Kodiak tent, is it worth it?

[Blueranger]

I'm thinking of a last minute tent upgrade from a Cabelas 6-man geodome nylon tent to a Kodiak 6-man canvas flex bow tent. Anyone with firsthand experience with the Kodiak think they are worth it?

Looking to use it mid-Sept, in Colorado at 8000ft. Overnight temps can drop to 20s or lower.

 

[Cammy]

Canvas will keep you warmer than nylon. Hunted in Idaho my first year there in a canvas tent. Lows in the teens and I was still good.

 

[LCH]

The 10x14 is great for two people. Will work for three. I've done four but it's extremely tight.

I think it would be good for your intended purpose. I've spent a few 0* nights in mine with a Buddy Heater, on low it stayed around 45-50* inside.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I'm thinking of a last minute tent upgrade from a Cabelas 6-man geodome nylon tent to a Kodiak 6-man canvas flex bow tent. Anyone with firsthand experience with the Kodiak think they are worth it?

Looking to use it mid-Sept, in Colorado at 8000ft. Overnight temps can drop to 20s or lower.

Love mine. 2 years running I've had it in the teens. 10x10 with a buddy heater hooked up on a hose to a 20 lb. tank is the way to go.

2 cots and a cooking table fit great in mine. Daughter calls it "glamping" and I must admit, it's darn nice.

 

[406LIFE]

I've had a 10x10 for six years. Spent many nights in it subzero, with the Mr Buddy Heater, zero issues.

Only complaint might be it has a bathtub floor, which some people might not like. But if it's pouring outside, you'll be glad to have it.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Oh, and get the footprint when you order it. It's a no-brainer for the quality and protection.

 

[rbinhood]

If you get it, look into putting a stove jack in and buying a suitably sized wood stove. I know guys put propane heaters inside, but people die every year with propane heaters in enclosed spaces. Buddy heaters give off lots of moisture as a byproduct of the combustion process, so you will have high humidity, and possible condensation inside. Unvented propane heaters inside canvas tens have been known to freeze the canvas with all of the moisture, making it lose its breathing qualities, and setting up a very dangerous situation.
Alternatively, you can get an outside vented propane heater from Nu-Way and improve the safety factor greatly. http://nuwaystove.com/

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

If you get it, look into putting a stove jack in and buying a suitably sized wood stove. I know guys put propane heaters inside, but people die every year with propane heaters in enclosed spaces. Buddy heaters give off lots of moisture as a byproduct of the combustion process, so you will have high humidity, and possible condensation inside. Unvented propane heaters inside canvas tens have been known to freeze the canvas with all of the moisture, making it lose its breathing qualities, and setting up a very dangerous situation.
Alternatively, you can get an outside vented propane heater from Nu-Way and improve the safety factor greatly. http://nuwaystove.com/

I should have said, I always vent my 10x10 Kodiak when I run the buddy heater. It still keeps it tolerable in there. Haven't seen any moisture buildup at all.

 

[nuevo_eph]

10x14 is perfect for 3 people on cots and I run with a buddy heater if really necessary. Also buy a 10x14 tarp for the INSIDE to make cleanup a breeze.

 

[jvanhoy]

Love mine. Kept warm last year in CO with a buddy heater with temps down in the 20s.

 

[Blueranger]

10x14 is perfect for 3 people on cots and I run with a buddy heater if really necessary. Also buy a 10x14 tarp for the INSIDE to make cleanup a breeze.

I usually put down old, garage sale blankets. Easy clean up and keeps the cold from coming through the floor.

 

[Blueranger]

Thanks for all the input and please keep it coming.

I'm leaning towards a 10x10 for 1-2 people with a buddy heater, vented, at first. Sept muzzleloader camp is a group effort for me. So we have a large 12x20 kitchen tent to cook, eat, and general hang out. And we butcher our elk there too. Thanks again.

 

[stealthy_bowman]

Have it and love it. You won’t be disappointed. Get the vestibule for it too.

 

[rbinhood]

I should have said, I always vent my 10x10 Kodiak when I run the buddy heater. It still keeps it tolerable in there. Haven't seen any moisture buildup at all.

I've run a Buddy heater in my pop-up ice shelter. After a few hours, it's raining inside, but we also keep the shelter buttoned up to hold in as much heat as possible when it's 20 deg. or below outside.
There is also some information on the net about using unvented heaters in enclosed spaces and the pollutants, besides CO, that people are exposed to in the inside air.
I'm not saying it can't be done, just don't think it's smart to do it overnight when people are sleeping. I had one in a hard sided ice shack. Had a friend who is a heating and air conditioning specialist looked at it for me. He asked me if I would trust my life to a 25 cent oxygen sensor that was likely made in Mexico? That week I bought a heater that exhausted through the wall and drew intake air from the outside to replace the Buddy.
Many years ago, I mounted a 3 burner propane cooktop in my ice shack that I salvaged out of an old pop-up camper. I was sitting in the shack by myself one night when I began to feel woozy, real woozy. I kicked open the door and felt a rush of fresh air come in and my wits came back with it. I then began to look real carefully at the cook top. After popping off the top, I discovered there was a pilot tube inside that I never knew was there. It was glowing with a real yellow, dirty flame. I blew out the pilot, and after that, never used the cook top again without turning off the propane afterwards. I figure I was 10 minutes or less from losing consciousness, and buying the farm. A lot of people have died in cabins over the years from the pilot lights on Servel refrigerators. Be very careful with unvented flames of any type indoors! CO poisoning is almost impossible to come back from without some adverse consequences.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I usually put down old, garage sale blankets. Easy clean up and keeps the cold from coming through the floor.

I bought a 6'x8' carpet from Wal-mart for about $17 I think. It fits in there perfect and man is it nice for my feet to hit that carpet in the morning instead of an ice cold floor.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I've run a Buddy heater in my pop-up ice shelter. After a few hours, it's raining inside, but we also keep the shelter buttoned up to hold in as much heat as possible when it's 20 deg. or below outside.
There is also some information on the net about using unvented heaters in enclosed spaces and the pollutants, besides CO, that people are exposed to in the inside air.
I'm not saying it can't be done, just don't think it's smart to do it overnight when people are sleeping. I had one in a hard sided ice shack. Had a friend who is a heating and air conditioning specialist looked at it for me. He asked me if I would trust my life to a 25 cent oxygen sensor that was likely made in Mexico? That week I bought a heater that exhausted through the wall and drew intake air from the outside to replace the Buddy.
Many years ago, I mounted a 3 burner propane cooktop in my ice shack that I salvaged out of an old pop-up camper. I was sitting in the shack by myself one night when I began to feel woozy, real woozy. I kicked open the door and felt a rush of fresh air come in and my wits came back with it. I then began to look real carefully at the cook top. After popping off the top, I discovered there was a pilot tube inside that I never knew was there. It was glowing with a real yellow, dirty flame. I blew out the pilot, and after that, never used the cook top again without turning off the propane afterwards. I figure I was 10 minutes or less from losing consciousness, and buying the farm. A lot of people have died in cabins over the years from the pilot lights on Servel refrigerators. Be very careful with unvented flames of any type indoors! CO poisoning is almost impossible to come back from without some adverse consequences.

I'm wondering if the canvas breathes a little better than that ice shelter did? I have never had a problem with moisture. But everyone needs to do what they feel comfortable with.

 

[Sdhunters]

Love mine. 2 years running I've had it in the teens. 10x10 with a buddy heater hooked up on a hose to a 20 lb. tank is the way to go.

2 cots and a cooking table fit great in mine. Daughter calls it "glamping" and I must admit, it's darn nice.

Do the same as Birdwatcher, 20 degrees no problem with buddy jr heater. 20lb tank is way to go. 1lb tanks last about 6 hours. Great alarm clock when propane runs out.

 

[Blueranger]

Do the same as Birdwatcher, 20 degrees no problem with buddy jr heater. 20lb tank is way to go. 1lb tanks last about 6 hours. Great alarm clock when propane runs out.

Yeah, I have woked up in a cold tent before because of 1 lb bottles. Not fun.

 

[gouch]

I've had my 10x14 for four years now and love it. If your planning on two people I would go with the 10x14 rather than the 10x10 unless your really really fond of the other person.

 

[p_ham]

Sucks in the wind. There's nowhere to guy off for support. Bent all of the flex-bows a couple weeks ago. Had to park the pickup real close to it for a wind-break.

If you can get sheltered from the wind it's a nice tent.