REI Hobitat 4 or 6 man tents

[StevenGoodman]

Or a Kodiak (Springbar knock-offs):
http://www.kodiakcanvas.com/products/6055.htm

Martini Steve

We just ordered a Kodiak 10x10 from Cabelas. We are having to shift gears on our travel plans thanks to gas prices so the truck and camper are out and its back to a tent.

They had some nice chaise loungers on sale too so the front porch will be comfy.

I'll bring the smurf fucker fixins.

CapSmashy, I will be interested to see the difference between a 10x10 Kodiak and my 10x10 Springbar. I have never been able to compare them directly.

Make sure to bring a carpet piece for the front porch, makes a nice front area. Also, some kind of carpet, cloth, tatami mat, whatever, inside the tent makes it nicer. And if you can get a couple of the tyvek to go over the tent it helps a lot.

Oooohh, sexy blue smurfette drinks! I will bring my martini glass!

Martini Steve

[CapSmashy]

Make sure to bring a carpet piece for the front porch, makes a nice front area. Also, some kind of carpet, cloth, tatami mat, whatever, inside the tent makes it nicer. And if you can get a couple of the tyvek to go over the tent it helps a lot.

Excellent idea!

For an outside cover, I am going to remove the center section of my carport (so that it is 10x14ish) from last year and cover the frame with shade fabric (I have a bunch I bought last year) and position the tent under most of it and have my kitchen space under the rest.

I'll also be draping two camo nets over the whole lot so I'll be invisible when the black helicopters and Google satellites fly over us and be able to hide easier from The CO.

[The CO]

I've used the hobitat 6 person for 2 years on the playa & loved it. It does have the mesh issue, but I'm over dust. We put up a shade structure over the tent last year, and that cut down the dust a bit. This year I am building a monkey hut to fit over the tent for shade & dust reduction.

And the REI guarentee rocks.

[chiefdanfox]

I was looking at the comparison, and the Kodiak looks like it is heavier-dutier.
CapSmashy? Would you mind reporting on your assessment, when it arrives? I like the idea of supporting our Utah brethren, so I am leaning towards the Springbar, but the Kodiak has a floor that is twice as thick, and that seems to be a real deal-doer for me.

I like the size of the Vagabond 4 a little better, but more room is OK.

[CapSmashy]

Set it up and did the inaugural hose down on Sunday.

Very well made tent, can see it lasting for many years.

I went from opening the shipping box to standing inside of it setup in about 30 minutes. Very easy one man operation. Came with an overhead gear hammock and a hanging gear locker. Also has a storage pocket built in under each window.

There are attachment rings (3 on a side) at the ceiling for additional hangins. I'll probably utilize these for hanging my A/C insulating layer (army blankets). I'll have to start working on that this week and see how it works.

Floor is very thick.

Tent seals up nicely with overflaps on all zippers so it should significantly reduce the blow in dust factor.

Take down is even faster and the tent bag rolls up around the folded tent. No more fighting with stuffing the tent into a duffel type bag.

I picked up a footprint tarp for it as well and for Burning Man, will probably use it inside to make take down clean up and use some old canvas under it for Playa cushioning.

I will have to get used to having a tent without a rainfly as it seemed like I was not done when I finished because there was no fly to attach.

It tucks in nicely under the carport frame too. Should keep it nice and dark inside for sleeping and if the AC works out, sleeping til noon. WOOT!

[Ranger Fuzzy]

Our Hobitat 4 has been to the Playa several times, and survived last year's wind storms when other people's shade structures were blowing over and blowing away.

Yes, the mesh lets in dust. Eh, whatever, it's dusty out there no matter what you do.

[gyre]

I've seen 4 season tents out there with no dust inside.

My walmart tent the first year had an inch of dust in it within a day.
And non-working doors.

Not even clothes should have zippers like that.
Took five minutes for them to fail.

[Boijoy]

Don't forget a little broom and dust pan to get the "sand dunes" out of your tent. && I like to cover my bed with a shower curtain when I'm not using it. Because I think dust in your tent is unavoidable at BM.

[chiefdanfox]

Last year I had my REI three season dome tent, no mesh, and the only dust inside was what came in on my skin. I was very careful to not open it during the dust storms, took my boots off, like I was snow camping. I had it inside of a big flappy Target Tent, with a mesh roof, huge mesh doors and windows, so I doubt it added much extra protection to the REI. There were dust dunes in the big red tent.
I'm getting the Kodiac 10 X 10, since it looks like it will behave the same as the REI, but I'll be able to stand up in it.

[lilta]

will the mesh get damaged by taping it up -- upon removal of tape?

[greenmonk]

i used a thin sheet of plastic and duct tape and a few magnets to keep my hobitat dust free last year. I love this tent and its perfect for every other burn Ive been to. Not sure what to do about the dust this year, but I'll sort it out. Any advice for a good shade structure to fit over a hobitat to keep it a bit cooler as the sun rises? SOmething that can let me sleep an extra 2 hours in the AM hours is worth a lot to me after dancing all night...