which lavvu should I buy

[elma]

I'm looking to buy a Lavvu of some kind and I'm looking for some advice, it will be used as a base for summer or winter for 4 people and must be able to hold all kit etc as well as being comfortable, packed size and weight is not an issue
advice please

Ian

 

[Bernie Garland]

This link might help Ian
http://lavvu.com/index.html

Bernie

 

[sandbender]

Here is a link to the Tentipi website...

http://www.tentipi.com/

I've been using a Varrie 9cp for a couple of years now, it will comfortably house four people and lots of gear.

I purchased mine from these guys...

http://www.stunningtents.co.uk/

Friendly and speedy service, possibly cheaper to fly to Sweden and buy one though

 

[sandbender]

A pic of the varrie cp9 taken on a trip down the River Tay...

 

[SimonM]

Elma - I have 2 Helsport lavu and rate them highly.

I have the Porsanger 8 - 10, which is IMHO about the size you are looking for for 4 people, with winter gear. I don't have a stove in mine yet, but will probably get one for next winter.

The other is the LavuLight, which is basically a packpacking lavu.

I got both from Tamarack (no link to seller ETC ETC ETC)
http://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/d...ent List&filterb=Tepee&filterc=Helsport Tepee

EDIT:
Picture shows both in the Yorkshire Dales last summer - first outing for both.

HTH

Simon

 

[littlebiglane]

I have had a 9 person Varrie CP Tentipi for about a year. I love it. Robust, well made, spacious for 4 people. I have no complaints. After a while even the pain of the price dulls (eventually)

I bought mine at Taunton Leisure (http://www.tauntonleisure.com/categories/tentipi/196/1)

They also do a rental (I think that this can be offset against a purchase - £150 for a week)

Pack size is okay - about a 75cm by 50cm. 16kilos (it is made of canvas style material). It IS waterproof. I used it last summer (the summer of continuous rain, remember) and not one drop of rain entered. The CP material of course breaths and is cool in summer, just as it is warmer in winter. CP does not suffer from condensation build up like Nylon or Polyester with PU coatings. It took me 30 mins to put up initially! But now I am down to a slick, un-rushed 10 minutes on my own with no help (as if my wife would raise a finger anyway!). Forget the inner (no need with the CP) and I recommend getting a floor. There is a techique for getting the floor right but I'll tell you about that if you take the plunge!

If you need to know any more then PM me.

LBL (Mark)

 

[sandbender]

I agree with everything littlebiglane has said, the packed size is very manageable, except on two kilometer portages

The varrie is completely waterproof, I lived in mine for five months in Perthshire last year, always comfortable, never clammy.

There are tricks to putting it up which decrease the amount of 'adjusting' thats needed and speeds up the whole assembly process.

I have the floor and it is very tough, but it was very expensive for what it is, a bit of R&D could probably source something as useful for a fraction of the price.

So far I've gone through three different stoves, none of which have been ideal and I'm still looking. I may end up building something myself.

 

[littlebiglane]

I have the floor and it is very tough, but it was very expensive for what it is, a bit of R&D could probably source something as useful for a fraction of the price.

So far I've gone through three different stoves, none of which have been ideal and I'm still looking. I may end up building something myself.

I agree about the floor - could make one cheaper. As for the stove - its a holy grail for me too. And forget their fireboxes - I think they are rusting rubbish.

 

[sandbender]

And forget their fireboxes - I think they are rusting rubbish.

Yep, Im told their fireboxes are not so good...

Elma, if you plan to use your lavvu in the winter you will probably want a stove or firebox, like Littlebiglane I'm still looking for the ideal one.

These are the ones I've tried so far...

Tentipi's own stove...
http://www.stunningtents.co.uk/Sales/Stove_chimney.asp

I've heard very bad reports about this stove, although it seems well made, I used one in the Swedish Arctic, and it did a very good job of keeping the outside temperature of -40 at bay, however a team using one in another lavuu had the bottom fall out of theirs in the middle of the night, of course it was too hot to reattach and without the constantly burning stove the temperature in the lavvu plummeted



Helsport Lavvu Wood Stove
http://www.helsport.no/helsport/pro...2&entrypage=true&guid=1&lnodeid=0&pageid=5014

I like this one the best, however it does tend to rust, and I find the front opening is less handy than a top opening stove especially when your trying to shove roughly cut fire wood into it.


Zeltofen Sved TP12
http://www.feuerzelte.de/shop/show_det.php?det=88&nav=36&rb=60

I'm told that this is the issue stove for the Swedish army, like the Helsport is tends to rust, also the chimney sections are very heavy in comparison to the Helsport and perhaps most importantly it seems more more difficult to get a fire going in it and to keep that fire going than either of the other two.

If portability is less of an issue I'd be tempted to check out one of these

http://www.windysmithy.co.uk/html/woodburners.htm

 

[SOAR]

I have a Bison tundra 4 and I find it a good Lavvu for the price, never had any problems with it, although the green is a little dark inside compared to the Tenttipi, if money is no object I would go for the latter. I use a Hellesport stove in mine, and have experienced the same problems as sandbender with the rusting, other than that its a cracking little stove. All I do with mine is give it a light rub over with some fine sandpaper every now and again.

Mine is the one on the left, the middle one is PJMC Bear's and the one on the left is a Tenttipi that belongs to Thingswelike.

The stove.

 

[elma]

Elma - I have 2 Helsport lavu and rate them highly.

I have the Porsanger 8 - 10, which is IMHO about the size you are looking for for 4 people, with winter gear. I don't have a stove in mine yet, but will probably get one for next winter.

The other is the LavuLight, which is basically a packpacking lavu.

I got both from Tamarack (no link to seller ETC ETC ETC)
http://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/d...ent List&filterb=Tepee&filterc=Helsport Tepee

EDIT:
Picture shows both in the Yorkshire Dales last summer - first outing for both.

HTH

Simon

I had a look at the porsanger on the tamarack stall during the midland game fair and I too was very impressed but I also like the tent tipi,
what is is bringing over to buying the posanger is that tamerack offered to set me up to pay instalments by standing order and ship the lavvu when full payement is made, this is a serious concideration as saving money is not one of my strong points, especially when there's kit to buy

Ian

 

[littlebiglane]

Elma, you could ask the same with Taunton Leisure (or other Tentipi retailers) - if you don't ask, you don't get (or won't know if they would or would not).

I have the email contact for the MD of Taunton Leisure if you would like it. PM me.

Mark

 

[godfather]

I am still dreaming (saving actually) for a Varrie 9 CP. Does anyone have any internal shots with some kit/people in it so that I can see the real size of the thing? I find the tentipi pictures are a bit hit and miss. I would love to have the same internal pictures of the Bison Tundra 8 also (which I could buy now!!). As always am gratfull for any assistance.

 

[sandbender]

Does anyone have any internal shots with some kit/people in it so that I can see the real size of the thing?

It is huge!

Captions on a postcard please

 

[littlebiglane]

I am still dreaming (saving actually) for a Varrie 9 CP. Does anyone have any internal shots with some kit/people in it so that I can see the real size of the thing? I find the tentipi pictures are a bit hit and miss. I would love to have the same internal pictures of the Bison Tundra 8 also (which I could buy now!!). As always am gratfull for any assistance.

I am sorry I don't have any internal piccies. I really should. Next time it is up I'll snap some for you. If you want to get a feel for it measure out the floorspace on the floor - even hang some rope/string from a central point - 5.3 metres diameter and 3.1 metres high centre point.

 

[littlebiglane]

It is huge!

Captions on a postcard please

"Look, its even got a flush toilet!"

 

[sandbender]

"Look, its even got a flush toilet!"

 

[godfather]

Sandbender,

thanks for the pictures it does look very big. Does anyone know of anywhere where I can look at them erected?

 

[littlebiglane]

Sandbender,

thanks for the pictures it does look very big. Does anyone know of anywhere where I can look at them erected?

Taunton Leisure is having a series of Tent Shows where the Tentipis will be erected:
The first is at Bristol (Clifton Rugby Club) 3-11 May 9am-6pm. Give them a call and check that they bring the right models along for you to look at.

 

[elma]

Thats great news mark as I'm still torn between the Helsport porsander lavvu and the tentipi
I'll give them a ring

Ian