Stumbled across these on ebay and then googled up their website Appy Trails

I did a cursory search of the forums here at BPL and found one user review by Scott Lehr. Only about nine posts came up when searching.

I am interested in the use of one of these models as a two person heated shelter with a small stove in the winter. (Probably the larger model)

I am looking for anyone with first hand experience with these shelters to weigh in.

I am also looking for heated shelter users to weigh in with their opinions as to whether this shelter is a viable option for use with a small woodstove.

Summoning Scott Lehr and Joe Clement. Also calling stove heated shelter guru Ed Tyanich.

Clarification of my purpose for posting:
I am really looking for folks to help me chew these shelters up, digest the facts, spit them back out, and help me decide if one of these shelters is worth purchasing for cold weather use with a stove.

Edited by frankenfeet on 06/20/2010 23:15:51 MDT.

Hey Jeff - do a search over at www.backpackgeartest.org. Some tests over there of the Appy Trails.

Thanks David will do.

Hi Jeff,

One of the reviews on backpackgeartest is mine. If you have any questions yell out.

Cheers

Ive got the Appy Trails Mark 3 and i absolutely love it! Even with my tevek ground sheet, pole, and all stakes, my shelter weight comes in at 29.8 oz. Condensation can be an issue, but no more than other single walls i have used. The claim of it being a 3 person tent is way off, but me and my wife, or me and my 150 lb great dane fit in there easy, with room to spare above our heads for gear. Can't beat it for the price though. I sewed in a tie out hoop on each side wall to be able to attach a guyline and pull the sides out for more room.

Here is another image for you

Jeff,

No experience with the Appy trails, but you might want to wait just a bit. There is a guy in Reno coming out with a line of sil nylon shelters that will be set up for wood heat. He is going to be calling them Alpine Extreme shelters.

I have one of his two man prototypes and it weighs 1 lb 13 oz with MSR groundhog pegs. It uses trekking poles for support ( 2 as it is a hex shaped A frame.)

The quality looks very good and both the material and sewing are all USA.

I'll try to get some photos posted and see where he is at with the tents.

Disclosure: I have no financial interest in Alpine Extreme shelters. I have just been providing input and feedback on designs.

Ive got a bunch of other pics i can load tonight if anyone wants inside shots or pics of it hanging using tree branches instead of the center pole(this is my prefered way by far).

I've never done anything with a stove jack, so I can't help you there. I was going to add an aluminum hoop to the troops to get some more clearance in the middle, but never got around to it.

Thanks Mark and Scott. Have you guys had any problems with durability of the Appy or is it holding up well? Specifically I guess I am interested in the grommets since another BGT tester named Pat McNelly had had problems with the grommets tearing out. Have either of you gentlemen had any problem with the grommets tearing out? Also on paper it looks like the Mark III should have plenty of room for a 6'2" hiker would you agree?

Scott have you ever used the Appy in snowy conditions? It doesn't really look like snow loading would be a problem. Am I correct in that assumption?

Ed thanks for the tip off about Alpine Extreme. I will be on the lookout for them. I would absolutely love to see pictures and hear more about them.

Scott Lehr I would enjoy pictures of the tree hang setup for sure.

Joe Clement what about the durability? Have they stood up well in the hands of your scouts?

Edited by frankenfeet on 06/21/2010 08:18:27 MDT.

Durability wasnt a real big issue for me, albeit I did get a few dodgy ones sent out to me but replacements were sent out very promptly.

The grommets are definately something you will need to look out for and take care with them i.e not too much tension.

For me the biggest issues were the lack of ventilation causing condensation and the very thin center pole was an issue as it kept sinking into the ground which meant getting a good pitch was sometimes difficult. I use my shoe under it but then that started to damage that.

Here is a photo of the 2 man Alpine Extreme Shelter:

Edited by runsmtns on 06/21/2010 08:29:43 MDT.

Looks nice. Where is the exhaust for the wood stove?

Here is an inside photo of the Alpine Extreme 2 man

Edited by runsmtns on 06/21/2010 08:33:21 MDT.

I just got done looking at Ed's post about the shelter at 24 hr campfire and I don't believe that his prototype has the stovejack although the stovejack will be an available option when these shelters go into production. Let me know if I have that right Ed.

Here is a link to the discussion about the Alpine Extreme at 24 hr Camp Fire click here

Edited by frankenfeet on 06/21/2010 08:35:34 MDT.

Mark,

Jeff is correct. Tim did not have the stove jack material when he built the prototype he sent me.

Mark I find the anecdote about the cat likely micturating on a shelter that the Appy folks mailed out to you to be a bit unsettling. That incident coupled with the grommet construction and the fact that you had a few of these shelters sent out to you for your test before you got one that was suitable enough to continue your testing at BGT kind of worries me. Thanks for your commentary.

Edited by frankenfeet on 06/21/2010 08:44:24 MDT.

The grommets havent been an issue for me yet, i can see where there could easily be alot of stress put on them if you got carried away, but i dont see the reason or need to do so. I did get alot on condensation over Easter weekend, but here in the southeast, condensation is almost a way of life in the spring and summer. I just leave the door open if weather allows, and then its a non-issue. I am actually quite excited to use it this fall and winter and see how it does. I was about to buy a Integral Designs Sil-Dome when i saw this on Ebay and decided to give it a try. Its not perfect by any means, but for the intended purpose, and the price, its hard to beat. And they do have amazing customer service. Not to mention the fact that i like to support local small buisnesses as much as possible.

I hear you on the price and supporting small businesses. It does look like a good product especially given it's cost. Nice to hear that their customer service is top notch too. I was really interested in pulling the trigger on an Appy but then Ed had to throw in that darn pic of the Alpine Extreme :) I might have to wait on the Alpine Extreme now since it looks like exacly what I want!

Edited by frankenfeet on 06/21/2010 09:21:59 MDT.

Hey Ed, are you the fellow over at 24CF that builds the cool cylinder stoves? (sorry about the thread hijack). I know a feww of the guys over there have added stove jacks (from ti goat, I believe) to their Appy Trails tents.

Edited by hammer-one on 06/21/2010 15:32:38 MDT.

George,

I do build stoves and have posted images on 24 Hour.

This might be the one you are refering to.