Canvas Tent Brands - User Experiences?

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Jaxson

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#223895 23-Oct-2017 11:44

Hi all,

I'm looking at replacing our 30 year old family tent with something new.

Brand wise, there look to be a few major players in the industry at the moment, and I wonder if anyone has any experience with these?

Zempire, Kiwi Camping, Dwights, Coleman (hard to find much info on really), Oz Trail etc.

Several have changed names too.

What are peoples thoughts please?

Thanks.

webwat

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#1888055 23-Oct-2017 12:43

I just tried out my new dome type "airflow" Zempire tent, managed to packup just before it rained. Has some nice features like tougher fabric on the fly, a ventilation strip along the bottom, and window flaps that are zipped up from inside so u can zip up the amount you need without having to even get out of your bed when it rains. As I was taking it down I even noticed a small zipper in the corner with a power plug symbol next to it, so could leave a solar panel outside without risking your battery pack getting wet. I imagine the canvas tents would be similarly well designed.

Time to find a new industry!

Jaxson

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#1888068 23-Oct-2017 13:49

Yeah the Zempire brand does seem to be the flashiest of the lot design wise.

cldlr76

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#1891002 26-Oct-2017 20:37

We replaced our 30 year old canvas tent last season with one of these...
https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/LIRTFN6DF/title/zempire-2017-delta-force-canvas-aero-tent

It is awesome, with no poles it's really easy to put up and take down compared to our old one and only takes about 10 minutes if that to pump up. With all the pegging it was up and functional in less than 20 minutes.

mattwnz

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#1891014 26-Oct-2017 20:53

The modern ones don't seem as durable as the old canvas ones from my experience. Don't know if they are designed to get years of use like the old ones. We have one that was used for about 30 years and was canvas and was still going string until we sold it

andrewNZ

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#1891030 26-Oct-2017 21:34

I have a freedom (Zempire) Millbrook from Torpedo7. Takes me about 20 mins to put up by myself.

The feature that I like the most is the clear panels plastic at the top of the windows. The ability to get light and air into the tent when it's raining is great.

Jaxson

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#1891050 26-Oct-2017 22:30

mattwnz:
The modern ones don't seem as durable as the old canvas ones from my experience. Don't know if they are designed to get years of use like the old ones. We have one that was used for about 30 years and was canvas and was still going string until we sold it

I hear you, as we have just sold our 30+ year old family tent and are looking to upgrade. Some of the new ones just don’t seem as thick/solid, despite what the advertising would have you believe.

Considering a good deal on a local Coleman tongariro tent. Looks the the part, but don’t know anyone who has used one.

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kryptonjohn

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#1891052 26-Oct-2017 22:32

Omg those zempire tents must be made out of gold thread.
We have a retreat 360 from Kathmandu I'm sure we got it half price on sale so about $800. Have had to replace one of the segmented poles so spare parts available.
We abuse it. Goes up at the bach before Xmas and stays up all holidays. Lasted about 5 years but now it's dying from the in uv deterioration.
Takes a while to put up but it's huge.

mattwnz

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#1891070 26-Oct-2017 23:17

Jaxson:
mattwnz:

The modern ones don't seem as durable as the old canvas ones from my experience. Don't know if they are designed to get years of use like the old ones. We have one that was used for about 30 years and was canvas and was still going string until we sold it

I hear you, as we have just sold our 30+ year old family tent and are looking to upgrade. Some of the new ones just don’t seem as thick/solid, despite what the advertising would have you believe.

Considering a good deal on a local Coleman tongariro tent. Looks the the part, but don’t know anyone who has used one.

I think you have to price in that it may only last up to 5 holidays on some of them. They are often lightweight and less bulky though. My brother ruined his new one on their first trip after a pinecone fell through it and then high winds. On a canvas one I am not usre if it would have just bounced off, but if it had gone through it, , canvas ones can be patched. I don't think these new ones are as easy to repair.

andrewNZ

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#1891082 26-Oct-2017 23:46

kryptonjohn: Omg those zempire tents must be made out of gold thread.
We have a retreat 360 from Kathmandu I'm sure we got it half price on sale so about $800. Have had to replace one of the segmented poles so spare parts available.
We abuse it. Goes up at the bach before Xmas and stays up all holidays. Lasted about 5 years but now it's dying from the in uv deterioration.
Takes a while to put up but it's huge.

Used to have one of those, it was OK for what we did with it, but it's no match for the durability and space of a canvas tent. A dome tent gets blown round a fair bit, a canvas tent will barely move in the same wind that'll blow a dome flat. If you tie it down properly a canvas tent will happily cope with a reasonable storm (experience as a kid).

Of course canvas has it's downsides too, like having to keep stuff off the walls when it rains to prevent leaks.

It's all about what you want from a tent in the end.

xontech

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#1891133 27-Oct-2017 08:48

We have had a Zempire (was Freedom) Hyatt for around 6 years now. We go camping for around 10 days every year, I don't think the core part of the tent (canvas, poles) have deteriorated/worn at all in that time. We have been through a few of the witches hats and c-clip things, but apparently there were issues with the plastic used for these but has been fixed now?

Would recommend it as a tent you put up at one location for at least a week, based on its bulk (poles won't fit in car so need a trailer) and time to put up and down (around an hour each way).

It did initially take us 3 of them to get one that didn't have a construction issue (missed stitching) but R&R Sport (now Torpedo 7?) were fine with swapping them.

Friend has one of the inflatable versions, works well. Not as big as our tent but it suits them, they did struggle to inflate it the first time with a battery powered pump, turned out the manual pump did the job just fine and wasn't too much work. Compared to a pole version it seems less stable, but I would guess that in a storm the flexibility would be an advantage. Saying that we have been in ours in a pretty bad storm (gale force winds, torrential rain, flooding etc) and ours stayed standing and no leaks.

One key thing with canvas tents is putting them away dry and clean (no bird poo etc). Cleaning it as you pull it down is the go, but adds time when you are just wanting to get on the road.

Guv

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#1891172 27-Oct-2017 09:57

Have the Zempire Mansion tent and use for longer camping trips - 12-14 days and its brilliant. Sturdy as, been through a couple of cyclones and no leaks or tears. Would definitely buy again. We purchased in the Torpedo7 sale and got $1500 off it. Well worth waiting for these sales.