Cook tent for mountaineering - recommendations?

[ulvetano Profile 14er Peak List (36) 14ers Skied (7)14ers in Winter (6)13er Peak List (14)Trip Reports]

Anyone have any recommendations or leads (for purchase) for a cook tent? Essentially, I'm exploring what's out there for dialing in a base camp. Planning on having a 2-3 4-season tents, but would like to set up a floorless cook tent, build some snow benches/tables, etc underneath it and have a nice common area to hang out in. Anyone have experience with these and could you steer me in the right direction? thanks! Chuck

[Dave B Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered Trip Reports]

I have zero experience with such a situation, but how many people? I'm assuming <6 if you're only going with 2-3 tents.

Would a betamid work? I'm kind of assuming this is for the Alaska trip you posted on a while back, but it seems a betamid with a dug-out platform (2-4) feet would probably work well for that many people.

Or you could mortgage your house and buy one of these

[Bean Profile Website 14er Peak List (26) 14ers Skied (24)14ers in Winter (7)13er Peak List (5)Trip Reports]

BD Megalight

[Fletch Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered]

http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/shelters/mega-light-tent

These work well. If you are serious call these guys below and ask about a custom tent...

http://www.akgear.com/index.htm

Lastly, try Jon Walters at Northwest Design & Manufacturing. He can be reached at 360.714.8513 or northwestdesign@hotmail.com. They make the cook tents for the guide services on Denali. Great tents and I've spent a month of my life in one a couple times a day. Very cool.

[ulvetano Profile 14er Peak List (36) 14ers Skied (7)14ers in Winter (6)13er Peak List (14)Trip Reports]

Thanks all for the info so far. Mega Light was the only off the shelf version that I had my eye on. Seems about right for what I'm looking for, but I wasn't sure if it was meant for harsh conditions (yes Dave, prepping for the AK trip in April). Looks like there were more options years past, but many are discontinued.

[RoanMtnMan Profile 14er Peak List (45) Trip Reports]

Shangri La by Go-lite works well. We used it for an AK trip with little issue. I have spent a lot more time in my MH Kiva, however I loaned it out to a friend for an AK trip last year and apparently it is still under repair. Still not clear on the cause of the giant hole and I hope to see it again someday. I really liked that tent.

[climbingaggie03 Profile 14er Peak List (4)]

I've used the mega light a fair amount and it's great, super light and plenty sturdy, I know it sleeps 4 pretty crowded so it might be a bit crowded for more than 3 or 4 during meals but I think it would work. If you're going to set it up as a base camp cook tent sort of shelter, you can bury the edges under a bit of snow to hold them down and make it a more sheltered environment inside the Tarp.

I've seen the Go-lite shangri-la and it looks like an awesome shelter, I think it's probably even better than the BD mega light, but I haven't used it so I can't say for sure. I do like the floor plan for sleeping better than the megamid. Since it's pentagonal it gives more space inside than the squar megamid.