast in front and a PVC pipe in the back. About your stove. You have had a lot of suggestions, so here is another. Solo Stoves makes four sizes and they are all are GASIFIER stoves, which means they burn the smoke so it is a "clean" burn. It should only smoke on the start-up before the temperature gets high enough to burn the smoke. The CAMPFIRE size would be perfect for what you are doing. It is a "campfire" too. It puts out heat and burns wood faster that the FIREBOX. Get their tri-pod to cook over it with, though.
I really liked your video. I liked that you had the thermometer to show the temp difference and that you emphasized safety and say you are not a professional on all of this and that you are learning. I think more of youtube videos like this one could use those disclaimers. I have watched several recently and your the first one I have subscribed to. I look forward to more from you and learning with you.
+CodDoctor 937 it's my calming voice. LOL. I slept very well that night too. I think it got down to 5F and I was cozy with 2 hot water bottles in my sleeping bag.
When you look at pictures of older indigenous teepee. At the top you will see a couple of flaps. These are smoke flaps. They were designed to be used like sails. They draw the air in an upward draw. Creating a vacuum pulling the smoke from the teepee through the top. I enjoy your videos... good content.
+Inspired Art this is a light weight and simplified tarp teepee specifically designed for backpacking. It comes in at 3 lbs not including poles, tent stakes or floor. It rolls up very compact and is perfect for the over night trips I take. Smoke flaps and dew cloth would be great but add extra weight and bulk and make it impractical for backpacking. I don't actually plan on using an open fire in it again. This was just a test to see if it could work. I will be using a propane tent heater in it this winter and might possibly test out my TMS wood stove/hot tent stove when I do a couple pulk sled runs out to the same area. It's nice to finally have a huge winter shelter that I can stand up in and will stand up to the elements. Feels like I'm in a well protected log cabin.
I like the idea of putting space blankets on the walls to help reflect some heat, and maybe a big ole flat rock on top of the firebox to radiate heat better? Plus you could cook a steak right on top of it. Thanks for the experiment great video.
Great video. I've had the mk1 5" fire box for a few years, great stove. For less smoke and better burn use dry dead standing hard wood preferably with no bark and split the larger wood even if the rounds are small enough to fit. Cheers.
Excellent series of videos. You say you're not an expert but by experimentation you have definitely become one. You learned by all that you did and were able to impart that knowledge to the rest of us so that we might learn also. Im going to try that asap. Tepee is brilliant by the way, love it. Atb from neil in scotland.
Thanks Neil. I really appreciate that. This was a huge learning experience and a lot of fun too. Everything worked out pretty well. I can't wait to get back out there and try it again. Let me know how it goes if you get a chance to try it out. Take care bro.
Thanks Doug. Hopefully, I'll be able to go out a couple more times. My plan is to film a trip with the propane heater and then the TMS wood stove both used to heat the teepee.
Super enjoyed the video. But a small tip, next time u boil snow. Fill it up to only half. Once that starts to boil U can add snow to it and it will melt instantly and u do it in half the time ! 👌🏽
+Jessie Angulo that is definitely the preferred way to do it. Can't do that with a small mouthed bottle on a small stove...too much snow spilled onto the fire. I would have preferred to bring a 1 liter pot but had to choose gear that could do double duty to cut pack weight. The stainless steel bottle can go directly into my sleeping bag. It helped to keep me warm all night and provided drinking and cooking water the next day.
+Don Tripp that's a great idea and has been mentioned a couple times because it works well...better than my aluminum flashing...but I didn't find this spot till after a couple feet of snow had fallen and was not able to find rocks. I have since been back this summer and gathered a couple rocks. Hopefully, the rocks and poles are still there by the time I return this winter.
If I can make a suggestion to you don't have the outside layer of your tent go all the way to the ground leave about 2 to 3 in above-the-ground on the outside then on the inside you put a liner that allows air to circulate in from the outside and push the smoke up
That’s a good suggestion. It’s actually the number one suggestion in the comments but I only intended to try this once and not for the whole night. Since I was hiking out in deep snow for a couple miles I had to cut weight and bulk so I didn’t want to bring a liner or a real shovel. This was uploaded a couple years ago so I don’t really remember the trip very well. I’ve learned a lot since then about campfires and woods stoves and have since purchased about 8 more stoves because I’m not allowed an open fire in most areas I camp. It was fun to try something new and to see what the heat output of that little stove was. I also made some square base, single pole versions of this shelter that I use with a propane heater. I have to use the pulk sled for that setup and the sled is difficult to fit in our new vehicles so it doesn’t get used often. Thank you for commenting and watching the video.
Thanks Chris. I loved that chair. It was perfect and right in front of the fire. Nice and toasty. Hopefully, it's still there when I get back there in a couple weeks.
You should've left a gap at the base, a second smaller layer inside to help funnel the smoke further, and also dig a small trench on both ends of the fire under ground about a foot or two where you want smoke to travel out. Would help that smoke not collecting where you want to sit or sleep comfortably.
+Forged in Fire thanks. I'm really enjoying trying my hand at bushcrafting. There are a lot of new things to try and practice. I do light/ultralight backpacking, hammock camping, winter and summer trips and it's nice to throw in some bushcrafting. This teepee felt like a large log cabin compared to the other shelters I've used to this point.
KDawg excellent information management. well presented. I learned how to make a good tpee . I would maybe do the fire a little different. The Swedish fire log makes for a very good heat system. If there is a creek around you may be able to get a few good rocks to heat then release radiant energy. I just use a big coffee can hobo style as a fire box. Thank-you I really enjoyed your videos. I love to learn and I did from you. Thanks again.
+gary gibbs thanks Gary. I did actually start the fire off with the Swedish fire torch method in the firebox using the directions from firebox stoves. It lasts about 40+ minutes and after that you gotta keeping feeding it sticks. I think I ran the stove for like 5+ hours. We had way too much snow to get to any rocks but as I use the area more I can start getting some from a pile near the creek. They were just buried at the time. I gotta say I'm loving the teepee versus regular tents for winter camping. Next time out I'll be using a dedicated hot tent type stove or a propane tent heater instead of a small open firebox.
+KdawgCrazy KDawg where was the video taken? I live in Southern Ont . My family had our cottage up on the Bruce Peninsula for over 45 years. Hope Bay, to me there is no finer place on the planet. I've lived in London Ont for most of my life. The amount of snow and real cold weather we get some winters is beyond brutal. I don't like going to sleep and waking up with 4 or 5 feet of snow. That's in the city. A couple of winters ago we had over 100 days below minus 20 in a row with a couple of meters of snow. Spring didn't show up until the middle of May. I have lived in Thunder Bay where -25 C is the warmest day you've seen in 3 months. -59 , -60 C with no wind. -80C with a 35 km/h wind. My point is , a person must be ready for anything. Not only the cold and snow but the large animals that start showing up . I know that's a whole other story. Thanks JDawg I may make a few videos myself for Emergency preparedness . I'll let you know. Thanks a ton , I love learning. Awesome.
This is in the Black Hills near Spearfish. Sounds like you guys get way colder and way more snow than we do. I've learned to take a lot of precautions now when I backpack in cold snowy weather. It's a much better experience when you carry the right cold weather gear but I've also learned when to stay home and sit it out despite really wanting to go out in a blizzard. LOL.
+Tn.Tim Bushcraft it really worked great. If I added a dew cloth inside the tipi and closed the tipi door it would have worked even better. Take the pot off and run a big fire in the stove would add a lot more heat too. I would also suggest digging a hole for the stove but I started too late and the ground was solid.
Thanks. It was a good test and fun to try out. I got 2 Mr. heater buddy propane heaters after that and they work great. Much safer too. I’m hoping to do a couple hot tent type videos this winter with the two heaters and 4 different shelters.
Pine is very smoky wood. Having the stove in a small 12 in deep dakota pit with a small air feed would have helped the fire burn hotter, slower with less embers. It might have warmed the ground too, making it more comfortable. And you would have a place for the shes for a few hours or overnight without worrying about them. A screen over the hole or suspended over the top of the stove would reduce the ember problem as well. When the temp goes below 40 I stay home. I admire your courage!! Nice video.
That's a great idea. I like the Dakota pit with a screen. With that I would just not use the stove though. But I legally have to burn in a stove. I was extremely impressed that such a small fire warned that shelter. And even more impressed that the smoke was manageable. It was fun to test out but I'll be using my TMS wood stove with pipe in a pulk sled next winter. I also used to stay home for most of the winter but I got cabin fever. I started loading up on cold weather gear and was comfortable on this trip at 3 F with my winter sleep system and a hot water bottle. I also finally discovered that you should keep your shoes in a bag in your sleeping bag. I didn't on this trip and they were completely frozen in the morning. LOL.
Hey brofessor, I found myself watching your vid again! I think you are selling yourself short on not being a "bushcrafter" or "stove expert". You have plenty of experience and gaining. Can't wait to see the propane setup.
If you place the flashing so the firebox is between you and the flashing, it will reflect heat toward you, generate a slight chimney effect that will draw embers away from you, and prevent incoming air from blowing embers toward you. I did it ages ago with a big, four-layer hunk of aluminum foil and some pieces of coat hanger to serve as support for the foil. Good video. Well done. 8)
Thanks. I learned a lot from this trip but now I mostly just use the old pulk sled so I bring a small propane heater. But it’s always fun to try something new.
Hello K Dawg, i have a few of the bushcraft essentials stoves and they work amazing as well . Smouldering fires smoke, lol Well done dude, thanks for sharing man.
Thanks bro. I think Bushcraft essentials broke off from firebox stoves a couple years back. Both are great companies. I think I got my years worth of smoking on this trip. LOL. Thanks for watching.
Just stumbled across your channel today while researching... we're (my wife and I) are about to leave on a multi-week 2up moto camping trip across the US. Now I'm side tracked binge watching your stuff! hahaha, keep it up so I have stuff to watch next winter! :D
+Riding Mann thanks for watching. I really have got to film more of my outing. I've been going out but haven't really been doing a lot of filming lately. I did a lot of winter camping this past year and it's been a blast now that I know how to keep warm. I've got a lot of new gear to show and try out. There will be more videos to come.
+KdawgCrazy Excellent! The big brown truck of love is dropping off goodies daily here! The weather guesser is calling for 80º+ this weekend, we're going to head out on a 3 day shake down run. We plan to do some videos on the camping and gear portion. Once we get back, I'll edit that stuff and post it. I would appreciate you checking out that footage when you have time, I'll be looking for advice, I am sure! :D
+KdawgCrazy Excellent! I'm not the kind to "beg" people for subs and views, but you really seem to have a grasp on the camping stuff.. Once that hits (next week), I'll be looking for your expertise! Thanks!
well Lil-Kdawg-E; that lil G2 sure did the trick, once U managed the fire lay. Was a pleasure 2 watch as I had my 1st. cup of Joe with Ya. ATB Terry God Bless
Thanks Terry. I'm loving that little stove. It was nice to have fire inside and be able to heat my shelter. It got cold out there. I definitely learned a lot that trip. Take care.
Luckily the smoke was easy to get rid of as soon as the fire flared up again. Your just laughing because it happened to you too. LOL. I was having so much fun that it was like 11:30 pm before I even looked at the time. That's never happened.
+Andrew 1888 definitely. Great thing about making your own teepee is you can customize it to your needs. I was actually going to just put the pipe through a space in the door flap up high and cover the pipe with fireproof insulation at that spot. I'll experiment with it next winter.
Good job. It turned out well. Maybe if you could secure a space blanket on the inside walls it would provide more heat? Just a thought. Great video's Thanks for sharing. Enjoy & be safe.
I have an Emberlit stove like that. I did testing with it on my patio in the winter (Tucson AZ doesn't get that cold) almost every night for about 2 months. Anyway, what I noticed, is that these stoves are decent for cooking with natural fuel, not the best but decent. You have to have a large amount of small-ish twigs and pretty much constantly feed it. This size stove is not recommended for long lasting coals. A larger pit wood campfire would do better. Great video though!
interesting! did good my friend! the only thing i could see you different is- just in case you dont have any birch tree's near by. youll need small twigs to keep the fire licking. other then that you did just fine. oh, in a tee-pee you will never not be able to hide from an ember! LOL!
Hey Danny! I actually used all the smaller pencil sized twigs I could get my hands on...most came from the big pine tree I got my firewood from. Those were what I used with the birch bark to get the flames back. Then I put in the 1 to 1.5 inch pieces. It's possible the big pieces were frozen from previous rains but they appeared to be dry all the way through. All in all... It was a good test. But I really think a 12 foot teepee would be best for even a small fire. I had a lot of fun and I'll head back out there in a couple weeks and try the propane heater. Should work a little better in that size of a shelter.
Just gotta use my pulk on that trip. With the wood stove I could actually just backpack it all out there. Now that I know what the area looks like with snow the pulk is the better option. I think I'll sink less into the 2 foot of snow when I take that 48 lbs. pack off my back. LOL.
Teepee was invented because the whole structure acts as a chimney. But the native americans didn't have the outside layer tight to the ground. They had learned from experience that you must have air constantly coming in so the heat from the fire can lift smoke out. But how to keep warm with cold air flowing in? Use an inner layer that DOES touch the ground. Make it about head high so the cold air has to come in up high where it blends with the heated air. People sitting or laying in the teepee are in the warm zone while the cold air stays above them. Otherwise you have to have an underground channel that feeds air to the fire.
chs is correct the tepee is a perfect shelter . the air flow from 360 around the tent the smoke is not a problem .I have used them at reenactments in cold weather and they are great. keep up the good work
Thanks. I’ve learned a lot since this video but in bushcraft we are all constantly learning and trying new stuff. I tried a bunch of things that improved the warmth of the fire, smoke management and drafting but now I prefer the Mr. Heater Buddy. It’s so much easier to just turn it on and off. No mess.
The first several inches of the dead branches on the live pine tree were likely full of resin (fatwood) and make excellent fire starters. The rest of the wood you burn should be the longest burning available, reserving the pine, if dry to help regulate the heat, as it burns hotter and faster than most. Like the teepee. You may want to look at a reflectix liner to make better use of the radiant energy of the small fire. Also, are you planning to cook inside on it? The tag end from the top loop should be let hang to an easily reachable height and pushed behind a pole when not in use.
+Franklin Horst thanks Franklin. I didn't even think of that when cutting the dead branches. Using an open top wood stove in this shelter was just a one time test to see if a small wood stove could heat a small tipi. Just for fun. I'm only using a TMS wood stove or a Mr. Heater propane heater to actually provide heat now. We can't have an open fire out here so I have to use a stove of some sort and I had backpacked to my camp spot in these videos so I brought the best portable wood stove I had at the time. I'll be using a pulk sled for my other winter trips so I can bring a bigger stove or heater and a CO detector. I'm finishing up a single pole version of this tipi that's closed at the top and has a port for my stove pipe. Hopefully. I'll have that video up next week. I might have to set it up in my backyard to film though. Not very bushcrafty. LOL.
+Franklin Horst no yet. I did add snow flaps though. The design will hold heat and work well with the TMS wood stove but to make the propane heater more efficient it would probably help to glue a cheap space blanket on the inside right above the heater location and above the bed too. I'm really not even sure the single pole tipi will even work until I get it set up for an over nighter. It's kinda a prototype to see if the design will work. I've already come up with ideas to improve it. It's basically a $25 tarp, $5 grommet kit, $9 gorilla tape, $5 seam sealer and a sewing machine and some paracord. I think anyone could make it easily for under $50 total. If it works.
a Buddy Heater would do the trick. I know it's not true bushcrafting butt sometimes it's nice to have a manatees. keep them coming love you videos Merry Christmas Big Al Michigan
Yall need metal flashing bent to form a underground air intake flute you can help keep its shape with metal rings you can place outside the tent which you can roll up that you can then attach to a wood stove with the intake by the fuel door with the exuast being at the back of the wood stove. Ypu can then stack some rocks around the wood stove to abdorb the heat and fill the tent with warm safe air with all the spent toxic air going up and out the exhaust vent correct?
I wonder how that tarp tent would hold up if it really got hot in the tent? I also wonder if a heart reflector would warm it up better while also protecting the tent. Just a simple sunshield around the top third of the tent inside between the poles and the tarp. Some good size rocks just around the fire between the fire and your flashing would probably heart up and reflect heart pretty well. Good video. Thanks for sharing.
I would say any holes in your tarp would be a fail. You would do better with a rocket stove as they generally produce less smoke and flying embers and burn much hotter. The best way though is definitely to have a stovepipe. The pipe helps to radiate the heat as well as get the smoke out. There are some very portable ones one youtube. Thanks for making the video though, it was interesting. Happy trails.
+Phil Coughran thanks for watching Phil. I wouldn't recommend using a small cooking wood stove on a regular basis for heating a shelter for a lot of obvious reasons. This video was a test to see if a small wood stove that is used for outdoor cooking could be used to heat a shelter. To see if it would actually make a difference in the inside temp. I had plenty of ventilation and always had a pot on top melting snow and it still made a big measurable difference in temp compared to the outside temp that dropped fast when the sun went down. I really didn't expect to see more than a degree or two so I was impressed. All the gear in this video was backpacked in 4 miles or so through snow with the last 1/4 miles of snow being one and a half feet deep. My plan was to see if, in an emergency, could I burn this stove in a teepee shelter to stay warm, melt snow for water and stay out of the elements. This test was a win and I learned a lot to that end. I do actually have two tent propane heaters and a TMS wood stove with pipe for hot tenting. All three are better options for heating a shelter but require a pulk sled or car camping because of their weight. I didn't used the pulk on this trip because some parts of my trail can have more gravel than snow depending on the time of year and I wasn't sure if it was late enough in the year yet so I did the minimal backpacking gear test. This coming winter I will be using the other options I mentioned now that I know I can use the pulk sled. Thanks again for watching. Take care bro.
Darn contraption I'm on wouldn't let me just reply to you Kdawg. You have a new subscriber. Love the teepee! Very nice! By force of habit I usually throw a tarp down over the entire floor but I don't have the nice firebox so I see why you wouldn't. Enjoy your weekend. Ill be doing some of the same here in MO.
Thanks for subscribing. Generally speaking I always cover the whole floor in a shelter if I can. I had to hike in 4 miles and needed to watch the weight and needed stuff to have multiple uses for this trip. The garbage bag I used to collect wood and keep it dry could also be used for a ton of other things. The green tarp is reflective on the other side and I might have used it as a blanket if it got too cold. The blue tarp is just the perfect size to cover the ground for my sleep system and goes with me on a lot of trips. It's kinda like my old trusty tarp. But it would have been nice to have one big round cut tarp fit for that teepee so I didn't have to worry about stepping in snow in my sock...which I did twice. LOL. Thanks again for watching. Take care.
+SouthPaw Bushcraft thanks for watching. I was very impressed that such a small fire made that big a difference in maintaining a livable temp in the tipi. The smoke was only a problem if I let the fire die down. Otherwise the smoke went straight up without having much venting around the bottom skirting of the tipi. It's an excellent winter shelter. I'll be using it every winter now.
So my takeaway from this is: if weight restrictions and local ordinance limits your opinion to what is essentially a canteen heater then it is a bad idea to have your housing be a single layer Tepee tarp that you will have to cut the poles once you decide to rest for the night
+steven heckert or that you could use a small wood stove to heat your tent so you don't die because it got a lot colder than you were prepared for...if you were using a tipi style shelter. I have since made a million changes to my tipi design. It's now a 4 sided pyramid with internal guylines, one center pole and snow flaps. I have also been using a pulk sled when there is sufficient snow and sometimes bring a Mr. Heater Buddy. You gotta start somewhere to see what's possible and just go out and try different things. I've enjoyed the process.
Nice one Kdawg I enjoyed watching all three, good honest video and well presented and detailed as usual, keep up the excellent and informative work mate, .......PS ....PLUQ is still going strong and gets out often....Maff
Awesome! Nice to hear the PLUQ is working for you. Thanks for watching my teepee series too. I'm hoping to use it a couple more times this winter. It really makes for a great camping experience when your in something that feels like a cabin.
kdawg, you have done a great job with this series on teepees, great setup...........when using the stove in your teepee, i think i might be interested in having a carbon monoxide detector initially just to see if there is an issue.
Definitely. I did buy one for when I pulk out there but since I had to backpack this time I left it at home. My pack weighted in at about 48 lbs and was stuffed to the gills. But next time the detector is coming with me with the propane heater. This series has been fun. I'm loving the teepee. Kinda feels like I'm in a cabin. I actually slept better that night than I ever had out doors and it dropped to 5f that night. Thanks for watching bro. Take care.
Nice video. I have been wondering if doing this would work, and all of the results you came up with make sense, and I wonder how a vestibule out the front door would work for at least cooking in rainy weather. Thanks again for a very informative video --Firebox 5" Rocks!
I'm sooper new to the whole bugging out thing and most vids are too overwhelming for me, I wanna learn more but hoping to find simpler vids like yours that explains things so well! can you please make a 3 days bug out bag vid for people who are new and in a budget? hope it's not too much to ask.. subbed and looking forward for more vids! 😀
Hey Berry. I actually don't do bug out bags. I don't even keep one in the car like I should. When I prep for a trip I usually start setting gear out a little at a time as I plan where I'm going , what the weather looks like and how I want to camp and eat. I usually start this a week before I head out for the trip. What helps me the most is playing out the trip in my head. Sounds silly but it works for me. That way I can visualize what I need for my shelter, food prep, weather protection, etc. The night before the trip I pack everything in my bag to make sure it fits and then unpack it so my gear isn't compressed over night but it's not really necessary. Hopefully this helps a little.
Dig a fire pit 2' by however tall you are burn a good fire in it when you are ready for bed bury it minus any rocks and watch for embers then lay out your bedroll and sleep warm and well on the soft earth. Then do it again lol.
hi great video thanks for shareing the only thing you must be careful of with a fire of anykind in a tipi or tent includeing charcoal type fules is carbon monoxide an odourless gas that kills you quickly you most probably already be aware of this anyway as you have vented your tipi well but thought I would just mention it just in case you did not know stay safe fella look forward to watching more of your great videos
+james ley thanks James. I was going to bring my carbon monoxide detector but I backpacked in instead of taking the pulk sled and had to limit what I carried. I have a TMS wood stove that I'll pull in next winter and use the detector for since I might let the fire slowly burn into the night. But on this trip I put the fire out before bed. I was a little concerned about carbon monoxide but wasn't sure if the airflow can just carry it up and out or not. The TMS stove has a pipe and should be a lot safer.
That little stove is meant for cooking, not heating a tent. You'd be better off either buying or making a larger wood stove with an enclosed chimney pipe. This way the smoke goes up the chimney and stays out of the tent. Larger stove equals more heat, larger wood and less times stoking her up.
+Nickathome Smith correct. I backpacked 4 miles plus to this location with all my gear on my back. I have a pulk, Tahoe Teepee and TMS wood stove now but this video was an experiment to see if a small wood stove could be used to heat a teepee while using it to melt snow for water, meals and a hot water bottle for the night. Just having a little bushcrafting fun while seeing what the minimal gear I could carry would do for me. I contacted the manufacturer of the stove to see if the stove could handle it first and he stands by his product but as you said a hot tent stove would be better...just not what I was trying to show in this video.
This is for backpacking. Light, portable and simple. It was also just me playing around with a prototype idea to see if it was something I wanted to move forward with but I found simpler alternatives.
You're kinda odd. Were you on the ship that dropped me off on "Urth?" Subscribed as I too am no expert yet am fascinated with it all. Love the straight up "this is what I got from this experience" insight.
Forgive my ignorance but is there some reason for not removing the snow from inside the shelter? I would have thought that it would slow the heating of the shelter and when it melts it will create a soggy ground to walk, sit or sleep in!
All my videos are filmed on an old iPhone. No stabilization. Over the years I’ve learned the limitations of the device and there have been software updates. I’ve also been using a tripod the last couple years. This is an old video...glad to see it is still being viewed.
I'm sure you have learned this by now but conifers such as pine, redwood, fir, spruce, cypress, or cedar contain high levels of sap and turpenes and are very smokey when burned and could make you sick.
Thanks for the video. Not sure a 5" stove is as useful for keeping warm as some other fire methods but you are in a teepee thus limited as far as fires. I know you said the ground was frozen but a 7-10" deep hole around 10-12" in diameter would sure add warmth. Also, why not lay a tarp down for a floor? Just ideas, I really liked the video!
You are correct. A 5" stove would have to run high and without a pot on top to really make a meaningful difference in the temp. If my teepee had been bigger and I were allowed to have a regular campfire it would have made a huge difference. The firebox stove is designed to focus the heat straight up so placing it in a hole should help with getting more heat down were you are sitting. I did actually use 3 ground sheets, all of which are visible in the video. One is under my bed, one under my wood pile and one covering my pack. When I packed away the stove for the night I packed snow into the spot where the stove was and spread out the tarps so I had the most coverage. I kinda felt like I was in a log cabin. I think a propane heater or hot tent wood stove would work perfect in this size/style shelter and I'm hoping to test that out next weekend. I have a Mr Heater propane heater and a TMS wood stove that should work really well. Hopefully, I'll get to try all of them out while we still have snow and I'll put those videos up on my channel too.
Love you videos, Crazy Dawg. Very informative, and they proceed at a goodly pace, very carefully explaining what you are doing as you go along. One question has been on my mind, tho - why not remove the snow from the floorprint of the teepee? Seems that it would be easy and quick to do, using that nice "snow shovel" thing that you toted along. Again, really appreciate the learning experience that you provide. Oh, that cat track that you noticed in video #2 - as a wildlife biologist, I can tell you to not overly concern yourself about that, unless the cat is sick or injured. The cat is way more wary (and informed) of you, and will take great pains to not trespass on your camping area. Wild dogs are a greater concern, as they mostly have no fear of man.
+Craig Wilcox thanks Craig. As far as I know no one has been attacked by a cat out here in like 100 years but...it's always good to have a healthy fear and respect for things that can kill you. Usually, we only hear of adolescent cats coming into town and still not too interested in people. Still...a healthy fear keeps me respectful. The snow. Dude, that snow was like 2.5 to 3 feet deep. No joke. I backpacked out to that area but I was mostly on an established trail till I got to that area so none of it was packed. I was post holing in my snow shoes. I used that minimalist snow shovel to remove a lot of snow from that spot but it was a lot of work. 10 to 11 foot diameter circle at 3 feet deep and some space to work out side of that. I tried to scrap some of the rest out of the center but I had already really packed it down by walking around in it. There's also a lot of sticks and rocks under it. I think all the snow around me and under me did a lot to insulate and hold in the heat. I really didn't see my breath while it was 3 and 5 degrees F outside of the teepee. I hiked out with all of my gear on my back so I had to keep everything simple and easy and as light as possible. I had planned on returning with a pulk sled but decided to hammock camp the next time out. Next year I'll bring a real shovel and a real wood burning stove. It's gonna be awesome. Thanks for watching.
I do understand about snow insulating. Back when I was a LOT younger, like 55+ years ago, our Scoutmaster used to take us camping in the Shenandoah Mountains in 3-4' of snow. We were using surplus USMC shelter halves. We would dig down in UNPACKED snow to dirt/dry grass, and pitch the tents. Then, shoveling the snow around the tents, a single candle would keep us comfy and cozy throughout the night. It was a lot of fun, for sure. Now, at age 70, I still like to go camping in the cold, rain, whatever, but I do stay away from snow more then 6" deep.
+Craig Wilcox wow! I bet those shelter halves held in the heat with that thick material. I learned a lot on this trip and it was my first positive cold weather camping experience. I slept really well and got to do a little bushcrafting. I used to pine for the summer all winter long and now I can't wait for the snow again. LOL. Just not 3 or 4 feet.
+Jeric Villaflores thanks for watching Jeric. Supposedly, snow is an insulator so it should help hold in the heat. I dug out as much snow as I could and used it to make my snow chair. Totally worth it to have a chair. I prefer to camp on dirt because the snow gets slick and pot holes from moving around on it.
Cut the bark off of the wood and it won't smoke as much you could have brought a piece of PVC pipe to run from the outside of the tent to your fire ring and it could get air from that pipe
+KdawgCrazy oh yes. on tuesday i travel to ohio to work there for about two month and there i must go to a wal mart and search for this tarp from your video because i cant find some one like this here in austria. sorry for my bad english :-)
It's a great tarp for the money and forest camo looks pretty cool out there too. Walmart should still carry them but I think they sell out quickly. Have fun in Ohio. Maybe check out some trails while your out there on your days off. Take care.
When you don`t have any air circulation inside the tipie, what do you expect will happens With the smoke ? All you have to do is to just make a few air slides/hole at the tent wall, Down at the floor and your problem is solved.
I'm sure glad you decided to close the door before you froze ! I bet you didn't sleep much Your tarp is way to thin for below 50 or so degrees.Oh and all that snow you kept in the teepee was like you were making a ice box.
+Lisa Loves snow/ice is actually an insulator. I brought a negative 15F sleeping bag, closed cell foam pad, air Matt, heat reflective car visor and a bivy. I started off also wearing my insulated snow pants and down jacket (plenty of layers under that too) when I went to bed. I also slept with two hot water bottles. The temps got down to 3 and 5F but I was the warmest and most comfy I've ever been in winter camping. The teepee also afforded me a ton of room to stand up to change cloths, stand to pee in a bottle so I didn't have to leave the shelter and to move around more freely. This is definitely my new go to winter shelter.
LOL, Ok if you want to wear all that clothing ,and use all that stuff to stay warm, have at it. The snow is like shaved ice giving off lots of cold , so you have like a giant ice block in your tent.LOL
+Lisa Loves Snow is an insulator: Its R-value varies, depending on moisture content and density of the snow granules; but on average snow has an R-value of 1 per inch - about the same as wood. Twelve inches of snow have roughly the same insulating value as a 2x4 wall filled with fiberglass insulation. The best snow in terms of insulation is fresh snow, because it contains a high percentage of air caught between the ice crystals. Fresh snow is basically all air, up to 95%, and that’s why it’s so light. Since the air is firmly trapped inside and it cannot move freely, the heat transfer is significantly reduced. 10 inches of fresh snow, which is basically five to seven percent water, is the equivalent of a 6 inch layer of fiberglass insulation? That makes for an R-value of 18. Snow’s thermal conductivity, which is the scientific term that describes that R-value, can be described mathematically and it works in tandem with the snow density. The denser the snow, the greater thermal conductivity. So, if you want to use snow for insulation purposes, the best snow is the fresh driven/super-light-fluffy snow, as heat moves through it relatively slowly.
+Lisa Loves I'm not sure what the R-value of my snow floor was because it was shoveled down from a 3 feet depth to a couple inches and packed down but you see that it has insulating properties. I've read countless articles of snow being piled on the sides of houses in Alaska, snow used to keep water bottles from freezing, make shift snow caves, animals that burrow into the snow to survive a bad winter et.. And yes, I do want to wear all that stuff to stay warm although I don't think it was necessary. My shelter was actually pretty cozy. I usually get cold again after getting up to pee and take a while to warm back up in bed so I kept my snow pants and down jacket on all night. After dozens of winter camping trips where I froze my butt off I've learned my lesson. Bring the proper insulation or don't go backpacking. I think my pack weight on this one was about 43 lbs. with everything. With the setup I had I could easily have camped for a couple days with plenty of wood for free heat for warming my shelter and cooking and plenty of snow for water. This video was about my learning experience with bushcrafting and experimenting with winter camping and staying warm. At the end of the day I would always rather bring a few extra items and be warm and enjoy myself than freeze and be miserable. I've already had plenty of bad winter camping experiences over the years and I've learned a lot of tricks to stay warm. I used every one of those on this trip and had a great winter campout.
I am glad you enjoyed your freezing camp out. I have lived with snow and cold most of my life and that does not sound fun to me. yes, snow can insulate you from cold winds and breezes getting in your tent and so keeping them out,but that is all. Believe me I have made enough snow caves in my younger years.You are right about the down jacket, nothing is warmer and I still wear one in the winter. Next time you might look for some rocks to put around your little stove to collect heat,the size of a large potato,black is best. If hands get to cold,with gloves on you can hold the rock and warm them up.
Yep yep, can 62 and other comments on his post have it on the money. Think of the construction of a gasification twig stove only this is pure ventilation and allows you to shut the door flap totally.
It would only be a degree or two different especially with the door open and nothing covering the top vent before heating it. The only problem is that the ground level is still cold and the top half of the shelter is too hot. Sometimes you can use a fan to circulate the air and you would want to elevate the bed using a cot or something.
Do it like Native Americans. Get rid of the fire box and build a fire and surround it with rocks.When you get enough hot coals built up let the fire go out and let hot coals and rocks will keep you warm while you get some sleep
Definitely. That is the number one recommendation. After reading a couple comments suggesting the Mylar I made a Mylar ceiling for use with my propane heater but never got a chance to use it because the temps aren't low enough for it now. But there's always next winter.
Thanks for watching Mike. I've thought about it but I tried to keep the tarp itself as simple as possible. I did get a lot of requests for Mylar and I used one to make a larger low hanging teepee ceiling that I'm hoping will hold in heat and reflect more back to me when using the propane tent heater. I'm just trying out different things this year to see how modular I can make it so I can use it for backpacking. But if you were always using a small fire inside I would definitely glue on a Mylar blanket inside on the top for heat reflection and install a dew cloth inside around the bottom perimeter of the teepee so you have the airflow and updraft but no cold air blowing in on you. Take care bro.
another trick is to dig an 8" deep by 6 diameter fire put with a 4"x4" channel dug from pit to outside. Then build flashing wall with stones to heat up. the channel works as an air flow to fire as in a bbq grill does. this way you can throw a bigger log on fire and fire lasts longer. plus stones stay hot too. old Indian trick
+Mike White great idea. Next time I'm out at that spot I'll grab some rocks and work on building the air channel. But the fire still needs to be in a stove per forest service rules. The ground was just too frozen last time I was out there and I wasn't able to dig. The aluminum flashing worked pretty well though.
+Mike White great idea. Next time I'm out at that spot I'll grab some rocks and work on building the air channel. But the fire still needs to be in a stove per forest service rules. The ground was just too frozen last time I was out there and I wasn't able to dig. The aluminum flashing worked pretty well though.
Hi, I'm a woodsman from Canada and I congratulate you on a superb video. Try digging a tunnel through the snow from outside your tepee and covering it with bark or something like that, so that it ends just at your stove. This will set up a convection current to rid your tepee of smoke. You can then close the door, but must ensure that channel remains open so the CO doesn't do you in. Be careful if you're alone. With everything, be careful.
Holy woodsman this is why I won't sleep at ground level. I'm an oxygen freak.
T1
American Indian TeePee's Outer skin stopped about two feet from the ground, all the way around, and an inner skirt that went from ground level to about four feet high, allowing air to come in from outside, hit the skirt and go up and out the top, taking smoke with it. The skirt causes an upward draft. Ingenious! Thanks for taking the time to show this video. I appreciate it.
+csh 62 I should also said the distance between the outer shell and inner skirt is 1-2 feet.
+csh 62
the outer skin is 3-4" from the ground and the inner skirt goes up about 5 feet and the distance between depends how thick te poles are..usually 3''
mikha007 is correct with his information on the inner and outer skin. if done correctly it does not take a large fire to keep the chill off. I have stayed in several and it works very well to clear smoke and keep it warm and dry.
Great advice!
Very helpful! Thanks
I didn't have a stove... just an open fire pit......BUT.....the fire pit was set up right, and to do that when I first put up the teepee it was summer time and the ground wasn't frozen.....here is how I did it....dig fire pit.... then from bottom of fire pit make a trench the size of a soup can.....cut both ends of cans....dig trench out the back of the teepee several feet beyond the teepee....fill trench with cans end to end to the surface. (it lets air in and becomes a draft.....cover trench add some rocks (dry rocks only...never stream rocks they will explode when hot) and lite your fire surrounded by the rocks to hold in the heat....you have just made a great fire!
Mission accomplished. A small firebox is adequate and a practical backpack item. Well done bro . The aluminium screen is a great radiator so top marks for that. Those camping pack meals are lousy. I cook my own rice, pasta with my veggies, beans, spices etal at home then dry it in a cheap drying machine then bag it up with a cheap vacuum bag machine. I keep a good supply of home made dehydrated meals ready to go in any emergency. They are super light take up little space and rehydrate quicker than cooking. Happy camping and bon appetit.
Great video. Exposes the impracticality of this system for anyone carrying their gear on their back.
Take a small log about 4 1/2" long. Split it from an end into 4 pieces similar to a sweedish candle.
Place in the firebox and light.
Those will last a long time and should make less smoke.
Digging a Dakota fire pit might be more serviceable.
Roughly 10" of snow = 1" of water.
Well planned and nicely executed. The lightweight spark shield held by the stakes was pure genius. Appreciated the temperature comparisons.
Thanks Steve. It worked really well. I was very surprised. I think it will work well to block wind too if stakes out properly. Thanks for watching brother.
I think was just a great video. The best way that we all learn is by doing. You were definitely doing man!
Thanks Shane.
Shane Coffey Outdoors i
On the trail I keep picking and bagging any dry stuff that burns well so by the time I find my spot I have a decent start. Bark, tree resin, dry twigs and lichens are all good. At home I like to make a little fat wood just in case. I've noticed others using hand gel to good effect too as it has a fair amount of alcohol in it. I'm always looking for new ideas. It's great when folks share 😊
Like your use of the TARP for your teepee. I WIIL make one for an example for atudent ! And I will order the STOVE ! Thank You fir exact , super demos. The use of METAL works great for a shield and reflector !
I am a " real type tipi " camper since 1980. Had 5. 16 ft. dia , 13 oz canvas tipis for my wilderness camp here in W. Colorado . ( 17 poles needed for ea. Ugh as for hauling and set up. ) . Love tipi shelter though ! Used at 10 below, 8 - 10 students in ea.
One is a 10 ft. for my Aussie pup and me. It has a 6 ft, 10 oz canvas liner inside that touches the ground , outside cover 4" up off ground = a good draft / draw for smoke - out through smoke flaps ( but, yes I do have a pile of sm. wood ready ! to put on if needed to push smoke up, Ha. Q - Are those white socks on tips of poles to stop the rain drips ?
I'm 1/2 Native American ( Cheyenne) and my ancestors heated teepee's with a fire for generations, and some Eskimo's way up north still do!
This past winter I set up a teepee in my backyard and had the same problem with getting smoked out...the fire I was attempting was bigger since the teepee was bigger. But I guess the wood just wasn't seasoned well enough and I had smoke from chest high and higher filling the teepee. I am currently letting a lot more wood dry out and am about to split it, stack it, and cover it so it stays dry...and hope to have better results this coming winter. I would have preferred a camo tarp...but the stores didn't have one in the bigger size I was looking for. So, mine looks like a big brown turd from a distance. I left it standing and haven't done much with it over the past several months...thinking I needed to build a smoke flap contraption on the outside of the teepee. But after watching your vid, I guess I don't need to. Just gotta keep the fire flaming. I set up a couple hammocks inside it. Check out my channel if you want to see it. - Brad
Might want to check if you have enough air flow around the ground level parameter. That will help to push all that smoke up and out the top. To prevent a cold draft in the winter you could set up a 3 to 4 foot inner wall. That will direct the cold air in and up to draft that smoke and not freeze you out. I had to do a very basic set up since I was backpacking but if you are car camping or in the backyard you can easily add the extra features.
To help with your door situation. It is possible to install a zipper in poly tarps. It only takes a couple of minutes. I bought mine from the CAMPMOR store in N.J. (catalog on line), and they also sell tape to fasten pieces of tarp together. I haven't watched your video on making the teepee, so I don't know how you did it. Zipper install--It has sticky tape on it. Peel off the backing and place it where you want it on the tarp wall. Unzip it, run a knife down the middle and you are done. I built a tarp tent for my sailing canoe so I could sleep aboard. Mine was 12' long and was held up with the mast in front and a PVC pipe in the back.
About your stove. You have had a lot of suggestions, so here is another. Solo Stoves makes four sizes and they are all are GASIFIER stoves, which means they burn the smoke so it is a "clean" burn. It should only smoke on the start-up before the temperature gets high enough to burn the smoke. The CAMPFIRE size would be perfect for what you are doing. It is a "campfire" too. It puts out heat and burns wood faster that the FIREBOX. Get their tri-pod to cook over it with, though.
I really liked your video. I liked that you had the thermometer to show the temp difference and that you emphasized safety and say you are not a professional on all of this and that you are learning. I think more of youtube videos like this one could use those disclaimers. I have watched several recently and your the first one I have subscribed to. I look forward to more from you and learning with you.
Thanks PE! Safety first always, especially if you are camping by yourself. Thanks for the sub.
Idk why put watching these types of videos before bed always relax me lol. Anyway awesome video!
+CodDoctor 937 it's my calming voice. LOL. I slept very well that night too. I think it got down to 5F and I was cozy with 2 hot water bottles in my sleeping bag.
When you look at pictures of older indigenous teepee. At the top you will see a couple of flaps. These are smoke flaps. They were designed to be used like sails. They draw the air in an upward draw. Creating a vacuum pulling the smoke from the teepee through the top. I enjoy your videos... good content.
+Inspired Art this is a light weight and simplified tarp teepee specifically designed for backpacking. It comes in at 3 lbs not including poles, tent stakes or floor. It rolls up very compact and is perfect for the over night trips I take. Smoke flaps and dew cloth would be great but add extra weight and bulk and make it impractical for backpacking. I don't actually plan on using an open fire in it again. This was just a test to see if it could work. I will be using a propane tent heater in it this winter and might possibly test out my TMS wood stove/hot tent stove when I do a couple pulk sled runs out to the same area. It's nice to finally have a huge winter shelter that I can stand up in and will stand up to the elements. Feels like I'm in a well protected log cabin.
I like the idea of putting space blankets on the walls to help reflect some heat, and maybe a big ole flat rock on top of the firebox to radiate heat better? Plus you could cook a steak right on top of it. Thanks for the experiment great video.
Great idea !
I've wondered if you could heat in a pinch with a small fire box. nice of you to make this video for us !!!
+MrSIXGUNZ thanks brother. I was amazed that it worked. It was fun to go out and experiment with it. I learned a lot on this trip.
Great video. I've had the mk1 5" fire box for a few years, great stove. For less smoke and better burn use dry dead standing hard wood preferably with no bark and split the larger wood even if the rounds are small enough to fit.
Cheers.
Great 3 part series 👍👍
Excellent series of videos. You say you're not an expert but by experimentation you have definitely become one. You learned by all that you did and were able to impart that knowledge to the rest of us so that we might learn also. Im going to try that asap. Tepee is brilliant by the way, love it. Atb from neil in scotland.
Thanks Neil. I really appreciate that. This was a huge learning experience and a lot of fun too. Everything worked out pretty well. I can't wait to get back out there and try it again. Let me know how it goes if you get a chance to try it out. Take care bro.
I've really enjoyed the tarp teepee series. Great job Kdawg! Totally awesome.
Thanks Doug. Hopefully, I'll be able to go out a couple more times. My plan is to film a trip with the propane heater and then the TMS wood stove both used to heat the teepee.
Super enjoyed the video. But a small tip, next time u boil snow. Fill it up to only half. Once that starts to boil U can add snow to it and it will melt instantly and u do it in half the time ! 👌🏽
+Jessie Angulo that is definitely the preferred way to do it. Can't do that with a small mouthed bottle on a small stove...too much snow spilled onto the fire. I would have preferred to bring a 1 liter pot but had to choose gear that could do double duty to cut pack weight. The stainless steel bottle can go directly into my sleeping bag. It helped to keep me warm all night and provided drinking and cooking water the next day.
If you put some rocks around that firebox, the rocks will heat up and give off heat more efficiently than just the fire alone.
+Don Tripp that's a great idea and has been mentioned a couple times because it works well...better than my aluminum flashing...but I didn't find this spot till after a couple feet of snow had fallen and was not able to find rocks. I have since been back this summer and gathered a couple rocks. Hopefully, the rocks and poles are still there by the time I return this winter.
Can it be any time of rocks
Using rocks is a good idea, but be careful. Some rocks can explode when heated
If I can make a suggestion to you don't have the outside layer of your tent go all the way to the ground leave about 2 to 3 in above-the-ground on the outside then on the inside you put a liner that allows air to circulate in from the outside and push the smoke up
That’s a good suggestion. It’s actually the number one suggestion in the comments but I only intended to try this once and not for the whole night. Since I was hiking out in deep snow for a couple miles I had to cut weight and bulk so I didn’t want to bring a liner or a real shovel. This was uploaded a couple years ago so I don’t really remember the trip very well. I’ve learned a lot since then about campfires and woods stoves and have since purchased about 8 more stoves because I’m not allowed an open fire in most areas I camp. It was fun to try something new and to see what the heat output of that little stove was. I also made some square base, single pole versions of this shelter that I use with a propane heater. I have to use the pulk sled for that setup and the sled is difficult to fit in our new vehicles so it doesn’t get used often. Thank you for commenting and watching the video.
Awesome video Kdawg! I have to say, that chair looked awfully nice. Good work. :) - Chris
Thanks Chris. I loved that chair. It was perfect and right in front of the fire. Nice and toasty. Hopefully, it's still there when I get back there in a couple weeks.
You should've left a gap at the base, a second smaller layer inside to help funnel the smoke further, and also dig a small trench on both ends of the fire under ground about a foot or two where you want smoke to travel out. Would help that smoke not collecting where you want to sit or sleep comfortably.
really enjoyed watching your experience . very cool that you challenge yourself
+Forged in Fire thanks. I'm really enjoying trying my hand at bushcrafting. There are a lot of new things to try and practice. I do light/ultralight backpacking, hammock camping, winter and summer trips and it's nice to throw in some bushcrafting. This teepee felt like a large log cabin compared to the other shelters I've used to this point.
KDawg excellent information management. well presented. I learned how to make a good tpee . I would maybe do the fire a little different. The Swedish fire log makes for a very good heat system. If there is a creek around you may be able to get a few good rocks to heat then release radiant energy. I just use a big coffee can hobo style as a fire box. Thank-you I really enjoyed your videos. I love to learn and I did from you. Thanks again.
+gary gibbs thanks Gary. I did actually start the fire off with the Swedish fire torch method in the firebox using the directions from firebox stoves. It lasts about 40+ minutes and after that you gotta keeping feeding it sticks. I think I ran the stove for like 5+ hours. We had way too much snow to get to any rocks but as I use the area more I can start getting some from a pile near the creek. They were just buried at the time. I gotta say I'm loving the teepee versus regular tents for winter camping. Next time out I'll be using a dedicated hot tent type stove or a propane tent heater instead of a small open firebox.
+KdawgCrazy KDawg where was the video taken? I live in Southern Ont . My family had our cottage up on the Bruce Peninsula for over 45 years. Hope Bay, to me there is no finer place on the planet. I've lived in London Ont for most of my life. The amount of snow and real cold weather we get some winters is beyond brutal. I don't like going to sleep and waking up with 4 or 5 feet of snow. That's in the city. A couple of winters ago we had over 100 days below minus 20 in a row with a couple of meters of snow. Spring didn't show up until the middle of May. I have lived in Thunder Bay where -25 C is the warmest day you've seen in 3 months. -59 , -60 C with no wind. -80C with a 35 km/h wind.
My point is , a person must be ready for anything. Not only the cold and snow but the large animals that start showing up . I know that's a whole other story.
Thanks JDawg I may make a few videos myself for Emergency preparedness . I'll let you know. Thanks a ton , I love learning. Awesome.
This is in the Black Hills near Spearfish. Sounds like you guys get way colder and way more snow than we do. I've learned to take a lot of precautions now when I backpack in cold snowy weather. It's a much better experience when you carry the right cold weather gear but I've also learned when to stay home and sit it out despite really wanting to go out in a blizzard. LOL.
Your first bite made me to invistigate my refrigirator))) Good vid! Teepee is the thing l gonna try this winter) Thank U and greetings from Rus!
Enjoyed the video, I had been wandering how a folding box stove would work like this.
+Tn.Tim Bushcraft it really worked great. If I added a dew cloth inside the tipi and closed the tipi door it would have worked even better. Take the pot off and run a big fire in the stove would add a lot more heat too. I would also suggest digging a hole for the stove but I started too late and the ground was solid.
Hate to stay up all night feeding that fire lol good job man
Thanks. It was a good test and fun to try out. I got 2 Mr. heater buddy propane heaters after that and they work great. Much safer too. I’m hoping to do a couple hot tent type videos this winter with the two heaters and 4 different shelters.
sooner or later you would fall asleep and freeze.
Pine is very smoky wood. Having the stove in a small 12 in deep dakota pit with a small air feed would have helped the fire burn hotter, slower with less embers. It might have warmed the ground too, making it more comfortable. And you would have a place for the shes for a few hours or overnight without worrying about them. A screen over the hole or suspended over the top of the stove would reduce the ember problem as well. When the temp goes below 40 I stay home. I admire your courage!! Nice video.
That's a great idea. I like the Dakota pit with a screen. With that I would just not use the stove though. But I legally have to burn in a stove. I was extremely impressed that such a small fire warned that shelter. And even more impressed that the smoke was manageable. It was fun to test out but I'll be using my TMS wood stove with pipe in a pulk sled next winter. I also used to stay home for most of the winter but I got cabin fever. I started loading up on cold weather gear and was comfortable on this trip at 3 F with my winter sleep system and a hot water bottle. I also finally discovered that you should keep your shoes in a bag in your sleeping bag. I didn't on this trip and they were completely frozen in the morning. LOL.
Hey brofessor, I found myself watching your vid again! I think you are selling yourself short on not being a "bushcrafter" or "stove expert". You have plenty of experience and gaining. Can't wait to see the propane setup.
Thanks brotatochip. I love that commercial. LOL.
Yeah, that commercial is funny! Lol!
If you place the flashing so the firebox is between you and the flashing, it will reflect heat toward you, generate a slight chimney effect that will draw embers away from you, and prevent incoming air from blowing embers toward you.
I did it ages ago with a big, four-layer hunk of aluminum foil and some pieces of coat hanger to serve as support for the foil.
Good video. Well done. 8)
Thanks. I learned a lot from this trip but now I mostly just use the old pulk sled so I bring a small propane heater. But it’s always fun to try something new.
Hello K Dawg, i have a few of the bushcraft essentials stoves and they work amazing as well . Smouldering fires smoke, lol Well done dude, thanks for sharing man.
Thanks bro. I think Bushcraft essentials broke off from firebox stoves a couple years back. Both are great companies. I think I got my years worth of smoking on this trip. LOL. Thanks for watching.
Just stumbled across your channel today while researching... we're (my wife and I) are about to leave on a multi-week 2up moto camping trip across the US. Now I'm side tracked binge watching your stuff! hahaha, keep it up so I have stuff to watch next winter! :D
+Riding Mann thanks for watching. I really have got to film more of my outing. I've been going out but haven't really been doing a lot of filming lately. I did a lot of winter camping this past year and it's been a blast now that I know how to keep warm. I've got a lot of new gear to show and try out. There will be more videos to come.
+KdawgCrazy Excellent! The big brown truck of love is dropping off goodies daily here! The weather guesser is calling for 80º+ this weekend, we're going to head out on a 3 day shake down run. We plan to do some videos on the camping and gear portion. Once we get back, I'll edit that stuff and post it. I would appreciate you checking out that footage when you have time, I'll be looking for advice, I am sure! :D
+Riding Mann I just subscribed to your channel so I'll keep an eye out for the vids.
+KdawgCrazy Excellent! I'm not the kind to "beg" people for subs and views, but you really seem to have a grasp on the camping stuff.. Once that hits (next week), I'll be looking for your expertise! Thanks!
well Lil-Kdawg-E; that lil G2 sure did the trick, once U managed the fire lay. Was a pleasure 2 watch as I had my 1st. cup of Joe with Ya. ATB Terry God Bless
Thanks Terry. I'm loving that little stove. It was nice to have fire inside and be able to heat my shelter. It got cold out there. I definitely learned a lot that trip. Take care.
Good video my friend thanks for the share! Stay warm!
Thanks. I think this winter is gonna be a nice one now with that teepee. I have a propane heater to try out next time.
If you rub kitchen soap around a metal pan or a metal nalgene or something like that it won't go black. Just a quick tip and awesome videos!
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome! Man, that was a sweet setup. I was laughing so hard when you were getting smoked out, lol! It was great seeing you out again. L8r bro.
Luckily the smoke was easy to get rid of as soon as the fire flared up again. Your just laughing because it happened to you too. LOL. I was having so much fun that it was like 11:30 pm before I even looked at the time. That's never happened.
Oh, I've been smoked out more times than I would like to admit!
sorry I was thinking for outside use not inside my bad,Your are right about the carbon monoxide sorry about that thanks for your reply.
Great idea! I love the teepee! If I were to build one myself, could a put in a small homemade wood stove and a stove jack? Great vid!Thanks
+Andrew 1888 definitely. Great thing about making your own teepee is you can customize it to your needs. I was actually going to just put the pipe through a space in the door flap up high and cover the pipe with fireproof insulation at that spot. I'll experiment with it next winter.
Good job. It turned out well. Maybe if you could secure a space blanket on the inside walls it would provide more heat? Just a thought. Great video's Thanks for sharing. Enjoy & be safe.
I have an Emberlit stove like that. I did testing with it on my patio in the winter (Tucson AZ doesn't get that cold) almost every night for about 2 months. Anyway, what I noticed, is that these stoves are decent for cooking with natural fuel, not the best but decent. You have to have a large amount of small-ish twigs and pretty much constantly feed it. This size stove is not recommended for long lasting coals. A larger pit wood campfire would do better. Great video though!
interesting! did good my friend! the only thing i could see you different is- just in case you dont have any birch tree's near by. youll need small twigs to keep the fire licking. other then that you did just fine. oh, in a tee-pee you will never not be able to hide from an ember! LOL!
Hey Danny! I actually used all the smaller pencil sized twigs I could get my hands on...most came from the big pine tree I got my firewood from. Those were what I used with the birch bark to get the flames back. Then I put in the 1 to 1.5 inch pieces. It's possible the big pieces were frozen from previous rains but they appeared to be dry all the way through. All in all... It was a good test. But I really think a 12 foot teepee would be best for even a small fire. I had a lot of fun and I'll head back out there in a couple weeks and try the propane heater. Should work a little better in that size of a shelter.
im sure the prop heater will be more then sufficient.
Just gotta use my pulk on that trip. With the wood stove I could actually just backpack it all out there. Now that I know what the area looks like with snow the pulk is the better option. I think I'll sink less into the 2 foot of snow when I take that 48 lbs. pack off my back. LOL.
LOL! then you'll really need your heater!! LOL!
Teepee was invented because the whole structure acts as a chimney. But the native americans didn't have the outside layer tight to the ground. They had learned from experience that you must have air constantly coming in so the heat from the fire can lift smoke out. But how to keep warm with cold air flowing in?
Use an inner layer that DOES touch the ground. Make it about head high so the cold air has to come in up high where it blends with the heated air. People sitting or laying in the teepee are in the warm zone while the cold air stays above them. Otherwise you have to have an underground channel that feeds air to the fire.
chs is correct the tepee is a perfect shelter . the air flow from 360 around the tent the smoke is not a problem .I have used them at reenactments in cold weather and they are great. keep up the good work
LOL
Finally someone saying: "I don't know what i'm doing"
Subbed, offcourse. :))
Thanks. I’ve learned a lot since this video but in bushcraft we are all constantly learning and trying new stuff. I tried a bunch of things that improved the warmth of the fire, smoke management and drafting but now I prefer the Mr. Heater Buddy. It’s so much easier to just turn it on and off. No mess.
@@KdawgCrazyOutdoors
it was a great video
Love your setup!
The first several inches of the dead branches on the live pine tree were likely full of resin (fatwood) and make excellent fire starters. The rest of the wood you burn should be the longest burning available, reserving the pine, if dry to help regulate the heat, as it burns hotter and faster than most. Like the teepee. You may want to look at a reflectix liner to make better use of the radiant energy of the small fire.
Also, are you planning to cook inside on it? The tag end from the top loop should be let hang to an easily reachable height and pushed behind a pole when not in use.
+Franklin Horst thanks Franklin. I didn't even think of that when cutting the dead branches. Using an open top wood stove in this shelter was just a one time test to see if a small wood stove could heat a small tipi. Just for fun. I'm only using a TMS wood stove or a Mr. Heater propane heater to actually provide heat now. We can't have an open fire out here so I have to use a stove of some sort and I had backpacked to my camp spot in these videos so I brought the best portable wood stove I had at the time. I'll be using a pulk sled for my other winter trips so I can bring a bigger stove or heater and a CO detector. I'm finishing up a single pole version of this tipi that's closed at the top and has a port for my stove pipe. Hopefully. I'll have that video up next week. I might have to set it up in my backyard to film though. Not very bushcrafty. LOL.
We do what we must lol. I enjoyed the video and look forward to the next. Does the new design employ any reflectix or other radiant barrier?
+Franklin Horst no yet. I did add snow flaps though. The design will hold heat and work well with the TMS wood stove but to make the propane heater more efficient it would probably help to glue a cheap space blanket on the inside right above the heater location and above the bed too. I'm really not even sure the single pole tipi will even work until I get it set up for an over nighter. It's kinda a prototype to see if the design will work. I've already come up with ideas to improve it. It's basically a $25 tarp, $5 grommet kit, $9 gorilla tape, $5 seam sealer and a sewing machine and some paracord. I think anyone could make it easily for under $50 total. If it works.
a Buddy Heater would do the trick. I know it's not true bushcrafting butt sometimes it's nice to have a manatees. keep them coming love you videos Merry Christmas Big Al Michigan
+Alan Call merry Christmas Al. I actually have the Mr Heater Buddy and Little buddy. I'm finally able to use my pulk sled so I can use those heaters.
Yall need metal flashing bent to form a underground air intake flute you can help keep its shape with metal rings you can place outside the tent which you can roll up that you can then attach to a wood stove with the intake by the fuel door with the exuast being at the back of the wood stove. Ypu can then stack some rocks around the wood stove to abdorb the heat and fill the tent with warm safe air with all the spent toxic air going up and out the exhaust vent correct?
Hello sir! This is a great watch! How are ya these days? Happy New Year! NQU
Doing much better lately. My job just prevents me from being as active as id like. Thanks for checking in on me. Happy new year!
I wonder how that tarp tent would hold up if it really got hot in the tent?
I also wonder if a heart reflector would warm it up better while also protecting the tent. Just a simple sunshield around the top third of the tent inside between the poles and the tarp.
Some good size rocks just around the fire between the fire and your flashing would probably heart up and reflect heart pretty well.
Good video. Thanks for sharing.
I would say any holes in your tarp would be a fail. You would do better with a rocket stove as they generally produce less smoke and flying embers and burn much hotter. The best way though is definitely to have a stovepipe. The pipe helps to radiate the heat as well as get the smoke out. There are some very portable ones one youtube. Thanks for making the video though, it was interesting. Happy trails.
+Phil Coughran thanks for watching Phil. I wouldn't recommend using a small cooking wood stove on a regular basis for heating a shelter for a lot of obvious reasons. This video was a test to see if a small wood stove that is used for outdoor cooking could be used to heat a shelter. To see if it would actually make a difference in the inside temp. I had plenty of ventilation and always had a pot on top melting snow and it still made a big measurable difference in temp compared to the outside temp that dropped fast when the sun went down. I really didn't expect to see more than a degree or two so I was impressed. All the gear in this video was backpacked in 4 miles or so through snow with the last 1/4 miles of snow being one and a half feet deep. My plan was to see if, in an emergency, could I burn this stove in a teepee shelter to stay warm, melt snow for water and stay out of the elements. This test was a win and I learned a lot to that end. I do actually have two tent propane heaters and a TMS wood stove with pipe for hot tenting. All three are better options for heating a shelter but require a pulk sled or car camping because of their weight. I didn't used the pulk on this trip because some parts of my trail can have more gravel than snow depending on the time of year and I wasn't sure if it was late enough in the year yet so I did the minimal backpacking gear test. This coming winter I will be using the other options I mentioned now that I know I can use the pulk sled.
Thanks again for watching. Take care bro.
Darn contraption I'm on wouldn't let me just reply to you Kdawg. You have a new subscriber. Love the teepee! Very nice! By force of habit I usually throw a tarp down over the entire floor but I don't have the nice firebox so I see why you wouldn't. Enjoy your weekend. Ill be doing some of the same here in MO.
Thanks for subscribing. Generally speaking I always cover the whole floor in a shelter if I can. I had to hike in 4 miles and needed to watch the weight and needed stuff to have multiple uses for this trip. The garbage bag I used to collect wood and keep it dry could also be used for a ton of other things. The green tarp is reflective on the other side and I might have used it as a blanket if it got too cold. The blue tarp is just the perfect size to cover the ground for my sleep system and goes with me on a lot of trips. It's kinda like my old trusty tarp. But it would have been nice to have one big round cut tarp fit for that teepee so I didn't have to worry about stepping in snow in my sock...which I did twice. LOL. Thanks again for watching. Take care.
great video I like the cheap and easy tp. great shelter!!!
Thanks Jordan.
thanks for the fast responses.
+Joseph DuPont you're welcome.
Great video thanks so much for sharing! In an emergency that sure would work like you said just gotta manage the smoke but easy enough to do! ~Dawn
+SouthPaw Bushcraft thanks for watching. I was very impressed that such a small fire made that big a difference in maintaining a livable temp in the tipi. The smoke was only a problem if I let the fire die down. Otherwise the smoke went straight up without having much venting around the bottom skirting of the tipi. It's an excellent winter shelter. I'll be using it every winter now.
Thx for the teepee video. There are not many out there.
+DrDennis77 your welcome. Thanks for watching.
So my takeaway from this is: if weight restrictions and local ordinance limits your opinion to what is essentially a canteen heater then it is a bad idea to have your housing be a single layer Tepee tarp that you will have to cut the poles once you decide to rest for the night
+steven heckert or that you could use a small wood stove to heat your tent so you don't die because it got a lot colder than you were prepared for...if you were using a tipi style shelter. I have since made a million changes to my tipi design. It's now a 4 sided pyramid with internal guylines, one center pole and snow flaps. I have also been using a pulk sled when there is sufficient snow and sometimes bring a Mr. Heater Buddy. You gotta start somewhere to see what's possible and just go out and try different things. I've enjoyed the process.
Nice one Kdawg I enjoyed watching all three, good honest video and well presented and detailed as usual, keep up the excellent and informative work mate, .......PS ....PLUQ is still going strong and gets out often....Maff
Awesome! Nice to hear the PLUQ is working for you. Thanks for watching my teepee series too. I'm hoping to use it a couple more times this winter. It really makes for a great camping experience when your in something that feels like a cabin.
kdawg, you have done a great job with this series on teepees, great setup...........when using the stove in your teepee, i think i might be interested in having a carbon monoxide detector initially just to see if there is an issue.
Definitely. I did buy one for when I pulk out there but since I had to backpack this time I left it at home. My pack weighted in at about 48 lbs and was stuffed to the gills. But next time the detector is coming with me with the propane heater.
This series has been fun. I'm loving the teepee. Kinda feels like I'm in a cabin. I actually slept better that night than I ever had out doors and it dropped to 5f that night.
Thanks for watching bro. Take care.
or you could set up the teepee at home and check there.........
Nice video. I have been wondering if doing this would work, and all of the results you came up with make sense, and I wonder how a vestibule out the front door would work for at least cooking in rainy weather. Thanks again for a very informative video --Firebox 5" Rocks!
Thanks for watching Mel.
I'm sooper new to the whole bugging out thing and most vids are too overwhelming for me, I wanna learn more but hoping to find simpler vids like yours that explains things so well! can you please make a 3 days bug out bag vid for people who are new and in a budget? hope it's not too much to ask.. subbed and looking forward for more vids! 😀
Hey Berry. I actually don't do bug out bags. I don't even keep one in the car like I should. When I prep for a trip I usually start setting gear out a little at a time as I plan where I'm going , what the weather looks like and how I want to camp and eat. I usually start this a week before I head out for the trip. What helps me the most is playing out the trip in my head. Sounds silly but it works for me. That way I can visualize what I need for my shelter, food prep, weather protection, etc. The night before the trip I pack everything in my bag to make sure it fits and then unpack it so my gear isn't compressed over night but it's not really necessary.
Hopefully this helps a little.
Dig a fire pit 2' by however tall you are burn a good fire in it when you are ready for bed bury it minus any rocks and watch for embers then lay out your bedroll and sleep warm and well on the soft earth. Then do it again lol.
hi great video thanks for shareing the only thing you must be careful of with a fire of anykind in a tipi or tent includeing charcoal type fules is carbon monoxide an odourless gas that kills you quickly you most probably already be aware of this anyway as you have vented your tipi well but thought I would just mention it just in case you did not know stay safe fella look forward to watching more of your great videos
+james ley thanks James. I was going to bring my carbon monoxide detector but I backpacked in instead of taking the pulk sled and had to limit what I carried. I have a TMS wood stove that I'll pull in next winter and use the detector for since I might let the fire slowly burn into the night. But on this trip I put the fire out before bed. I was a little concerned about carbon monoxide but wasn't sure if the airflow can just carry it up and out or not. The TMS stove has a pipe and should be a lot safer.
That little stove is meant for cooking, not heating a tent. You'd be better off either buying or making a larger wood stove with an enclosed chimney pipe. This way the smoke goes up the chimney and stays out of the tent. Larger stove equals more heat, larger wood and less times stoking her up.
+Nickathome Smith correct. I backpacked 4 miles plus to this location with all my gear on my back. I have a pulk, Tahoe Teepee and TMS wood stove now but this video was an experiment to see if a small wood stove could be used to heat a teepee while using it to melt snow for water, meals and a hot water bottle for the night. Just having a little bushcrafting fun while seeing what the minimal gear I could carry would do for me. I contacted the manufacturer of the stove to see if the stove could handle it first and he stands by his product but as you said a hot tent stove would be better...just not what I was trying to show in this video.
You should've made smoke/air flaps like a proper Native teepee, with 2 Poles to open and close.
This is for backpacking. Light, portable and simple. It was also just me playing around with a prototype idea to see if it was something I wanted to move forward with but I found simpler alternatives.
@@KdawgCrazyOutdoors Yes, but the flaps were better for airflow and drawing up the smoke. Still, you tried.
You did a great job on this video I learned a few things
Thanks bro.
You're kinda odd. Were you on the ship that dropped me off on "Urth?" Subscribed as I too am no expert yet am fascinated with it all. Love the straight up "this is what I got from this experience" insight.
It's great to watch him learn for my education, really helpful
Forgive my ignorance but is there some reason for not removing the snow from inside the shelter? I would have thought that it would slow the heating of the shelter and when it melts it will create a soggy ground to walk, sit or sleep in!
Snow is an insulator. My shelters never get hot enough to melt it.
You should turn on video stabilization while filming. I was getting motion sick watching this video.
All my videos are filmed on an old iPhone. No stabilization. Over the years I’ve learned the limitations of the device and there have been software updates. I’ve also been using a tripod the last couple years. This is an old video...glad to see it is still being viewed.
I'm sure you have learned this by now but conifers such as pine, redwood, fir, spruce, cypress, or cedar contain high levels of sap and turpenes and are very smokey when burned and could make you sick.
Thanks for the video. Not sure a 5" stove is as useful for keeping warm as some other fire methods but you are in a teepee thus limited as far as fires. I know you said the ground was frozen but a 7-10" deep hole around 10-12" in diameter would sure add warmth. Also, why not lay a tarp down for a floor? Just ideas, I really liked the video!
You are correct. A 5" stove would have to run high and without a pot on top to really make a meaningful difference in the temp. If my teepee had been bigger and I were allowed to have a regular campfire it would have made a huge difference. The firebox stove is designed to focus the heat straight up so placing it in a hole should help with getting more heat down were you are sitting. I did actually use 3 ground sheets, all of which are visible in the video. One is under my bed, one under my wood pile and one covering my pack. When I packed away the stove for the night I packed snow into the spot where the stove was and spread out the tarps so I had the most coverage. I kinda felt like I was in a log cabin. I think a propane heater or hot tent wood stove would work perfect in this size/style shelter and I'm hoping to test that out next weekend. I have a Mr Heater propane heater and a TMS wood stove that should work really well. Hopefully, I'll get to try all of them out while we still have snow and I'll put those videos up on my channel too.
Perhaps make a smaller fire looks a bit big for the size of teepee . good tepee love it
Love you videos, Crazy Dawg. Very informative, and they proceed at a goodly pace, very carefully explaining what you are doing as you go along. One question has been on my mind, tho - why not remove the snow from the floorprint of the teepee? Seems that it would be easy and quick to do, using that nice "snow shovel" thing that you toted along. Again, really appreciate the learning experience that you provide.
Oh, that cat track that you noticed in video #2 - as a wildlife biologist, I can tell you to not overly concern yourself about that, unless the cat is sick or injured. The cat is way more wary (and informed) of you, and will take great pains to not trespass on your camping area. Wild dogs are a greater concern, as they mostly have no fear of man.
+Craig Wilcox thanks Craig. As far as I know no one has been attacked by a cat out here in like 100 years but...it's always good to have a healthy fear and respect for things that can kill you. Usually, we only hear of adolescent cats coming into town and still not too interested in people. Still...a healthy fear keeps me respectful.
The snow. Dude, that snow was like 2.5 to 3 feet deep. No joke. I backpacked out to that area but I was mostly on an established trail till I got to that area so none of it was packed. I was post holing in my snow shoes. I used that minimalist snow shovel to remove a lot of snow from that spot but it was a lot of work. 10 to 11 foot diameter circle at 3 feet deep and some space to work out side of that. I tried to scrap some of the rest out of the center but I had already really packed it down by walking around in it. There's also a lot of sticks and rocks under it. I think all the snow around me and under me did a lot to insulate and hold in the heat. I really didn't see my breath while it was 3 and 5 degrees F outside of the teepee.
I hiked out with all of my gear on my back so I had to keep everything simple and easy and as light as possible. I had planned on returning with a pulk sled but decided to hammock camp the next time out. Next year I'll bring a real shovel and a real wood burning stove. It's gonna be awesome. Thanks for watching.
I do understand about snow insulating. Back when I was a LOT younger, like 55+ years ago, our Scoutmaster used to take us camping in the Shenandoah Mountains in 3-4' of snow. We were using surplus USMC shelter halves. We would dig down in UNPACKED snow to dirt/dry grass, and pitch the tents. Then, shoveling the snow around the tents, a single candle would keep us comfy and cozy throughout the night. It was a lot of fun, for sure. Now, at age 70, I still like to go camping in the cold, rain, whatever, but I do stay away from snow more then 6" deep.
+Craig Wilcox wow! I bet those shelter halves held in the heat with that thick material. I learned a lot on this trip and it was my first positive cold weather camping experience. I slept really well and got to do a little bushcrafting. I used to pine for the summer all winter long and now I can't wait for the snow again. LOL. Just not 3 or 4 feet.
Very cool..er ...hot vid man! Great job!
Thanks Bro.
Nice video, would removing the snow from inside the teepee increase the temperature?
+Jeric Villaflores thanks for watching Jeric. Supposedly, snow is an insulator so it should help hold in the heat. I dug out as much snow as I could and used it to make my snow chair. Totally worth it to have a chair. I prefer to camp on dirt because the snow gets slick and pot holes from moving around on it.
Just inspirational!!!!!!
Thanks
Cut the bark off of the wood and it won't smoke as much you could have brought a piece of PVC pipe to run from the outside of the tent to your fire ring and it could get air from that pipe
great job, greedings from austria!!!
Thanks. Winter is always better when you have a fire.
+KdawgCrazy oh yes.
on tuesday i travel to ohio to work there for about two month and there i must go to a wal mart and search for this tarp from your video because i cant find some one like this here in austria.
sorry for my bad english :-)
It's a great tarp for the money and forest camo looks pretty cool out there too. Walmart should still carry them but I think they sell out quickly. Have fun in Ohio. Maybe check out some trails while your out there on your days off. Take care.
+KdawgCrazy thank you i'll see.
And continue doing such interesting videos, very cool ideas!!!
When you don`t have any air circulation inside the tipie, what do you expect will happens With the smoke ? All you have to do is to just make a few air slides/hole at the tent wall, Down at the floor and your problem is solved.
I'm sure glad you decided to close the door before you froze ! I bet you didn't sleep much Your tarp is way to thin for below 50 or so degrees.Oh and all that snow you kept in the teepee was like you were making a ice box.
+Lisa Loves snow/ice is actually an insulator. I brought a negative 15F sleeping bag, closed cell foam pad, air Matt, heat reflective car visor and a bivy. I started off also wearing my insulated snow pants and down jacket (plenty of layers under that too) when I went to bed. I also slept with two hot water bottles. The temps got down to 3 and 5F but I was the warmest and most comfy I've ever been in winter camping. The teepee also afforded me a ton of room to stand up to change cloths, stand to pee in a bottle so I didn't have to leave the shelter and to move around more freely. This is definitely my new go to winter shelter.
LOL, Ok if you want to wear all that clothing ,and use all that stuff to stay warm, have at it.
The snow is like shaved ice giving off lots of cold , so you have like a giant ice block in your tent.LOL
+Lisa Loves Snow is an insulator: Its R-value varies, depending on moisture content and density of the snow granules; but on average snow has an R-value of 1 per inch - about the same as wood. Twelve inches of snow have roughly the same insulating value as a 2x4 wall filled with fiberglass insulation. The best snow in terms of insulation is fresh snow, because it contains a high percentage of air caught between the ice crystals. Fresh snow is basically all air, up to 95%, and that’s why it’s so light. Since the air is firmly trapped inside and it cannot move freely, the heat transfer is significantly reduced. 10 inches of fresh snow, which is basically five to seven percent water, is the equivalent of a 6 inch layer of fiberglass insulation? That makes for an R-value of 18. Snow’s thermal conductivity, which is the scientific term that describes that R-value, can be described mathematically and it works in tandem with the snow density. The denser the snow, the greater thermal conductivity. So, if you want to use snow for insulation purposes, the best snow is the fresh driven/super-light-fluffy snow, as heat moves through it relatively slowly.
+Lisa Loves I'm not sure what the R-value of my snow floor was because it was shoveled down from a 3 feet depth to a couple inches and packed down but you see that it has insulating properties. I've read countless articles of snow being piled on the sides of houses in Alaska, snow used to keep water bottles from freezing, make shift snow caves, animals that burrow into the snow to survive a bad winter et..
And yes, I do want to wear all that stuff to stay warm although I don't think it was necessary. My shelter was actually pretty cozy. I usually get cold again after getting up to pee and take a while to warm back up in bed so I kept my snow pants and down jacket on all night. After dozens of winter camping trips where I froze my butt off I've learned my lesson. Bring the proper insulation or don't go backpacking. I think my pack weight on this one was about 43 lbs. with everything. With the setup I had I could easily have camped for a couple days with plenty of wood for free heat for warming my shelter and cooking and plenty of snow for water.
This video was about my learning experience with bushcrafting and experimenting with winter camping and staying warm. At the end of the day I would always rather bring a few extra items and be warm and enjoy myself than freeze and be miserable. I've already had plenty of bad winter camping experiences over the years and I've learned a lot of tricks to stay warm. I used every one of those on this trip and had a great winter campout.
I am glad you enjoyed your freezing camp out. I have lived with snow and cold most of my life and that does not sound fun to me. yes, snow can insulate you from cold winds and breezes getting in your tent and so keeping them out,but that is all. Believe me I have made enough snow caves in my younger years.You are right about the down jacket, nothing is warmer and I still wear one in the winter. Next time you might look for some rocks to put around your little stove to collect heat,the size of a large potato,black is best. If hands get to cold,with gloves on you can hold the rock and warm them up.
Great video!
Yep yep, can 62 and other comments on his post have it on the money. Think of the construction of a gasification twig stove only this is pure ventilation and allows you to shut the door flap totally.
To prevent filling your teepee with smoke keep your door opening the same size as your exhaust/teepee vent
What was the Temperature INSIDE the Teepee BEFORE you lit the fire ?........You didn't check it did you ?
It would only be a degree or two different especially with the door open and nothing covering the top vent before heating it. The only problem is that the ground level is still cold and the top half of the shelter is too hot. Sometimes you can use a fan to circulate the air and you would want to elevate the bed using a cot or something.
Very good ideas! Thank you very much
Dude they got stoves with pipes that got 2 the top of the teepee pipe sticks out the top that way no smoke in the teepee or tent
Do it like Native Americans. Get rid of the fire box and build a fire and surround it with rocks.When you get enough hot coals built up let the fire go out and let hot coals and rocks will keep you warm while you get some sleep
Thank you.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.
great video. love your honesty Cheers
Thanks for watching. It's not a good camping trip till you get smoked out at least once. LOL.
good video maybe add some Mylar in the interior to reflect heat.
Definitely. That is the number one recommendation. After reading a couple comments suggesting the Mylar I made a Mylar ceiling for use with my propane heater but never got a chance to use it because the temps aren't low enough for it now. But there's always next winter.
Nice. What do you think about lining the inside of the teepee with mylar?
Thanks for watching Mike. I've thought about it but I tried to keep the tarp itself as simple as possible. I did get a lot of requests for Mylar and I used one to make a larger low hanging teepee ceiling that I'm hoping will hold in heat and reflect more back to me when using the propane tent heater. I'm just trying out different things this year to see how modular I can make it so I can use it for backpacking. But if you were always using a small fire inside I would definitely glue on a Mylar blanket inside on the top for heat reflection and install a dew cloth inside around the bottom perimeter of the teepee so you have the airflow and updraft but no cold air blowing in on you. Take care bro.
that was okay dog!
Bring a wool blanket and throw it over your equipment such as your bed sleeping bag whatever and then you won't get holes in it
another trick is to dig an 8" deep by 6 diameter fire put with a 4"x4" channel dug from pit to outside. Then build flashing wall with stones to heat up. the channel works as an air flow to fire as in a bbq grill does. this way you can throw a bigger log on fire and fire lasts longer. plus stones stay hot too. old Indian trick
+Mike White great idea. Next time I'm out at that spot I'll grab some rocks and work on building the air channel. But the fire still needs to be in a stove per forest service rules. The ground was just too frozen last time I was out there and I wasn't able to dig. The aluminum flashing worked pretty well though.
+Mike White great idea. Next time I'm out at that spot I'll grab some rocks and work on building the air channel. But the fire still needs to be in a stove per forest service rules. The ground was just too frozen last time I was out there and I wasn't able to dig. The aluminum flashing worked pretty well though.
Let me know how my suggestion works.