Tent, teepee, or...

[mtcarter]

Hey guys,
Two friends and I are planning a two month trip to New Zealand in 2018 (May and June). We are hoping to spend most of the time chasing tahr and chamois with some time spent lower for red deer. We are buying a truck and hiking in, so no helicopter use.

I'm currently collecting the extra gear I need but am struggling with the shelter. I spend most of nights outside under a tarp, of which I have several. I have two tents: a 1 man Eureka single wall that leaks like sieve and a 3 man Eastman that has some pretty delicate poles. Neither of those will work, I don't think.

We are debating on whether to get a teepee for all of us to share (8 man?) or bringing 3 separate tents (3 or 4 season?). Or both. The teepee would be nice to stay in for long periods of time, but I don't know how it will do up in tahr country. Sleeping in a 1-2 man tent for 2 months doesn't sound like a great deal of fun, but I know they will work up high.

We are all getting hut passes, so some nights will be spent in those. Thoughts? We will bring tarps regardless of what we go with. I doubt there will be a perfect option but would love to hear some suggestions. Cheers.

 

[ozyclint]

having done what your planning on doing for the last six years i say forget the tipi, you will never find anywhere to pitch it. every year we struggle to find enough flat level ground to pitch a 2 man tent. for three guys i strongly suggest using two tents like we do. 1x 1 man and 1x 2 man. again you will struggle to find a place to pitch a 3 man tent. two tents gives you an emergency shelter should one of them fail.
if you hunt westland, trust me you will want tents with bathtub floors. a tarp is a handy thing to have though as sometimes you simply won't be able to pitch a tent.
here's some of our hunts-
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/moun...ain-hunt-2-weeks-backpack.html?highlight=tahr
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/mountain-goat/8223-tahr-chamois-quest-2013-a.html?highlight=tahr
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/moun...2014-pilgrimage-adventure.html?highlight=tahr
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/moun...deja-vu-feeding-addiction.html?highlight=tahr

 

[jwb300]

I agree with Clint - def not a tipi. I personally would go for 3 x 1/2p tents. I don't know how friendly you guys are but after two months in a tent with anyone I'm sure the friendship would be wearing thin.

 

[ozyclint]

if you get tired of the tents find a hut and spend a couple of days resting while enjoying a fire.

 

[ozyclint]

a tent each will work, sometimes, but expect to be camped well away from each other (could be a LONG way) on most occasions. you simply won't find places to pitch 3 tents right beside each other in tahr country.

we find it hard to find places to pitch two tents close to each other let alone three. sometimes we've struggled to find a place to pitch one tent.

 

[mtcarter]

Thanks for the links! I am going to follow the separate tent advice. Cheers