Tents (1 Viewer)

[leonard_nemoy]

Springbar tents are the best I have ever seen

 

[posgu]

I had been looking at Turbo Tent since I first saw them at a Costco event a few years ago, and I purchased one last year. Used it on multiple trips last year, including a two week long roadtrip last summer. I have the 6 person Pine Deluxe and I am very happy with it. It stood up to hard rain and wind, but the best part is how quick it is to set up. It literally pops up in seconds, then stake it down and put up guy lines and rainfly if it's windy and/or rainy. Makes a big difference when you're moving along every day and taking down/putting up the tent each night and morning.

 

[PortableGarage]

Starting to look around at tents and want to buy a better quality one than the ones i had growing up(cheap Walmart specials). I haven't bought a tent in like 15 yrs so I have no clue what's good and what's not. Fyi this will be for a family of 4(1&4yr olds) and used for basic family camping, nothing extreme or very far from the truck, or at least rarely. While I doubt we intentionally head out in stormy weather I'd like something that can handle your typical thunderstorms with ease--no caving in, leaking everywhere, flapping everywhere, etc. I'd rather go overkill for what we need and have it last a good long time than cheap out and regret it.

That said, any suggestions? How are the canvas tents, ie the Kodiak from cabelas? Is canvas too hot for warm weather camping? I like the durability and ease of repair aspects of them, and weight shouldn't be a big issue for us. How about the geodesic domes like the Alaskan? Never been in that style, how is the room? How about a small wall tent--are they too difficult to put up?

Sorry for all the questions--there's just so danged many options out there!

If you're looking for the best quality in a pole tent design, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Miami Missionary Tent Company in Miami Ok.

Here is more information about their pole tents for sale - Note: They have tents in over 148+ countries and they are the manufacturer of the strongest, most reliable pole tents in the USA! Good Luck and Hope this Helps!

 

[lcwizard]

Springbar all the way . American made with factory support

 

[lcwizard]

^ no personal experience with the Springbar other than I have heard very good things. This comparison of points through Kodiak's eyes FWIW...


Also I forgot to mention the two very nice attachable internal organizers that come standard with the Kodiak: One is a large fine mesh gear loft and the 2nd is a multi-pocketed vertical organizer, also made from fine mesh material, designed to hang along any of the walls. Both are well designed, sturdily constructed and very useful: Very nice touch!

I read their claims. For some reason their screen doors qualify as windows yet the Springbars does not . Their picture in the comparison has the storm flaps closed on the Springbar but the flaps open on the Kodiak to reveal the other "window". they both effectively have the same same window space.
They listed the Springbar skate bag as a total 2+ pounds as if to imply cheap stakes. My stake bag weighs about 7 pounds. The stakes included are 11 1/4" long with about 10" of ground penetration, heavy enough to beat in with the 3lb sledge I carry. The one construction feature that sold me on the Springbar, besides being american made were the stake holds. The nylon loops that most use can tear loose or break down in the sun and eventually fail.
The Springbar uses a heavy spring steel wire loop that will outlast the rest of the tent.
The Springbar came with two zip in bags. A large mesh laundry/gear bag on one wall and an large organizer bag with multiple small pockets on the other. The Kodiak looks like a virtual copy except where the Springbar zips in the Kodiak clips in on two corners.
The number one reason I chose the Springbar is that I'm a strong advocate of buying American made when it's available and I have personal experience with having import knock offs. It's much easier to steal an idea than spend the money on the R&D yourself. It would be OK if Kodiak
was paying royalties for the design.

stakes and stake loop

 

[Brentbba]

Do yourself a favor - order some Snow Peak stakes from Equipt1. You will find that those Springbar stakes will bend rather easily in any sort of semi-hard ground. The Snow Peak stakes in the same ground are indestructible and worth the $5/ea.

I agree with you 100% about the sturdiness of the stake loops and the thick rope that they loop in at the base of the tent. That's one area Springbar has Kodiak beat big time and that's where the stability of this design of tent is!

 

[DKBrulles]

Everyones chiming in with their favorite canvas tents, so i'll throw out something different. Check out the Tipi tents from Seek Outside, http://seekoutside.com/tipi-tents/
Super light weight, good all weather and wind resistant. My roommate has one and we've been out a few times this winter in the snow and ice no problem

 

[TDavidson]

Any advice on a good 3 person backpacking tent?

Looking for something to go camping in the mountains with my two older daughters: 13 and 10.

 

[romey]

for regular car camping, any half decent dome style tent will do (even from wall mart). i think tents are overrated, imho. you only need the good stuff if you're doing hardcore back county type of camping where you need things lightweight and/or very strong for mountainnering base camps. i've owned a bunch of regular tents from cheap stuff to half decent north face products and they all got the job done (i've had the cheaper coleman/escort type tent that's lasted 10 years). it just boils down to your preferences (vestibules/rooms/fly's, etc) and how much room you want.

for a family of 4 i'd go with a 6 person tent (that's my rule at least, is add "2 more" to your capacity requirements). they only advertise tents with everyone laying down and no room for gear, lol. i'd find the quickest, simplest tent to set up (with a vestibule) and be done with it.

anyway, there's jus waaay to much to choose from these days! lol. boils down to budget.

 

[SLOwag]

I like how Springbar replaced the window and door screens on my 1960's era tent for a very reasonable price. I have other tents, but I still like camping in a canvas tent now and then.

 

[skidplate]

I've posted this pic in another thread, but I guess is appropriate here as well. Heavy as all get out, but will be great for an extended base camp. Anybody know if it needs to be treated with water repellant? If so, what product?

 

[Nothinghead]

Any advice on a good 3 person backpacking tent?

Looking for something to go camping in the mountains with my two older daughters: 13 and 10.

We just got a big Agnes jack rabbit SL3 from steepandcheap and like it so far. You might want the 4 person for the extra space. You can divid the weight and bulk between the three of you (poles + tent + fly).
There are so many good options out there, though, between marmot, TNF, mountain hardware, REI, big Agnes, etc. just go to your local REI to see what you like.

 

[freepowder]

I have a Cabela's Alaknak 12' x 12'. Great tent. Has a stove jack and port in the floor. Has a center pole. Nylon. Good sized windows/ventilation. 4 season. Not cheap, not light. I use 12" 3/8" spikes for stakes. I use a 12' x 14' tarp for the footprint, point the door downhill and leave the extra two feet for a doormat. I also have an actual doormat.

When I bought it I was at the Sidney NE store. I was torn between this tent and the bighorn. The salesman looked at his watch and said, "We have all of our tents set up on the median out front. The afternoon breeze has set in and it'll be blowing about 40 mph or more. Go have a look." I did. Every single tent was blown flat. Except the Alaknak. Sold.

 

[pbgbottle]

I have the cabellas alaskan guide ,there big one ,i think 8 man tent, works great for two adults and two kids ,But its not canvas. But we love the tent. Use it in wind rain and snow never let us down

 

[MackShaft]

http://www.rei.com/product/827807/rei-kingdom-6-tent

 

[BGarcia88FJ62]

I've really enjoyed my Oztent RV-2 haven't had a bad night in it, Rain, Freezing rain, snow, high winds, no worries.

 

[Enigma]

I plant to sort out my garage this spring and set up the 6 or so various ground tents we have to see what still works and is/isn't missing parts, then toss the whole lot of them in a garage sale and get an Oztent (or the copy that was linked earlier this thread).
So sick of screwing with poles etc etc when it comes to these styles when one needs a ground tent for whatever your use.

 

[FJ60Seth]

The Oztent looks interesting. If I didn't have Springbar I might consider it, except packed, the length is 6.5' long.

 

[BGarcia88FJ62]

The Oztent looks interesting. If I didn't have Springbar I might consider it, except packed, the length is 6.5' long.

Yea it's definitely not a duffle bag type tent cause of the internal frame design its no trouble though.
just toss it on the load bars or rack and strap it down. It's never been a problem.

 

[gregnash]

I've posted this pic in another thread, but I guess is appropriate here as well. Heavy as all get out, but will be great for an extended base camp. Anybody know if it needs to be treated with water repellant? If so, what product?View attachment 1067651 View attachment 1067653

I would say that it probably is a good idea to treat it with something. I was doing research on mine (looks to be about the same age as yours) and the article I was reading said that while you can use Canvak or Star-Brite but depending on the age of the tent and type of canvas you should use something with PTFE in it (Canvak apparently does not have PTFE). This was coming from a marine/sailboat website on waterproofing/water-repellanting canvas and they recommended for Older canvas items that Star-Brite was better than Canvak as Canvak should really only be used on items that has never been sealed before or have only been sealed a few times.