TejasCTD
Houston, Texas
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you really need to look at the springbar and kodiak before you choose the kodiak. springbar is the best made tent i have ever seen. have used two of them for the last 23 years and not one issue. high wind has no effect on them. the kodiak is a cheap chinese knock off using thinner canvas and not sewn nearly as well. I would spend the extra $100 for sure.
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Mike Up
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TejasCTD wrote:you really need to look at the springbar and kodiak before you choose the kodiak. springbar is the best made tent i have ever seen. have used two of them for the last 23 years and not one issue. high wind has no effect on them. the kodiak is a cheap chinese knock off using thinner canvas and not sewn nearly as well. I would spend the extra $100 for sure.
Members here who own both have stated in the past that they felt Kodiak was the equal or better than Springbar. The canvas weight is the same for the roof and walls, but Kodiak uses a stronger, heavier floor.
Right now the difference in the 10' X 14' deluxe models are $150. If I could find or see a difference in the positive for the Springbar, then the $150 would be acceptable but the way I see it, a better floor on the Kodiak puts it in the lead, plus the Kodiak canvas tent warranties have no exclusion for spot leaks like the Spring Bar models do. This put a big question up in why Springbar wouldn't warranty this, as it would be evident, by spot leaks, that the weather proofing Sunforger was not correctly applied to the tent.
It would be interesting again to hear how owners of both brands felt which was superior, if either.
Have a good one.
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Vapor_Trails
Yucaipa, CA
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Mike Up wrote:
It would be interesting again to hear how owners of both brands felt which was superior, if either.
Have a good one. I would be interested in a side-by-side comparison, too. I got my 10x10 Kodiak Canvas from Cabelas for $399+ shipping. Had the Springbar 10x10 (I think the model is Traveler 5) been anywhere near that price I would have been more likely to consider the Springbar. In addition to the heavier floor, and it is heavy, on the Kodiak Canvas there are also two doors to the Springbar's one. For my uses, that is a welcome feature.
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TejasCTD
Houston, Texas
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Mike Up wrote:
Members here who own both have stated in the past that they felt Kodiak was the equal or better than Springbar.
Please point us to a post where members who own both prefer the kodiak.
IMO there is no comparison. The canvas may be the same thickness but the Springbar feels like it is a much tighter weave (i.e. higher thread count).
As far as the floor, all you have to do is look at the floor seem with rope sewn into the seems on the Springbar to reinforce the stake loops. With these type tents there is a lot of stress on the stake loops and roof seems and I don't see how the kodiak could hold up in either spot.
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Mike Up
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TejasCTD wrote:
Please point us to a post where members who own both prefer the kodiak.
I guess if I had the time, I would go through every post in every thread over the last couple of years, BUT I DON'T. That is why I posted, I hoped they'd come to this thread to share their experience.
Since you're a NEW member, you haven't been here long enough to know what's been posted and what's not. You shouldn't be questioning me about it, do your own search and find it.
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thehelferfamily
Walla Walla, WA
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Thanks for the input on Kodiak versus Springbar. I've done LOTS of research on the web and both tents seem to get great reviews. Right now my only problem is the largest tent Kodiak makes is a 10 x 14. With 2 adults, 3 kids, and possibly our large dog, I just don't know if that's enough room. We plan on having cots for everyone, but camping with kids = lots of stuff! Springbar has a 12 x 16 tent (the colossus) that looks fabulous. Hubby about keeled over at the price $1000!!! However this looks to be a tent we can pass on to our girls when it's their turn to make family camping memories  Kodiak has only been around since 2007 while Springbar has been around since the 1960's. Of course we are always fans of US made products too (springbar). Lots of decisions to make and money to save. Thanks again!
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Mike Up
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thehelferfamily wrote:Thanks for the input on Kodiak versus Springbar. I've done LOTS of research on the web and both tents seem to get great reviews. Right now my only problem is the largest tent Kodiak makes is a 10 x 14. With 2 adults, 3 kids, and possibly our large dog, I just don't know if that's enough room. We plan on having cots for everyone, but camping with kids = lots of stuff! Springbar has a 12 x 16 tent (the colossus) that looks fabulous. Hubby about keeled over at the price $1000!!! However this looks to be a tent we can pass on to our girls when it's their turn to make family camping memories Kodiak has only been around since 2007 while Springbar has been around since the 1960's. Of course we are always fans of US made products too (springbar). Lots of decisions to make and money to save. Thanks again!
I personally would probably go with Springbar on an expensive tent, if I could afford it, because as you stated, they've been around while Kodiak has only been in business 3 years. Also the Springbar is made at their own factory while the Kodiak is farmed out to China. I have talked to both companies and find Springbar head and shoulders over Kodiak. I was NOT impressed with the none professionalism I found with Kodiak. After 3 calls (1st call I was hung up on, 2nd was an answering machine) did I finally get to talk to someone and it was like talking to someone on a cell phone in a car with all the windows rolled down. I was not at all impressed with Kodiak but was impressed with Springbar.
If I had to deal with Kodiak first hand, I would not buy a Kodiak tent after my experience. If I bought a Kodiak tent through Cabelas and went through their customer support and could completely go through them for all problems, I'd consider Kodiak.
Having said that, I have only read and found EXCELLENT reviews about Kodiak tents. I have never seen a review that was less than excellent. So while I didn't care for the Kodiak experience, I don't own their tents and never delt with them at all. I leave the owners to tell of their experiences of ownership.
Have a good one.
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Mike Up
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thehelferfamily wrote: Right now my only problem is the largest tent Kodiak makes is a 10 x 14. With 2 adults, 3 kids, and possibly our large dog, I just don't know if that's enough room. We plan on having cots for everyone, but camping with kids = lots of stuff! Springbar has a 12 x 16 tent (the colossus) that looks fabulous.
Just be aware that a tent that large will be difficult to setup in most state parks I've seen. There usually isn't an area that large that's flat and not on a slope. That's why many people usually use 2 tents.
In that case, you could use 2 10' X 10' tents or one 10' X 14' with a 10' X 10'. Of course now your looking at well over $1000.
Or you could go with the Cabela tents I've mentioned where the size is roughly the same, they have that model in 10' X 14' or 10' X 16'. Just realize a larger tent will be more difficult to setup and harder to find a large flat area to sit it on.
What I usually do is use the main tents for strictly sleeping and then set up a screen house to live out of during the day.
If it rains, a tent is really uncomfortable because you don't have the room to setup indoor chairs or have the ability to cook in there. If it's not raining to bad, the screenhouse works great as an out of the weather area to live, cook, and relax in.
If it's raining bad, then you'll just have to cramp in the tent and make do. That's why a lot of us went to a RV, to be more comfortable in bad weather when it does come, and it will.
Good luck in your decision.
Have a good one.
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thehelferfamily
Walla Walla, WA
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Thanks Mike Up. Hubby has expressed concerns also about finding a site big enough to put a 12 x 16 tent up. My problem with 2 tents is our girls are still young (little one is only 4) and I just don't feel comfortable with them sleeping in another tent even if it is right next to ours. Maybe being paranoid, but I'm a mom so that comes with the territory. Do you think 2 xl cots and 3 regular size cots would even fit in a 10 x 14? I guess the best thing to do is measure out the distance with some string and stakes and then see how it works Thanks again for your input....and your right a lot of the state parks around here have REALLY small campsites....not even big enough for a 10 x 14 tent!
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Vapor_Trails
Yucaipa, CA
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Qualifier: I use my tent(s) for quick one or two night trips and usually to places only accessible by 4wd and the TT would never fit. On the rare occasion the family stays in a campground we bring the TT. CG's are too loud to tent camp, IMO.
BUT!!! If I were to ditch the RV and tent camp exclusively, I'd most certainly use Springbar's Expandable tent, a Bedroom or two all connected to each other and/or to their Leisure Port. Now that would be very pricey. They all zip together to make one big modular shelter. What an awesome setup that would be!
However, we really like our TT and have no plans to ever be without an RV of some kind. So, my 10x10 Kodiak serves its part time purpose quite well.
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