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If you’re looking to invest in a better quality tent that can handle all weathers then check out our review on the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent
. If you like to go camping often and want a tent that is made of strong material that is going to handle many uses with ease then this is a good choice for you. With a good size tent you can take your family around the country and make the most of the outdoors getting everyone away from the TV to discover the wonders of nature in the flesh.
If you don’t want to read a full review, click here to go to the product page on Amazon.com where you can also read the customer reviews.
Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent Review
Features
- Canvas
- Made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is durable, watertight and breathable
- Spacious 6’6″ ceiling height provides walk-around comfort
- Two large D-shaped doors (front and back) with #10 YKK zippers
- Four large windows with no-see-um mesh
- Two funnel-flow vents help improve air flow and temperature management
The Flex-Bow tent is made of a superior, marine-grade, 100-percent cotton duck Hydra-Shield canvas and this is what makes it waterproof. The tent is beige and khaki colored and is 10 ft x 14 ft in size with a height of 6 ft 6 ins so you can stand easily. The poles are made of galvanised steel and there are spring steel rods in the Flex-Bow frame.
The tent is not a stand alone type and needs to be staked down. There are heavy-duty pegs included so you can stake it all around before the assembly. The rods fit into sleeves and slot into a t-bar pole on either side of the roof of the tent and the 2 t-bar poles fit into each other keeping the top sturdy. The side poles fit into the bottom of the T-bar pole and into a pin attached to a d-ring on the bottom of the tent. There are 2 poles and guide ropes to attach to the corners of the awning. This isn’t a lot of assembly and it can be done by one person in around 15-20 minutes. There is a full instruction manual included to explain in detail.
This Kodiak Canvas tent is totally weatherproof and can withstand not only wind and rain but snow too. All the seams are double stitched with internal seams and the flooring is heavy-duty reinforced 16 oz polyester vinyl material. It is suggested that when you receive your tent you erect it to check it out, then you season it with water by spraying a hose over it. What this does is shrink the fabric slightly and this will tighten up any of the stitching holes.
The Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent is probably big enough to sleep 8 side by side with little room for movement but like most tents it depends on if you’re sleeping on a mattress or a cot or just using a sleeping bag on a pad. You can fit 2 queen mattresses in with a bit of room to spare so you can comfortably sleep 4, more becomes a squeeze.
There are 2 d-shaped doors in the tent, one front and back which is much better than having to climb over everything if you are situated at the back. The door has a full size window beside it and both have covers that can roll down to give full ventilation with bug screen. The covers can be tied at the bottom so that they are kept neat and undamaged, with strong self-repairing zippers for fastening.
For storage you get a net hammock shelf that you can use to store some clothing and under the windows are pockets and on each side is a large pocket to hold small items. There are also two funnel-flow vents at the top of the tent which you can open to assist in ventilation especially if you have all of the windows closed in bad weather. They have a small zipper inside to close them off and they are waterproof so you won’t get water in through them.
There isn’t a tarp included but for the small price to buy one it’s worth using to get that added protection for the floor of your tent. The tent pegs included are thick strong heavy duty and are suitable for all weather conditions.
The tent is easy to fold up and pack away but it is heavy with a packed weight of 79 pounds. This isn’t a tent that you would want to carry far, it’s made of canvas that adds to the weight but gives superior protection. There is a handy strap-and-cinch storage bag, what this means is you don’t have to cram your 8 person tent into an undersized bag. Make sure that the tent is aired, if it’s damp you may need to put it up at home to dry out properly before you pack it away.
Customer Opinion
This Kodiak tent has 85% 5 star reviews so I know that customers on the whole love it. Many have had their tents for a number of years proving longevity. Families of 5 find it comfortable and they love the quality and sturdiness. They find it easy to set up and fold away and most have no issues with water getting in.
Some customers had problems with leaking in the tent, some had problems with the post bending o breaking and some had issues with the sleeve on the top where the rods go ripping.
Verdict
This Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent is not a cheap option at around $650 but it will last you for years. You can go for cheaper 8-person tent options but if they only last you one or two seasons before you need to replace you could end up paying out just as much over time. You get lots of space and you know that when this tent is staked down it’s not going to move. Enjoy your camping experience a lot more with the knowledge that you are not going to get soaked or have to spend the night in the car.
Find out more about the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent at Amazon.com