As a company that’s serious about rugged camping products, Kodiak has earned a reputation for manufacturing virtually indestructible tents. It’s a real pleasure to be reviewing the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-man tent. I suppose it’s not correct anymore to refer to this as an 8-man tent. These days, we call it an 8-person tent – don’t want to be accused of gender bias, now do we?
It’s rare to find a product that is so well received by the public. I’m sure, like me, you too will be delighted by this amazing tent. This comprehensive review of the Kodiak Deluxe 8-person tent should leave you convinced of the absolute awesomeness of this product. I’m not quick to praise any product and tents can be tricky to assess.
The Kodiak Deluxe 8-person tent is far from cheap, so my first question would be is it worth this price? Without a shadow of a doubt, it most certainly is. This tent is manufactured from top-grade Hydra-shield 100% cotton duck canvas and is double stitched. The material is not only made from the most durable cotton canvas but has silicon protection that makes it totally waterproof (and dustproof). The tent won’t end up with that, all too familiar musty smell that we associate with canvas tents because the material is breathable – allowing moisture to escape.
I’m convinced that buying the Kodiak Deluxe tent will mean a lifetime of hassle-free camping. The flex-bow frame is made from spring steel rods that form a taut structure and it won’t sag or bend in the wind. The 1-inch steel tubing poles are just as rugged and strong enough to withstand serious wind and storms.
Something I always look at in a tent is the zippers. In my opinion, if a manufacturer uses the best zippers, they’re serious about quality. I say this because few people really look at the finer details – like zippers. It’s easy to present a tent as being durable, but if the attention to detail is there (where few people will even look), you know they’re not just trying to make a good impression – they’re more concerned about every aspect of the tent. So when I see YKK zippers, I’m just about sold. I’m really pleased to see #10 YKK zippers on this tent, they are as good as it gets.
Down to every detail that’s gone into the manufacture of this tent, I can’t find a single fault. If the reviews by customers that have been using one of these tents for years is anything to go by, the Kodiak Deluxe is as close to indestructible as one could hope to find.
This tent is huge. The floor is an incredible 10-feet by 14-feet and the nearly vertical walls give you a height of 6.6-feet – even an NBA giant should be able to stand upright in the Kodiak Deluxe. There’s also a 7’ by 4’ awning for gear storage and comfortable outdoor seating. It has large D-shape doors at two ends and four large windows with no-see-um mesh. This gives you privacy, whilst still providing ample ventilation and protection from bugs. The ventilation is further enhanced by two funnel-flow vents. The floor is made from 16-ounce polyester-reinforced vinyl. This is a really tough floor but it would still be a good idea to use a footprint to ensure that the floor remains in perfect condition for a lifetime. Water seepage where the floor joins the walls is impossible, even in very wet conditions, because it has welded seams.
A pack weight of 79-pounds gives you an idea of the heavy-duty canvas used to make this tent. Despite its generous size and rather hefty weight, the Kodiak Deluxe is remarkably easy to set up. It’s possible for one person to set this tent up alone without too much effort. The pack size of 30” X 16” means that you won’t be trying to cram this large 8-person tent into an undersized bag. For your convenience, there’s a customizable loft for storing gear and an organizer system.
Not only is the Kodiak Deluxe 8-person canvas tent one of the most comfortable, it’s as tough as they come. For family camping trips or the rugged conditions of a hunting expedition, the mighty Kodiak will handle anything you throw it (within reason). The manufacturer’s lifetime warranty is a testament to the solid durability of this fantastic product.
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