Has any one used the wall tent from cabelas? We are looking to go to montana elk hunting and looked at army wall tents but the pack weight was too much to carry in. There will be about 8 of us going. How big sould we looking at? The one at cabelas is called the Cabela's Ultimate Alaknak™ Tent – 13' x 27'. How are these in wind and weather? I think these are nylon insted of canvas. Are there advantages or disadvantages to each. Thanks for your insight
cabelas wall tent
- Thread starter howler243
- Start date
buckbull
Veteran member
- Jun 20, 2011
- 2,167
- 1,352
I have the smallest version of the alaknak, I believe its 12x12, can't remember. I purchased the tent last year so I don't have a whole lot of experience with it and really don't know how durable it is yet. I used it on an antelope trip last fall. The tent is made of nylon but is much heavier than the nylon used on your run of the mill tents. My tent has one center pole that holds the tent up and other poles that go around the outside. The tent did great in high winds; I'm guessing we had gusts up to 50mph on our last day as a major front was coming thru. You just need to make sure all the window flaps are secured tightly or they will drive you nuts flapping while you try to sleep. The tent is much easier to setup than a canvas wall tent, although not optimal, I can set it up by myself and it takes about 1 hour to setup. I highly recommend you purchase the vestibule that comes with these tents; you will not regret it. You should also purchase the floor liner and stove roof liner while you are at it. The tent holds heat well enough but I didn't use a wood stove just a mr. heater. Can't complain about condensation either but maybe I haven't used it enough. Also, I'd recommend setting the tent up on a tarp to help with tears in the floor. My hunting partner is older than me and has a bum shoulder so I end up doing most of the camp chores so having a tent that I can manage pretty much by myself was a big consideration when looking at tents. I did alot of research prior to purchasing and for the most part all reviews were very posititive for the alaknak. The small alaknak only has 4 foot walls, the larger ones have 5 foot walls which would be nice. You might be able to get the middle sized version of the tent if you get the vestibule attachment. I like to leave all my gear, food, etc. in the vestibule and try to keep the sleeping quarters somewhat organized. If you plan on taking a pack string with the tent in tow, I've heard guys complain about the poles not packing easily. Many guys claim that you don't end up with a musty smell like you do with a canvas tent.
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
I have the ISQ version. Not made anymore but was more or less the same tent with the added benefit of add-on cot tents. I love it. Very robust. Heats well with the Cabelas wall tent wood stove. I used mine now two seasons. Get a floor liner and the extra roof panel for stove embers. These really help add life to the tent. The floor liner makes cleanup so fast. The roof panel speaks for itself. I never opted for the vestibule because a pole and a tarp ran me $30 verses the $169.
The only negative I have ever seen in reviews was it gets wet inside. However after reading the reviews it was a common connection in everyone that said this.... Propane heaters. Propane exhaust is mostly water vapor. So use a wood stove and this won't be an issue.
The only negative I have ever seen in reviews was it gets wet inside. However after reading the reviews it was a common connection in everyone that said this.... Propane heaters. Propane exhaust is mostly water vapor. So use a wood stove and this won't be an issue.
Like Buckbull, I have the Alaknak 12x12 and have been very pleased with it. I have a nice wood stove that I use in it; this works GREAT! I've had no condensation issues to date. I bought it during a sale last June and so far, it has spent a week on a high mountain trout trip; a week nestled in a coulee in western KS on a mule deer venture, and a few other short trips. I didn't make it out for an elk hunt last year, but that'll change this fall.....with any luck on the draw.
I got the 12x12 for ease of set up and because my crew generally only consists of 3-4 hunters/fishermen. I'd say it would be way too tight for 8 folks, especially if you want to use the stove.
I got the 12x12 for ease of set up and because my crew generally only consists of 3-4 hunters/fishermen. I'd say it would be way too tight for 8 folks, especially if you want to use the stove.
ProjectCO87
New Member
I used one of those tents last year for an elk hunt in CO. We used this exact model. Largest size available. We had a tarp as the flooring. The tent was awesome! We had 24 inches of snow plow over us in a matter of 36 hours and the tents held up very well. Ice was all over the top so we had brooms and we were knocking the ice/snow off as much as possible. I would highly recommend it. The only negative is the weight of it. Get you pack horses if you are using this tent. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Outfitter-Wall-Tents-by-Montana-Canvas/732409.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&N=0&fsch=true&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=Wall+tent&x=0&y=0&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products&Ntt=Wall+tent&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products
I had the 12x12 for about five years. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread until a spring turkey hunt found it in a downpour for a day and a half straight. The roof held up great but sometime during the night water started to come in through the seems in the floor and i woke up to about an inch of water in the tent. When the rain stoped I dried the tent out packed up and went home. I set it up and cleaned it out well as always. The next deer season in a light rain the floor started to leak again through the seems in the floor. When I got home I checked to make sure there was no physical damage and found none. I called Cabelas told them my story and the stood behind their product and gave me a pro rated refund. Not sure why it started leaking but after it started it never stoped. I got my moneys worth out of it and then Cabelas gave me 60% of what I paid for it.
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
This material is woven fabric. The best way to replenish a well washed tent is using some camp dry. Clean the tent. Use water and towels to help get the fine diets out. Let it dry then spray it down with camp dry.
Just like a canvas wall tent set it up on a high spot if possible. If not use a trenching tool and build a trench drain around the tent to help channel water away from the tent in down pours.
Use a tarp as a foot print to help separate the tent from the mud that can cause seeping.
These don't come with sod flaps, so I will trench if the weather looks looming.
Just like a canvas wall tent set it up on a high spot if possible. If not use a trenching tool and build a trench drain around the tent to help channel water away from the tent in down pours.
Use a tarp as a foot print to help separate the tent from the mud that can cause seeping.
These don't come with sod flaps, so I will trench if the weather looks looming.
How hard are they to heat? we are planning on using a wood stove and are concerned about how much wood we would use and if all the heat is going to go right up the top. When you got all that snow how much wood did you go through? Or I guess I should ask what was your method of heating the tents?
I find that if you build a big fire, you can darned near get it too hot very quickly. I simply trickle some firewood in it throughout the evening and keep the tent at a moderate temp; I let the fire die as I hit the sack. I find that it only takes a few minutes to re-build the fire when I get up. I start the coffee and hop back in the bag; by the time the coffee is done, I find the tent is easily warm enough to comfortably get dressed and eat breakfast...
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
I have the cabelas wood stove set up. Was much less in cost than the similar Colorado stove. It heats very well. For a five day hunt I cut one dead pine down and only used about 10 rounds off an 8 in tree. Fires all night kept stoked as needed. Being I was hunting all day no fires during the day. They can get too hot and melting is a concern. Guy out the fire wall and the associated vent well. Keep an eye on cherry piping the stove pipe and you won't have an issue. I use the flu damper and so far kept it well regulated.
robsev
Member
I got the 10 X 10 version about 5 years ago. Cabelas had a special sale on them because they were discontinuing the 10 X 10. We use it for camping in the summer as well as on our big game hunts in the fall. Also use a barrel wood stove. Haven't had one single problem with it - only wish I would have spent the extra money and got the 12 X 12. Great tent.
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
Make sure you set it up at home prior to hitting the hills. Check all the parts and polls. Set up your guy lines. If you get the roof panel( highly recommend) set it up and leave it attached. Get the floor liner and set it up inside. The vestibule I personally use a tarp a framed if needed.
The practice set up is really helpful and will help you plan a proper spot for it as well as speed up your second set up in the hills!
The practice set up is really helpful and will help you plan a proper spot for it as well as speed up your second set up in the hills!
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
Unless you are at a drive in, developed campground, I find that there are few places in elk country with a 17x30 flat, clear area for that size tent. Multiple sleeping tents with a kitchen fly give you more flexibility in camp setup.
If you do go with a big long tent, I'd consider a way to partition it so you don't have to actively heat as much area. I've stayed in a wall tent with a 10x 12 sleeping area and an add on 8' long kitchen area. The woodstove was in the sleeping area , and the camp chef 3 burner could get that kitchen hot just in the cooking. One advantage to the 2 part tent was it could be packed on two horses if need be.
If you do go with a big long tent, I'd consider a way to partition it so you don't have to actively heat as much area. I've stayed in a wall tent with a 10x 12 sleeping area and an add on 8' long kitchen area. The woodstove was in the sleeping area , and the camp chef 3 burner could get that kitchen hot just in the cooking. One advantage to the 2 part tent was it could be packed on two horses if need be.
BKC
Very Active Member
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
2rocky, sounds like you need a better elk zone. I have been hunting elk many years now. Most of where I hunt is not developed camping and wall tents are the norm. All the developed areas are way to small to take a tent that big. You do need to be aware of the space and they really are not ideal pack in tents. However many of the old mountain log roads will lead by meadows. Nothing like a great open area to set up a good elk camp that you can drive to and the hills where we hunt are plenty thick with trees so we do have to hike in a ways every day. That's the whole point though.
Other then a clearing and flat spot what are some other things you look for when selecting a spot? We do plan on setting it up a couple times before the hunt. Sounds like this is a good tent for the money. We would have liked to get a wall tent but the weight and price was the bad part. My dad and i are pretty handy with a welder so we plan on making our own wood burner, one we can take apart and carry in piece by piece. If you could or better question have you made any improvements to your tents. Just looking for any ideas. Thank you guys
BKC
Very Active Member
howler, I dont think you should take a stove in that is welded. That sounds like it ill be heavy. taking it apart and carrying it in piece by piece sounds like a lot of work. You can buy or make one out of sheet metal and just bend the edges and rivet or screw the seems. Build it big enough that the water tank will fit inside the door and the stove pipe will nest inside the water tank. Take an extra piece of sheet metal with you that is the same size as the bottom. Put some dirt in it, 1/2" thick, and put the extra piece of sheetmetal down on top of the dirt. This will keep the bottom from burning thru and last several years. Maybe if I had a place that was awesome hunting would I have such a big welded stove. I would just leave it rat holed in the timber so you could use it year after year.