mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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Joined: 05/26/2008
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Better to have two tents - 10 square and 12 square rather than one big one. Everyone likes a little bit of privacy.
Matt J: '93 Mack 30 yd Turbo3000D,'03 Uni 1750L Camper in GT
Bert J: '08 Dakota 4.7, Space 10 tent in MT
Alfred: '99 Dodge V10 & 19 Airstream, '56 Unimog 416 in WY
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tplife69
SoCal
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Two tents are always a better choice than one once you need about 81 square feet or more space, the best campsite tent spots are simply almost always 10X10 or smaller. I'm only puzzled as to why you would buy a canvas tent? Is it to stay in sync. with your 1952 Packard Clipper? There's a place for canvas tents, it's with large semi-permanent setups like the circus or a yurt, or a season-long base camp. I've had canvas tents, but technology moved on with improvements in fabrics, ventilation, compact storage and water resistance. That said, I think you're on the right track to what will work well for you.
People's Republik of Kalifornia
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thehelferfamily
Walla Walla, WA
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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The canvas tents we are looking at are VERY quick to set up and provide great protection against rain and WIND. We're not talking the mammoth wall tents or circus tents that take forever to set up. The springbar and kodiak tents can be set up in 10 minutes (faster than most nylon tents) and they don't need guys lines to secure them except if you want to put out the awning. With 3 little ones they keep getting "clothes lined" by the guy lines on the nylon tents. Trust me, we've tried them. I'm just not fond of the nylon tents....they are hard to keep warm in cooler temperatures and make a lot of noise in the wind. We purchased one last summer and the top seam ripped after the FIRST use. We are looking for a quality tent that we can pass down to our girls when they get older. Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. We'll be purchasing 2 smaller tents soon.
Don and Heather
3 beautiful girls
Big goofy dog
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thankschub
ri
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Joined: 02/22/2007
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WE are just finishing up a 3 week vacation in a 10x14 Kodiak tent. We were very pleased with the performance of the tent and would highly recommend one. We also wrestled with the choice between 10x10 and 10x14. In the end we chose the 10x14 and were very glad we did. It was plenty big enough for 2 people and we thoroughly enjoyed the 3 weeks.
We both agreed that the 10x10 could have worked, but the 10x14 sure made things comfortable. Good luck with your choice.
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Vapor_Trails
Yucaipa, CA
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Joined: 09/29/2004
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helfer family,
I usually agree with tplife69 but not on his assessment of canvas tents. The Kodiak Canvas 10x10 you are looking at is a fantastic tent. It is by far the best tent I’ve ever owned or that owned by anyone I’ve ever camped with. Sure, it’s a little heavy but it’s poles, stakes and tent are all carried separately so it’s no real burden. There are so many good things about this tent...
It is very quick to set up; once you have all the stakes in place. I picked up some 3/8” lag bolts and washers and use my cordless drill to set them in the ground through the stake loops instead of pounding in the stakes that came with the tent; which are pretty good surprisingly. But, I don’t use them. The walls are nearly vertical. There is a lot of living space. The doors and windows offer a lot of ventilation and the canvas itself is a better breathing material that synthetics. The floor is amazing. The seams are well sewn, but not as good as Springbar I've heard. The canvas is heavy duty without being too heavy. Here again I've read the Springbar is a little better, though. My (then) five year old DD and I slept in 30+ MPH winds in it without any problems at all. And the canvas is A LOT quieter in the wind than my other synthetic tents. Overall I am very pleased with mine. I have the 10x10 Deluxe model by the way.
So, what doesn’t the Kodiak Canvas offer? Well, there are no guy lines to trip over. No rain fly to dink with. No bag that you have to fold and roll the tent just right to fit into. No pole sleeves or clips to fight with. No poles to bend into strange shapes. No smelly glue or sealant needed. There may be more, but I can't think of any.
With all of those positives the one negative is easy to overlook, at least for me anyway. And that is if it gets wet, you need to let it dry before you store it.
Don’t think twice about buying a Springbar or Kodiak Canvas. You will love it, love it, love it! Buying two is even better. I've been thinking about the two man Springbar for motorcyle camping instead of using my Alps Mountaineering two-man that I bought (and really like) for backpacking.
Bottom line: Buy the two Kodiak Canvas tents. You WILL NOT regret it.
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL
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There is water at the bottom of the ocean.
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tplife69
SoCal
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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This is a canvas tent, truly a big footprint, sturdy support poles, and it does indeed seem roomier than my nylon tents, and maybe a lot more fun inside there too! 
And this is a nylon tent, mfg. in 1987 and in continuous 4-season use on the west coast, seen here in the Glamis Sand Dunes on 2/09 following a 11/08 trip in an Anza borrego windstorm two months before at 60 mph+. BTW, you can stake down a Sierra Designs tent before you erect the poles. Try that with another tent! 
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mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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Joined: 05/26/2008
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I can put up my wall tent in about an hour - knock down in 10 min.
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buta4
MA
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Joined: 12/06/2008
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Greetings Heather,
I've been tent camping off and on for 55 years! My present choice is the Eureka Condo Tent. Fairly easy to set up, well laid out floor plan, and double-walled construction. Cost is about $850.00.
I like the overhead protected skylights, etc.
This tent will stand up to gale force winds and I know this by experience! The tent quality is excellent! The condo is 10 1/2' by 20'. We use the large room for the bedroom and dining/card-playing area and the smaller room for the kitchen and cooking area, coolers, etc.
I have four large Eureka tents of different models as they are the best I can find.
I've set up alone myself several times, not fun, but doable.
A perfect, secure tent for the family.
Regards,
Ray and Ginger
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thehelferfamily
Walla Walla, WA
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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Great advice and information! Thanks so much! I LOVE the circus tent..LOL! squeezing it into a state park tent site would be an adventure....and it would attract LOTS of visitors. The Kodiak tent we are looking at gets staked out FIRST also....before the poles are erected, which would be nice if you're trying to set up in windy conditions. I found a seller on ebay that has the Kodiak 10x10 tents (not the deluxe version) that we may be able to get a deal on. I would LOVE to be able to afford a springbar tent, but since we've decided to do 2 smaller tents the cost is just too prohibitive. Thanks again for the great advice. We'll try and post pics of the tents after we order and receive them!! Happy camping!!
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tplife69
SoCal
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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68 Pounds (includes 6.35 pounds in tent stakes... It has a $365 Buy-it-Now price on Ebay.
It weights three times more and cost twice as much as my 6-man... You must have DEEP pockets and a STRONG back!
Glad I don't have to set that thing up and take it down on every outing! But it looks like a good all-season-long base camp for the summer. 
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