Light weight base camp tent...fast setup?

[BCSojourner]

I'm looking for a new base camp tent for sleeping at the truck. Would like to have room for a couple cots and gear. First priority would be fast setup and take down. What do you guys think?

If you want to cry once and are looking at a lifetime type investment tent, check out Snow Trekker's website. Their tents are canvas with high quality interior Easton aluminum frames, an ingenious guy-out system, pack up and store small, lightweight, go up fast, and will withstand very strong storms. They have been making them for serious winter campers since the early 90's. A fraction of the weight of most canvas tents. Mine is 13x13 with 9 1/2 ft to the ridge-will fit 3-4 cots, woodstove, etc., and the canvas weighs 22 lbs. Give Jonah at Snow Trekker a call.

 

[MtnSoft]

Kodiak Canvas 10x14. Buddy heater for comfort.

 

[CasNed]

Browning glacier 4 person, 4 stakes for the rain fly. Fastest / easiest set up I’ve found for moving a lot on a hunt. Two cots and a buddy heater fit well. I’ve ran this set up to -30 with a buddy heater and it kept it 50 degrees in the tent.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

But it will probably be one night and move to new area.

I've used both the Kodiak Flexbow 10x14 and the Snowtrekker/WRTL. Both are similar setup time of about 15 minutes and both would be a great base camp truck tent.

Generally I prefer to use it if staying 2 nights or more. If just one night and early enough season there's very little time in the tent, then I prefer sleeping in the truck. If later and cold, then could understand setting it up for a night, but even at 15minutes setup, honestly think it could get old after a while. That said, these two are about as fast as you can get while still having the luxury of space, durability, heating options and comfort.

Kodiak is MUCH less expensive, can run the Buddy heater (but highly recommend separate co2 alarm for extra safety) but my experience was the propane heat from the buddy heater didn't dry out clothes very well. It's much heavier than the Snowtrekker, but super thick canvas and floor. If you go this route, highly recommend using extra long lag bolts and a drill/impact gun to put in the 16 stakes as it goes WAY faster.

Snowtrekker/WRTL is much more compact and lighter. I don't have experience, but I'm guessing the design of the walls will fare better in high winds. It is quite the long term investment as they're not cheap, but hopefully should last a lifetime if well cared for.

Good luck and enjoy.

s

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Any particular reason why you need the tent? Sleeping pad on the ground and sleeping bag is the easiest and quickest.

 

[bigbassfish]

For those of you that use bigger wall style tents such as the Flex bow, what's the general use case? Are you setting these up at the trailhead near your truck? Parking on a random FS/access road and setting up? Do you feel comfortable leaving them unattended with cots and other gear inside when away for the day or spiking?

 

[fmyth]

Is a 10x10 Kodiak FlexBow enough room for 2 cots?

Yes.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Someone may have already posted it, but there is nothing faster than a gazelle tent. I love mine, but not lightweight and pretty bulky. I can have it set up in probably 3 minutes.

 

[bmart2622]

Snowtrekker

 

[CMF]

How light weight you talking?
Doesn't get much quicker than a basic dome tent... we only do extra guy lines when expecting weather.
We usually use a Coleman evanston 8p dome tent,(23lbs if I remember) it has a screen porch which is nice to cover some gear and it's usually wife and 3kids. 3 adults with cots/airmattress is comfortable. They make a 6p similar tent.
If we're going lighter we just use backpacking tents which is a Durston xmid 2 and a blacktail 3p.

 

[mtbn]

So far I'm happy with my Ellis 12x12 Praire tent. Only 6 stakes and really quick set up by myself, stove jack and plenty of room for 2 full size cots etc.

 

[Fever Buck]

I’d also recommend Springbar tents, very similar to the Kodiak. Can put a wood stove in them pretty easy.

 

[Crews]

I’ve got the Kodiak 10x14 floorless screen house. Goes up quick, and is very versatile for 4 season use. But it’s bulky and heavy.

 

[Hammer19]

Not sure if anyone has said it but I have loved my seek outside court house and highly recommend it.

 

[mad_angler]

I would recommend a Kifaru 8 man tipi or an Argali Yukon.

Yukon 8P Tent

With more head room than a tipi, the Argali Yukon 8P Tent has loads of space and walking-around room thanks to the two pole design and tall peak height. With dual doors, steep side walls and 32 guyout points, the Yukon 8P feels like a wall tent and is the ultimate packable group shelter.

argalioutdoors.com

I've taken the Kifaru to Alaska moose hunting twice. It is light enough to pack (with a group). It has plenty of space for 2 cots.

Last fall, my Kifaru failed in 45 mph winds in Wyoming (it was about 15-20 years old so I will cut it some slack, and Kifarau repaired it good as new...). So I bought the Yukon.

I took the Yukon to Wyoming in about a foot of snow. It was awesome.
I also took it to Kansas for a week of whitetail hunting. It was awesome there too.

 

[sodaksooner]

Kodiak Canvas FlexBow

All the options except lightweight. I will say it is a great tent. Very well built and good sized. Sets up super fast.

 

[mavinwa2]

Solo, for extended trips, I love my 10x10 Kodiak tent. 8 years of heavy use and going strong. Big enough for 2 cots if I need to. With 2 or more, better off with the larger size though. And you can stand straight up in the Kodiak to get dressed, stretch etc. Excellent tent in storms and high winds. If snow expected, it was set up with standard blue poly tarpt over it to allow snow to slide off.
Used a combination of diesel heater and Lil Buddy heater to heat the tent when needed. Both methods have their pros & cons. The diesel heater is slow to heat the 900cf interior (15+minutes) but a dry heat, no condensation producing, which dried wet hunting clothes much better than propane heat.
The Lil Buddy heater was used morning to heat the tent fast (<10 min) prior to getting out of the sleeping bag.

This past fall, on short night trips, new roof top tent, clamshell style, was great. Set up, ready to sleep in less than 5 minutes. Just no standing up inside this tent but kneeling or sitting up there is lots of headroom. Having a bottle designed for urination was a big plus, not having to vacate the tent, climb down ladder to take a pee outside in the early am cold and dark. Diesel heater was the heating source, set up outside on the ground below, protected/shielded from weather elements, with 8' duct tubing carrying heat up to the tent.

see videos on Kodiak and roof top tent here; https://www.youtube.com/@MavHntr