Pavillion Recommendations

newfghtr · Post by **newfghtr** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:37 pm

Am seriously considering the purchase
of a tent for SCA events and would like to be fairly accurate in my choice.I portray
a 1350-1400 englishmen.
I have looked at Panther Primitive Tents and am liking what I see there,yet would like the input of the more seasoned players.

DogofWar · Post by **DogofWar** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:00 pm

My guys and I have a Panther Regent Pavillion 16x16. Best money I ever spent. Very easy to work with this company. Put money down to start construction, and gave them payments until they received in full, they shipped it out to me. Awesome tent.

Garreth · Post by **Garreth** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:14 pm

I don't own one, but I have always heard great things about panther. You can get a nice discount if you order through Icefalcon.

www.icefalcon.com

JJ Shred · Post by **JJ Shred** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 12:47 am

I have 4 Panther tents - a 10X10X7 Viking, a 12 round, a 7 square (shower) and a 12 fly - good people, easy to work with, and pretty quick this time of the year. The round is 9 years old and still looks great. The only thing I have replaced are the ropes.

Duke Icefalcon · Post by **Duke Icefalcon** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:40 am

We have been selling Panther tents for many years. I have had very little problem with them. My only complaint is that they went from VERY heavy duty metal reinforcements on their poles to a lighter sleeve. The canvas has always been top quality, as is their designs.

You get 20% off your Panther Tent order if you purchase any piece of armor from us.

www.icefalcon.com

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Duke Andreas Eisfalke -
Kingdom of the East

www.icefalcon.com

"Pain is just weakness leaving the body..."

white mountain armoury · Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:57 am

I own 2 tents from panther 1 12x16 marquis
and a small single bell wedge.
im very happy with both, good quality, good turnaround time, excellent customer service

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:06 am

I have a tentsmiths tent and it is fantastic. For the tent I wanted they had the better price too, but I had a custome tent made. Compaire and see who gives you the best price [img]http://forums.armourarchive.org/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Flonzy

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Cheap garb is as bad as plastic armor.
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy

Guy Dawkins · Post by **Guy Dawkins** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:47 am

You may also want to check out Dragonwing http://midtown.net/dragonwing/default.htmand Past Tents America.
http://www.chronique.com/Vendors/pasttentsindex.html

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Guy Dawkins

[This message has been edited by Guy Dawkins (edited 01-26-2004).]

Jakob Hilditonn · Post by **Jakob Hilditonn** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:56 am

In my opinion...........BUY FROM PANTHER! I picked up a 14' spoke wheel and a 12' fly a year ago. I love them and am saving up for more.

You might find a little cheaper, but not at that quality level. 3 year materials warranty? Lifetime Workmanship Warranty? Plus you get some literature about taking care of your tent and how to build replacement poles.

Get a hard copy of their catalog and READ it good. Compare them with the rest of the crowd and make your own decision.

BTW I did a spread sheet that roughly callculates the price per sqft of most of their tents(with the set up we wanted) in catalog #14. Email me if you want a copy.

Pardon the spellin', gotta get the kids to the bus stop.

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Gaius Marius Cingetorix
Gules, a Scorpion, on a Chief Or three Flames Sable

GeneP · Post by **GeneP** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:36 am

Gotta agree on panther. I have a 12X12 regents and am considering ordering a marquee from them. Great construction great communication and delivered right on time.

Cedric · Post by **Cedric** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:46 am

Panther rocks. Quality, delivery times, price etc..

I recommend them to all my friends, and they all have been happy so far. Only real complaint I could think of was that they sent me a copy of setup instructions for a viking a-frame with my Marquee tent. No biggie cause I spent enough time in the Army to know how to set up a tent, but could have been an issue.

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 1:25 pm

I have had excellent service from both of my Tentsmiths tents.

Steve

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Forth Armoury
Highly authentic, affordable riveted maille.

RobinD · Post by **RobinD** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 5:37 pm

Ah, Panther!

I have just completed my extensive custom order with them and have say that their customer service was A++. Sue assisted me with my myriad questions and Sam was dilligent about refining my vision into a practical creation.

In a month or so I am going to be the proud owner of a 15ft Round Pavilion with an 18ft Peak.... (big smile!)

I'll post images and a first- hand report after Estrella.

Be well,
~Robin

Iain (Bunny) Ruadh · Post by **Iain (Bunny) Ruadh** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 5:53 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by RobinD:
Ah, Panther!

<snip>
In a month or so I am going to be the proud owner of a 15ft Round Pavilion with an 18ft Peak.... (big smile!)<snip><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh you lucky dog!

I own a 16x16 Regent, a 12'x12' fly both from Panther (originals) and a 16'x 24' Oval Marquee from Tentmasters (used) and love all of them. I commend Panther for their customer service and quality and also love my Tentmaster for it's quality/durability. My bottome line suggestion is develop an good/solid/period accurate idea of what you want and then contact all of them to see who can help you out the most. It will only cost you the price of a phone call.

I would avoid any references to "Spinning Winds" pavilions ... I didn't really enjoy me interaction with them before and after they folded it only made me more wary of them ... I'm not saying anything of theirs out there now isn't good, but to avoid anyone still trying to sell a "new" one ...

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"His troops would follow him anywhere ... but only out of morbid curiousity!"

Brennus · Post by **Brennus** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:58 pm

I cant recommend The Midwest tent and bag company high enough. I received my tent within four days of payment to them. http://www.midwesttent.com/

[This message has been edited by Brennus (edited 01-26-2004).]

sarnac · Post by **sarnac** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:11 pm

Tentmasters...

I know alot of hardcore campers that swear by them...

Friends of ours have one that withstood hurricaine winds.

Sasha_Khan · Post by **Sasha_Khan** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:48 pm

On the subject of pavilions/tentage...

Spinning Winds is defunct - the owner had to fold because of some VERY serious health issues - a pity because she made very nice pavilions.

Tentmasters - My household owns about 8 of their various models. Top of the line, bulletproof, NOT cheap.

Panther - I like their products. My Roman group own about 12 of the new Roman papilios, and I am ordering one for myself as well.

Sasha - who makes tents professionaly on the side.

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Sasha Khan

AKA
Marcus Scithius Antiochus

1st Century Roman reenactment

www.legio-ix-hispana.org

Dagisd · Post by **Dagisd** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 7:12 pm

I'll 16th Panther. We got a 10'x12' Wall and it's great. Great, friendly knowledgable operators, quick delivery of a fine product.

HvR · Post by **HvR** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 7:47 pm

Tentmasters customer service has been excellent with my experience.

Lila called me at home in the evening to discuss pavillion options and we were on the telephone for close to an hour. I had many questions and for the money that it would cost to purchase a significant pavillion I was going to make sure that I order exactly what is going to meet and exceed my needs.

You may need to leave a message with her if you call them and expect a slight delay in the first telephone call back - she is caring for an elderly parent that requires much of her attention at certain times.

I would talk to Tentmasters and see what they have to say about their product - I must confess that they very clearly understand and believe in their product.

Helmut

Templar Bob/De Tyre · Post by **Templar Bob/De Tyre** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:15 pm

I have to chime in for Panther, Tentsmiths and for Dragonwing.

One of the De Tyre guys had a 24-foot marquee made by Dragonwing. It's the only one I've ever seen designed to be put up by one person.

RainBringer is a Tentsmiths. I'm happy with it, though I kept putting strain on the cone of the tent. But every time I'd send it back, they'd fix it--no questions asked. Das Gasthaus is a six-year-old Tentsmiths "Museum Wedge" (one with a bell in back), and we've never had trouble with it. We sold it to buy RainBringer, then bought it back because damn it, it was such a good tent.

The folks at Panther make a damned fine tent, too! They make sturdy tents and are always improving their product.

When Bascot had a problem with his center pole going through cone of the round, not only did they repair it--they overengineered the repair with webbing and a ring. This is now a standard feature on all their rounds. It was that which decided me to send RainBringer's canopy to Panther to add that feature.

If you go with any of the "Big Four" (as I call the above tentmakers as well as Past Tents America), you cannot go wrong!

[This message has been edited by Templar Bob/De Tyre (edited 01-28-2004).]

Mongotzu · Post by **Mongotzu** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:52 am

To throw another name in the pile:

Wyrde Things out of Calgary, Alta. Their starting out and have made some great pavilions. Also their prices are good with quaity to match.

Michael

ndiggs1 · Post by **ndiggs1** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:36 pm

I got a Tentsmiths one last year and used it over the summer at a event. I love the Roof Vent in July, worth every penny. Also the people were great to work with and I got the tent really fast (ok so I ordered it in Jan, but still) and the price I got was actually about 20% cheaper that Panther.

My 2 pence for what its worth.

Nick