Kodiak Tent Choice - Flex Bow 10x14 vs. 8p Cabin Lodge

[NV HUNTER]

10x10 lodge cabin
2 xxl cots

Drill in stakes I can set up by myself in 15-20 minutes

 

[IdahoFF]

I use a 10x10 Flexbow and find it a solid tent. 10min to setup solo, longest part is hammering in stakes. I heat with a diesel heater that works perfect. Two cots with gear fit just fine. Might add a vestibule to the front at some point. Been a great tent with no leaks.

 

[eamyrick]

I had used both the 10x10 and 10x16 kodiak. 10x10 is fine for two guys in xl cots but you need to be organized and tidy. Buddy heater on opposite side of door on tote. The 10x16 would work for three guys in cots but you would need to be organized. Did 6 days in Colorado this year with two in my 10x16 and there is a ton of room. 10x16 is also great for two guys and 2-3 kids.

 

[nphunter]

Get the big flex bow and some disco bed bunk cots. You could easily sleep 4 and gear. Setup the breezeway as a kitchen add a small tarp or piece of canvas and the batwing you could easily have an enclosed porch.

 

[RaggedHunter]

I have the kodiak 12x9 cabin tent with the optional wall enclosure. It makes for a very comfortable camp. We have slept 4 guys without cots on the floor of the lined area a few times. Would need bunk cots if you were going to sleep 4 in cots. Could also easily sleep a couple more guys in the floorless enclosure area in a pinch.

Setup for 2 guys takes about half an hour. Setup by myself takes me closer to 45 minutes. Either way it is not hard setup, but not nearly as simple as the flew bow setup.

Down the road I would love to get a flex bow for those hunts where I don't need the extra canopy space, or times where I will be setting up camp alone.

If I could only have 1, I would probably get the big flex bow and call it good.

Definitely do yourself a favor and get a diesel heater. Kodiak tents and diesel heaters go together like lamb and tuna fish.

 

[merkedmallard]

Flexbow 10x14. Solo, mid Oct hunt. 15 mins setup. Tarp overtop takes just as long to setup. I run the tarp to avoid drying it out back at home.

Very comfortable for two and gear.

You guys have an exhaust stack for your buddy heaters/diesel heaters?

 

[sasquatch]

Trust me, go springbar. I was all in on kodiak until it ripped in high winds and then after months of reaching out I got nowhere with customer service.

It ended up in the trash and a springbar was delivered. Much better design for strength at the base with the rope to handle stress


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[nphunter]

Flexbow 10x14. Solo, mid Oct hunt. 15 mins setup. Tarp overtop takes just as long to setup. I run the tarp to avoid drying it out back at home.

Very comfortable for two and gear.

You guys have an exhaust stack for your buddy heaters/diesel heaters?

View attachment 981478

I run my buddy without an exhaust. I just crack the top of the corner windows. I’m running the big buddy designed for indoor use, it has a low oxygen shutoff. I’ve never felt gassed out and have used it a lot, I normally keep in next to the cot and set an alarm 30 min before I want up and roll over and start it. By the time I’m getting up it’s hot in the tent. We also take one in the wall tent for mornings and use the wood stove when we get back to camp for the evening.

 

[HilltopHitman]

10x14 flexbow will be one of the best purchases you make. We just got one and for two guys with a cots, table and a buddy heater it was perfect.

 

[ODB]

View attachment 978512View attachment 978510

I see you do the same thing with your Kodiak as I do mine - I like that center pole in the awning. They really should just include an adjustable center pole for that, otherwise the sag can be annoying

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Flexbow 10x14. Solo, mid Oct hunt. 15 mins setup. Tarp overtop takes just as long to setup. I run the tarp to avoid drying it out back at home.

Very comfortable for two and gear.

You guys have an exhaust stack for your buddy heaters/diesel heaters?

View attachment 981478

You looked at the Springbar fly for it? I got one for my Kodiak and it fits perfectly and lets the tent breath when it's wet or snowed on. Doesn't take but a few minutes to stake it out.

Diesel heater lives outside so nothing to exhaust, just the hot air blower zipped into the door. It was a game changer, smooth consistent dry heat all night long.

 

[The_Squatting_Coon]

I absolutely love my small 8.5x8 Kodiak canvas flex bow for solo trips. The 10x14 would be good for 2 people with cots or 4 people without cots. Even in my 12x14 wall tent I wouldn’t want 4 people on cots, (even tho I’ve done it once) to cramped. After using the flex bow, I want to sell my wall tent and get the 10x14 flex bow, takes up way less space in the truck and so much easier setup.

 

[Braaap]

You looked at the Springbar fly for it? I got one for my Kodiak and it fits perfectly and lets the tent breath when it's wet or snowed on. Doesn't take but a few minutes to stake it out.

Diesel heater lives outside so nothing to exhaust, just the hot air blower zipped into the door. It was a game changer, smooth consistent dry heat all night long.

What model diesel heater?

 

[HairyScandinavian]

What model diesel heater?

This is the one I bought on a silly sale a couple years ago dirt cheap. I might buy the same one if I needed to just because it worked so well but there's other brands and models that are cheaper and should work the same, Vevor supposed to make a good one. We ran this one on lowest setting in the 10x14, easy peasy fire it up before bed and turn it off in the morning. Temps were only low 20's that trip though. I want to say it used about 3/4 gallon on fuel per night 8-10 hours.

Amazon.com

 

[Braaap]

This is the one I bought on a silly sale a couple years ago dirt cheap. I might buy the same one if I needed to just because it worked so well but there's other brands and models that are cheaper and should work the same, Vevor supposed to make a good one. We ran this one on lowest setting in the 10x14, easy peasy fire it up before bed and turn it off in the morning. Temps were only low 20's that trip though. I want to say it used about 3/4 gallon on fuel per night 8-10 hours.

Amazon.com

View attachment 992501

Interesting. I’ve had a 10x14 for 6 years or so and have seen some guys that added an external propane stove but this looks really simple. Thanks!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Interesting. I’ve had a 10x14 for 6 years or so and have seen some guys that added an external propane stove but this looks really simple. Thanks!

I've only used it for this one trip so far but assuming it keeps working mechanically it has a permanent place in truck camp from now on. My buddy and my son had a tent with a stove and I listened to them complain about feeding it all night and struggling to keep the temp stable, too hot too cold cycles. I was also kicking back drinking beer while watching them chop wood every evening. I would like to modify my tent with a low stove jack or some sort of port for the heater so I can get the rear door back but it was a first year test run so I didn't want to do any of that yet and just zippered it in the door and it worked well enough that's a low priority.

 

[HilltopHitman]

I've only used it for this one trip so far but assuming it keeps working mechanically it has a permanent place in truck camp from now on. My buddy and my son had a tent with a stove and I listened to them complain about feeding it all night and struggling to keep the temp stable, too hot too cold cycles. I was also kicking back drinking beer while watching them chop wood every evening. I would like to modify my tent with a low stove jack or some sort of port for the heater so I can get the rear door back but it was a first year test run so I didn't want to do any of that yet and just zippered it in the door and it worked well enough that's a low priority.

If you would, make long post to the existing thread about flexbow and stoves. Seems like a good set up.

 

[Braaap]

I've only used it for this one trip so far but assuming it keeps working mechanically it has a permanent place in truck camp from now on. My buddy and my son had a tent with a stove and I listened to them complain about feeding it all night and struggling to keep the temp stable, too hot too cold cycles. I was also kicking back drinking beer while watching them chop wood every evening. I would like to modify my tent with a low stove jack or some sort of port for the heater so I can get the rear door back but it was a first year test run so I didn't want to do any of that yet and just zippered it in the door and it worked well enough that's a low priority.

I’ve been struggling with what to do differently with our family camping in the fall when it starts getting cold. We have a little buddy heater and it helps but it’s not really a way to keep the tent warm for more than a short time. My wife and daughter just can’t handle the cold, while my son and I tolerate it fine, I need a solution so they still want to camp. I want to keep using the flex bow rather than get a wall tent and wood stove or a trailer.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I’ve been struggling with what to do differently with our family camping in the fall when it starts getting cold. We have a little buddy heater and it helps but it’s not really a way to keep the tent warm for more than a short time. My wife and daughter just can’t handle the cold, while my son and I tolerate it fine, I need a solution so they still want to camp. I want to keep using the flex bow rather than get a wall tent and wood stove or a trailer.

Wife was happy I can tell you that. She's a trooper though so usually doesn't complain much but she liked having the heater. She did turn it up once to about 50% for about an hour or so to warm up when she had a real cold day. Tent was stupid hot so when I got in there I cranked it back down.

 

[Afhunter1]

This is the one I bought on a silly sale a couple years ago dirt cheap. I might buy the same one if I needed to just because it worked so well but there's other brands and models that are cheaper and should work the same, Vevor supposed to make a good one. We ran this one on lowest setting in the 10x14, easy peasy fire it up before bed and turn it off in the morning. Temps were only low 20's that trip though. I want to say it used about 3/4 gallon on fuel per night 8-10 hours.

Amazon.com

View attachment 992501

How did you power it?