Not in my experience. I am 5ft 10 and my legs are poking out the bottom. Too small and dark for me. Mine lies unused.
Polish army tent - Lavvu on a budget ?
- Thread starter Shewie
- Start date
Not in my experience. I am 5ft 10 and my legs are poking out the bottom. Too small and dark for me. Mine lies unused.
jimbo75
Settler
Mine too... Dark, small and cold... Need to put a tarp on it as a porch area to be able to stretch out.
I've pitched it several times and tried to like it but not managed to. I've now given up. More useful as two ponchos than as a tipi.
Has anyone ever bought two of these tents and joined them together? I would love to see some photos or video if they have. I now the basic two poncho set up will be to cramped for my porky 6'2" frame but like the idea of trying the Lavvu set up especially when an open fire is part of the camp out experience.
I've used mine quite a lot now, for up to a week at a time. I've learned to pitch it as an oval instead of a circle in order to be able to stretch out in it, and also to angle the pole so that I don't have to curl around it. I sleep well in it because it's so dark inside.
Ventilation is critical or moisture condenses inside. I leave the entrance mostly unbuttoned and just hook both bottoms over the same tent stake when I want it closed. A fire in front makes it really cozy, but a reflector is essential in order to redirect smoke. Making the fire against a big rock and then pitching the tent with the entrance one big step away is ideal.
The only "modification" I've done is loops of baling twine through the grommets at the bottom. They allow me to use large stakes cut on site and/or tie off to saplings. It also adds some ventilation from underneath.
Ventilation is critical or moisture condenses inside. I leave the entrance mostly unbuttoned and just hook both bottoms over the same tent stake when I want it closed. A fire in front makes it really cozy, but a reflector is essential in order to redirect smoke. Making the fire against a big rock and then pitching the tent with the entrance one big step away is ideal.
The only "modification" I've done is loops of baling twine through the grommets at the bottom. They allow me to use large stakes cut on site and/or tie off to saplings. It also adds some ventilation from underneath.
Ahh the advantage of being only 5'9" and female - I have one of these, pitched it in an oval shape and with a happy little firebox just outside the open doors I sleep soundly and snugly. But then I sleep soundly in a bivi bag or Czech bedroll... So, what do I know? Mine cost about £15 and it's not dead yet, me neither.. Though my tiny adaptation is to put a groundsheet under the pole and to have made a small wooden support for the pole to stand on so it doesn't dig into the groundsheet or sink into the ground once it's gone through the groundsheet! It gets heavy if it's wet, but then it's not really a backpacking bit of kit!
Rather than add extra material to enlarge the Laavu, I pitched mine Like this.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131473 And here. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132226
I found that with a little more tweaking, and I could close it up completely.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131473 And here. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132226
I found that with a little more tweaking, and I could close it up completely.
They can also be used like the finnish style "loue" shelter, with a fire between the two it works wonderfully and is a brillian camp
A friend has just given me theirs as they knew I had one - I'm going to experiment with a skirt and and a taller pole.. But I have a query.. When I got my original one it had been through some kind of waterproofing. Do I need to do anything to the 'new' one to waterproof it? I always wonder about new canvas stuff. I've never got wet through but that may be luck, or sleeping through the rain and through the dry out period after...
Just had mine out for its first proper use. The canvas got soaked through but didn't leak except for a small patch right down low but that stopped as soon the heavy rain let up. Not bad for something that was waterproofed in the early '80s then lobbed into storage.
Still going to fabsil the whole lot though.
That's after 26 hours pretty solid rain and everything was soaked.
Still going to fabsil the whole lot though.
That's after 26 hours pretty solid rain and everything was soaked.
These things are like marmite you either love them or hate them, I love mine and I'm 5'10" no problems, just bend your knees a bit
Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk
Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk
I'm 6' 4" and I'm fine, although a little tight on lying down headroom. can't see how someone 5' 10" is cramped??????????
I'll have yours????
Yes I did with a £3 pound washing line pole from B and Q. Put a rubber bung on the bottom....
Brilliant things for the canoe, and I'm 6' 4", and there's enough room for me....
Mods can be as extensive as you like but as they are minimalist £20 tents, it seemed odd to go and spend a fortune thereon?
So, some spare cord to add loops around the circumference...aids pitching with decent pegs
Some spare cord to lace the opening instead of fiddling with the buttons
£3 extendable washing line pole from B and Q. Cut 18" off bottom and slipped on rubber foot. Put that in a tin lid on groundsheet.
A cheap woven tarp £5 for groundsheet and a Czech army bivi/bedroll for £9. Snug. And I don't like to be cold.....
Of course you can sew in zips, flaps, whatever......
Has stood up to some good breezes and never leaked........
Oooh, expensive mod....ECO tealight lamp, and 10 hr candle....about a tenner............( hung from chain from top of washing line pole, as has a hook thing up there?)
Mods can be as extensive as you like but as they are minimalist £20 tents, it seemed odd to go and spend a fortune thereon?
So, some spare cord to add loops around the circumference...aids pitching with decent pegs
Some spare cord to lace the opening instead of fiddling with the buttons
£3 extendable washing line pole from B and Q. Cut 18" off bottom and slipped on rubber foot. Put that in a tin lid on groundsheet.
A cheap woven tarp £5 for groundsheet and a Czech army bivi/bedroll for £9. Snug. And I don't like to be cold.....
Of course you can sew in zips, flaps, whatever......
Has stood up to some good breezes and never leaked........
Oooh, expensive mod....ECO tealight lamp, and 10 hr candle....about a tenner............( hung from chain from top of washing line pole, as has a hook thing up there?)
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