Base camp tent suggestions.

[JasonWi]

I'm looking to purchase a new tent for family camping and hunting trips (high winds and rain likely). The tent will need to be large enough to accommodate 3-4 people (air pads/cots) and floor needs to withstand lab sized dog nails. I haven't used this style tent in years so I really have no experience or preference on companies. I'm hoping to stay under $650.

I don't need the tent until spring -- all opinions/advice is appreciated.

Tks in advance!

 

[colonel00]

For base camps we usually either use a Cabela's 8-man dome or 12x12 Alaknak. Sadly both are probably a bit outside of your budget though. Although, you can find sales at times.

 

[dotman]

Check these guys out http://www.walltentshop.com

 

[Luked]

can't say enough good things about the cabelas alkanak tents we have. little higher money wise than your talking but well worth it in my opinion.
not sure how well they would handle the dogs nails though. but they do offer a separate floor liner that I highly suggest getting anyway.

 

[JasonWi]

Thank you for the reply's so far. I originally had a 12x14 wall tent but sold it as I never used it.

I can certainly increase my budget for a better quality tent, I think a floor liner would be a smart addition.

 

[COSA]

Check out the Kodiak Canvas Tents. I'm very happy with the 10x10 for 2 people. You'd probably want the 10x14 for the family. Very good in the wind and rain, but probably not the best design for heavy snow loads.
http://www.competitiveedgeproducts....ts_c_11.html?gclid=CKaTvd7S98gCFYlafgodOtoPew

 

[colonel00]

I'll add one more point. The 8-man dome tent is pretty spacious for 4 guys and the vestibule is nice too. What's really nice, for us at least, is it's still a light enough tent to be easily transported. We actually put it in a cooler and check the cooler when we fly to Alaska.

 

[5MilesBack]

Thank you for the reply's so far. I originally had a 12x14 wall tent but sold it as I never used it.

I can certainly increase my budget for a better quality tent, I think a floor liner would be a smart addition.

Then you already know how awesome a good canvas wall tent it. Nothing like a real base camp to come back to. I use two regular cheap 12x16 tarps overlapped as my floor in my 14x16, and the two I've been using have held up great for the past 7 years. I certainly wouldn't want a permanent floor in a wall tent........would be a bear to dry the whole thing for storage. You could get a new tent with poles etc, from Davis tent for close to or under $1000, or check Craigslist or Classifieds for a used one. I sold another 14x16 Davis tent last year for $700.

 

[oldgoat]

My buddy uses a PVC tarp for a floor in his wall tent and it works really well, it resembles a pool cover to me. I think as mentioned, a ground cloth is a good option but a connected floor is not a good idea with a canvas wall tent unless maybe your Hulk Hogan big and strong!

 

[conhawa]

Kodiak canvas 10x14.....super easy to put up....very heavy duty floor.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Nuther Kodiak fan.

 

[camping1601]

Bought my first wall tent last year (a 10x14 Montana blend). A wall tent and wood stove is soooo!!! nice.

 

[luke moffat]

Just did a 10 day trip to Kodiak on our 12X12 Cabelas XWT. The thing is HUGE and tons of usable space. If I swap out the stakes to the 12" long yellow ones it saves 10 pounds off the weight to make it roughly 60 pounds all up. I put the stakes in another bag when flying on the airline and the rest of the tent comes in under the 50 pound weight limit for checked bags.

They don't make that version any more but the 10X10 is still made and would still fit 4 guys in it easily as my buddy and my wife and I slept in his 8X8 XWT and could have fit one more in there easily. The floors are hell or stout and you can get the dry pitch kit so you can setup the tent with just the tent footprint and the fly if you want to go free standing floor less shelter and save some weight. The floor on them is also super tough and a labs claws wouldn't be an issue. It is $850 though. But its likely the stoutest tent I own and I own a lot of tents.

Setting up the inner tent after using the dry pitch kit:


Complete bomber setup with enough space in the vestibule to stand up and have a roll up table and double burner cook stove on it plus packs, gear, 5 gallon propane bottle and more.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

The new Flexbow Deluxe 10X14 looks too nice! LOL $670.

[video=youtube;0WJN_4OzH6Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WJN_4OzH6Y[/video]

 

[dotman]

Just did a 10 day trip to Kodiak on our 12X12 Cabelas XWT. The thing is HUGE and tons of usable space. If I swap out the stakes to the 12" long yellow ones it saves 10 pounds off the weight to make it roughly 60 pounds all up. I put the stakes in another bag when flying on the airline and the rest of the tent comes in under the 50 pound weight limit for checked bags.

They don't make that version any more but the 10X10 is still made and would still fit 4 guys in it easily as my buddy and my wife and I slept in his 8X8 XWT and could have fit one more in there easily. The floors are hell or stout and you can get the dry pitch kit so you can setup the tent with just the tent footprint and the fly if you want to go free standing floor less shelter and save some weight. The floor on them is also super tough and a labs claws wouldn't be an issue. It is $850 though. But its likely the stoutest tent I own and I own a lot of tents.

Setting up the inner tent after using the dry pitch kit:


Complete bomber setup with enough space in the vestibule to stand up and have a roll up table and double burner cook stove on it plus packs, gear, 5 gallon propane bottle and more.

X2.... I have the same one and I use the pitch kit and not the nest. Thinking about adding a stove jack. This is a tank of a shelter!

 

[Brock A]

Been using the Kodiak canvas heavily in the late season and as a base camp at the truck since 2008. Absolutely love it. I reapplied a waterproofing treatment this past summer as it had a few areas where it was leaking. Took the years! Pretty impressive.

 

[280twoeighty]

just me, but I would be more inclined to buy a custom canvas tent than a chinese big box store type unit. Probably the same money or less.

 

[Mark]

Davis tent is where I would spend my money.

12X18 with internal frame.

 

[luke moffat]

just me, but I would be more inclined to buy a custom canvas tent than a chinese big box store type unit. Probably the same money or less.

Really depends on the application. My buddy has a wall tent we use for moose hunting based off the road. It's super nice. But it takes a long time to setup and good luck flying one out on a remote hunt. That's where tipi/stove combos shine. That and even the tent I showed above and with a buddy heater. Both are much faster to setup and are very comfy as well and do better in high winds than a standard wall tent in high winds.

Just no one tent does everything well....that's why I tell myself I need like a dozen shelters

 

[AK Troutbum]

For a super bomber, roomy, stove compatible, base camp tent, I would look no further than an AO 12x12 or Arktika Extreme. Although definitely on the heavy side and pricey, you will not find a better "bombproof", American-made tent anywhere. JMO. But like I said, pricey, and nowhere in the price range that you're talking about.