I'm reading this book right now by John Burns a keen bothy man from Inversnecky who was shut out of the bothies like everyone else for 2 years due to covid.
To cut a long story short, during this period he searched for and tried out alternatives for winter camping and came across these Norwegian "hot tents".
A "hot tent" is a heavy canvas single skin wigwam with a wood burning stove and flue (stick with me this is not a wind-up, ;D ) that will keep you warm in any weather.
Very stable, very heavy and obviously not for backpacking, but interesting for the dedicated camper or mentally deranged. ;)
Anyone seen or heard of these?
I believe a member on here has one :)
There are lots of YouTube videos of people using them in various ways - everything from pretty much semi-permanent installations through to backpacking.
I think they were all the rage with the "bushcraft" people as they like gadgets (stoves and stuff) and they also like to use natural fibres like canvas plus they seem to like to spend their lives hacking away at logs - or "processing wood" as they call it. To be honest I really like that sort of video and can see the appeal but most of it seems pretty gadget heavy.
Check out this guy, he makes fantastic videos though I don' think he's done any recent ones, but clearly he puts a lot of effort into it and gets a great consistent look plus some good editing as well especially considering the resources he has in the field:
https://youtu.be/-quwSgnXbn0
Quote from: Fishtales on October 27, 2022, 01:55:47 PM
I believe a member on here has one :)
That's refreshing. We WFF people may be getting old but we are still mad enough to have fires in tents. ;D
Quote from: caorach on October 27, 2022, 01:57:01 PM
I think they were all the rage with the "bushcraft" people as they like gadgets (stoves and stuff) and they also like to use natural fibres like canvas plus they seem to like to spend their lives hacking away at logs - or "processing wood"
It's probably good for the climate, most utterly bizarre things that make no sense to normal people with jobs seem to be...... Like beavers and organic kale sandwiches made with gluten free bread for instance. ;D
I thought it was soldier palmer but it is a different style.
https://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=32970.msg326248#msg326248
Lots of people using hot tents over here, especially given our winter climate. Hunters tend to use them a lot in late autumn and early winter. I see them being used in campgrounds in early spring or late autumn. Usually older people, because those born after about 1990 are still young and stupid thinking that camping at that time of year necessarily involves some suffering. The older I get the more I think about getting one. In my case the body is old, but the mind is still young and stupid.
The author of this book I mentioned is certainly impressed and reckons if anything it gets too hot in his tent. Very stable in Scottish gales as well. Strictly out of car camping though, you could never backpack those loads.
You have to play with the damper to regulate the amount of air getting in. That controls the rate of burn. There is nothing like waking up at 2 in the morning with the fire out and a temperature below -20 outside. I've done that in an uninsulated cabin, not a hot tent.
Folk on canoe camping trips can get a lot of heavy gear into remote spots fairly easily. Plenty load capacity in those thick plastic-hulled Canadian canoes 😀😀
There is a squad from Dundee comes up here with all that gear. Two transit vans, and set up camp about 18ft from the road. Enough Special Brew to be immune to the cold or flames.
:( :(
I've got a bell tent and stove set up. It's a heavy set up but with a trolly like the carp anglers you can move it about fairly easily. Having the stove makes a world of difference. Using a 3 season sleeping bag in winter and being able to dry clothes after being out all day. Having a fry up breakfast is a boost for moral too.
Please excuse the mess was on a fishing trip in mid wales at the start of March this year.
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Looks good Liam. :)
Here's a link to the first of the books. Good read from a fine writer although he does tend to slip into the anti-shooting / climate / rewilding / woke crap on occasion. I've read a few of his books and on balance he's pretty good, loony-lefty-woke pro-beaver bullshit notwithstanding. ;D
It's funny how some of these guys can be anti-grouse moor AND anti-windfarm without the realisation that the absolute best protection against windfarms are grouse moors. ;) Anyone who doubts this should take a drive up Glen Esk in Angus. Prime grouse moor, zero windmills, stunning beauty.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Tent-Diaries-Exploring-woodburning-ebook/dp/B0BHDTT8Q7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1R94ZGMQ282G8&keywords=the+hot+tent+diaries&qid=1666952488&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjQ2IiwicXNhIjoiMS41NyIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=The+Hot+Tent+Diaries%3A%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-2
Here's the very man himself in his hot tent. Looks very comfy, almost palatial.
Inchlaggan will know the camp site. :o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9DuRum7GfM
Video called Kinloch HORN ... !!
Like the guy with HIDDEN Valley ... !!
Coire Shubh, about half a mile before Kinlochhourn. Weedy wee loch, if full view of nasty gamekeepers, you need to pick your spot and time. Troots to 2lb. Plenty of exotic trees on that estate, eucalyptus by the lodge.
Looks like a real hassle to erect.
Is that the bothy a few miles from Achnasheen?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mZx6mMGFDs
Quote from: Inchlaggan on October 28, 2022, 05:45:47 PM
Coire Shubh, about half a mile before Kinlochhourn
Thought it was. Wee Davy who used to be on here (had a heart attack and not seen again) used to fish it.