wall tent advice

[donniedent]

Hey guys, looking at buying a wall tent this summer. I'd like to get one with a stove I can maybe cook over. I have zero knowledge of what to look for or whata fair price is. Not opposed to buying used if condition is good. Thanks!

[desertsheep]

Davis Tent and Awning...

[DesertBull]

http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25048&st=0&p=253184&hl=+wall%20+tent&fromsearch=1entry253184

[AZMThunter]

I have a 12' x 20' Alaknak wall tent from Cabelas that I bought in 2002. Have over 300 nights of hard use from Arizona to Montana in that tent. I have indoor / outdoor carpet that we roll out prior to setting all the cots and tables up inside and it has kept the floor rip free. We also put tarps down prior to laying the tent out.

 

With a medium size wood stove, we have been known to be sitting in shorts and t shirts playing yatzee inside that tent at minus 26 degrees outside.

 

Not as heavy as canvas and has stood up to the AZ sun no problem. Zippers have never been a problem, Good ventilation when it warms up. We have slept up to 12 in this tent, but with cots, tables, and gear it has been good for 4-5 people on 10 day hunts. On an 4-5 day hunt, 6 people with gear is good.

 

There is also a vestibule / entry way (11' x 17') that you can purchase separately to use as storage / cooking area, but sometimes finding space for just the 12' x 20' footprint is enough, so I have never purchased the entry.

 

There are several different sizes to choose from... 12' x 12', 12' x 20', and 13' x 27' (I would have bought the bigger one, but 12' x 20' was the biggest one they had when I bought mine). Cost at the time, including poles, was around $900.00.

 

I have been more than happy with the years I have out of this tent so far. Come to think of it, writing this has made me kind of miss it - hasn't been set up since my youngest boys deer hunt last year!

[willhunt4coues]

I also am looking for a outfitter tent and by far the best I have found is the Alaknak 12x20. See a wall/canvas tent is good but you have to pay an arm and a leg for the windows and extra heck anything. The alaknak by far is the cadalac of tents IMO. Also its not made of canvas so it won't be as hot in the summer time. I am not didding on canvas they are some great tents but IMO only for the cooler time and we all know arizona well enough that it don't get that cold. Good luck in your tent purchase and I hope ou find one you like.

[huntingfool]

We use a 16x16' army surplus tent. I don't remember what it cost, but it was cheaper than the Cabela's ones. It's been great, we run a wood stove in it. My dad was too cheap to buy the poles, he made his own. We're looking for another one, if you google army surplus tents there are some sites.

 

Here's a pic of the outside, I thought I had some of the inside bu I can't find them:

[Curtis Reed]

Another vote for Davis Tent... I have a 12x14 that I bought from their scratch and dent sale. I save about $150 on a new one that had slight color imperfections.

[donniedent]

Thanks for the replies fellas. I had a trailer before and I didn't like how limited I was as to where I could camp. Not to mention storage, up keep and price. I've shopped around a bit online and I have a general idea of what I want but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go canvas or go with the high speed low drag Cabelas stuff. This tent will be a 2 season tent for camping in the summer and hunting in the fall. It will also do some time in the low desert in Jan. We have 2 Elk hunts this year and 4 elk tags, my two 14 year olds have never hunted big game and my fiance has never hunted Elk so this should be a great adventure. I want to make it as comfortable as possible for them and thats why I'm looking at outfitter type tents. If it were just me, I'd be happy sleeping in the back of the truck... lol. Thanks again and feel free to keep the comments coming. I'll keep you all posted.

[azslim]

pretty partial to my Bighorn II, the III looks even better for wood stoves if you pick up the additional heat shield. Weighs in around 75 lbs and is easily up/down by one person, and holds complete camp inside, kitchen, coolers, etc. for 2 sleepers

[plumber]

I've got two canvas wall tents. Davis tent,12x14 with internal frame. I bought it in 1996 and have used 4 to 5 times a year. second tent is a Dave Ellis tent, 15x17 with internal frame. bought it in 2001 and have used it 3 to 5 times a year. both are 10 ounce sunforger canvas, never had any problem with stitching, leakage. both tents fit over the frames perfect. both company's have great web sites. hope this helps ya. good luck.

[donniedent]

Hey Slim, how does that Bighorn feel when it gets warm out in the desert? Does it breath well? As you know I'm a desert rat too and it will be set up in the flats every dec/jan.

[azslim]

Does just fine, not too hot if you can find a shade tree, it has held up in the wind on a couple trips too, just have to use the stakes that come with it and not try to scrimp with big nails. I also have the 12x12 Outback Lodge, it has a center pole and the pyramid shape so not as much head room, it makes a great 2 man camp also and weighs in at 25 lbs. A few years back it was the only one out of 10 to survive a windstorm when we were all gone from camp. For both I lay a tarp on the ground before setting them up and lay down a canvas painters drop clothe for a floor before setting up the cots, kitchen, etc. Can throw them in the washer when they get dirty.

 

As you can see I have nothing bad to say about either one, price and weight wise either are hard to beat.

[willhunt4coues]

My question is how are one of these canvas tents at about 3500 feet in august? Its got to be an oven right? Thats why I would rather go with the alaknak it will too be warm just as every tent is but it can't be as bad as a canvas right? Just would like to hear from some of the guys that have these canvas tents and have used them in August/September in the lower elevation below 5000?

 

Thanks for the replys.

[donniedent]

I'm think I'm gonna go with the Alaknak 12x12 for the simple fact that I think it will be cooler on hot hunts. That and I won't have anybody over 5'3" helping me put it up. LOL

[soazarcher]

I have an alaknak and bighorn from cabelas and a Montana Canvas 14x17, Davis Tent 12x14, and Gallatin 12x14 wall tents.

 

The cabelas tents are very nice, but not even in the same ball park as the canvas tents, as far as being reliable and durable.

 

They are all hot in the summer. The cabelas tents you could bake cookies in, but we only use wall tents on early hunts. With double doors and

screens, you get good air movement, and they really act as big shade. The synthetic tents, with bathtub floors, are too stuffy for my taste.

 

My alaknak collapsed from snow load on the side walls this season. The ground got soft and wet, pulled a stake, and we came back late and cold, to a wreck.

It has slid down on my list considerably.

 

I have also learned to dislike tents with sewn in floors.

 

My $.02