Tent Companies

RenJunkie · Post by **RenJunkie** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:51 pm

I know tents have been discussed a lot over the years. I'm sure makers have too. But, I'm looking for sorta updated info.

I know about Tentsmiths, Panther, Midwest, and the stuff Falls Creek Suttler sells. But who else makes period/period plausible tents?

Also, are there any makers of a quality so low it should be avoided entirely?

Need a tent bad, so I can start doing events (not buying a nylon tent, no way no how). Looking for the best mix of cost and durability.

Thanks,
Christopher

mordreth · Post by **mordreth** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:07 pm

what era are you looking to portray?

RenJunkie · Post by **RenJunkie** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:22 pm

16thC Saxon.

Thanks,
Christopher

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:12 pm

Midwest Tents are a cheaper quality alternative.

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:35 pm

I bought a wedge tent from a civil war sutlery, and have been very happy with it for the past seven years. Sunforger canvas, very low price, quick shipping; it was a great experience and the tent is still going perfectly strong despite years of regular use.

Unfortunately they have gone into political activism as a company, and I feel that I can no longer recommend them by name.

-Derian.

Christophe de Frisselle · Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:04 pm

I got a Large Wall Tent from Blockaderunner.

http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg31.htm

They also have other tents that would work and at a decent price.

RenJunkie · Post by **RenJunkie** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:32 pm

A tent company into activism? I had no idea the tent lobby was that big

I totally understand your misgivings on that. I wouldn't want to buy from an activist tent maker either, regardless of what they're activing.

Thanks for the help so far, gang. Keep it coming!

Thanks
Christopher

losthelm · Post by **losthelm** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:01 pm

JAS Townsend is another option.

One of the locals had some bad canvas from tentmasters it happens from time to time so check the warranty.
I would sugest making a shopping list of what you want from a pavilion. and what the land alotment/camping conditions are.
yurts work well for long term camping in harsh conditions but fail miserably when it comes to camping on a hillside.

How easy are parts replace?

Can you jury rig a safe alternative if something breaks?

3/4 steel pipe for the ridge poll on a10x20 viking wedge is not a good setup at 1030 for Pennsic. The Union joint became cross threaded.

How easy is it to setup both frusteration and actual time?

What is the minimal number of people nessacary to do this?
In turential rains with high wind.

Care, cleaning, continued maintenance, transportation, storage, comfort, and over all asthetics.
All need to be considerend.

RenJunkie · Post by **RenJunkie** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:01 pm

Quality, historicality, functionality, and price are the big considerations, in no particular order. I know the wedge and the conical will give me the most historic versatility. But they also yield lowest space. My wife won't be camping with me (cold flares her arthritis, and hot humid gives her hives). So I only have to fit me. I dig the double belled wedge, but I'm afraid I'd get locked into a French persona to be accurate.

As far as poles...wood. I should be able to build any replacement parts. Unless I go with the ubiquitous metal stakes, but I'm really thinking I'll make wood ones (unless that's a disastrous idea).

Anyway, I'll start another thread about which tent style. Right now, it's all about which maker to go with. Setup and all that is yet to be worried too much about. And if the maker doesn't have the style I need, I should have a good idea of fallback makers

Thanks,
Christopher

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:37 pm

Hardwood stakes work perfectly fine, unless you're trying to punch through a layer of asphalt or concrete (hi there, farragut state park...)

-Derian.

Cian of Storvik · Post by **Cian of Storvik** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:30 pm

I don't think using a French double bell wedge makes you any more French then eating frenchfries or french toast.
Of course, I know I'd "fit" in my own tent much better if I could manage to stay away from the Belgian waffles, english muffins and any sort of danish.

-Cian

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:34 pm

nless I go with the ubiquitous metal stakes, but I'm really thinking I'll make wood ones (unless that's a disastrous idea).

I would go with metal stakes made from round stock.

Wooden stakes just don't last. They break in hard ground. The end you pound on frays to dust. Metal stakes last forever.

I'd use round stock instead of square stock because the corners on square stock bite into your fabric stake-loops and rip them over time as you drive the stakes in and pull them out.

Steve

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:02 pm

Steve -SoFC- wrote:Wooden stakes just don't last. They break in hard ground. The end you pound on frays to dust.

Use hardwood stakes and a wooden mallet and you'll be fine. You may break a stake once in a long while, but with the proper materials it's a rare event.

The only case in which I've felt I <i>needed</I> metal stakes was at a site that had 4" of soil over concrete. Personally I use metal stakes that came with my tent, but a friend has hardwood ones and they've been just fine for years and years.

-Derian.

mordreth · Post by **mordreth** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:05 pm

Panthers French double bell just rocks all day long.
I love mine.

Johann Lederer · Post by **Johann Lederer** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:32 pm

I have a wedge tent from Fall creek Sutlery:
http://fcsutler.com/fccanvas.asp

I also have a pavilion I bought used at Pennsic, I believe the vendors name is the blue unicorn.

RenJunkie · Post by **RenJunkie** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:43 pm

Alright, thanks guys. I think I should be nearing the point where I seek advice on styles.....

I'm not worried about the wood stakes breaking. I'll have extras, and I can always make more. Just iron hooks never looked right to me.

Besides I'm kinda looking forward to making the things...lol

Thanks,
Christopher

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:45 pm

Far more fun to forge steel! And you can take square stock and round the end for the loop you know---rather trivial. The idea that you have to stick with the shape stock comes from the factory is oddly modern...

wilelm the smith

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:25 pm

And you can take square stock and round the end for the loop you know---rather trivial.

It's not the end that causes problems, it's the shaft of the stake, I find.

If you have a stake made of square stock, it has 4 corners all the way down the length of the shaft.

When you put the stake in the loop of canvas and pull it tight, and then start pounding it into the ground, those corners drag along the canvas loop like a saw blade. As the stake gets rusty it gets worse. Likewise when you go to pull the stake out it drags along the canvas loop. Round stakes are not so harsh.

Steve

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:24 pm

Well, I've been using square stock stakes on my tent for 7 years and haven't torn a loop yet... I did hit the corners with a file though, and I don't let them get super rusty.

I like the square profile because it makes pulling the stakes extremely easy; just give each stake a quarter turn, and the hole is made larger than the stake (except for the four corners).

-Derian.