I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

[gso125]

Hi All I'm new here and I posted in the introduction area but thought I would ask if anyone had any thought on the 3 tents I think will be good for my family of 5. My wife and 3 small sons. I want room to grow in and thought these 3 would be good for many years of camping. I have read a lot of pros and cons and watched videos I could find on theses.


My first choice is Cabela's Outfitter Series™ XWT - Xtreme Weather Tent – 12' x 12'

2- Cabela's Alaskan Guide Geodesic Tent with Fiberglass Poles – 8-Person

3- Kodiak Canvas Flex Bow Tent – 10' x 14'

Im open to other tents but I have a $500 gift card a Cabela's so I started looking there first but not locked in. Any ideas or suggestion would be great. Thanks Gerry

[gmann]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

Last summer I was in the exact position as you. I was also in the market to buy a tent for my family of four. My wife and I have two boys ages 7 and 5. We looked at the Cabela's tents because we also had a gift card.

I spent considerable time researching the very same Cabela's tents you mentioned. I researched online at Cabela's web site and I used google and YouTube.

If you plan on camping in some extreme weather then please read no further (To put things in perspective, when I talk weather I live in MN). I passed on both the Cabela's tents you mentioned. They are indeed awesome tents but I found them to be more suited for extreme weather especially cooler to colder weather or really wet weather. I came to the conclusion that these tents would not be good summer tents when the weather is warm/hot. They didn't seem to be a good fit to keep the air circulating. Also, the color of both tents is dark green and they seem to absorb the sunlight and what not and because they are dark green both tents were pretty dark inside. The Geodesic tent turned me off because of the shape. Hexagon or octagon or something. IMHO it leads to a waste of space.

FWIW after my research I had my mind made up and I went to the Cabela's store to purchase the Geodesic tent. The store I visited had all the tents up on display and once I was able to check them out I quickly changed my mind. In addition, the sales associate also informed me that the tents I was interested in would not be suitable for the needs of my family.

I ended up purchasing the Cabela's 8 person Guardian tent. It is awesome. The only issue I have with the tent is that it's not really a late three season to four season tent like the tents you are looking at. I know, dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. Another issue? The Guardian has been discontinued and is probably not available.

I just purchased the 12x20 Alaknak. You might want to check out the 12x12 Alaknak. It could be the perfect solution for you and you family.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[gr8brew]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

The Cabela's Alaskan Guide Geodesic Tent was on my list last year. Here is a vid of it that't makes it hard not to buy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PylrnSDprIM However I purchased the Kelty Palasade 6 you can find them under 300 bucks. The only thing I didn't like about the guide tent was its dark as heck in there.

I would avoid fiberglass poles. I think others will chime in on that as well.

[MacGyver]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

The Xtreme Weather Tent looks like a real pain to set up. I just looked at a YouTube video on how to set one up and that's a lot of frame to deal with, even with two people. The geodesic, even though the center height is about the same as the Flexbows, you get more walk around room in a Flexbow because they're more square. And I definitely second grbrew's recommendation to avoid fiberglass poles.

Obviously, I'm a big fan of the Flexbows. The hardest part of setting them up is pegging them down. After that, it's a breeze, even by yourself. The online reviews are something like 98% 5-star, with the only common complaints being the pegging down issue and the weight. But, to me, the weight is an asset in a canvas tent. They ain't nylon! If you do get a Flexbow, I'd say to get the deluxe version because they offer a lot better ventilation.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

I don't know about the Cabelas tents, but love my Kodiak. It is BUILT. It is not a backpacking tent. But it can be setup by one person, it won't leak, and is going to last. If you want to research kodiak, just type kodiak into the search engine on this site.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

BTW, welcome to the site.

[gso125]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

Last summer I was in the exact position as you. I was also in the market to buy a tent for my family of four. My wife and I have two boys ages 7 and 5. We looked at the Cabela's tents because we also had a gift card.

I spent considerable time researching the very same Cabela's tents you mentioned. I researched online at Cabela's web site and I used google and YouTube.

If you plan on camping in some extreme weather then please read no further (To put things in perspective, when I talk weather I live in MN). I passed on both the Cabela's tents you mentioned. They are indeed awesome tents but I found them to be more suited for extreme weather especially cooler to colder weather or really wet weather. I came to the conclusion that these tents would not be good summer tents when the weather is warm/hot. They didn't seem to be a good fit to keep the air circulating. Also, the color of both tents is dark green and they seem to absorb the sunlight and what not and because they are dark green both tents were pretty dark inside. The Geodesic tent turned me off because of the shape. Hexagon or octagon or something. IMHO it leads to a waste of space.

FWIW after my research I had my mind made up and I went to the Cabela's store to purchase the Geodesic tent. The store I visited had all the tents up on display and once I was able to check them out I quickly changed my mind. In addition, the sales associate also informed me that the tents I was interested in would not be suitable for the needs of my family.

I ended up purchasing the Cabela's 8 person Guardian tent. It is awesome. The only issue I have with the tent is that it's not really a late three season to four season tent like the tents you are looking at. I know, dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. Another issue? The Guardian has been discontinued and is probably not available.

I just purchased the 12x20 Alaknak. You might want to check out the 12x12 Alaknak. It could be the perfect solution for you and you family.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestion on Guardian and Alaknak tents they both seem to be great tents , how is the Guardian over all I don't know if not being able to open a widow from inside is a big deal or zipping up the mesh I don't think the other two I like can do that either but I like it and I'm taken into account I'll be doing most campingin the summer but if I go to the beachs and mountains in Maine it gets cool at night at the end of August. Thanks Gerry

[gso125]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

@ gr8brew Loved that video that's why I like it. Thanks

[gso125]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

@ MacGyver and 05Kingquad700
I really like the Kodiak tents read a bunch on here seems like a few people had leak issues but way more positive feedback. Seemed like a first time setup issue didn't soak it maybe ? I like the new deluxe model with side windows. Cabelas doesn't list the deluxe model. I called them to see if they can get it but need to call back and talk to a product specialist. Thank you Gerry

[gso125]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

BTW, welcome to the site.

Thank you

[05Kingquad700]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

Yeah, I have wondered that as well. I had one issue with mine, called customer service and got it handled very quickly. The guy on the phone seemed like a good guy. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

[tplife]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

Those big canvas tents are great as long as there's no driving rain or high (50 mph-plus) winds - at least that's why I quit using canvas, plus the extra care needed due to rot, mold, weeping seams, etc. That said, a lot of folks aren't toting goose down bags and are out in good weather, so if you can handle a tent that weighs twice as much as polyester and don't mind a bit of water inside, you're going to be a "happy camper".

[MacGyver]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

I like the new deluxe model with side windows. Cabelas doesn't list the deluxe model.

Just so there's no confusion when looking at the Flexbows, the deluxe versions just have more doors with windows than the basic models. It's the VX models that have the side windows.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

Those big canvas tents are great as long as there's no driving rain or high (50 mph-plus) winds

One of the videos that sold me on the spring bar design.
http://youtu.be/h-0bZoGm9Is

[Mike]

Re: I think I have narrowed down my tent choices to these 3 any input would be great.

I think the important thing for you to do is know what kind of temperature and weather you will most likely be camping in. Buy a tent for that purpose rather than trying to buy a tent that stretches into other seasons.

A hot weather summer tent can be used in cool weather by adding blankets to sleeping bags, but a hot tent in on a hot July or August day is inescapably miserable. If you have to err on one side or the other, get a cooler, more breathable tent.