This hot tent is based off designs by Dogger and TZBrown and both of the use the side exit chimney. After seeing theirs at a hang, I really liked that configuration. My buddy has a smokehouse with a chimney straight up through the roof and he's gotten a few spark holes. Coming out the side works for me and I've got at least 5-6 feet of chimney outside, supported by a tripod stand that is rock solid.