Outfitter Tent

[john.grim.5]

Thinking of purchasing outfitter style tent for next year. Plan is to be used as base camp either near car or atv ride in if near trail system. Right now I'm leaning towards the Cabelas Ultimate Alaknak Tent – 12 x 12. Anyone have any experience with this tent, or could recommend any others to look into.


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[colonel00]

I've used the older model Alaknak 12 x 12 several times. Pretty good shelter but since it has a floor, it can have some condensation issues. Just make sure it gets good air circulation. If you get one, get the optional vestibule too. They are worth it.

 

[5MilesBack]

Check out Davis Tent in Denver. They run specials all the time. Love my Davis tents.

 

[steveo]

I have the 12x12 alaknak tent and it works well for 2 people with cots and stove and 3 people without the stove. It will suffer with condensation when it rains all day and the dew point it at the low temp level. Running the stove removes the moisture. I have been very happy with mine. The floor can be a blessing and a curse.

 

[DRP]

I have the 12x12 as well. It has been well worth the money spent. It has been used in the heat, the rain, and the snow. a good stove is a must and you can definitely keep it hotter than you will ever need it with the stove going. I agree with Steveo about the floor. I ended up going to Home Depot and getting indoor/outdoor rug that they cut by the foot. its already a 12 foot wide roll. helps with the dirt and mud I track in. I can set it up in about 20 minutes by myself.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

I spent 10 days in a 12x12 Alaknak, winter, 18" of snow....major condensation issues, eve with a wood stove.

I much prefer my canvas 14x14 Beckel TT.
Zero condensation issues.
Hunt'nFish

 

[ericF]

Another vote for Davis Tent. They are a local company based out of Denver, and they are probably the premier Canvas tent maker. They have also been doing it a long time and are a family owned business.

 

[NJDiverDan]

I have had a 12X12 Alaknak for about 10 years now. It spends most of September set up in the mountains every year as well as gets used for other family camping trips through the year. I agree that the best way to battle the condensation is to run a stove. I do not recommend you try to heat it with a propane heater as they produce even more condensation as a product of the propane combustion. Again, being 10 years old, mine has held up great. I also have the vestibule which I put a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet down in so I have a place to take off boots etc. Another add on I like is the "floor saver" which helps protect the floor and makes getting rid of tracked in dirt easy.

If I needed to replace it, I am not sure I would buy another one as we are using it much less for family camping (we have a camper now). That said, I have never set up a wall tent, nor have I slept in one so I am really not sure. I like that I can set up the Alaknak by myself in about 30 minutes. Not sure if a wall tent can be set up by one person.

 

[Brendan]

Used a Kodiak Canvas this year, 10x14, with a stove jack I installed and a nu-way propane stove. I had a couple nights where it was POURING rain outside and I was toasty warm and dry inside with a glass of scotch. I'd love a wall tent instead, but the kodiak made sense for ease of setup solo. (I'd rather have no floor, and use a tarp or perforated tarp so going in/out of the tent wasn't as much of a pain)

 

[5MilesBack]

Not sure if a wall tent can be set up by one person.

Davis Tent has a video on their website of a 10 year old girl setting up one of their wall tents. I can have mine standing in about 5 minutes, but then another 15-20 to get all the stakes in place, guy lines, tarps set up for the floor, etc. With an internal frame, I'm sure it would be more difficult for one person.

 

[NJDiverDan]

Thanks 5miles. I will have to check out that video!

 

[ericF]

I think that my 14x16 Davis tent with internal frame is easier to setup than my buddys 15x18 traditional frame. You basically lay out your floor/tarp, and then build the upper frame. Then you roll out the tent over the upper frame, and then just go through and add the poles to the side.

 

[sveltri]

Another vote for Davis tent, start to finish, 20-25 mins for 1 person.View attachment 41131View attachment 41132

 

[Mad Mountain Mike]

I would stick to canvas and definitely not the Alaknak. The Alaknak sweats in cold weather if you have a wood stove in it. I've always used canvas but a buddy had a Alaknak a couple winters ago, when it got cold outside and he had his stove roaring it was like a shower in there when the wind blew shaking the tent. There are many quality brands of canvas out there and with an aluminum internal frame you basically have a portable cabin. I've lived quite comfortably working out of mine over the years.

 

[tlowell02]

Chalk up another vote for the canvas tent. My folks used to have the Cabela's Bighorn tent - same material as the Alaknak - with a wood stove and much like others have mentioned the condensation was a major issue. In the end, the tent wasn't well taken care of and rotted so I now have the 12 x 14 canvas from Davis Tent and absolutely love it. Zero condensation issues, even while running a big propane heater, it is super easy to setup, and very durable.

 

[5MilesBack]

I think that my 14x16 Davis tent with internal frame is easier to setup than my buddys 15x18 traditional frame. You basically lay out your floor/tarp, and then build the upper frame. Then you roll out the tent over the upper frame, and then just go through and add the poles to the side.

Is that with only one person? I've never tried the internal on my own, but figured it would be more difficult than the traditional by myself. The traditional is easy, but if the internal frame is even easier solo.......I might have to check one out.

 

[sveltri]

I've only ever tried the internal frame in my 14x16, it really is fast and easy. Initial setup takes longest just trying to learn the angled pieces, once you gain an understanding of where they go it easy.

 

[ericF]

Yes, I was surprised by how easy it was to setup my internal 14x16 by myself. We had previously used my buddies 15x18 traditional and it took a couple people and was a pain. The first year I had mine, I was up earlier than everybody else so I had to do it myself and had it done in the same amount of time as three people did the 15x18 the year before.

 

[camping1601]

Another vote for a wall tent. I have a Montana Canvas Relite blend and I get zero condensation. Never used an Alaknak.

 

[ColoradoHunterHiker]

Check out Davis Tent in Denver. They run specials all the time. Love my Davis tents.

Kings package is perfect!!!

I spent 10 days in a 12x12 Alaknak, winter, 18" of snow....major condensation issues, eve with a wood stove.

I much prefer my canvas 14x14 Beckel TT.
Zero condensation issues.
Hunt'nFish

I have set mine (davis 14x16) up next to my buddy's alaknak. Guess which one we all ended up sleeping in? Davis. His had condensation and the material wouldn't keep the heat in. I'd go canvas - Davis to be exact.

Another vote for Davis Tent. They are a local company based out of Denver, and they are probably the premier Canvas tent maker. They have also been doing it a long time and are a family owned business.

I couldn't have said it better. I've even had them repair mine (10+years) old. They over quoted (ended up being 1/2 the cost) and they had it done in less than 3 days. Awesome company.

Davis Tent has a video on their website of a 10 year old girl setting up one of their wall tents. I can have mine standing in about 5 minutes, but then another 15-20 to get all the stakes in place, guy lines, tarps set up for the floor, etc. With an internal frame, I'm sure it would be more difficult for one person.

I thought I was tough... I put mine together all the time.... No big deal now though. Shown up by a 10 year old.

I think that my 14x16 Davis tent with internal frame is easier to setup than my buddys 15x18 traditional frame. You basically lay out your floor/tarp, and then build the upper frame. Then you roll out the tent over the upper frame, and then just go through and add the poles to the side.

Exactly. Even short guys can do it. Just remember to open the stove jack flap before you put the legs in hahahaha.