The Armour Archive

New to the SCA and looking for something cheap to camp in besides a mundane tent. Anyone have an inexpensive and/or used period tent you're willing to part with? A little TLC/fixing up is not a problem, but I just don't have the time/tools/know-how to make my own. Not picky about what style, just gotta be affordable (i.e. $250 or less). Any help would be greatly appreciated!

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=59451

Check this thread about the Viking wedges at midwest tent.

Fall Creek Suttlery in Indiana

Canvas A-Frame

9'L x 9'W x 7'H

$155.00 plus shipping

http://www.fcsutler.com/fccanvas.asp

Just bought mine. Looks good but haven't had a chance to fully set it up yet because it's picked NOW to rain for every single day & night with no end in site until possibly next week...

You know, I made my first tent in 1996 with a $35 sewing machine, untreated canvas, limited sewing experience, and the pythagorean theorem. It's a 12x18 marquee top (only) and I did it for about $180 in materials, setup kit included.

This Pennsic is probably going to be the last time it gets set up. Since then I've made about 10 other tents, and I can tell you that tentmaking is like armoring. You can do a lot with few tools and a lot of patience.

In case you are stuck on buying, you don't get into insane pricing until you look at the ornate pavillions.
A simple wedge or wall tent can be gotten from many different places for under $300. Shipping's a pain, though.

One thing I will suggest is that you go for as much room as possible, particularly if you go with a wedge. 9wx9Lx7h is really crammed for just you, particularly if you've got armor and more than one change of clothes.

Getting a wall tent isn't that much more canvas or hardware, and it gives you much more headroom and storage at the sides. Living room may not be much of an issue now, but if you ever have a lady in there with you...

speaking of shipping: Midwest quoted me just under 40 bucks for shipping opn one of those wedge tents.

-+G

I will agree with Griffin about Fall Creek. I have had mine for over three years for use in CW era things and I use it alot. Well made and well constructed. It is light and the owner, Andy Faulks(sp?) is great to deal with!

schreiber wrote:...Getting a wall tent isn't that much more canvas or hardware, and it gives you much more headroom and storage at the sides...

The only problem is that "wall tents" are pretty much either Roman Army or 19th century onwards. There's not much evidence to support using them for Medieval to Renaissance era---don't you agree?

IMHO, a wall tent may not be your best solution unless you are a portraying a Roman Centurion or a U.S. Civil War Union Officer.

I appreciate the info, guys! I checked them both out and am still undecided on which to go with. Midwest's viking wedge has more room and is nicely particolored whereas Fall Creek is cheaper and comes with the option of a sod-cloth (which may make all the difference). Both are within my price range and will at least get me by for now.

Eventually, I want to end up in a Yurt/Ger, but for now they're far beyond my budget to buy and equally far beyond my capability to build.

This weekend I'm going to attend a local tentmaking class and so buying *may* not be the only option for me. We'll see...

T. Finkas wrote:The only problem is that "wall tents" are pretty much either Roman Army or 19th century onwards. There's not much evidence to support using them for Medieval to Renaissance era---don't you agree?

I agree that there are SAFER tents you can buy, if authenticity is your goal. Particularly wedge tents. However, once you get past "it's not nylon", you get into a grey area. Most of what Panther sells wouldn't even be considered 100% authentic for medieval era.

Things have changed drastically in the last 10 years. My first tent was one of the first canvas marquees on the block, and now the block is mostly canvas. And I admit, I haven't done my homework recently, because the last I heard everyone universally agreed with the idea that all they had was spoke wheels, and I don't buy it.

There is one thing I think you could agree with me on, though: if you put yourself, your feast gear, your dirty garb and your stinking armor in a 9x9x7 wedge on day 2 of a 90 degree event, you ain't gettin' a woman in there too.

schreiber wrote:...everyone universally agreed with the idea that all they had was spoke wheels, and I don't buy it...

Don't get me started on that one... LOL