Wall tents

[Highvoltage1]

After a weekend camping in a cabin style ozark trail tent im debating on a wall tent. The temps got down into the low 30’s all weekend long, with the diesel heater running all night it was manageable. I noticed a hole while packing up and now I’m I’m thinking maybe I just bite the bullet and buy a wall tent.

The majority of our camping is summer time.
How do they breathe during summer months? How’s the waterproofing?

Can someone recommend something that’s easy set up for 2 people? This will be a family of 4 camping.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, best wishes.

 

[Chris in TN]

Tagged.

I'm thinking of buying one of those 10x20 outdoor canopies with sidewalls, using it as an outer tent, and throwing up a regular ~8x10'ish 5-man(?) tent inside one end, for sleeping. Wall tents aren't usually cheap, and I also have to consider that my kids aren't exactly gifted at tent setup, and the canopies look to be sort of the 'easy button' as long as we are halfway close to the car. I could easily be wrong and this may be the dumbest camping idea ever.

 

[Customweld]

They breathe fine in the summer. Waterproof is fine as long as you keep up on the treatment every few years. If I know it's going to rain, I have a tarp that I put over mine. If they get wet, (inevitably it will rain right before you pack up) you need to set them back up at home to dry out. They mildew fast if you don't I have a 14x16 with 5' walls that I set up by myself. With a family of 4, I would go a minimum of 14x16. 3 guys and gear fill mine up pretty fast.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

There's a 10x12(?) for cheap in the classifieds. DEN. Grab it and resell if it doesn't work out. Confirm the frame though...

Breathability is fine w/huge door that doesn't "seal" shut, a window, and "floorless". You could probably rig an A/C to run off your truck in the summer...

Davis seems to be the standard but there are other equally competent builders.

 

[bigunit]

I liked my cabelas.ca alaknak 12x12. I really liked that it had a floor so mice and bugs weren't an issue. It had lots of ventilation for warm days. I would still own it if I hadnt bought a jumping jack.

 

[elkliver]

BRavo Tents does custom work in building tents and make s a high quality tent. so you can have Screen Doors and a windo added and that makes it pretty nice in the summer. I had a door put in both ends of mine. A 12x15 is a decent size for two. I can set mine up by myself but it is much easier with 2. You could go smaller if needed but it all depends on your intended use, When it is cold and nasty outside and you come back and get the wood stove roaring, it very quickly will have youy stripping down, Diesel heater would be realy nice for overnight as loading the wood stove to last is an art form that is tough to make work

 

[camping1601]

Have a look at Spring Bar style tents as well. They're not as roomy but they're way easier to set up.

 

[MThuntr]

The alternate to a full on wall tent is a Kodiak Canvas 10x10 or 12x12 tent. I have a 12x12 that has treated me well for 3 years now...a 10x10 would have been better in hindsight. There are screened windows on all 4 sides. I use a camp chef stove but it'll absolutely cook you out so a diesel heater system may work well for you. My only real complaint is that is uses like 16 guy wires to help support it instead of an internal frame.

 

[T-Rex]

I have a Kodiak Canvas Flex Bow 10X14 and love it. It breaths fine in warm weather and during the colder months we use a little buddy heater and it will roast you out. Moisture has never been an issue.

 

[The_Squatting_Coon]

Kodiak Canvas 10x14 if you want easy setup, take up less space in the truck as well. I consider my 12x14 wall tent pretty much useless after using the KC now.

 

[Rich M]

Walmart was selling a nice 8x10. I bought it on sale snd we used it on s couple hunts. Sleeps 4 guys or 2 guys and a woman.

Large buddy heater works in cool trmps but once you go below zero it is practically useless.

 

[EastHumboldt]

I also had a cabelas Alaknak which I used for back country horse camping in the fall, and car camping in the summer. Great tent. Pyramid design, with a single center pole. 2’ side walls. It was made out of a synthetic that didn’t mildew like canvas does. IIRC it had a screen door inside the flap. I think mine was 10x10. Plenty of room for three, would’ve been tight for four people. 12x12 seems like enough.