tepee's at argos!

[thumbcrusher]

Just got the latest Argos catalogue and they have tepees in at very reasonable prices. i think they come in 12, 4 and 2 person sizes. They certainly look ok!

[Togger]

Just had a look, there not a bad price £159.00 but look like they're made of nylon type tent material. Might not be a good idea to use an open fire/stove in them.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...%3ECAMPING.htm big one

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...%3ECAMPING.htm 4 man.

Togger.

[Obscured by Clouds]

They look remarkably like the millets tipi which was around a couple of years ago. Eventualy they were going for £30 [and changing hands on ebay for a £100 - pre festival season]

Oodles of room, but need seam sealing and nikwaxing to ensure watproofing. Great for summer, kids etc, I kept mine even after getting my hex3.

[Tarmacsoftee]

I quite like the look of these, my kind of price! Yeah I know they're not going to the quality of a Tentipi, but at that money its got to be worth a try!

Thanks for the heads up TC

Nige

[retro]

I can see a fith member being added to out tent family
Regards Retro

[andym]

just been looking aat them today and was going to post about them
great minds think alike

[zxc]

cheap but half decent looking (maybe not visually)

"Small two person"
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ext%3ETENT.htm

"Medium 4 person"
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ext%3ETENT.htm

"Large 12 person"
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ext%3ETENT.htm


I'm in two minds whether or not to get the small one.. Cheap as chips
(Edited Sorry MK, I'll try to search next time)

[happybunny]

Y'know, they look really cool - quite a different camping experience from either small tents or family tents with sleeping compartments. I'd be interested to try one some time.

Not great for putting the kids to bed, then sitting up reading etc though, I suppose.

Thanks for the pointer.

Ben

[Glenn]

mmmm, the missus is very much the alternative type, and was thinking of making one!
looks like a trip to Argos then.
thanks for the info

[floatingToolbox]

Might not be a good idea to use an open fire/stove in them.

Don't worry about the fire - as long as it is small or you have a stove and the nylon is well-protected from the pipe. I built up my norwegian 'Tinde 4' last weekend and installed the stove. Had a good time preparing some tea on the stove...


Axel

[Graeme @ YC]

to go with your Tepee,,,,



http://www.archeryworld.co.uk/acatalog/Bow_Kits.html

Well you may as well have all the kit I can see all the Bushcraft skills coming out now.

[pierre girard]

Just had a look, there not a bad price £159.00 but look like they're made of nylon type tent material. Might not be a good idea to use an open fire/stove in them.



Togger.

Yah, might be kind of tough to dig a fire pit through that nylon floor too.

[kharga]

Seperate ground sheet so you dont have to dig through it!

[Tarmacsoftee]

Well I've ordered one of the 4 person ones. I paid for a Saturday delivery so should be here tomorrow! Hopefully, if its not too windy, I'll pitch it in the garden and let you all know my thoughts some time after!

On another note. Has anyone looked at the 20 person bldy huge tent on the same page? Could be the answer for saving some pennies at the sites where we have to pay per tent.

Nige.

[Togger]

Hey Nige,
Can you post your findings as soon as you can please. It's my birthday today and i've had a few cards with a few notes included and might just put it towards buying the 4 man. I have a couple of tarps, a one man backpacking ultralight weight tent and a couple of two man tents, and one big 12 berth dome tent (looks more like tellytubbies house), so a teepee would make a nice change!! Just don't tell the wife or perhaps

It would go nice with the canoe I suppose!!!

Well I've ordered one of the 4 person ones. I paid for a Saturday delivery so should be here tomorrow! Hopefully, if its not too windy, I'll pitch it in the garden and let you all know my thoughts some time after!

On another note. Has anyone looked at the 20 person bldy huge tent on the same page? Could be the answer for saving some pennies at the sites where we have to pay per tent.

Nige.

[kharga]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOGGER!!!!

[Togger]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOGGER!!!!

Hey, somebody remembered.

Thank you, now just need the update on the teepees before I go and spend my money!

Togger

[soloman]

Hope you guys have better luck with the weather.
Ive been waiting for a dry couple of days to get the new tundra 4 up to proof it,but im in scotland.(its still in its box)
Soloman.

[Togger]

Aaagh .... couldn't wait, just got back from Argos with the 4 man teepee.
They only had one in stock so don't know if there's a load of secret teepee buyers or Argos are playing it safe to see how sales go!

Anyway, if the wind dies down a bit i'll put it up this afternoon and give a report

Togger

[KeithD]

Aaagh .... couldn't wait, just got back from Argos with the 4 man teepee.

Well, if you can't treat yourself on your birthday when can you!

I look forward to your report.

[Tarmacsoftee]

Sorry Togger, only just caught up with your post! Happy Birthday
Anyway. Mine arrived this morning and I was still at work, but once home I set about erecting it, took me nearly 3/4 of an hour so cannot offer a true time for erecting it having not done one before! One concern of mine was the material thickness, it feels heavy than the standard nylon outer of my ordinary family dome tent but I'm certain a certain amount of proofing maybe needed, especially the seams!

Still, i am chuffed with it and the colour isn't as bad as may first appear! The kids love it already so I've scored there and SWMBO gave her thumbs up as well, result.
Heres a few pictures

[Togger]

Hey Nige, Looks like we could start a new club...the Derbyshire Teepee Canoe Club!

[adam]

Hi All,
Just purchased a 4 man tepee from Agros (my birthday also), not sure of the quality and I'm used to good quality storm proof tents. but those injuns! knew how to build fun tents. just spent the last 4 hours in the tepee with my 6 year old son. He didn't want to leave. It all ended in tears.

Can't wait to use it in anger.

How do you think a single skin will cope with a down pour?


If the Tepee's dry, I plan to bring it on the Coniston trip.

Cheers

A

[zxc]

Don't worry about the fire - as long as it is small or you have a stove and the nylon is well-protected from the pipe. I built up my norwegian 'Tinde 4' last weekend and installed the stove. Had a good time preparing some tea on the stove...


Axel

Axel, Can you tell us how you have protected the nylon from the stove pipe?
Thanks

[Tarmacsoftee]

Well me and our Luke had our first night in ours last night. Nowhere exotic, just the front garden, but being a new tent we felt it needed christening! Sat up chatting for ages about past canoeing experiences and future ones to come before drifting off to sleep. The wind had dropped and get this, no blinkin rain for a change!

Nige.

[kharga]

Well me and our Luke had our first night in ours last night. Nowhere exotic, just the front garden, but being a new tent we felt it needed christening! Sat up chatting for ages about past canoeing experiences and future ones to come before drifting off to sleep. The wind had dropped and get this, no blinkin rain for a change!

Nige.

Brilliant!! Is ther a draft between the tent and the grounsheet?

[Tarmacsoftee]

Brilliant!! Is ther a draft between the tent and the grounsheet?

There was a wee draft but hardly noticed it at all, probably helped in no small part by the layers of quilts and blankets nicked from the house!!

One thing I cannot figure is whether the skirt is a shower-skirt or do we tuck it under? Cus coupled with the groundsheet it would eliminate some of the draft.

Nige.

[kharga]

Do the walls reach the ground fully, if so, I would tuck the skirt under the groundsheet. When we had a small frame tent we always tucked the skirt under the groundsheet!! Kept the water out as well!!!!

[Tarmacsoftee]

See what you mean Kharga, however.

I've just been to take it down and all becomes more clearer now. The groundsheet clips to the teepee this we'd already sussed when we put it up, but what we overlooked completely was these clips have adjustment straps, pull these tight and the outer edge of the groundsheet lifts clear of the ground creating a 4" wall around the tent. This will/should reduce any drafts!

Nige.

[johnr]

damn it, now i want one of these too!!!!!

[andym]

its a bugger isint it?
just after xmas and we have to think of a new excuse to go shopping
im planning on making my own campfire tent but am considering this in case it goes wrong
they do look good

[tmcox]

I'm intrigued by the 2 man version. Presumably it's the same just smaller. So, all we need now is someone to use it somewhere with bad weather - wind and rain etc..

[floatingToolbox]

Axel, Can you tell us how you have protected the nylon from the stove pipe?
Thanks

Hello, sorry I wasn't here for awhile.
In the German forum I tell the story of my fabulous idea for saving the nylon from the stove pipe. Just open this link and scroll down to a thread-article from Jan.20th - there are some self-explanatory pictures (I showed another idea there already on Nov.25th - but that one proved to be too complicated).

Axel

Ps.: in my blog (see link below) are some more pictures (just scroll down until Jan. 20th)
PPs.: The coil springs I have used are from desk lamps (just like the one in the leader of these Pixar-Studio-Films)

[zxc]

Thanks Axel.
Unfortunately I can't understand German But I can see from the pictures in your blog how you've done it.
Great idea..

[adam]

Would it really be possible to use a stove in one of these Agros Tepee's? I purchased one last weekend and would love to use it in the winter with a stove.
I presume I would have to butcher or remove the ground sheet?
Any recomendations on a stove? cheaper the better, how to set it up , how to make it as safe as possible etc.

This would open up a whole new world of camping to me, I wouldn't have to wait for the spring.

Thanks

Adam

[jonny]

Axel, Can you tell us how you have protected the nylon from the stove pipe?
Thanks

i liked the method of the coiled springs but the wood is not very portable,suggest using plumbers soldering mat or similar light weight it rools up and withstands huge amounts of heat.

[Happy bunny]

I really want to know the same as Adam. Would a fire be safe in the Argos teepee? I am thinking of getting the biggest size. Have they got vents at the top? What about if it was a small fire in one of those fire pit thingies you can buy? Trying to persuade husband that a teepee is the way forward but he's not convinced; having a fire inside would swing it though as he hates being cold.

[johnr]

i think a section of twin wall flue pipe for the top part of the flue might protect the nylon from harm, but to be honest, its sparks from the flue that might proove to be its downfall!!

[adam]

Sorry for what might be a stupid question! sparks from the flue? Is this sparks comming from the top of the flue? i.e. outside? I didn't even think of this, doh!
I've seen some stoves with spark arrestors, do these help? How do other stove/tepee combinations cope with this?

Questions, Questions, Questions

Cheers

Adam

[tmcox]

Some use a heavier material that can withstand the short term heat - such as canvas etc. Lightweight Nylons are not heat proof so continued use with a fire will create tiny holes in the fabric. Some could probably be patched over purely by re-proofing or patching in the severe instances.

[johnr]

in truth, you get what you pay for. and im afraid that if you want to use a teepee in the winter with a stove inside, they youre going to just have to bite the bullet and buy a propper one. these look great for summer use, and look light enough to carry easily. you could go to a lot of effort to make it suitable, and then completely knacker it anyway. its a cheap light summer tent, and as such it looks great, but quality as we all know, costs, and if you want a winter tent, then youre going to have to buy one.

[big daddy merc]

I wouldn't mind one, but I think if I bought ANOTHER tent swmbo will kill me or make me live in one lol

[Happy bunny]

Sorry, more Argos teepee questions! To anyone out there who has one of these already can you tell me if it has an air vent at the top? I wasn't thinking of using a stove just a small fire bowl thing. I've been told that as long as there is a vent at the top the smoke would naturally go out without a chimney. Can any one confirm this? Would a small fire bowl with a guard be ok in one of these tents? Have only ever camped in a conventional tent and certainly not with a fire so haven't a clue.

[adam]

in truth, you get what you pay for. and im afraid that if you want to use a teepee in the winter with a stove inside, they youre going to just have to bite the bullet and buy a propper one. these look great for summer use, and look light enough to carry easily. you could go to a lot of effort to make it suitable, and then completely knacker it anyway. its a cheap light summer tent, and as such it looks great, but quality as we all know, costs, and if you want a winter tent, then youre going to have to buy one.

Fair point,
I think I'll try it with one of those meths burners as it does have a lot of ventilation. If I get on with the whole Tepee thing I think I'll invest in a quality setup.

I may regret asking this, any recomendations? I don't need anything too high spec, just something I can use in the winter with a stove, a 4 person will be ample room.

Thanks

Cheers

Adam

[tmcox]

Has anyone actually bought one of these yet then?

[johnr]

Has anyone actually bought one of these yet then?

my mrs has bought me one for my 40th birthday which is on thursday, but im not suposed to kow about it!!

[Togger]

Has anyone actually bought one of these yet then?

Hi, If you scroll back to the first page you'll see there was at least two of us who bought one a couple of weekends ago. There are some pics of tarmacsoftees in his garden, who has already christened his, i'm yet to put mine up.

Regards, Togger

[tmcox]

So any thoughts on them as yet? Or do we have to wait till you go camping

[Marcus]

I have used Thompson waterseal to waterproof a leaky tent in the past. Can't remember now who suggested it but it worked well and cost ver much less than nikwax.

[Tarmacsoftee]

I`ve have just brought another tent , this time a family 6 person normal thingy and while putting it up last weekend to see if it was all there, I paid particular attention to the nylon thickness of the outer and the thickness of the nylon used for the Argos teepee is definitely heavier, infact very close to the nylon used in my Decathlon tarp! Still not tried in a downpour, this will have to wait. It will be interesting to see what you others think.

Nige.

[Happy bunny]

Sorry to bang on about this but to anyone out there who has got one of these Argos teepees do you think they are safe enough to have a small fire inside? This is gonna be my decider in whether I buy one or not I think. Can't afford a canvas 'proper' one at the mo unfortunately.

[zxc]

Happybunny: These are fire retardant But that doesn't mean fire proof. personally I'll probably be having a contained stove with a good spark arrestor at the top of the chimney, In the "Medium 4 person"..
If I was ever to have a small open fire in it, It would be very small in a dug out pit in the middle of the floor in winter (preferably raining) But that doesn't mean it's safe or that I'd advise you to.

No one can really advise you if you can do it Because even with a good natural material like canvas there's still a slight risk with an open fire.

You should still think about joining our argos "teepee" owners club though

[Happy bunny]

Thanks for the advice. Will definitely join the Argos teepee club lol. Well was thinking of using one of those firepit things with the guards?? Also from Argos! Yes I do buy everything from that place. I'm usually really over-the-top safety-wise so must admit the thought of a fire in a tent does seem a bit scary.

[zxc]

Happybunny: I hope I haven't convinced you to have fires in this, Although it may be possible I wouldn't recommend it.
Although, being fire retardent it should be fine to cook on a small gas stove inside with the vents open.

In case you're looking for a good cheap (£150ish) contained stove there are some here: http://www.titaniumgoat.com/stoves.html
I think Zookeepa (a member here) is importing these soon.
You'd need to make a vent at the top of the shelter and maybe get (or make) a good spark arrestor (PM me if you want to know how or where etc)

Otherwise happy camping

[Happy bunny]

Thanks for that. Yes would be interested to know how to make an air vent. The kinda thing I was thinking is this:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...t>FIRE+PIT.htm

What do you think? Crazy? Just like the idea of being warm and cosy!! As I'm sure you're aware I'm no expert!! My brother-in-law is a fireman and he would flip if he knew! ha ha.

[zxc]

Hi there HB
Looks nice But obviously I'm not sure how safe it would be inside the shelter And looking at the size it seems quite big (75cm wide)
Also, I think it might get a bit smokey inside with this even with a vent at the top.
I'd say that if it was smaller and cheaper to give it a try But to be honest it's a third of the price of the stove that I pointed out which would keep you warm, is a bit safer and no smoke inside.

If you do decide to go with this you should probably use charcoal As it would have less flames and sparks than wood and is less unpredictable.
Make sure the shelter material isn't getting hot or near any flames etc
Can't think of anything else at the moment But be safe.

If you just wanted heat you could think about a gas heater like this: http://www.iosss.com/shopping/review.asp?prod=813
You'd still have to have the vents open.

[MotherHerne]

Oh dear, me too. Got to be done, for research sake, y'know.

[adam]

Happybunny: I hope I haven't convinced you to have fires in this, Although it may be possible I wouldn't recommend it.
Although, being fire retardent it should be fine to cook on a small gas stove inside with the vents open.

In case you're looking for a good cheap (£150ish) contained stove there are some here: http://www.titaniumgoat.com/stoves.html
I think Zookeepa (a member here) is importing these soon.
You'd need to make a vent at the top of the shelter and maybe get (or make) a good spark arrestor (PM me if you want to know how or where etc)

Otherwise happy camping

Those stoves look great, want one, want one, want one. out of stock! doh!

[ol smokey]

Just got the small one for novelty value, but wouldn't consider a fire in one or even a small stove. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning will be
fairly high because of the small area and possible lack of ventilation.
I once saw a small tent go on fire in the lake district, fortunately with no one inside it at the time. It burnt out in about 20 seconds. If anyone had been inside, they would not have had a chance . A small gas stove had been left on inside and had fallen over. I have camped all my life, mainly in
summer and like small tents. I would possibly risk a small stove in the large Argos Tepee as long as the door was open for ventillation, and the stove was on a very secure footing. I know nothing about the woodburning stoves with chimneys as used by the old pioneers and long term Bushcrafter experts.

[norfnife]

Hi all!

I am a new member to this forum so hope this info will come in handy - to someone/anyone!!??

I have also seen and been very tempted by the Argos teepees so have done some research into the 'spec'.

Apparently, the Hydrostatic Head gives the waterproofness/permeability (?) of the canvas. However, the higher the number, the worse the performance of the fabric. The Argos teepees have a Head rating of 2000 which is actually very good for a budget tent (any higher than this and the fabric will easily allow water penetration).

In addition, although I cannot verify this personally, I have been led to believe that the fabric is a nylon or polyester material which will be HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!! As such, any stove or fire within or near the teepee needs to be treated wth extreme caution...

I really hope this helps!