Bucket list planning What tent for the Arctic 2020/2021

[Moondog55]

This will be me spending my inheritance rather than leaving it to my ungrateful children.
There are some things not worth taking as luggage, so I will consider the RidgeRest and any combination of CCF pads etc disposable and leave them behind but the tent choice is different, whether I buy over there will depend on circumstances at the time but the tent will come home with me.
While the initial plans are to share a hot tent I would never consider not being able to go solo if the opportunity arose but planning for 2 persons always
Pre-planning but I cannot decide on my short-list apart form either the Keron3 with extended vestibule or the Saitaris both from Hilleberg
Experience tells me that a fully enclosed vestibule is not optional
Budget is unknown but I am realistic about the costs involved.
Criteria are space and strength with weight under 9 kilos, experienced winter travellers over there also say I should keep an "Oh S**t " kit next to the sled and away from the tent.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nu/auyuittuq/index.aspx
And of course many other places
Trip length ? I anticipate several small trips of 7 to 12 days each and NO I'm not going to attempt a solo winter crossing of the Brooks Range

[Franco]

Hot tent, 7 to 10 days , fuel ?

[Moondog55]

Hot tent, 7 to 10 days , fuel ?

Hot tent option will be provided by a mate but there are some other trips planned which are fly-in so I want to keep the weight down.
Hiring a tent from one of the local outfitters is between $75- and $90- a day for the winter tents, either hot tent or a mountaineering type, that would be OK for a quick 5 day trip but not when I'm looking at 90 days, that being the limit of the cheap visa. if I did four 5 day trips that is already $1500- USD so inthis case i really think buying would be better.
Drop off flights of around 100 klicks cost about $500- per person 4 share

[Stew63]

One of the Hel Sport tents from Norway? They are made for the Arctic conditions.The Hel Sport 'Svarlvard High Camp' or too spacious? Hel Sport have lots of options. If you are going up into the arctic you'll need a gun too.

[Mark F]

Hot tent, 7 to 10 days , fuel ?

Given Moondogs's DIY predilection I would assume he will pack a little pot to boil down the odd seal or walrus for their oil in best Inuit style.

[Eremophila]

good on you MD! Nothing like having something to plan for.

BI has always been in the background plan for my 60th (some way off yet) but it would be a vastly more "soft" itinerary. In reality it will more likely be the Laugavegur Trek.

[Moondog55]

Hel Sport have lots of options. If you are going up into the arctic you'll need a gun too.

Yes I will; they are mandated as compulsory for some trips; in some areas to licensed guides only. I'm hoping my mtes will take care of all that.
Polar bears!
Luckilly the people I will be travelling with in those areas will have all that information
Don't yet know about Alaska but I'm sure all that will come together
Hmmm Baffin Island probably not but possible if I could get a permit
My contact is in Inukvit

But this is what has been recommended for beginners
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nu/auyuittuq/index.aspx

[Eremophila]

[quote="Moondog55Hmmm Baffin Island probably not but possible if I could get a permit
My contact is in Inukvit
But this is what has been recommended for beginners
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nu/auyuittuq/index.aspx[/quote]

That's Baffin Island? (eh)

If I had a serious bucket list 'twould be on it.

[andrewa]

Who's dying?

[Moondog55]

PM incoming Andrew

[jla987]

2020/21?
It will be shorts and t-shirt weather by then

[Moondog55]

No it won't
it will be in some places by 2050 tho
Arctic Oven comes up a lot when searching

[Moondog55]

I've looked at many tents since I first posted this question.
My first priority is still ease of erection in a storm and maximum stormworthiness with minimum weight
I keep coming back to my little Macpac Minaret with one major reservation, it can't be double poled and there are no more sturdy poles readily available for it and I think 9mm is a little on the small side and Macpac spares are hard to source and expensive
This brings me back to Hilleberg
The Hilleberg Nammatj in very close in size and weight to my Minaret being only a few hundred grams heavier but it has 10mm wands as against 9mm and the fly is much heavier and stronger
I'm wondering if the version with the extended vestibule is worth saving for?
I have friends who have an extended vestibule Hilleberg tent and I have always been impressed with the utility of the extra space but it is 600 grams heavier and over time that weight adds up
A secondary and important question is whether the third pole makes the stretched version of the Nammatj stronger in a big blow

[stry]

Nammatj would be my pick. Love those big up high vents, and full interior height at both poles

Extended vestibule would be nice. The worse the weather, the nicer it would be. I've never looked at one in the "flesh", but might it be possible to strip an extended vestibule back a bit and maybe save some weight ? Or is the whole thing too well integrated ?

[Moondog55]

Having seen the extended vestibule on Sim1ozs bigger tent I would say they were very well integrated indeed

[stry]

Only you know what the weather is likely to be and what you can do, but sleds have been mentioned, so I presume no big loads being carried on the person.

In those circumstances, 600g sounds like a very small weight penalty for the security and all round user friendliness of the extended vestibule.

[legend]

If travelling with extreme winds expected and little or no shelter, I would look at the Nammatj 2 or 3 person but not have the extended vestibule. The 3 will have ample room for two plus gear, much easier to pitch in a storm and less fabric to catch in high winds.

[Moondog55]

The Kaitum has been suggested also because of my height and therefore my length when lying down but 10mm wands are supposedly so much stronger than the 9mm poles of the Kaitum
If this was so I think I'd simply save the money and get an Olympus and modify it

[Moondog55]

One Planet have suggested that I look seriously at their "Nissen"
https://www.oneplanet.com.au/product/te ... es/nissen/
Although it lacks some of what I consider Arctic essentials like valances and extra guy points

[Neo]

Looks like extra guy points above the entrances and on each pole along the sides (2+6).
Nice looking design but more for an Aussie winter not Arctic strength! The 980mm head height wouldn't be much fun after a while.

[slparker]

igloo?

[Moondog55]

Looks like extra guy points above the entrances and on each pole along the sides (2+6).
Nice looking design but more for an Aussie winter not Arctic strength! The 980mm head height wouldn't be much fun after a while.

Fabric in the outer would be strong enough but the wands are only 9.6mm DAC Featherlite which are not.
While I agree on the clearance I think it's needed to avoid the worst of the wind and it is about the same as my Minaret.

[Neo]

Would be cool if you could borrow or get a secondhand one of these from AAD! Too much paperwork

[Franco]

Those Polar tents are 30 kg each...

[Moondog55]

Those Polar tents are 30 kg each...

Is that all? I actually thought they weighed a lot more than that but even 30kg is 25kg too much solo.

[andrewa]

30kg!! Wow! No wonder they only got as far as the carpark before needing to pitch it!

Hilleberg....

A

[Moondog55]

I had a good look at the One Planet tunnel tent today when I picked up my refurbished sleeping bag
It won't work in those temperatures
While I would be happy in it at Australian Alpine temperatures its internal length isn't enough for the extra 300mm length of an Arctic bag

[Franco]

I don't remember if I have suggested this already on other threads but if I were you I would take a good look at the Exped Polaris.
Fully freestanding, including vestibule
Single wall but using eVent
220cm floor but fully useable (vertical ends)
hybrid tunnel/semi geodesic design, looks good to me from all sides and for a decent snow load. (no flat bits at the top)
106 cm headroom, a bit tight for you but better than some (no real pointy head required)
Bogong might have it in stock.
http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-cat ... rettyPhoto
see this 6'6" user review :
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/exped/polaris/

[Moondog55]

You did Franco and I checked it out online but I remain unconvinced about single wall tents other than tarp tipis such as the Megamid.
I am drooling over that Polar Dome tho if I was cold camping at Falls Creek; even if it is inner pitch first

[Moondog55]

A well known member of the forum just gave me a "Heads-Up" on this sat Toms Outdoors

https://www.tomsoutdoors.com.au/collect ... 2622125510

If I had the cash I think I would already have bought it