Springbar tents ?

R

Robert_L

New member
Anyone out there have any experience with one of these?
http://www.kirkhams.com/index.html

If you do give me your take on it. Also pro's and con's of canvas vs synthetic. I have had several syn. tents never been real pleased with them. These look like good tents for car camping with the family and elk hunting.
Thanks in advance.
Robert_L
 
I've been using Springbar's for many years. I've got two of them now. A larger one, for extended stays in one spot, or when I take the whole family, and a smaller one for shorter trips or when it's just me and my calling partner.

I really don't think that the Springbar can be beat, for ease and speed of setup and take down, wind and weather proofness, room (the design allows for standing up closer to the walls than others), durablity, you name it, I think they are the best.

They can't even be compared to nylon tents.

- DAA
 
Thanks DAA for the reply,
I was wondering if you have ever had to treat them with silicone spray for water repel. I live on the wet side in Oregon so that is naturally a concern. They look good for the east side also where it can get downright cold.

I have had rain blow right through some of the 'nylon' outfits I've had in the past, gittin to old for that malarky these days.

Was considering an Alaskan Guide model from cabela's but read somewhere that they don't hold up to wind very well.

By the way I see that you live in Salt Lake, wish I could stroll through the Kirkham store lol.
Robert
 
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Robert, I never have had to treat the canvas on mine. But I'm always able to let them dry before putting them away, too. If you have to put them a way wet a lot, you'll get some deterioration eventually and need to do something. Both of mine are completely waterproof. Never seen more than one big drop of water on the floor. And I HAVE had them out in some serious weather, for extended periods.

The only problem I had, was in a really bad storm in Wyoming years ago. It rained heavy for 24 hours, then the wind really started to howl ferociously. Wind eventually snapped one of the upright poles. Cobbled a fix using the handle off my handy-man jack and finished out the trip okay. Took the broken pole to Kirkhams the following week. They not only replaced it, but replaced both of my poles with poles having much heavier wall thickness. I've noticed that the thicker stronger poles have been standard for a long time now though.

- DAA
 
Springbar is the "Cadillac" of tents as far as tents go. It's the one few pieces of equipment that I have seen that hold a great resale value. If you sell one in the local paper here, it's sold within one or two days easy. You can't go wrong buying a Sringbar.
 
They don't look like they'd shed snow very well. I don't know about Oregon, but here in Utah we can get alot of snow during elk season. A stove jack is nice too, so you can have a wood burning stove in the tent. The Springbar tents do look like they'd be great for all but the coldest or snowy conditions though.
 
the springbar tent has me thinking, I have an Alaskan Guide model and for absolute terrible conditions the Alaskan tent is the one to have. But it has its drawbacks you have to bend over a lot to get in and out. It is not an easy set up. the first time I set it up it was near midnight in a thunderstorm and my partner and I had just finished an 18 pack, i sure wished we would have video'ed that, Anyway I am interested in the springbar but it don't really look like it would stand up to rain and wind. The flat roof and straight up and down sides jsut don't look like they would work. please convince me.
 


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