Brian, a couple other things I've done from Alberta to Alaska that have helped me with my SXL: Line the outside of the stove with large flat rocks. The radiated heat is absorbed by the rocks and traps the heat, and will radiate that heat over a longer period of time. You're relying less on those coals being lit in the late night while sleeping. Sure you lose a few inches of space, but whatever. Another thing is finding coal seams in the geology of the area. Pop some of that low quality coal into the stove when she's ripping, it lasts longer and life is good. Lastly, digging down a little dip under the stove to lower it few inches into the ground. That brings that stove a little lower and brings the heat source lower to ground and radiates a little more efficiently. Anyways, that's my experience.
Finally! I was positive you moved your family to the back woods and left civilization and threw the bird to TH-cam. Good to have you back! Appreciate the video.
@@GrittyGearAndPodcastEver had any weird or crazy experiences in the wilderness? If so you might want to explore Steve's other channels besides his hunting channel. Look to my comment above this one to go there if you choose. Steve is a Canadian hunting and fishing guide.
It’s funny, I wasn’t going to watch once you started talking about building a fire because I thought “ya there isn’t anything they are gonna teach me about fire building, I know it all” something as simple as “start it right under the stove pipe. “ something so simple, that I never really thought about prior to you mentioning that. Perfect example of why we watch. Can always learn something!
I have spent many nights in a seek outside hot tent. I gained a lot of great information and this is undoubtedly the best instructional video on how to use a stove. Very much appreciated.
Great tips. Staying dry and the ability to dry your gear effectively. Is good for your motivation for the next day when you can start out dry and warm. Keeps your head in the game 👍
We pound in some stakes on either side of the stove to keep ground sheets, pads and sleeping bags from migrating and getting melted. Also serves as drying posts for boots, hats, gloves etc. Fire starter is cotton balls rubbed in Vaseline and then dipped in wax. They burn for 10 minutes, no lie. Best starter for damp wood ever.
Awesome video😃👍🏻 50:20 is the key! 😉 Thank you for sharing Brian. So looking forward to utilizing my stove and tent this November. Game changer! I put the stove up in my back yard inside the tee-pee and it will put off some heat! Wow! Thank you again for making this video!
SOOO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!! Can’t wait to see the new videos. I have not watched any other content since your last video, 2 months ago. You guys are the best and easiest to watch, because you just guys doing what you love without an agenda or being “goofy” for clicks. Always great info. THANK YOU!!
The breakdowns you do of your equipment choices and why are great. I can not think of any specific topics at the moment. Just keep on keeping on!! BTW, loved the video with you and Mark with your wives. Honest and touching!!
Don't forget that the flextail device you carry also doubles as a fire bellows. Blowing sucks. Just start the fire in the front like you said not to do and then turn the flextail on. Adjust the distance for effect. I never have a problem with smoke in the tent and my fire is roaring in no time. A cheaper fire starter that I use are the makeup pads out of my wife's bathroom! Soak in lamp oil for 30 min and then dip them in candle wax. Waterproof. Easy to store and no weird smells a year later. I use a half or quarter of one to start the fire. It's fantastic to just set the fire up for the morning and literally light the disk at the bottom of the pile and wait. I used to hate getting out of my warm bag in the morning, but now I have to get out or I am sweating to death. One more way to not miss those early mornings! Thanks for the video. I am a hot tent believer!
Awesome video. I use as you guys the same setup (teepee+wood stove) when out hunting or fishing up in the mountains. Works as a charm and keep you warm an dry. Receomended. Thumbs up and greetings from Norway 🇧🇻
Thanks for the informative and common sense video. At 75 I no longer sleep in a tent. Wish I’d had this stuff years ago, as I’ve suffered through many a cold night.
Awesome info!! Your right using a wood stove is like an art form. Which can only be acquired with patience and sitting by the wood stove many nights and making key notes on it's progress and regress. Then adjusting to it accordingly, thanks for the great info Guys🎯
Mix candle wax into the dryer lint at home and it works like a dream. Small pieces of old bike tire tube lived in the bottom of my ski pack for emergency fires, dirty but works with wet sticks
Cotton wool buds rubbed with Vaseline, cut up MTB inner tubes (great for damp wood), and make charcloth from old cotton jeans. All lightweight and get a fire humming in no time…..
I really struggle with smoke filling my tent but I think your tips are going to help me get a good air flow going. Thanks so much. This really makes a difference.
used the redcliff and sxl last year in 2 feet of unexpected snow...i was hunting alone and it was a palace. i stayed warm and dry the whole time. you guys always have good information... thank you..
Thank you so much for this. I have been looking into these tents and accompanying stoves and it seems so overwhelming to go through all the specs. Your review and explanations are incredibly helpful and insightful. I love that you considered multiple units and compared the value of each.
Been running the PEAX tipi along with the ARGALI stove this fall sheep hunting here in Wyoming. The stove is EASY to set up for its size. Nicely folded seams and all pieces are nice and tight when put together. Argali welded threaded tabs to the inside of the stove, just thread the wing nut bolts in and its done. No damn rods or goofy clamps. Just slightly smaller than the Seek SXL. Check it out. I run mine with 10' of stove pipe. May cut a foot off of it...I have no desire for sparks burning holes in a $750 tent.
My friend brought his Seek Outside Redcliff and stove with us to Montana this time last year. We had 22-24” of snow in the Bob Marshall and that stove dried everything out nicely and made camp wonderful. Happy that he did that as my dome tent wasn’t saving the day.
If pitching on pine needles take the time to scrape them away down to dirt. Obviously for the heat but also I had a very close call with a black widow this early elk season. Ground prep is key. Helpfull stove tips bud! Stay gritty!!
Great instructional video! Thanks for going through everything for those (like me) who don't already know all this! On the Flextail, I had one and returned it because I thought it was too loud. After a few more outings, I realized I could deal with the noise and bought another.😆 Brilliant idea using it to help with the fire. On the saw, I found this great compact option that's basically a chainsaw "blade" attached to paracord handles. Weighs nothing and multifunctional. I'm still on the fence on a floorless shelter, but I'm sure it is more than adequate. Maybe one day...
The pump can be noisy. But we muffle when needed or just go old school. But Flextail has a new tiny pump that looks really quiet and can fit on your key ring. Something we’re gonna look into.
First comment 😁 I have been looking into titanium stoves here and there want to get one before coming back out west. Thanks for the info. Going to get through this podcast today.
Excellent video and tips. Especially liked the tip on starting the fire at the back of the stove near the chimney and having the back slightly elevated to help with draw. Last November was my first hot tent hunt and I will never go back. Having an external heat source is game changing. Since then I 've gone with your recommendation on the boot dryers. They'll get a workout in 2 weeks for sure. I had pick up a pomoly stove and although it worked great it is at least double the weight of that XL you were using and about half the size. Nate
I really like the design of the argali stove. The sides look like they would have less flex then the seek outside. I have their 4p tent and a 12” lite outdoors stove. Not so much a fan of the lite outdoors stove but I found it used for a great price. I wish it was larger and you really can’t cook on it.
After my Gila Wilderness muley hunt experience last January with my Seek Outside Guardian and med U-turn stove, I can confirm that this is some great advice! I did a lot right, and definitely some things wrong. Great video!
I run the cimarron light with the large uturn stove up here in alaska. I've mananeged to get 3-4hrs out of one stoking in 30° Temps. But stove skills are very well needed like you said to get a stove to burn efficiently. But it's a game changer in rainy weather where you don't see the sun for days. I've never been more comfortable while tent camping. Will never do it without a stove ever again
@BrianCallGritty wouldn't expect any less out of you guys, hope the season has been treating you well! Been out hitting it hard this archery season, opening day rifle is HERE!!!!!!
Thanks for the video Brian! Been watching you for years, congratulations on your success! Heading out for Idaho this spring for bear, didn't think I could make it until fall to hunt, and you got me motivated.
My SXL doesn't suck. It draws. 😊 I leave all of my wings nuts threaded onto the legs except for the top nuts, which live in a zip-lock freezer bag. You can also use shower curtain hooks or (I imagine) a blanket pin. For a small zippered pouch, you can cut a zippered pocket out of a worn-out pair of pants, too. P.s. I bought some hex nuts which I locked against the stove bottom wing nuts, so I don't have to adjust the nuts for a proper assembly for every set up.
Awesome video with alot of good info. I have a seek outside redcliff and a large stove. Actually used the stove in it for the first time a couple weeks ago. I noticed that I got 10 or so small burn holes in the shelter. Whats best to use for sealing the burn holes? I have a 7.5 ft pipe and im wondering also if I could of went 8 or 8.5 ft to help get less burn holes.
You can use Gear Aid also known as tenacious tape. You can clean the areas with alcohol wipes, let dry and apply the tape. After the tape is on you can seem seal over the top of the tape as you would the stitching on the tent. This will ensure the tape doesn't lift and come off. I would highly recommend at least an 8.5' pipe for the redcliff.
The item at the bottom of the piping next to the stove is called a damper. That controls the amount of air the flows through the stove. It helps in making your fire burn slower. The spark arrestor is at the top of the exhaust pipe. The smaller the holes in the arrestor, the smaller the sparks or ash drifting out to burn your tent.
Paint the small pieces orange. Makes it easier to find if you drop them. Grew up with a climbing tree stand and my dad got tired of us loosing the wingnuts.
Gritty's alive! that's great news. Was just telling my wife how I haven't seen a gritty podcast in a couple months. Hopefully you've had some amazing adventures, can't wait to watch them. Heading out mule deer hunting this weekend and will be taking the silex with a medium u-turn stove. That stove and shelter combo is bomb in the mid season hunts. Would I be better off on my elk hunt in the last part of November to upgrade into a large titanium stove or do you think that u-turn medium in the silex would do good? Keep up the good work! Starting a fire in a stove is a lost art. Picked up a few tips I didn't think about but, all in all, it's pretty close to how I've started fires in the u-turn.
The silex is a fairly small tent so the medium would work out well. The Large would give you longer burn times but it's up to you. Either way you have a good setup. Let us know if you find success.
Great to see you guys back at it! Love the channel. Have you ever heard of the winnerwell fast food titanium stove? It’s awesome and incredibly easy to set up
That’s the thing, there is a weight difference of about 10 oz, give or take 2 oz depending on the length of the stove pipe. So the ease of setup does come with a cost. But you don’t have to worry about losing any of those small pieces and it seals up nicely
Never went in depth on using the cylinder stove. curious on your experience with it in the weight to performance aspect. is it even lighter than the U turn with even more smoke?
Very helpful - thank you! May I suggest an alternative to Esbit: get a spool of jute rope, at least 1/4" thick. Melt candle wax in a tin can and soak a length of jute rope in it. Now you've got a nice long-burning firestarting wick, and you can cut off as much as you think you need - 1", 3" etc. Esbit is nasty, toxic stuff that you don't even want to touch.
I use bacon grease soaked paper towels, rolled into a roll and cut into approximately half inch wide spirals. One is usually enough to start a fire. Those paper towel spirals burn for about 10 minutes. Candle stubs are great too.
🍻 I know you guys are all about saving the ounces, but a piece of glass for the door will make it a real boonies t.v. 😉Thanks for all the little tips/tricks, like how you adjust the legs and poke 'em into the ground.
41:23 You're creating a nozzle, which according to the Bernoulli Equation will decrease the pressure, increase the velocity, but it certainly will not increase the flow rate; if anything it will lower it. For example, leaving the door open burns through the wood faster because it's getting more oxygen, not less.
Thanks for the great video! For the pipe i burned it red hot at home. Next time fliped pipe upside down and burned the other end red hot. This tempers the metal so the pipe has a memory in the shape it should take to make set up easier.
Hello! I have been running that stove in heavy Maine winter for years. The design is dated but it gets the job done. Yes my old butterfly damper welds broke and I attempted repair but gave up and bought the new spark arrestor and damper piece. Annoying but peace of mind. I’ve hit below zero Fahrenheit multiple times, warm , comfy and dry gear. The way to go.
I did a few mods to my large seek stove, first i cut the door and added a Micah piece aka glass door, and also added a smoke stack robber or chimney arrestor its an extra titanium box that offsets the chimney works insanely well for retaining heat!!✊️🔥✌️💚
A good way to bust down alot of kindling quick it to use two parallel trees that are nice and close, run your fire tree in between and create a lever to break with. You can bust down a 10-15ft tree in seconds like that. Best part is the broken bolts of wood typically all pile up in the nook between the trees you are using as levers. I also like to look for nice straight tamaracks (NE washington) about forearm thickness at the base bc they bust down nice and easy. They do burn up quickly, though. Good alternative is lodgepoles bc in the winter months its tricky finding a dead tamarack bc they shed their needles.
Thanks for sharing! I bought a tipi and stove a few years ago because of your style of hunting. I learned a few things today and appreciate your tried and true suggestions. One thing I have wondered is what you do to prepare for high winds with a stove and tipi. I have experienced the stove pipe blowing all over. Lucky for us the stove was cold when it happened. A solution could be staking the stove pipe down as well. Any suggestions would much appreciated. Thanks again for sharing
We almost always rock out the shelter, place large rocks over the stakes, and we will even pile large deadfall and logs around the tipi to keep the wind from blowing under the tipi. Also, if we are in an area where the ground is soft or sandy we will prepare ahead of time by throwing in longer twisted stakes like the MSR Cyclone stakes.
Cub works fairly well with the Silex. But I also haven’t run it in the cold cold. More for comfort around freezing. It did dry my wet clothes pretty quickly this September.
Brian, i would like to use one of these stoves for ice fishing in northern MT. My ice shelter is 8x16x7. What size would you recommend for this format. I guess I would say its about 3x the total volume of the Peax Teepee. Thanks for all the info you included here.
@@GrittyGearAndPodcast Heavy would mean that I couldn't also use it also for backcountry use. I'm trying to kill two birds with one big stone. But I also think the "Big Mamma" is wayy to much for backpacking in....
@@kylezeller3768 - The SXL will heat that space and can be used for backpacking. But it’s a bit small. We use the SXL in a wall tent. The SXL will definitely help with the temp in the ice shelter but it may not be able to get that large of a space totally warm. And the Big Mama is too big to backpack with IMO, although you could do it.
I've used my SXL on multiple trips and never knew that little metal tag thing was the pipe flue. I just accepted the fact that the stove burned wood fast, SMH. Really glad I watched this video and can't wait to use my stove again with this new knowledge.
.. Winter camping is so much more enjoyable in a hot tent .. Lots of Stove designs out there ,, From homemade to high dollar commercial ... many like this application to cut pack space with different assembly designs , some easier than others .... Stove pipe generally should be about 2 foot above the peak or ridge of a wall type tent with a spark arrester and cap on top ... you want any embers to blow over the tent ,, not down or against it ... .. Wall tents with a stove jack off to one side can also run the stovepipe out at an angle and support it with rods or branches away from the tent ... Many stoves have glass panels on the sides and front door that give a nice comfortable ambiance glow as well as enough light to work with inside ... Winnerwell and Pomoly are a couple of popular brands with different styles and sizes ...
I have a dome tent with a stove jack. I bought a heavier stove because I typically set up camp where my pickup has access. The stove has a 5 inch stove pipe. But my tents stove jack can only fit a maximum of 4 inch pipe. Could I reduce the stove pipe down to 4 inches at the stove jack and just burn a slightly smaller fire than the fire box can handle, without the tent filling with smoke?
Brian, have you looked at the Argali stove? It seems like they have some innovations with regard to stove assembly that makes it way easier to assemble the stove compared to the Seek SXL and the difficulties you point out. Also, what is the ideal pipe length to use if you have an option of different lengths. Thanks for all of your content. It is always so helpful!!
like you, I would prefer wood with pitch type sap but I just realized by watching your fire that though there is a slower "start" to high heat, it looks like not using deciduous or pine would create a much cleaner burn (less carbon).
I have two friends one is living in a "yurt" going to be living in a tent yurt and doesn't look to know how to run a stove looks like needs help learning how to run stove. Everybody says I know everything about it but don't seem to understand anything about how to have a decent fire going. Friends of mine are going to be staying in a 1950 military hex tent with a Porta Heat wood stove and I want them to do it right...
If there is condensation it will dry out in a matter of minutes when the heat kicks on in the morning. Everything is COMPLETELY dry by the time breakfast is over. It’s a nonissue for me.
Thanks for the response; I woke up last time out with a lot of condensation/moisture on my down sleeping bag. Was a real drag. Maybe I’ll just have to keep messing with it.
Glad to have you guys back. Love the content. Quick question how do you deal with condensation? just got back from a Idaho backcountry hunt and the condensation in our SO cimarron was horrible. we used the u turn stove also found it to be a little small for the temps when it was below 25. Thanks
Just got back from a very rainy November elk hunt. My wife and I pack in a Kifaru 8 man tipi I have been running for years and the Big Mamma Stove with a baffle from Seek Outside. Using the baffle and stove pipe on front of stove baffle hole in back we start the stove like you to get draft going. I don't use a damper or spark arrestor since they seemed to plug up. On this trip we never let the stove go out. We always at least run the stove all night choked down. I have learned you have to take the pipe outside about every 8 hours and bang on it to clean it out if you are not running hot otherwise you get smoked out, also you have to shake the stove to one side otherwise you get build up on the baffle and also get smoked out. We bring a Friskars hatchet and bow saw. Curious if you use a carbon fiber tent pole and how that does close to the stove. Also curious if you have a video showing how you get your trekking poles to stay up there in the tent. Thanks for all you do! Been flowing your adventures off and on since your first podcast!
My first stove was one similar to yours, that messing with the small wing nuts with cold hands wore out its welcome. My second and third stove has been from pomoly. I think they make the best hot tent stoves. Have you tried their gear???
Brian, a couple other things I've done from Alberta to Alaska that have helped me with my SXL:
Line the outside of the stove with large flat rocks. The radiated heat is absorbed by the rocks and traps the heat, and will radiate that heat over a longer period of time. You're relying less on those coals being lit in the late night while sleeping. Sure you lose a few inches of space, but whatever.
Another thing is finding coal seams in the geology of the area. Pop some of that low quality coal into the stove when she's ripping, it lasts longer and life is good.
Lastly, digging down a little dip under the stove to lower it few inches into the ground. That brings that stove a little lower and brings the heat source lower to ground and radiates a little more efficiently.
Anyways, that's my experience.
Finally! I was positive you moved your family to the back woods and left civilization and threw the bird to TH-cam. Good to have you back! Appreciate the video.
Ha ha! Thanks!
Best channel on hunting period. Always the best information. Love this channel. Keep it coming guys
Thanks brother.
@@GrittyGearAndPodcastEver had any weird or crazy experiences in the wilderness? If so you might want to explore Steve's other channels besides his hunting channel. Look to my comment above this one to go there if you choose. Steve is a Canadian hunting and fishing guide.
I would keep some bailing wire aka mechanics wire for the stove pipe.
I have run a polmoly stove for the last few years. Easy setup, flat top, good air control.... no wing nuts!
It’s funny, I wasn’t going to watch once you started talking about building a fire because I thought “ya there isn’t anything they are gonna teach me about fire building, I know it all” something as simple as “start it right under the stove pipe. “ something so simple, that I never really thought about prior to you mentioning that. Perfect example of why we watch. Can always learn something!
I have spent many nights in a seek outside hot tent. I gained a lot of great information and this is undoubtedly the best instructional video on how to use a stove. Very much appreciated.
Great tips. Staying dry and the ability to dry your gear effectively. Is good for your motivation for the next day when you can start out dry and warm. Keeps your head in the game 👍
Love these educational vids almost as much of the hunting ones. The prep, planning n build up to a hunt keep me going in the off season!
Great stoves, SXL is my choice.
Good to see you Brian I haven't had any notifications on gritty been wondering about that thanks for the info on the stove in the teepee
Thanks! Any hunt stories for us?
Wow!! I first thought, I know this stuff…. Wrong!!! Super helpful Brian!!! May have to get a wood stove going foreword up here in AK
Love this!!! Getting ready to purchase my first Tent and Stove and this is very useful!
Great to hear, what hunt's do you have planned for the new setup?
Very comprehensive information on running a hot tent, Thankyou ... !
I'm positive others will find this useful !
We pound in some stakes on either side of the stove to keep ground sheets, pads and sleeping bags from migrating and getting melted. Also serves as drying posts for boots, hats, gloves etc.
Fire starter is cotton balls rubbed in Vaseline and then dipped in wax. They burn for 10 minutes, no lie. Best starter for damp wood ever.
Awesome video😃👍🏻
50:20 is the key! 😉
Thank you for sharing Brian. So looking forward to utilizing my stove and tent this November. Game changer! I put the stove up in my back yard inside the tee-pee and it will put off some heat! Wow! Thank you again for making this video!
SOOO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!! Can’t wait to see the new videos. I have not watched any other content since your last video, 2 months ago. You guys are the best and easiest to watch, because you just guys doing what you love without an agenda or being “goofy” for clicks. Always great info. THANK YOU!!
Thanks, we are working on a bunch of films and educational stuff. What type of content would be the most helpful for you?
The breakdowns you do of your equipment choices and why are great. I can not think of any specific topics at the moment. Just keep on keeping on!! BTW, loved the video with you and Mark with your wives. Honest and touching!!
Don't forget that the flextail device you carry also doubles as a fire bellows. Blowing sucks. Just start the fire in the front like you said not to do and then turn the flextail on. Adjust the distance for effect. I never have a problem with smoke in the tent and my fire is roaring in no time.
A cheaper fire starter that I use are the makeup pads out of my wife's bathroom! Soak in lamp oil for 30 min and then dip them in candle wax. Waterproof. Easy to store and no weird smells a year later. I use a half or quarter of one to start the fire. It's fantastic to just set the fire up for the morning and literally light the disk at the bottom of the pile and wait. I used to hate getting out of my warm bag in the morning, but now I have to get out or I am sweating to death. One more way to not miss those early mornings! Thanks for the video. I am a hot tent believer!
Awesome video. I use as you guys the same setup (teepee+wood stove) when out hunting or fishing up in the mountains.
Works as a charm and keep you warm an dry. Receomended.
Thumbs up and greetings from Norway 🇧🇻
I have a hot tent and SXL. I learned a couple good tidbits so I appreciate it!
Thanks as always.
Thanks for the informative and common sense video. At 75 I no longer sleep in a tent. Wish I’d had this stuff years ago, as I’ve suffered through many a cold night.
Awesome info!! Your right using a wood stove is like an art form. Which can only be acquired with patience and sitting by the wood stove many nights and making key notes on it's progress and regress. Then adjusting to it accordingly, thanks for the great info Guys🎯
This is very basic, but also very informative for some new like myself.
Neat to see your tricks - thanks!
Some times basic is the most helpful.
For fire starters, I use dryer lint. Wrapped in a few sheets of dryer sheets. Works great and is super light.
what’s your burn your typical burn time off those?
@@ykv6840 not sure what the burn time is, but it's enough to start my woodstove ,and my outside fireplace. I se them for camp fires as well.
That can work too but it's not quite as weather proof.
Mix candle wax into the dryer lint at home and it works like a dream. Small pieces of old bike tire tube lived in the bottom of my ski pack for emergency fires, dirty but works with wet sticks
Cotton wool buds rubbed with Vaseline, cut up MTB inner tubes (great for damp wood), and make charcloth from old cotton jeans. All lightweight and get a fire humming in no time…..
Really good tips here. I didn’t grow up with a wood stove so I was always running through my wood and it was a royal pain in the rear. Good video!
Glad to have the fellas back. Hope the adventures have been successful
Wow, what great information! Thanks for providing such useful content for old and young alike.
I really struggle with smoke filling my tent but I think your tips are going to help me get a good air flow going. Thanks so much. This really makes a difference.
Great stuff. Can't thank you enough for this information.
Glad it was helpful!
@@GrittyGearAndPodcast we bought the Peax tipi this fall on your recommendation. Just so you know.
I day dream about this set up, would be great up here in Alberta thx for the info.
Best in the bizz
Stay gritty!!
It's a great combination.
I needed this video bad like 5 days ago haha
used the redcliff and sxl last year in 2 feet of unexpected snow...i was hunting alone and it was a palace. i stayed warm and dry the whole time. you guys always have good information... thank you..
What was the species?
Thank you so much for this. I have been looking into these tents and accompanying stoves and it seems so overwhelming to go through all the specs. Your review and explanations are incredibly helpful and insightful. I love that you considered multiple units and compared the value of each.
Been running the PEAX tipi along with the ARGALI stove this fall sheep hunting here in Wyoming. The stove is EASY to set up for its size. Nicely folded seams and all pieces are nice and tight when put together. Argali welded threaded tabs to the inside of the stove, just thread the wing nut bolts in and its done. No damn rods or goofy clamps. Just slightly smaller than the Seek SXL. Check it out. I run mine with 10' of stove pipe. May cut a foot off of it...I have no desire for sparks burning holes in a $750 tent.
Yeah, it's always a trade off with the length of the stove pipe and the possibility of sparks.
Great video! This is what I needed
My friend brought his Seek Outside Redcliff and stove with us to Montana this time last year. We had 22-24” of snow in the Bob Marshall and that stove dried everything out nicely and made camp wonderful. Happy that he did that as my dome tent wasn’t saving the day.
I have been waiting for someone to do this kind of a video on stoves because I'm 100% in the market and I have never spent time in a hot tent.
It's something that most people aren't familiar with. What are you going to use the stove for specifically.
Glad to have you guys back! Been missing all the good information you provide. Keep up the good work.
If pitching on pine needles take the time to scrape them away down to dirt. Obviously for the heat but also I had a very close call with a black widow this early elk season. Ground prep is key. Helpfull stove tips bud! Stay gritty!!
Great instructional video! Thanks for going through everything for those (like me) who don't already know all this! On the Flextail, I had one and returned it because I thought it was too loud. After a few more outings, I realized I could deal with the noise and bought another.😆 Brilliant idea using it to help with the fire. On the saw, I found this great compact option that's basically a chainsaw "blade" attached to paracord handles. Weighs nothing and multifunctional. I'm still on the fence on a floorless shelter, but I'm sure it is more than adequate. Maybe one day...
The pump can be noisy. But we muffle when needed or just go old school. But Flextail has a new tiny pump that looks really quiet and can fit on your key ring. Something we’re gonna look into.
Thank you for sharing this information with everyone hi from Syracuse NY everyone
What type of hunting opportunities do you have in Syracuse?
First comment 😁 I have been looking into titanium stoves here and there want to get one before coming back out west. Thanks for the info. Going to get through this podcast today.
Thanks for using our code, it really helps pay the bills! What State are you looking at hunting?
Great set up and thanks for sharing all your experiences
The word you were searching for is smolder! Awesome video!
Excellent video and tips. Especially liked the tip on starting the fire at the back of the stove near the chimney and having the back slightly elevated to help with draw. Last November was my first hot tent hunt and I will never go back. Having an external heat source is game changing. Since then I 've gone with your recommendation on the boot dryers. They'll get a workout in 2 weeks for sure. I had pick up a pomoly stove and although it worked great it is at least double the weight of that XL you were using and about half the size.
Nate
Thanks for sharing! And good luck Nate! Hope you have a great hunt!
I'm just waiting on the all new innovative easy and fun to set up stove from gritty..
Have you guys looked at the Argali stove yet? I'm a big fan of their 2P Rincon tent for solo hunting and was thinking of giving that stove a try.
I’ve looked at the Argali-watched videos but have not actually used it.
I really like the design of the argali stove. The sides look like they would have less flex then the seek outside. I have their 4p tent and a 12” lite outdoors stove. Not so much a fan of the lite outdoors stove but I found it used for a great price. I wish it was larger and you really can’t cook on it.
After my Gila Wilderness muley hunt experience last January with my Seek Outside Guardian and med U-turn stove, I can confirm that this is some great advice! I did a lot right, and definitely some things wrong. Great video!
Can't wait for peax to come out with their sleeping bag and the stove. The tipi is so amazing
What other tipis have you used?
Hmm...
@@jeffreybessent3591- We have used them all. Hyperlite, all the Seek Outside shelters, and a number of lesser known brands.
I just got the Peax stove in the mail. Hope to burn it in this weekend, but first blush it’s well organized and thought out.
Excellent video guys thank you.
I run the cimarron light with the large uturn stove up here in alaska. I've mananeged to get 3-4hrs out of one stoking in 30° Temps. But stove skills are very well needed like you said to get a stove to burn efficiently. But it's a game changer in rainy weather where you don't see the sun for days. I've never been more comfortable while tent camping. Will never do it without a stove ever again
Man toooo long of a wait for this one!!
We have been in the woods. How about you?
@BrianCallGritty wouldn't expect any less out of you guys, hope the season has been treating you well! Been out hitting it hard this archery season, opening day rifle is HERE!!!!!!
Thanks for the video Brian! Been watching you for years, congratulations on your success! Heading out for Idaho this spring for bear, didn't think I could make it until fall to hunt, and you got me motivated.
Nice video, lots of info. I use the Pomoly T1 stove. Easy to set up and take down.
My SXL doesn't suck. It draws. 😊
I leave all of my wings nuts threaded onto the legs except for the top nuts, which live in a zip-lock freezer bag. You can also use shower curtain hooks or (I imagine) a blanket pin.
For a small zippered pouch, you can cut a zippered pocket out of a worn-out pair of pants, too.
P.s. I bought some hex nuts which I locked against the stove bottom wing nuts, so I don't have to adjust the nuts for a proper assembly for every set up.
Welcome back! Wooooo!
Good to be back.... We have some killer hunts coming up!
Just turned into it but man this looks exciting and I'm looking forward to watching this entire video and doing screenshots for my friends
Thanx for the channel. I have the seek outside large. I've had it in a sawtooth in 10 degrees F. It is plenty of stove. It can easily blow you out.
Been using pomoly t1 mini… small and heats my 2 and 4 person tent without any issues….great video
Awesome video with alot of good info. I have a seek outside redcliff and a large stove. Actually used the stove in it for the first time a couple weeks ago. I noticed that I got 10 or so small burn holes in the shelter. Whats best to use for sealing the burn holes? I have a 7.5 ft pipe and im wondering also if I could of went 8 or 8.5 ft to help get less burn holes.
You can use Gear Aid also known as tenacious tape. You can clean the areas with alcohol wipes, let dry and apply the tape. After the tape is on you can seem seal over the top of the tape as you would the stitching on the tent. This will ensure the tape doesn't lift and come off. I would highly recommend at least an 8.5' pipe for the redcliff.
The item at the bottom of the piping next to the stove is called a damper. That controls the amount of air the flows through the stove. It helps in making your fire burn slower. The spark arrestor is at the top of the exhaust pipe. The smaller the holes in the arrestor, the smaller the sparks or ash drifting out to burn your tent.
Paint the small pieces orange. Makes it easier to find if you drop them. Grew up with a climbing tree stand and my dad got tired of us loosing the wingnuts.
Gritty's alive! that's great news. Was just telling my wife how I haven't seen a gritty podcast in a couple months. Hopefully you've had some amazing adventures, can't wait to watch them. Heading out mule deer hunting this weekend and will be taking the silex with a medium u-turn stove. That stove and shelter combo is bomb in the mid season hunts. Would I be better off on my elk hunt in the last part of November to upgrade into a large titanium stove or do you think that u-turn medium in the silex would do good?
Keep up the good work! Starting a fire in a stove is a lost art. Picked up a few tips I didn't think about but, all in all, it's pretty close to how I've started fires in the u-turn.
The silex is a fairly small tent so the medium would work out well. The Large would give you longer burn times but it's up to you. Either way you have a good setup. Let us know if you find success.
Great to see you guys back at it! Love the channel. Have you ever heard of the winnerwell fast food titanium stove? It’s awesome and incredibly easy to set up
We have heard of the winnerwell. Do you know the weight difference?
That’s the thing, there is a weight difference of about 10 oz, give or take 2 oz depending on the length of the stove pipe. So the ease of setup does come with a cost. But you don’t have to worry about losing any of those small pieces and it seals up nicely
And that’s in comparison to the SO SXL standard series
Damper in the flue! Nice presentation.
Never went in depth on using the cylinder stove. curious on your experience with it in the weight to performance aspect. is it even lighter than the U turn with even more smoke?
That video is in the works. Make sure your subscribed and hit the notification bell. What are you using for late season now?
This year. A wall tent.
Very helpful - thank you! May I suggest an alternative to Esbit: get a spool of jute rope, at least 1/4" thick. Melt candle wax in a tin can and soak a length of jute rope in it. Now you've got a nice long-burning firestarting wick, and you can cut off as much as you think you need - 1", 3" etc. Esbit is nasty, toxic stuff that you don't even want to touch.
pomoly stoves are they best out there.
We have looked into pomoly. Are they heavy?
At 16:38 you make a statement that brought out my inner Michael Scott.
The Office is the best show ever, in my opinion.
Brian you did the video for those Valkyrie Arrow Systems with Brent Hahn, spot on and awesome during my Newfoundland Moose Archery Hunt!
I have the same Crispi Laponia 2s… love them!
I use bacon grease soaked paper towels, rolled into a roll and cut into approximately half inch wide spirals. One is usually enough to start a fire. Those paper towel spirals burn for about 10 minutes. Candle stubs are great too.
🍻 I know you guys are all about saving the ounces, but a piece of glass for the door will make it a real boonies t.v. 😉Thanks for all the little tips/tricks, like how you adjust the legs and poke 'em into the ground.
We have our own little projector we use to watch movies on the side of our tent. I'll see if I can get a link with a code for you if your interested?
@@GrittyGearAndPodcast 😄🍻
41:23
You're creating a nozzle, which according to the Bernoulli Equation will decrease the pressure, increase the velocity, but it certainly will not increase the flow rate; if anything it will lower it. For example, leaving the door open burns through the wood faster because it's getting more oxygen, not less.
Thanks for the great video! For the pipe i burned it red hot at home. Next time fliped pipe upside down and burned the other end red hot. This tempers the metal so the pipe has a memory in the shape it should take to make set up easier.
Hello! I have been running that stove in heavy Maine winter for years. The design is dated but it gets the job done. Yes my old butterfly damper welds broke and I attempted repair but gave up and bought the new spark arrestor and damper piece. Annoying but peace of mind. I’ve hit below zero Fahrenheit multiple times, warm , comfy and dry gear. The way to go.
I did a few mods to my large seek stove, first i cut the door and added a Micah piece aka glass door, and also added a smoke stack robber or chimney arrestor its an extra titanium box that offsets the chimney works insanely well for retaining heat!!✊️🔥✌️💚
A good way to bust down alot of kindling quick it to use two parallel trees that are nice and close, run your fire tree in between and create a lever to break with. You can bust down a 10-15ft tree in seconds like that.
Best part is the broken bolts of wood typically all pile up in the nook between the trees you are using as levers.
I also like to look for nice straight tamaracks (NE washington) about forearm thickness at the base bc they bust down nice and easy. They do burn up quickly, though. Good alternative is lodgepoles bc in the winter months its tricky finding a dead tamarack bc they shed their needles.
Thanks for sharing! I bought a tipi and stove a few years ago because of your style of hunting. I learned a few things today and appreciate your tried and true suggestions. One thing I have wondered is what you do to prepare for high winds with a stove and tipi. I have experienced the stove pipe blowing all over. Lucky for us the stove was cold when it happened. A solution could be staking the stove pipe down as well. Any suggestions would much appreciated. Thanks again for sharing
We almost always rock out the shelter, place large rocks over the stakes, and we will even pile large deadfall and logs around the tipi to keep the wind from blowing under the tipi. Also, if we are in an area where the ground is soft or sandy we will prepare ahead of time by throwing in longer twisted stakes like the MSR Cyclone stakes.
Cub works fairly well with the Silex. But I also haven’t run it in the cold cold. More for comfort around freezing. It did dry my wet clothes pretty quickly this September.
Great vid, it took me a long time until I figured out that closing everything was the best way to get a full (ish) nights sleep with a wood stove.
Brian, i would like to use one of these stoves for ice fishing in northern MT. My ice shelter is 8x16x7. What size would you recommend for this format. I guess I would say its about 3x the total volume of the Peax Teepee. Thanks for all the info you included here.
I would get the biggest stove you can. If you aren't going far it might make sense to pack something heavy to hold more heat.
@@GrittyGearAndPodcast Heavy would mean that I couldn't also use it also for backcountry use. I'm trying to kill two birds with one big stone. But I also think the "Big Mamma" is wayy to much for backpacking in....
@@kylezeller3768 - The SXL will heat that space and can be used for backpacking. But it’s a bit small. We use the SXL in a wall tent. The SXL will definitely help with the temp in the ice shelter but it may not be able to get that large of a space totally warm. And the Big Mama is too big to backpack with IMO, although you could do it.
Great to see you guys back i was wondering if the YT gods had stamped their feet,
Not yet, but we are working on a bunch of things to avoid their feet.
I've used my SXL on multiple trips and never knew that little metal tag thing was the pipe flue. I just accepted the fact that the stove burned wood fast, SMH. Really glad I watched this video and can't wait to use my stove again with this new knowledge.
What length stove pipe do you recommend for the SXL?
.. Winter camping is so much more enjoyable in a hot tent .. Lots of Stove designs out there ,, From homemade to high dollar commercial ... many like this application to cut pack space with different assembly designs , some easier than others .... Stove pipe generally should be about 2 foot above the peak or ridge of a wall type tent with a spark arrester and cap on top ... you want any embers to blow over the tent ,, not down or against it ... .. Wall tents with a stove jack off to one side can also run the stovepipe out at an angle and support it with rods or branches away from the tent ...
Many stoves have glass panels on the sides and front door that give a nice comfortable ambiance glow as well as enough light to work with inside ...
Winnerwell and Pomoly are a couple of popular brands with different styles and sizes ...
I have a little saw ....it's great for cutting off deer legs also
I have a dome tent with a stove jack. I bought a heavier stove because I typically set up camp where my pickup has access. The stove has a 5 inch stove pipe. But my tents stove jack can only fit a maximum of 4 inch pipe. Could I reduce the stove pipe down to 4 inches at the stove jack and just burn a slightly smaller fire than the fire box can handle, without the tent filling with smoke?
Excellent, Information
Brian, have you looked at the Argali stove? It seems like they have some innovations with regard to stove assembly that makes it way easier to assemble the stove compared to the Seek SXL and the difficulties you point out. Also, what is the ideal pipe length to use if you have an option of different lengths. Thanks for all of your content. It is always so helpful!!
like you, I would prefer wood with pitch type sap but I just realized by watching your fire that though there is a slower "start" to high heat, it looks like not using deciduous or pine would create a much cleaner burn (less carbon).
I have two friends one is living in a "yurt" going to be living in a tent yurt and doesn't look to know how to run a stove looks like needs help learning how to run stove.
Everybody says I know everything about it but don't seem to understand anything about how to have a decent fire going.
Friends of mine are going to be staying in a 1950 military hex tent with a Porta Heat wood stove and I want them to do it right...
I’m 50/50 on my stove tent. I’m having a real problem with the condensation. Not sure if there’s a fix that doesn’t include adding a liner to the mix
If there is condensation it will dry out in a matter of minutes when the heat kicks on in the morning. Everything is COMPLETELY dry by the time breakfast is over. It’s a nonissue for me.
Thanks for the response; I woke up last time out with a lot of condensation/moisture on my down sleeping bag. Was a real drag.
Maybe I’ll just have to keep messing with it.
Glad to have you guys back. Love the content. Quick question how do you deal with condensation? just got back from a Idaho backcountry hunt and the condensation in our SO cimarron was horrible. we used the u turn stove also found it to be a little small for the temps when it was below 25. Thanks
Great question, a larger stove can make a difference in condensation. Or a small sponge that you can wipe off the sides of the tent.
Thanks, good infomercial.
Just got back from a very rainy November elk hunt. My wife and I pack in a Kifaru 8 man tipi I have been running for years and the Big Mamma Stove with a baffle from Seek Outside. Using the baffle and stove pipe on front of stove baffle hole in back we start the stove like you to get draft going. I don't use a damper or spark arrestor since they seemed to plug up. On this trip we never let the stove go out. We always at least run the stove all night choked down. I have learned you have to take the pipe outside about every 8 hours and bang on it to clean it out if you are not running hot otherwise you get smoked out, also you have to shake the stove to one side otherwise you get build up on the baffle and also get smoked out. We bring a Friskars hatchet and bow saw. Curious if you use a carbon fiber tent pole and how that does close to the stove. Also curious if you have a video showing how you get your trekking poles to stay up there in the tent. Thanks for all you do! Been flowing your adventures off and on since your first podcast!
Still waiting on review of the lite outdoors stove. Anytime frame on when that is coming?
I run the winner well fast fold with a dyneema Cimarron and a tyvek ground cloth it's absolutely money.
Do you ever set the tp up over hard pack snow? Looks awesome love the stove.
My first stove was one similar to yours, that messing with the small wing nuts with cold hands wore out its welcome. My second and third stove has been from pomoly. I think they make the best hot tent stoves. Have you tried their gear???
Speaking of stoves, do you guys throw any decent sized rocks around the stoves for some thermal mass value? Might work pretty well.
We do sometimes. It also can help to protect your sleeping bag from hitting the stove during the night.