View Full Version : Tepee,Millets
Graywolf
05-04-2006, 02:44
Daughter went for a weekend job in Millets and brought me home their tent catalogue,have a look at this.Nice size,Wife wanted one straight away as a birthday present so I got it for her.Cost 20% of at the moment and £4.95 postage total £52.94.
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/Product.aspx?CS_ProductID=0945 85(BLG+Base+Catalog)&CatalogNavigationBreadCrumbs=M illets+Summer+Virtual%3bMIL+SS 06+Camping(BLG+Base+Catalog)%3 bMIL+SS06+Tents(BLG+Base+Catal og)
I thought they looked good. accent on the "thought". I got one and had it up at the weekend duringk a Scout camp, and have to say I was exceptionally dissapointed. :(
1) The window seals leak. In the rain water puddles form directly below the window. Right onto my thermarest and sleeping bag.
2) The strip of patterned material at the bottom is not so waterproof as the rest of the tent. water seeps in with ridiculous ease.
3) The stiched seal between the groundsheet and the outer points upward, making a nice rim for water to pool at the bottom - right by where the material isn't waterproof.
As a result - when it rains (and boy, it DID rain this weekend), water runs down the sides, accumulates at the bottom and seeps through into the body of the teepee and settles there on the groundsheet. And that's all the way around, except where the doors are.
I'm really dissapointed at this - I know it's not a full-on survival thing and is described in the Milletts catalog as "· Quick and easy to put up · Fun tepee style shelter · Great for those summer festivals" but I would especially refute that last part utterly. As a garden play thing - fine; but don't even think about using it as a way of keeping anything dry in the rain.
It's plus points are
1) the amount of space inside - it really is big inside!
2) the headroom in the middle - it was nice to be able to stand up inside it.
3) the overall sturdyness of the teepee when up - it was very stable
4) the pole - I have to admit it was nice & solid.
However these are outweighed big-time by its minus ones - and that's what makes it so dissapointing. There are some major design flaws in this product. Mine's going back this weekend - the manager at my local MIllets asked me for a mini-review of the thing, and I'm afraid he's gonna get it... :D
bothyman
05-04-2006, 08:31
It looks nice but it looks like you could get a lot of condensation inside .
I have a Pyramid tent (Stormshield X Tent) and sometimes just put up the outer even with an air gap at the bottom it get too hot inside in warm weather.
But its fine as long as I use the inner with it.
I presume the seams are not sealed when you buy it?? and need sorting with seam sealant the first time out??
Whenever I buy a new tent I always buy seam sealant at the same time, so I can make sure all the seams are sealed..
MickT
They looked sealed, but on closer inspection around the window there were a couple of places where the stiching wasn't up to much. It was almost as if the inside window flaps (for privacy I suppose) had been a target for water to enter, as the puddles were directly under the flaps. The rest of the seams seemed fine, there was no leakage in any other part of the structure.
It definately wasn't condensation - I wasn't in the teepee when the water got in!
I think however that the main problem is the strip of decorated material at the bottom that rain water can't help but run onto, it just got really saturated, really quickly - after only 2 hours worth of rain!
I've been playing around with this idea for a while, Magikelly and Motorbikeman's fault :rolleyes: but kept coming up against the £££ figure for something that I might not use. Thanks for all the advice folks, I think I'm going to try it though but use it as a template/ improver upper. I'll take on board the issues bothWomble and Bothyman raised and see what I can do about them.
Cheers,
Toddy
Squidders
05-04-2006, 11:03
That's a shame - I was seriously thinking about getting one of these... I admit, the main reason is because I can't say no to a bargain but still... a little annoying about the quality issues.
Cheers,
Joe
I was wondering if it might not be easier to make one?
I don't know what fabric woyld be best but as long as it was light and waterproof it would be a nice alternative to a tarp.
Maybe someone would volunteer to knock one up for me? ;)
Seriously if a pattern and fabric recommendations were available I'd be inclined to have a go.
Moduser
I was wondering if it might not be easier to make one?
I don't know what fabric woyld be best but as long as it was light and waterproof it would be a nice alternative to a tarp.
Maybe someone would volunteer to knock one up for me? ;)
Seriously if a pattern and fabric recommendations were available I'd be inclined to have a go.
Moduser
Some friends of mine were discussing doing just that (making one) last Wednesday. One of them had a source for material as used for making re-enactment tents at a very reasonable price, and we were seriously considering it. However, this would not be a compact pack-up affair, this material is reasonably heavy duty!
That's the thing Womble, I'd want something that I could scrunch down into a medium Exped bag (about 5 ltr).
I wonder if Pertex would make a good enough tipee? not sure how waterproof it would be. Anyone know if Sil Nylon is available in UK?
Rgds
Moduser
Grateful for the review - I thought it looked an interesting tent. There are some good cheap tents but its a pity this isn't one of them.
Are the poles good? I think they are steel but then again this ain't a backpacking tent. Perhaps a decent fly could be made from proofed cotton or similar.
mojofilter
05-04-2006, 21:28
I wonder if they could be modified a bit to sort out some of the shortcomings......
Im thinking along the lines of cutting the groundsheet out and attacking the seams and material bit at the bottom with a tin of Barbour wax or similar.... :rolleyes:
What are they made of, just standard cheap tent material?
I got mine today, and haven't had a chance to play with it really yet. It's just bog standard tent fabric but I see what Womble means about the patterned band around the bottom. I think some serious re-construction is in order; groundsheet and hems particularly, but I'll have a good look at the window too.
On the plus side the pole looks good and sturdy and the tepee looks as though it goes up easily. If nothing else it's a good sized pattern and it'll do for the kids to play in; if the weather holds when I'm out next I think I'd like to have a good shot at it and see just how suitable it is for cooking, sitting, sleeping, etc.
Cheers,
Toddy
running bare
05-04-2006, 21:41
making them is not so difficult and the choice of material is up to you i made one out of 9.5 oz cotton canvas from whaleys of bradford cost in all to make about £120 with thread and needles, mind you it is 9ft high x 16ft dia. not a lightweight but good as a base camp for a week or so or as group tent on canoe trips ( when i get mine finished ) check out my avitar :D
mojofilter
05-04-2006, 21:44
I got mine today, and haven't had a chance to play with it really yet. It's just bog standard tent fabric but I see what Womble means about the patterned band around the bottom. I think some serious re-construction is in order; groundsheet and hems particularly, but I'll have a good look at the window too.
On the plus side the pole looks good and sturdy and the tepee looks as though it goes up easily. If nothing else it's a good sized pattern and it'll do for the kids to play in; if the weather holds when I'm out next I think I'd like to have a good shot at it and see just how suitable it is for cooking, sitting, sleeping, etc.
Cheers,
Toddy
Put it up in the garden and sleep in it tonight....... :D
Motorbike Man
05-04-2006, 21:53
I've been playing around with this idea for a while, Magikelly and Motorbikeman's fault :rolleyes: but kept coming up against the £££ figure for something that I might not use. Thanks for all the advice folks, I think I'm going to try it though but use it as a template/ improver upper. I'll take on board the issues bothWomble and Bothyman raised and see what I can do about them.
Cheers,
Toddy
Let me know how you get on :D
featherman208
05-04-2006, 22:11
just reading your posts on tipi's and thought you might like to see this i came across a while ago....not quite as pricey as the light my fire tipi's but dear enough all the same,remember the price is in dollars http://www.kifaru.net/TIPI.HTM
lightweight,option for you to look at anyway.
have seen photo's of running bears home made tipi and must say he's made a cracking job of building his own ,looks suitably sturdy ,don't think any one would pick it up and run away with it anyway r.b.
bothyman
06-04-2006, 08:31
I wonder if they could be modified a bit to sort out some of the shortcomings......
Im thinking along the lines of cutting the groundsheet out and attacking the seams and material bit at the bottom with a tin of Barbour wax or similar.... :rolleyes:
What are they made of, just standard cheap tent material?
Use Seam Sealant most camping shops sell it, its usually the seams that are leaking through the stitching.
It says taped seams on the ad though??
Can't be that bad for £50??
I fancy one but that window puts me off .
MickT
Had a play with it this morning, inclined to be pleased to be honest. It's *big*, the windows are diamond shaped and I reckon I can seal them no bother. The bottom edge is going to need some work because I can see what Womble meant about it creating a drip trap, need to think about that one :rolleyes:
HWMBLT says that the Glasgow shop had these marked as half price for £59.9?,
I'm going to wait for a sunny, light wind day and put it up and seal all the seams again and decide what to do about the groundsheet/tent seam.
Cheers,
Toddy
'HWMBLT'
LOL, I've not seen that before!
Had a play with it this morning, inclined to be pleased to be honest. It's *big*, the windows are diamond shaped and I reckon I can seal them no bother. The bottom edge is going to need some work because I can see what Womble meant about it creating a drip trap, need to think about that one :rolleyes:
HWMBLT says that the Glasgow shop had these marked as half price for £59.9?,
I'm going to wait for a sunny, light wind day and put it up and seal all the seams again and decide what to do about the groundsheet/tent seam.
Cheers,
Toddy
I must admit that IF a solution could be found for the material at the bottom and drip tray/leaky windows, I'd actually quite like to keep the thing - and if I was going somwhere by car and could guarantee good weather (other UK residents start laughing hysterically at thins point...) I wouldn't mind giving it another chance.
Leaky windows; I'm going to use the iron on, or glue on seal sealer tape over the outside stitching. I think that ought to do it. I like the shaping of them.
The bottom edge I think is going to be more problematical :confused: Theoretically the same seal sealer glue ought to be enough, but that depends on the fabric being waterproof, and your experience kind of indicates that it's not very when water is lying on it. Might be easier just to replace, or recover the entire band with something I *know* is waterproof and make a really good job of sealing the seams. D'you think that would do it?
Cheers,
Toddy
mojofilter
06-04-2006, 14:59
I have heard that that Ronsons Waterseal, the stuff that you use for brick walls and stuff, can be used sucessfully on fabrics and tarps etc....
I must admit that I really quite fancy one of these at that price :rolleyes:
Is the peak ventilated, I can see it being a cozy little place with my Tilley radiator keeping it warm. :)
Thanks for the tips on the Ronseal stuff; I'd never have thought of using that for fabric :rolleyes:
It has a seperate flysheet cap, and there are two ground level ventilation meshes as well. Two doorways too. The cap might need to be remade from something heatproof if using a biggish stove, but there's certainly enough room inside for cooking/ socialising with normal camping equipment. I'm going to try to get hold of some fireblanket to use beneath my stove, maybe cut a fold back flap near the hole that accomodates the pole in the groundsheet to make extra sure I've got a safe patch for cooking/ heating.
I think I'll see about some sort of clamp that will fit the pole and give me two brackets at a safe height to hang candle lanterns from.
I'm having fun, can you guess? :D
It's definitely not a lightweight camp outfit, but for a weekend or more I think it could be very comfortable, and room to sit up comfortably and work counts for a lot these days.
Cheers,
Toddy
HereToddy equivilent of ronseal on weekly special at Aldi today might be worth comparing prices http://www.aldi-stores.co.uk/ item 54 of 57 near the bottom
Dave.
mojofilter
06-04-2006, 16:47
Couldn't help myself but order one..... :rolleyes:
I'm sure I'm not the only one watching this thread with interest......I could do with a biggish tent and if the bugs can be ironed out......
Let us know how things go.
Graham_S
07-04-2006, 20:56
one of my friends' wife works in millets, i wonder if she can use her staff discount...........
Any updates from folk who've tried this tent?
mojofilter
21-04-2006, 12:53
I have had mine up in the back garden since Saturday, and it has rained pretty much every day for a while. The water does pool reound the bottom a little bit, but unlike Wombles mine has not let more than a few drops in here and there, apart from on Wednesday when I left the doors open to air it while I went to the pub, and it blimmin poured.... :rolleyes:
I have bought a 2.5l tind of Fabsil and am going to coat the whole thing with it, particularly round the bottom, and I am thinking of sealing the upward facing seams with Duck tape.
I'll take some photos later. :)
How do you find the windows? I'm beginning to think they'll need to be taken out altogether. Condensation builds up on the plastic and it runs down inside the tepee. I think this is what caused the drips on Womble's sleeping bag. It might only be a problem in cold weather though and Summer is nearly here.
Cheers,
Toddy
I don't think it was condensation - there was simply too much water for that; there wasn't just drips, there were puddles. The thing was the water was running down the window flap and pooling under there - about a foot or more from any egde. Not only that, I wasn't in the teepee at the time, and it was evening.
It's my plan to get some sort of waterproof material and make a layer that covers both the patterened section and the upward pointing seam. However I'm not sure how it could be bonded onto the outer.
mojofilter
21-04-2006, 14:10
Yeah, bad condensation on the windows, they would be better gone....
I've got a source of waterproof ripstop nylon in the same weight as the tepee, but it's a bushcraft green colour, for £1 a metre at 60" wide.
I've bought enough to make a flysheet for the entire thing and just give myself the extra layer. There'll be left over pieces if anyone wants to take the windows out and sew and then seamseal in new bits. It ought to work as an extra layer round the skirt too. I do like the size, the ease with which it goes up, and the useable space it gives for movement and hanging candle lights. I know that as bought it's not perfect, but it's still a good thing for the cost I think.
Cheers,
Toddy
I don't think it was condensation - there was simply too much water for that; there wasn't just drips, there were puddles. The thing was the water was running down the window flap and pooling under there - about a foot or more from any egde. Not only that, I wasn't in the teepee at the time, and it was evening.
It's my plan to get some sort of waterproof material and make a layer that covers both the patterened section and the upward pointing seam. However I'm not sure how it could be bonded onto the outer.
I can send you a link for fabric but it's not the same colour as the tepee, it's a good bushcraft green ripstop, waterproof nylon. I'll probably have enough left overs to do the windows on a couple more tepees but I don't think there'll be enough to re-do the patterned bits as well.
I think the pieces could just be sewn on with a double seam, like denims, and then seam sealed with the paint on stuff or iron on tape.
Cheers,
Toddy
Yes please toddy, that would be great! How much was the lot of material you bought - to give me some idea of costs/dimensions?
I've got a source of waterproof ripstop nylon in the same weight as the tepee, but it's a bushcraft green colour, for £1 a metre at 60" wide.
I've bought enough to make a flysheet for the entire thing and just give myself the extra layer. There'll be left over pieces if anyone wants to take the windows out and sew and then seamseal in new bits. It ought to work as an extra layer round the skirt too. I do like the size, the ease with which it goes up, and the useable space it gives for movement and hanging candle lights. I know that as bought it's not perfect, but it's still a good thing for the cost I think.
Cheers,
Toddy
Overall I'm inclined to agree - it's just too good an idea to give up on. I just wish they'd put a bit more thought into its initial design!
could you send me the link for the fabric as well please Toddy! :D
Okay, I've phoned Discount Fabrics and they're holding what's left of the green for me, I'll get in and pick it up at the start of next week. Let's see what they've got and we'll go from there. Try and have a work out of how much you might need, I think there's just under 10m left on the roll at £1 a metre, 60" wide. It's lightweight so postage won't be very much.
They do have other fabrics in stock that might do very well too; I spoke with Mazur about posting his contact details here, so if anyone phones about this they'll know what you're talking about. The fabrics are factory over runs, and they are excellent quality outdoor clothing materials. Green goretex is under £5 a metre.
Discount Fabrics, London Road, Glasgow. 07932 737 690
They're in the process of moving from 52, Moncur Street, in the Barras, to just around the corner onto the London Road. The Moncur St. phone number is 0141 552 1777
Disclaimer: I don't make anything from this recommendation, except (hopefully) friends :rolleyes: and cheap kit :D
Cheers,
Toddy
mojofilter
22-04-2006, 19:12
Now I know that you are not supposed to use a naked flame in a tent, but I dare say many of us do.......
The tepee seems to be impossible to heat inside :confused:
I tried my Tilley radiator in it later on last night and it hardly seemed to hold any heat at all. Not to be beaten, I fired up my Nova at full pelt, but all I seemed to get was a heat pocket up near the peak, and very little at ground level..... :confused:
I hadn't thought about heat, I was more concerned about trying to get a safety blanket patch to cook on out of the rain :) You'll just need to fill the space with people or, when you've got the billy on, re-start those clicker heat gel pouches and fill your pockets and boots :)
Wonder if the flysheet might help with heat loss too?
I've bought two of the little candle lanterns and am persuading my brother to make me some sort of bracket that fits onto the pole and hangs them straight, like mini hanging baskets. They give off some heat but not much.
Cheers,
Toddy
mojofilter
22-04-2006, 21:35
Some pics for those who may be interested.... :)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020073.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020134.jpg
The water trap area...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020062.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020135.jpg
And my 'tactical' solution to Toddys candle lantern hanging bracket.... :D
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020139.jpg
Okay, that works too :D
I've been thinking about the water lying on the edge problem and I reckon it's only able to do it because the angle is wrong at that bit.
So, either we have to totally re-make that bottom edge or waterproof it so soundly it doesn't matter or...how about if we just put something *under* the flangeplate the pole sits on, to raise it by maybe 4 or 5cms? That would alter the angle and allow rainwater to run off and since the guylines have a lot of adjustment in them anyway there ought not be any problem putting the tepee up.
My green is sploongin wet still, step on it and loose your boots, so it's going to be fun trying it here :rolleyes:
Cheers,
Toddy
bothyman
23-04-2006, 12:11
The top half looks under tension but the bottom half looks slack??
It looks like it could be the guylines that are causing some of the problems??
MickT
I agree with bothyman i've just found this site a similar design tent but you can see its tensioned all the way down http://www.armytents.co.uk/special_offers.asp
Dave.
mojofilter
27-04-2006, 02:26
It lashed really heavy for ages on Monday evening / night, and not a drop inside the tepee, I've come to the conclusion that I trust it to be waterproof! :)
Spikey DaPikey
27-04-2006, 18:27
It lashed really heavy for ages on Monday evening / night, and not a drop inside the tepee, I've come to the conclusion that I trust it to be waterproof! :)
Hiya :)
Have you done any mods to yours, other than the fabseal ?
Cheers :)
mojofilter
28-04-2006, 04:34
Hiya :)
Have you done any mods to yours, other than the fabseal ?
Cheers :)
No, I have not even put the Fabsil on it yet. :)
Spikey DaPikey
28-04-2006, 08:51
No, I have not even put the Fabsil on it yet. :)
Oh !! Cheers for that :)
Im gonna start saving now for one meself ;)
mojofilter
28-04-2006, 16:34
RE the comments about it looking about a bit slack at the bottom, well I stuck a brick under the bottom of the pole, and it has really tightened it up and made a big improvement to the shape....
Pics later if anyone wants. :)
RE the comments about it looking about a bit slack at the bottom, well I stuck a brick under the bottom of the pole, and it has really tightened it up and made a big improvement to the shape....
Pics later if anyone wants. :)
please! :D
I've wanted to try a tepee for a while now and have been looking at Kifaru but the price is a bit beyond what I wanted to pay.
Firstly seam sealing is a must, even Kifaru advise users to do this before use.
I have also tinkered with the idea of making my own from 3x3m usmc camo tarps.
After reading this thread I wondered if any one who had bought the millets tepee had removed the groundsheet?
This would stop the water seepage from the edge material and also allow a small fire to be lit in the middle of the tepee plus it would reduce the overall weight which compared to a kirafu is quite substantial.
I may just go and buy one myself and give it a go, at £60 it's worth a try and if it goes pearshaped the kids can play with it in the garden.
I was going to remove the groundsheet but to be honest is seems fine.....on the other hand I haven't tried it on a wet Scottish hillside yet :rolleyes: There's a centre opening in the groundsheet for the pole to go through, I think I'll just cut and hem a fold back flap in that to accomodate a bit of fireblanket and my little catalytic stove, though I reckon it'd be safe enough for my Swiss army billy stove too. The tepee has a *lot* of floor space :D
Cheers,
Toddy
Thanks for the quick reply Toddy.
I guess I got to try one myself so tomorrow morning I'm off to millets to get me one.
This could solve the annual family campout problem which last year involved a parachute as a group shelter my other half in a one man tent, my daughter in a leaking bivy, me in a hammock and the dog anywhere that would have him.
Cheers
Brendan
mojofilter
28-04-2006, 19:43
Brendan, mine does not have a problem with water seepage. :)
Here is the pics with the pole 'jacked up' a couple of inches, much better shape Im sure you'll agree.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020402.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020425.jpg
That does look better Mojo, nice job, cheers for the pics.
The cat looks pretty happy with his new home.
Cheers
Brendan
Motorbike Man
28-04-2006, 20:03
You know, after seeing those jacked up pics, I really really wish I didn't have a nearly new dome tent and could justify buying a new tent :rolleyes:
Out of curiosity, how small does it pack down too?
mojofilter
28-04-2006, 20:08
That does look better Mojo, nice job, cheers for the pics.
The cat looks pretty happy with his new home.
Cheers
Brendan
The cat is a she..... :D
You know, after seeing those jacked up pics, I really really wish I didn't have a nearly new dome tent and could justify buying a new tent :rolleyes:
Out of curiosity, how small does it pack down too?
Quite big, perhaps 18" to 2' by 8"
Motorbike Man
28-04-2006, 20:30
The cat is a she..... :D
Quite big, perhaps 18" to 2' by 8"
That's actually very possibly smaller than my 4 man dome tent packs down :rolleyes: certainly around the same size if not.
It's surprisingly light for such a big tent Jon, and if you really wanted to save more weight the pole is steel so it could be replaced quite simply.
Cheers,
Toddy
mojofilter
28-04-2006, 20:37
Oh, and I now have my own personal crop circle..... :lmao:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020437.jpg
Spikey DaPikey
28-04-2006, 22:33
So THATS how there made :p :lmao:
Ok well I got mine this morning and have seam sealed under the windows.
I must admit it looked pretty well taped but a bit of silicone is not going to hurt!
I've also fabsealed that strip at the bottom.
That pole is pretty heavy though, I think I will lose that and find a wooden replacement when in the woods and actually using the thing in anger!
I'm also going to cut a larger hole in the middle and experiment with having an open fire in there!!! I am tempted by a kifaru wood burning stove now though and have the pipe up through the centre, maybe modified with a kevlar patch through the tent fabric!
I'll post some pics if I actually do this :D
Brendan
mojofilter
29-04-2006, 15:31
Be sure to keep us updated, Brendan! ;)
A bit of a bump, and it's currently £45.
How are the problems working out with it please?
Anyone managed to buy one on-line - doesn't appear to work at the minute ...
Kane
Sorted - one in the post :)
Singeblister
27-05-2006, 20:28
I am going to order one as well now :)
Singeblister
27-05-2006, 20:44
Online order worked fine for me ,.
Regarding Thompsons waterseal for bricks ,,, has anyone use this stuff on a tent ? and if so did it work ok
I have a big can of it and i thought i could put it in a spray gun and dust over the whole thing with it , does it change the colour or anything .
I have now cut out the floor in mine and should get the medium kifaru stove delivered in a couple of weeks(been waiting almost 3 already!)
Will post pics as soon as I get it setup.
Brendan
Arrived a couple of days ago - still raining so it hasn't been up yet but I'm hoping for a bit of clear weather over the Bank Holidays (got a couple of days off :))
Bank Holiday cleared up in time for me to put my back out again but we managed to put it up today, looks good loads of space and the kids love it - going to get some more bits and pieces and have a night out in it to see how the kids take to camping, bit of luck and we may make it into a bushcrafty family lol :)
Singeblister
04-06-2006, 01:04
How long did Millets take to deliver the teepi ?
I ordered on the 27th and still nothing :(
Graham_S
04-06-2006, 08:14
it's back up to £59 now. the price drop must have been a limited offer. :(
:( But that's still cheap.
HWMBLT said that the one he picked up for me had origionally been priced at £99.
Cheers,
Mary
How long did Millets take to deliver the teepi ?
I ordered on the 27th and still nothing :(
Not especially quick and the e-mail telling you when it was despatched never arrived - tent did though and that's the main thing - probably took around 5 working days or so
Graham_S
04-06-2006, 12:12
just phoned millets to try and order one. they're out of stock.
it could explain why yours hasn't turned up yet.
Singeblister
05-06-2006, 01:31
Hope its here for the moot :D really looking forward to it
Kids were heartbroken when it had to come down yesterday - little lad (5) had already picked his sleeping out clothes and my daughter (7) had packed her camping out tin - bodes well for the future lol :) just need to get the 2 year old into it now heheheh
[QUOTE=Toddy
HWMBLT said that the one he picked up for me had origionally been priced at £99.
Cheers,
Mary[/QUOTE]
There are 2 seperate teepees available the £99 one is larger in all dimensions except pack size and weight :confused: but is covered with the cowboys and indians print.
All over it. :eek:
Bah. :rolleyes:
I finally got around to proofing mine this weekend - at least all the seams, all the lower (patterned) material and especially around the windows. All I need now is an opportunity to test it in the rain... I'm still considering taking out the groundsheet altogether, it might make the shape a little more symetrical.
Ah, got you :D Thanks Womble, no cowboys on mine....*bigger* though, hmmmm :)
I managed to get about 15 metres of faulty cordura...the waterproofing has got thick bits in it so it won't do for commercial use, but it'll do fine for a new groundsheet if I cut mine free so I can cook safely inside.
Cheers,
Toddy
When I put it up yesterday I found that one side seemed excessivly slack - lots of loose flapping material, whilst the other side did not seem overly taut. Unfortunately, because of the the integal graoundsheet, I was not able to pull the slack side tighter. Very Strange. So i'm thinking that cutting out the groudsheet might give a bit more flexibility to the "tweaking" part of putting it up.
I also learnt a valuable lesson: 10 meters of 1 meter wide material will not completely cover a Millets teepee. Not even close... :(
I picked one of these up about three weeks ago (when they were still on offer) :)
I think they're unbelievably good for the price!
Mine has been well tested in wind and rain has not leaked a bit - not even under the doors!
Admittedly I had used Fabsil on all the seams and around the bottom edge first, but I was quite impressed as it was really pounding it down and very windy. It was 'weathered' for about five days until the weather managed to stay dry long enough to get it packed away.
I have noticed the 'slack' or uneveness of the the tent when pitching out (which can be done by one person) but I'm hoping this is 'cos my lawn is not flat.
Have you tried putting something *under* the pole to lift it a couple of inches? It made all the difference to a couple of them. I used a tin of water chestnuts, but a brick or the like would probably do fine.
Cheers,
Toddy
I haven't tried that yet, but do intend to.
Singeblister
02-08-2006, 00:46
Anyone who is thinking of getting one of these and using it in bad weather DONT
I used mine at the bushmoot and got flooded out it leaked everywhere it could have done , I think it stood up to a couple of hours of the very heavy rain but ones it started to leak it spread like wildfire.
I have chopped mine up now and will not use it for camping in again :lmao:
I've been looking at getting a tipi and had seen the one that millets were selling and when I had the funds would purchase one.
After reading through the previous posts I'm glad I didn't.
I've been googling away for the past hour or so and found this company in the uk that makes tipi's, although they aren't cheap, you do get a lot for your money.
http://www.tipi.co.uk
Although use mine at the Moot I have used mine in extended periods of rain (upto a week solid) and had no such problems.
Sorry to hear it let you down Singe - hope it didn't dampen your experience of the moot? :rolleyes:
havingagiraffe
02-08-2006, 13:57
Oh, and I now have my own personal crop circle..... :lmao:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/P1020437.jpg
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
havingagiraffe
02-08-2006, 14:04
Online order worked fine for me ,.
Regarding Thompsons waterseal for bricks ,,, has anyone use this stuff on a tent ? and if so did it work ok
I have a big can of it and i thought i could put it in a spray gun and dust over the whole thing with it , does it change the colour or anything .
Don't know about the thin fabric used on tents, but it's good for the heavy canvas used on old Land Rover tilts. Water just beads and rolls off. :approve: It makes the canvas slightly darker, but not much. Apparently, any silicone type fluid's effective - I'm told that shed and fence paint can be used too.
Singeblister
02-08-2006, 22:33
Although use mine at the Moot I have used mine in extended periods of rain (upto a week solid) and had no such problems.
Sorry to hear it let you down Singe - hope it didn't dampen your experience of the moot? :rolleyes:
No I still had a great time :) it really wouldnt have botherd me in the least but i had the wife and kids with me, I posted my experiance with the it just so anyone thinking of buying would know what they might be in for :rolleyes:
Don't know about the thin fabric used on tents, but it's good for the heavy canvas used on old Land Rover tilts. Water just beads and rolls off. It makes the canvas slightly darker, but not much. Apparently, any silicone type fluid's effective - I'm told that shed and fence paint can be used too.
Thanks I will try this out on the leaky teepi now , I chopped the ground sheet out of it already will let you know how it turns out :)
I've chopped the groundsheet out and installed a kifaru wood burner, had to make a firepatch to pass the stove pipe through and it works well.
I'm going out in a week or so to test it out for a few nights while bushcrafting.
Shame it's so warm at the moment, got the stove for winter camping but you guys know what it's like with new toys.
Big Steve
03-08-2006, 08:12
I am pretty darned sure that you can get a 10% discount from Millets if you produce your YHA membership card... assuming you're in the YHA. I always have anyway. This should knock off £6 off the asking price. I feel an impulse buy coming on!
clcuckow
03-08-2006, 10:57
Just got an email through tamarack are now selling SwedishTepee.
http://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/dispprod.pl?filtera=Bushcraft&filterb=Swedish%20Tepee&filterc=Swedish%20Tepee
Please not that I am not accociated with Tamarack in any way.
Moonraker
03-08-2006, 12:48
Just got an email through tamarack are now selling SwedishTepee.
http://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/dispprod.pl?filtera=Bushcraft&filterb=Swedish%20Tepee&filterc=Swedish%20Tepee
Please not that I am not accociated with Tamarack in any way.That's the Helisport lavvu range:
Helsport Tents (http://www.helsport.no/EN/telt.asp)
Big Steve
04-08-2006, 07:36
Blimey clcuckow! They may be great teepees, but compare the prices! up to £420 for a Helisport Lawu teepee or £60 for a Millets? Hmmm.......
Moonraker
04-08-2006, 09:58
Blimey clcuckow! They may be great teepees, but compare the prices! up to £420 for a Helisport Lawu teepee or £60 for a Millets? Hmmm.......apples and oranges Big Steve. It's great to have a cheap lavvu option but it's not going to offer the build quality, durability and performance of a better put together article. From reading through the thread I think that some of the issues reflect that.