Traveler I
In search of: The Best Ground Tents
- Thread starter SeguineJ
- Start date
I like the Canvas Camp Bell Tent with the Orland Stove. I have posted on it quite a bit before.
I love my ARB awning room...I have the 2000 awning and the 2000 x 2500 fits perfect.
Contributor III
I actually went with the Darche awning tent. It’s 100% compatible with the arb awnings. It’s great.
Is it just you? I really like the Cabelas ultimate Alaknak tents, but even the smallest one (12'x12') is pretty big. I have the 27'x13' with vestibule and roof protector, but I generally camp with 4-8 people, and honestly it's overkill for anything under 8 (the 12x20 or 12x12 are better for up to 8 and 5 people, respectively). However it's extremely good in bad weather and has amazing ventilation. I've had it in 30mph winds down to 12 degrees with no issues. My only complaint with it is that the stakes aren't the highest quality, I've bent them up some pounding them into and removing them from frozen ground. They can be bent back and I've only actually ruined one, but I plan to invest in some better stakes at some point. Takes me about 45 minutes to set up/take down by myself, but that's for the stupid big one and half the time is spent pounding in stakes. The 12x12 would be way less. Rain and snow are no issue, biggest issue in it is condensation, and they have a lot of ventilation for that. The tradeoff in bad weather is you have to balance condensation vs. insulation (wood stove helps), but contrasting to a canvas style tent, it does not hold water/moisture in the fabric. I put it away in a snow storm and when I took it back out to dry out it barely held any water and really, if you took a towel to it while packing up it wouldn't be an issue as the fabric doesn't hold any water itself.
I usually set up a base camp and explore from there, if you're more one that changes locations every night, it might be too much work (imo) as you'd probably still be looking at 15-20 minutes to set up and take down the small one. Not horrible, but that's half an hour to 40 minutes a day just for the tent. Weight wise the huge one weighs about 180lbs with the accessories, the 12x12 would probably be under 100lbs. The poles are the heaviest part. I have a Thule roof bubble for my JLUR, I put the tent and all accessories in that with some other stuff, and the poles in the back of the Jeep (they're too long to fit in the bubble). I also have a trailer, depends on how much stuff and how many people I'm taking in my vehicle. Last trip we fit everything for 2 people without the trailer and the rest met us there. More than 2 people and I need the trailer.
I usually set up a base camp and explore from there, if you're more one that changes locations every night, it might be too much work (imo) as you'd probably still be looking at 15-20 minutes to set up and take down the small one. Not horrible, but that's half an hour to 40 minutes a day just for the tent. Weight wise the huge one weighs about 180lbs with the accessories, the 12x12 would probably be under 100lbs. The poles are the heaviest part. I have a Thule roof bubble for my JLUR, I put the tent and all accessories in that with some other stuff, and the poles in the back of the Jeep (they're too long to fit in the bubble). I also have a trailer, depends on how much stuff and how many people I'm taking in my vehicle. Last trip we fit everything for 2 people without the trailer and the rest met us there. More than 2 people and I need the trailer.
Advocate III
Great thread. Those are some pretty sweet set-ups. Currently looking at tents because my NorthFace backpacking tent, although a great tent, is not as “fun” crawling on the ground to get into, as it was when I was in my twenties. I want something I can stand in, get dressed in without having to wiggle into my clothes, etc. something like a tall 3-4person size.
Like my older Hobitat.. it's a (almost) two room place! LOts of condensation in the Garage IMHE. Thinking of Canvas for colder camping with a stove inside.I went with a rei kingdom 6. How much space do you need? Bought it for $500 plus got the garage to go with it and a footprint. Very nice tent. Well made I think. I believe Mr. Overland bound himself had a rei in the beginning. Saw it in his one video.
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We didn't have a lot of condensation in the garage. But did get a lot in the main tent. Probably because we didnt vent all the time.
Enthusiast III
I recently bought a Cabela’s west winds 6 person Geodome tent and I’m very impressed. I was considering the REI kingdom 6 and read a bunch of the reviews and picked the Cabela’s tent. It’s on sale for $250. And has about 10x10’ floor space and 6’3” of headroom and a big vestibule. I set it up this weekend and slept in it during a rainstorm and not a drop inside or leaks. It rained .7 inches.
The geodomes are great in the wind too and they can be stakes out to handle decently strong wind. I think this a score of a deal.
The geodomes are great in the wind too and they can be stakes out to handle decently strong wind. I think this a score of a deal.
Attachments
Enthusiast III
Cabela's West Wind™ 6-Person Dome Tent : Cabela's
With spacious, weather-deflecting construction and integrated movie-watching storage for your tablet, the affordable Cabela's West Wind 6-Person Dome Tent brings the backwoods into your budget. The 83.2-sq.-ft. floor and 19-sq.-ft. vestibule deliver sleeping quarters and gear storage for up to...
www.cabelas.com
Enthusiast III
Out of curiosity anyone in the US order or thinking of ordering a replacement bag from Drifta.com.au for their OzTent?
Enthusiast III
OzTent owners: Not sure if anyone has or used the ridge spreaders for the awning but this price is hard to beat. I ordered 2. Hopefully it’s not a scam. OzTent Telescopic Ridge/Spreader Bar is only $11.99 US on Amazon. Can’t seem to share link so you’ll have to just hunt.
Influencer I
Check out Spring Bar Tents. 4 season tents, very roomy, very comfortable. They are not my style but my hunting friends love them. Pretty fast setup too.
springbarcanvas.com
Kodiak is the other tent they like, They look the same.
www.kodiakcanvas.com
Springbar® Canvas Tents
Home of Jack Kirkham's Original Canvas Tent Designs. Easy to pitch, legendary in heavy weather, and built to last a lifetime - there's nothing like a genuine Springbar®. Making tents by hand in Salt Lake City, Utah since 1961. Discover a new pleasure in camping.
springbarcanvas.com
Kodiak Canvas Camping Tents and Camping Gear
Kodiak Canvas manufactures and sells high-quality canvas tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear. Kodiak Canvas tents and gear will take your family camping adventure to a whole new level! We are all about car or truck camping and base camping - if you're looking for backpacking tents, look...
www.kodiakcanvas.com
Enthusiast III
Influencer I
Enthusiast III
So the OzTent spanner bars weren’t a scam! I was a little worried as i’ve been burned before on Amazon with some Ka-Bar stuff. Got them UPS yesterday. $11.99 each.
The king of all ground tents, the Shiftpod2. Just got back from a 10 day trip in with temperatures from 97 degrees to 35 degrees. Thunderstorms in one place, 50 mph gusts in another for two days. It stays warmer and cooler when needed, it keeps dust out... expensive, yes. Cheaper than a RTT by far. I’m a fan. 
I tried to find this on Amazon but got no luck. That's a great price for it
Enthusiast III
They are still in there but listed as currently unavailable. I think the link works on a normal browser and not the app.
