Springbar - Springbar Canvas Tents

My husband and I have a Springbar Classic Jack 140 with a wood stove, which serves as our living/bedroom area AND the Springbar Leisure Port, which serves as our kitchen/dining area. It's like a portable two-room cabin or yurt. We haul all our gear in a utility trailer (and store all our stuff in same trailer when we're home), so we have plenty of space for the dogs in our Subaru. Canvas tents are heavy, so we also travel with a folding wagon to make it easier to haul our stuff from the trailer to the site. (And the wagon is good for hauling water and firewood.) We're retired, so we tend to set up and stay in a spot for 4-12 days at a time. I would take canvas tents over a van (we lived the van life for a year about eight years ago) or RV or trailer because the Springbar tents offer so much more space, ventilation and versatility. And they're just beautiful to live in. We put wool Moroccan rugs on the floor, camp chairs with sheepskin, solar lanterns and man, we be glamping. Just last week we were up on Lake Superior with a strong north wind that drove the temperatures down to a 34 degree-windchill. The canvas tent didn't flap and with the wood stove, it was so cozy. We sat around and read by the fire in our pjs. Heaven!

Get yourself a USA made Springbar. Yes, they are more expensive but worth every penny and a lifetime warranty.

I love my Springbar. Going on 10 years of use and it is still in excellent condition.

Are you planning to have a heat source in your tent? We use a canvas tent that is great year round, 2 big outdoorsman cots (love) + Teton mattress pads and use a propane heater to keep it comfortable on cooler nights. https://preview.redd.it/7rvf6tn4oqte1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e79e5017325ed43f5e0432928d6fba2ccb6e3261

Nice! They are great, we have the little buddy, but ended up getting the big buddy for those extra cold nights. That is also our doggo in front who enjoys warming up by it. We crack a couple windows and keep a carbon monoxide detector just in case. Canvas tents have decent ventilation and we have not had the detector go off once since using it. The tent is a Springbar Skyliner.

Thirds, it was definitely a hit to the pocket book but we also camp a lot. I have zero complaints about mine however I do need to get in touch with them because my dork good boi scratched the door screen

There are only two downsides. The purchase hit and the fact it weighs a metric F ton 😂 I haven’t actually looked into it but I feel like it has a life time warranty to be fixed (even user error (aka my dog ripped the screen)). I’ll use it this season and get in touch with them about a winter repair. Shipping is probably the most expensive e part of the repair.

Kodiak canvas spring bar tents are outstanding, but they do require proper care - plus they are larger and heavier when broken down. They are roomy, incredibly sturdy and moderate temps well. We absolutely love ours. That being said, you must avoid packing them up when wet. They are susceptible to mold and may lose their water-resistance. If you do pack up when wet, be sure to set up your tent again when you get home or at your next destination. The canvas needs to breathe. Also, if you’re camping in a humid environment, water can bead on the inside of the tent, if it’s not vented. Anyhow, great tent but a few things to know and do to take care of the investment.

Kodiak canvas spring bar tents are outstanding, but they do require proper care - plus they are larger and heavier when broken down. They are roomy, incredibly sturdy and moderate temps well. We absolutely love ours. That being said, you must avoid packing them up when wet. They are susceptible to mold and may lose their water-resistance. If you do pack up when wet, be sure to set up your tent again when you get home or at your next destination. The canvas needs to breathe. Also, if you’re camping in a humid environment, water can bead on the inside of the tent, if it’s not vented. Anyhow, great tent but a few things to know and do to take care of the investment.

Springbar or Flexbow is definitely the answer. Staying in one place for two weeks is worth spending the extra coin on a really nice tent. I think Springbar tents have a lifetime warranty, and they are known to last 30-40 years.

Springbar for the win

As a long-time canvas tent user, I think you're on the right track considering a Springbar or Kodiak for your base camp setup. Here's why: * Durability: Canvas tents withstand UV damage much better than nylon. Our Springbar has endured years of intense sun exposure without issues. * Wind resistance: These tents perform very well in wind. We've weathered some serious thunderstorms in ours. * Comfort: The breathability of canvas is unmatched. You'll notice less condensation and better temperature regulation. For your specific situation: * The 8.5x6 size should work well for your cot and gear bin setup. We have one this size and its great for 1-2 people, though we generally camp in the 10x10 or 10x14 sizes. * Upkeep is minimal. Just ensure it's completely dry before storage. * Retreatment is rarely needed. We've only done it once in several years of heavy use after the dew droppings from a tree stained the canvas and we wanted to get it white again. We washed it and then retreated it with a canvas water repellent. The extra weight and bulk are the main drawbacks, but for car camping, it's a worthwhile trade-off for the comfort and longevity you'll gain. Here's a [video](https://youtu.be/FZJp1R4kJ6U?si=78JIdQyTUqhCV2gu) comparing the Kodiak and Springbars if its helpful.

The Zempire blow-up tent is a great option that I don't think has been mentioned yet. I've got one and can set it up in just over 2 minutes. At 5'2, you'd have no problem standing up across most of the tent (I'm 5'4"). Some other solid choices: • Springbar and Kodiak canvas tents: Incredibly spacious and durable though must be packed dry so be aware of that if you're camping in wet conditions • Nemo Aurora: Replaced the popular Wagontop model, offering good headroom Hope this helps!

Great comment and I totally agree. We have four daughters ages 3-15 and go camping all year long, and have a very similar mindset as you do. Make it comfortable, make it fun, make it enjoyable. We likewise skip very hot weather or a weekend that's set to be all rain. We try to camp where there's water to play in (creek, river, lake, beach) because it provides a central activity focus. A couple of years ago we upgraded to canvas tents (we have Springbar and Kodiak tents) and it was the perfect investment for us. We still have the kids help around camp and do out of comfort zone things, like harder hikes where they earn the views, but with a comfortable camping set up it all evens out.

Any Springbar tent beside the Compact. I have the Vagabond and can stand in it at 6'2" with room to spare.

Springbar are very good. Very heavy. and expensive. and worth it

6'4" here, I absolutely love my springbar tent. Best tent ever.

Have you looked at a Kodiak or Springbar tent? They're heavy, but bombproof. They're not hard to set up either, and don't get like a sauna in the middle of the day.

Springbar Classic Jack or Skyliner. Yes, they are big/heavy but they will last a lifetime and they are burly enough to stand up to high wind and winter weather. One person can set one up in ~10mins, and with two people maybe 5min setup. Hardest part is hammering in the stakes if you have tough/dry ground. Also, its hard to beat cooking and chilling with the wood stove especially during the short-day season.