Living in Colorado I use mine 30-40 nights a year. If you use it a lot, the average cost per night really brings it into perspective. So $2500 for one night........or $250/night for a 10 day hunt. Or like me......I'm right around $1.70-$2.00 per night in my 15 year old Davis 14x16 ($800 in 2008). And that average drops every time I use it.After much consideration I think I’m going to go 14x16 Davis wall tent. I’ll get the full detached floor, might not be 100% bug/snake proof but neither is my house for that matter.
It’s not cheap ($2500 for everything) but it’s a long term investment, and a helluva lot cheaper than a camper/travel trailer.
The tent does great. Shovel out the edges daily and you’re good to go. The awning doesn’t like it. I had to scrape my awning a couple times a day. It doesn’t drain water perfectly (at least how I had it set up) and snow won’t roll off it. When that freezes, it gets so heavy it starts pulling on the front of the tent. A foot or two of snow would have been a problem with my awning.Anybody run the Kodiaks in heavy, wet snow? How do they hold up?
My tipis still have there place as spiking in a few miles has worked out quite well for us.Smart move on the 14x16! A comfortable camp makes all the difference. I sold my tipi and stove with ZERO regrets. A hot wall tent is absolutely amazing for moral while hunting.
I just cut the awning off mine. That is the one thing I dont like about these tents. Otherwise, I love my 10x10.The tent does great. Shovel out the edges daily and you’re good to go. The awning doesn’t like it. I had to scrape my awning a couple times a day. It doesn’t drain water perfectly (at least how I had it set up) and snow won’t roll off it. When that freezes, it gets so heavy it starts pulling on the front of the tent. A foot or two of snow would have been a problem with my awning.
I haven't gotten to that point yet, but they need modification. One of the earlier posts in this thread showed the awning with a strong down and outward lean which would shed water well, but doesn't leave much room for walking under. After this years elk camp, I've been daydreaming options. I think I'm going to have a local canvas company sew 4 sleeve pockets into the awning, get a few spring steel rods like my hunting blind uses, and try to make a dome essentially out of the awning. That should keep it from holding too much snow/water without adding a ton of work to the setup of things.I just cut the awning off mine. That is the one thing I dont like about these tents. Otherwise, I love my 10x10.
Can also just flip it backwards and tie out.I haven't gotten to that point yet, but they need modification. One of the earlier posts in this thread showed the awning with a strong down and outward lean which would shed water well, but doesn't leave much room for walking under. After this years elk camp, I've been daydreaming options. I think I'm going to have a local canvas company sew 4 sleeve pockets into the awning, get a few spring steel rods like my hunting blind uses, and try to make a dome essentially out of the awning. That should keep it from holding too much snow/water without adding a ton of work to the setup of things.
What do you mean? Flip it over the top of the tent?Can also just flip it backwards and tie out.
I considered that, but with the snow we were having it gave me a sheltered spot to kick most of the snow off my boots before going into the tent. I had some rugs thrown on the floor, and I tried keeping them dry as I could. So I like having the awning, but would like it to work a bit betterYou can also just roll it up. The awning on this tent isn't the greatest. It's really only good for creating a place to stop and take your boots or gear off if it's raining. In my picture ealrier, I did have it pitched that way because if it does rain that's the best way to divert the water so it doesn't collect back at the seam between the awning and the main body.