Springbar ~vs~ Kodiak Flexbow

**crashdive123** · 05-18-2009, 05:16 PM

Looking forward to it.....just....no pink camels.

**Badawg** · 05-20-2009, 02:44 PM

This little dust devil did a lot of damage, including picking up a 24' Geodome and flinging it about 3 blocks. One dude tried to hold it down and ended up in the hospital...

**Badawg** · 05-28-2009, 03:34 PM

So... Got to setup and spend 2 nights in the tent last weekend. Went to the Scottish Highland Games in Orange county, where we camped amongst many RVs. We were pretty much plunked down in the 42nd regiment, which was good as they were very friendly and kept me in draft beer for the weekend!

About the tent:

Setup: We pulled in Friday evening about an hour before sunset. Found our spot, unburied the 2 tent bags and dragged them out. The fent bag is a roll up type with buckles so you unbuckle and then unfold the bag from around the tent. Then, roll it off the top of this flat cross shaped piece of canvas. I then rolled out and unfolded the 10'x 10' tent, stacked it with the supplied 12"x 1/4" steel stakes and assembled the roof strut. I then assembled the 2 legs and had it up in under 15 minutes with no help. It really went up nicely and much faster than my last Eureka tent.

Inspection: Once it was up, and before moving stuff in, I went over the tent from end to end. It is extremely well constructed and there is great attention to detail and reinforcements. There is even reinforcements on the reinforcements. I walked every seam I could get too, and did not find a single pulled thread or even a ragged end stitch. Obviously there is a very good quality control program going on here. Zippers are all very heavy duty and metal, with a 2' Pull on each one. Poles are Galvanized Steel and heavy duty. Bottom is a vinyl coated fabric and really heavy duty. The Awning roles up over the door and buckles in place that way with a loop and cord lock dealio that is well thought out.

Living in it: 2 days, 3 people! First off, when they said 6'6" roof height, they meant it. That's the low spot and there is full standing headroom in the entire tent. We had 2 big air mats and a table in there plus our luggage and there was still plenty of room to walk around inside. During the day it was quite warm but the tent stayed fairly cool inside. The light color and big a$$ windows helped a lot. At night, it was quite cool(upper 50s?) but nice and warm inside. I spent most of the night uncovered. My son refused to stay in his fart-sack too. All in all, we all found it very comfy.

Takedown: Once it was emptied of a gargantuan pile of crap I struck the tent in under 10 minutes. Two things to note:
1. Once the legs are out and the pre stresed roof truss is laying on the ground, you have to push a detente and slide a tube to one side and then you can lift up the 2 part main beam. That sharp edged tube then comes slamming down on your hand and makes you bleed... WATCH OUT! It still hurts days later...
2. Once all the poles are out you can pull the 12 stakes and fold and roll the tent up, which is where you see the beauty of the wrap-around tent bag. It's big enough to hold the ground cloth, stake bag, a wisk broom, and 2 loading blankets I use on the inside floor, buckles up tight, and is easy to carry.

The only thing I would(and will) change is the closure for the pole bag. It's a piece of ribbon sewn near the end and it's a little too short. I am going to attach a strap from a bike peddle toe clip. It will be easier to use and more secure.

Conclusions:

Great big roomy tent that looks like it will last for many years. Quality is really there and the attention to detail is excellent. Materials are high quality. Carry bags are well thought out. I would give it a 5 out of 5, but I have not really been in any weather yet. In two weeks I will be up in a high desert pass with strong winds and will update after that. And I will be camped next to a friend's brand new "budget" Springbar so I will do a comparison with pics.

B-D

**Ken** · 05-28-2009, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Badawg

Obviously there is a very good quality control program going on here.

Not as good as ours, Badawg! Of course, when you send Crash and me our samples, we'll post our report.

**Badawg** · 06-09-2009, 01:32 PM

Ok... @nd trip with the tent. Went to a festival that was in the desert last weekend at 4000ft altitude. It was cold and very windy. Set the tent up in under 15 minutes including raking out the rocks and loose cactus spines in 25mph winds. it was 46 degrees when we got there and the sun was not down yet. It was very nice in the tent though with 3 bodies and a candle lamp. I do believe that the candle heated the tent a little bit...

Next morning dawned bright and sunny, and still very windy. You would never know in that tent. We had stayed up late so we slept in until 10AM. When I got out all the other tents around us but my friend's Springbar had been vacated with the denizens going in search of shade. It stayed nice and cool in the tent all day with the windows cracked. Wind just kept blowing and and we had gusts in the 40s. The tent barely moved. Several others collapsed...

That night was another cold one and we left the kids in the tent with cards and a Coleman lamp(vents open...) And when I got back from my shift at the stage, it was 75 degrees in the tent, and 45 outside.

Next morning(Sunday) Had the same experience of sleeping in and not being baked alive like in a nylon tent.

My friend just bought the Springbar Vagabond 14' model. The materials of the two brands are pretty much identical. The canvas is cut differently on his though, and it seemed to set up a little tighter. He has done the "hose down", and I have not yet. Also, His stake loops are steel wire attached to a bolt rope, which looks sturdier than my nylon webbing. Also, the side poles(uprights) on his are adjustable in 1" increments. Mine are a 1 size deal. Also, he was setup on a little crest, and mine was on a a concave surface. Both on a slope.

Yup... Very happy with this purchase.