First time hot tenting

[Chris]

I bought a OneTigris Rock Fortress a while back and used it a few times over spring and summer.

Finally it's cold enough to use it with a stove, huzzah! So I bought I stove. I went for a Winnerwell Nomad, which comes with all the bits and pieces: https://www.winnerwell.co.uk/product/winnerwell-nomad-view-m-sized-camping-stove-package/

I've purchased two CO alarms, always conscious of the old "two is one and one is none" adage.

Is there anything I need to be aware of before my first foray? Or any other kit I'll likely need that isn't 1. a hot tent and 2. the stuff in that package?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[bopdude]

Use the spark arrestor, depending on the wood being burnt you my find that the flue chokes up with resin and may need cleaning, happened to one of us on one of the Arctic trips. May want to look into getting a heat resistant mat for the stove to sit on to catch any embers that may fall out when refueling, if the spark arrestor has tie out points use them, it may be all obvious stuff but..........

Enjoy and pictures please.

 

[nigelp]

Taller chimney than the shelter height helps the wind take the soot and any sparks away from the shelter itself.
The ‘floor’ under the stove gets very hot so make sure you clear it of anything that might combust. Bare soil is always good.
Build the fire in the stove up slowly because it goes from warm to ‘hot as the sun’ very quickly and doesn’t cool as quickly.
The stove is messy and I take some leather gloves to handle the cooled and messy stove in the morning.
I remove the tent floor and everything from inside before taking the stove apart because it is sooty.
I have found heat logs or properly dried wood best because it is cleaner and produces less smoke and soot.
Open the door carefully. Things can fall out and resinous and damp wood can spit projectiles out.
A metal poker and or tongs can make it easier to play about with the fire inside.

Enjoy

 

[crosslandkelly]

+1 to the above.
I've only hot tented in my Polish lavvu, but it sounds like you have every thing covered.
Be aware of the amount of fuel you will need if you want to run the stove all night, you'll be up every hour and a half to two hours to top up the stove.
The cotton canvas of the lavvu is fairly heavy and retains the heat fairly well, so I can close the stove right down. I don't know how well modern synthetics will retain heat though.
Enjoy your experiences.

 

[Chris]

Use the spark arrestor, depending on the wood being burnt you my find that the flue chokes up with resin and may need cleaning, happened to one of us on one of the Arctic trips. May want to look into getting a heat resistant mat for the stove to sit on to catch any embers that may fall out when refueling, if the spark arrestor has tie out points use them, it may be all obvious stuff but..........

Enjoy and pictures please.

Thanks! The pack comes with a heat mat thankfully, and I'll be having it on bare soil as don't have a ground sheet for my Rock Fortress.

Will post up pictures when I'm back, hoping to take it for a spin on Saturday.

 

[Chris]

Taller chimney than the shelter height helps the wind take the soot and any sparks away from the shelter itself.
The ‘floor’ under the stove gets very hot so make sure you clear it of anything that might combust. Bare soil is always good.
Build the fire in the stove up slowly because it goes from warm to ‘hot as the sun’ very quickly and doesn’t cool as quickly.
The stove is messy and I take some leather gloves to handle the cooled and messy stove in the morning.
I remove the tent floor and everything from inside before taking the stove apart because it is sooty.
I have found heat logs or properly dried wood best because it is cleaner and produces less smoke and soot.
Open the door carefully. Things can fall out and resinous and damp wood can spit projectiles out.
A metal poker and or tongs can make it easier to play about with the fire inside.

Enjoy

Thanks kindly. I'll remember to build the fire slowly. I've got some welder's gloves I use for fiddling with my fire usually, so I'll be sure to still bring those.

 

[Chris]

+1 to the above.
I've only hot tented in my Polish lavvu, but it sounds like you have every thing covered.
Be aware of the amount of fuel you will need if you want to run the stove all night, you'll be up every hour and a half to two hours to top up the stove.
The cotton canvas of the lavvu is fairly heavy and retains the heat fairly well, so I can close the stove right down. I don't know how well modern synthetics will retain heat though.
Enjoy your experiences.
View attachment 91780

That looks nice and cosy indeed. I suspect the Rock Fortress will not hold the heat as well, but I'll see how it goes this weekend and report back. It's going down to about 2C overnight I think.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Enjoy, mate. Great time of year to be out and about. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

 

[Roughneck]

I’ve Hot Tented a few times now and absolutely love it. As mentioned it does get hot pretty quick and you’ll find having the door opened a lot to regulate the heat. Actually the colder the better to have a greater effect. I did find that by rotating the stove round depending on how you’re sleeping it’s easier to top up during the night. Once you get the hang of the stove you can keep it going for hours on how you set the various dampers and type of fuel.

I used 2 Ikea utensil baskets for my flue, cheap as chips and works perfectly. It has also been blinged up with a skirt which makes a huge difference inside and zips. It’s not light but worth the weight as it will last and won’t burn easily. I’ve been in some pretty high winds and no issues. I always tie down the flue for extra security for the stove.

You’ll enjoy it, its, ie dry your cloths out, cooking, water always on the boil Great Stuff.

 

[Chris]

Looks like a great setup there. Loving the Ikea utensil baskets! Great improvisation.

I’ll be heading out this weekend now, following my plans being hampered last week by the storm.

Very excited! Should be getting down to freezing so the warmth will be most welcome.

 

[Roughneck]

I'm not sure how many night you’re out for, but what ever wood you process for your session I always cut about 50% more, you'll be surprised what you do use.

If you have the hot water tank that the web link suggested what a great piece of kit. Keep it topped up because if the fire goes out that retains extra heat which will radiate into the tent.

 

[Chris]

I'm not sure how many night you’re out for, but what ever wood you process for your session I always cut about 50% more, you'll be surprised what you do use.

If you have the hot water tank that the web link suggested what a great piece of kit. Keep it topped up because if the fire goes out that retains extra heat which will radiate into the tent.

I tend to cut as much as I think I need and then triple it. Same as when I am cooking pasta!

I do have the water tank, I am very much looking forward to giving that a go.

 

[Chris]

I've purchased two CO alarms, always conscious of the old "two is one and one is none" adage.

I am pleased to report that upon opening the door to feed in more wood, the FireAngel CO alarm at bed height (next to the stove door) has beeped a couple of times, and the other alarm I have with a display hung up high in the tent has shown little spikes up to about 20ppm. On closing the door, this drops back down to zero pretty rapidly.

I am pleased that they are working.