Kodiak Cabin vs Flexbow Tent Review

[@parkingfortheweekend6305]

I have the cabin tent w/awning and wall sections, and the baby flex-bow... both purchased from you. I’ve had the cabin for a year or two, and the flex-bow for a week (it’s already had a rainy Scout weekend baptism). They breathe beautifully and they don’t wick. Generally, if there is rain, ours is the only dry tent in camp. I’m terribly spoiled now, and I swear up and down I’ll never sleep in another nylon tent. Fantastic products, especially for imports. Keep up the good work!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

Andrew, thanks for sharing. Hey, we get a lot of customers asking whether people prefer the cabin versus the flexbow. What's your opinion as someone who owns both?

[@Nick-sz6xb]

Really like your videos man, just purchased the 10x14 flex bow based off your review. Looking forward to using it up in Minnesota this year with the family . Thanks again !

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

Thanks for that feedback Nick. We appreciate your business. If you run into any problems please let me know.

[@nickb8618]

I’m intrigued by the screen house flex bow. If you are a hunter running a non sown in floor that u can remove and clean is a plus much like a wall tent

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

The screen tent is perfect for that. There is no floor. I use it for beach camping as place to stay away out of wind, bugs, and doesn't matter if you track in sand or dirt since there is no floor. It also stays warmer inside like the other tents.

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

I love my flex bow for ease of set up and just the overall quality . the cabin tents are awesome too especially if you are wanting to stuff 6 people into a 6 person tent.(we only do 4 in a 6 person, any more we set up another tent) the vertical walls in the cabin tent are a huge difference ,if you hate tents you will like the cabin tent more. but yeah for US we are very happy with the flex bow 10 x 10 "deluxe" ours does not have the side windows and I prefer that ..just my two cents.. it is hands down the best purchase I have made for recreation in a very long time. just so well made and feels solid and roomey.

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

Extremely helpful review right there from someone who has both. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@calebdorsey7591]

That's not why they call it no see um mesh... There are tiny little biting flies that are very hard to see and these mesh panels are tight enough to keep them out. Great comparison review!

[@MikeNaples]

Yeah, I was thinking is this guy really a tent expert and avid camper?

[@JorgeMendezTol2]

Excellent content friend 👍😃🙋‍♂️

[@danclark4998]

Thanks for the video! I live in SW New Mexico and camp a lot. I need a Strong tent that will withstand our winds here (sustained winds are 10-20 with gusts 30+)…we’re a family of 3 and 3 smaller dogs…what do you recommend? Thank you!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

I recommend the 10x14 whether it's the basic, deluxe, or super deluxe vx model.

[@danclark4998]

@@Competitiveedgeproducts You are talking the flex bow style and not the cabin tent correct? Also Thank you for your reply!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

@@danclark4998 Yes, I think you'd be happy with that. Most people go with that. If you don't mind guy ropes and about 10 more minutes of setup the cabin tent is my favorite.

[@danclark4998]

@@Competitiveedgeproducts Thank you again for your reply! I currently have a Luxe Megahorn and that takes a bit to set up. But my wife does not like that it is not sealed up at the bottom and critters or slithering things getting in! I don’t think it is very well made and won’t last very long in our wind here in the high desert. Thanks again and take care!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

@@danclark4998 are you referring to the side door with awning? That does zip up to prevent critters - it's a screen door that zips up and then there is a canvas flap that zips down the sides and velcros on the bottom. I've never heard of a critter getting in, unless you're referring to the awning portion - that doesn't have a floor by design so you can store things that you want to keep protected from the weather, but out of the tent. Hope that helps.

[@dillonboynton9388]

Which one is more sturdy? I am totally indecisive between these two tents. I might buy both. Great video!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

The Flexbow is more sturdy or more forgiving in storms as it literally bends and moves, but pops back into place.

[@greeenmountain]

Lots of questions! We are struggling on deciding whether to go with the 10x14 flex bow or the 12x12 cabin tent. -We live and plan on most of our camping being in Florida. It’s generally HOT here! -it pours here in the summer-every afternoon. 3-5” at times. Since this can be a daily occurrence-can kodiaks tents withstand daily rains and humidity that SW Florida has? -in the past, when camping in the summer, we use a portable AC. (A 4” exhaust duct). None of the reviews or videos I’ve seen have talked about use of an AC In Kodiak’s tents? Thoughts on how the tents do with conditioned air on the inside?? -We have bugs....LOTS OF BUGS! which is one of our draws to the cabin tent, since it has the option of an attached awning enclosure. -Presently, most our camping trips are 4-5 days.....but we see this purchase as long term and plan to increase our camping trips to 7-10 day stays. So far we are very pleased with all the reviews, comments and videos we’ve seen-but not much has been talked about how these tents do in tropical climates? Hoping you can enlighten us:)!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

Very good question and I think this definitely needs to be addressed. I'll try make this as detailed as possible. The Kodiak tents hold up just fine in humidity. The problem with humidity and any brand of tent is the threat of mold and mildew. Kodiak tents are designed to be camped in on an average of three weeks per year. With that in mind the lifetime warranty is completely valid. We do get customers that actually live in these tents. Some customers who have a home under construction will erect one of these large tents and live in it for six months or so during the construction of their home. We have businesses in Hawaii who by these and replace them every year, but to keep them out for over a calendar year. They do cover them under a tarp awning to protect them from UV rays. The sun generally gets the best of any canvas product eventually. They hold up to rain just fine, but if you are planning on using it for an extended period of time please note that your warranty may be void since it then exceeds the three week average per year of camping days. With that in mind, plenty of people use these for extended use. I think the number one thing to keep in mind is that if you are constantly getting rained on you want to make sure that you have cleared the sides of the tent from shrubbery that may not allow it to dry. If you have wet shrubbery touching it constantly after several months (it does differ based on where you are located and the temperature etc.) you may experience tent brought. That's basically where the canvas breaks down and disintegrates. So we encourage you to keep it in a sunny area if possible and make sure the shrubbery around it is not physically touching the tent where it cannot dry. The nice thing about using an air conditioner is that it removes humidity from inside the tent which also will help it dry on the outside. They breathe very well. Many customers use air-conditioners and thanks to your comment I am definitely going to demo my air-conditioner in the Kodiak tents and do a thorough review so thank you for mentioning this. Air-conditioners work amazingly in these and very quickly. Specifically, the 12 x 12 tent has windows everywhere so it would allow it to breathe very well and it has the storm window where you can allow some airflow even if it's raining. It does take a little bit longer to set up, but it is my preference over a Flexbow tent if I'm camping for a week. If you have any other questions reply below for me.

[@greeenmountain]

Competitive Edge Products, Inc thanks for your reply! It would be great if you did a demo using the AC. Another question, regarding a product that may not be out yet? I’m part of a closed Kodiak group on FB-and someone mentioned a new “sunshade” product??

[@greeenmountain]

Competitive Edge Products, Inc “They must still be prototyping it. I know some here were ordering it from Australia. I work on projects with Kodiak.”

[@greeenmountain]

Competitive Edge Products, Inc I have a picture he sent me-but I can’t seem to paste it here:(

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

@@greeenmountain www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/2061-Kodiak-Tarp-Cover-with-Poles-Super-6_p_3217.html It is here and it's really cool. At that link there is a video demo that might be helpful. It is not for winter camping as it cannot support a ton of snow weight on the canvas roof, but perfect for creating a big shade.

[@KapselGirl]

Thank you very much for the review! I have a couple of questions. I'm looking for a tent to fit 4 medium size cots and to have space left over for gear. It seems like 10X14 flex bow may be better for that. Do you think flex bow 10X14 can fit 4 cots? And how about 12X9 cabin, could it comfortably fit 4 cots? It seems like the flex bow is more spacious. However, I really like the optional wall enclosure on the cabin - Are there any wall enclosure option for the Flex Bow, and if not by Kodiac, is there any other Wall Enclosure you could recommend that would work with the Flex Bow? Even if the cabin tent can fit 4 cots, I still don't like that it has the second door that can't be covered with canvas on the inside, and I'd need to go outside. That seem inconvenient for privacy. Since I really liked the wall enclosure option, I went looking for bigger cabin tents, and checked out your video about the 12X12 cabin lodge: I love it, but since it's not free standing, and the foot print therefore needs to include the area where the strings go into the ground, it's probably not the tent for me (currently our family of 4 only camps on weekends, at normal sized campground with other families, and this footprint may not work out for us every time). Any advice or product recommendation would be highly appreciated. Thank you!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

I'm sorry for the delay. The 10x14 would absolutely fit 4 regular sized cots. You might have trouble if you are using those xxl 4' wide cots and trying to fit 4 in. The 12x9 could fit 4 regular cots as well. Flexbow doesn't have wall enclosures like the cabin 12x9 does. Hope that helps.

[@shannonmartinez9967]

Can 3 Queen air beds fit in the Cabin tent?

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

You would be able to fit one queen air bed comfortably as they are about 5' wide by 7.5" long. I've used a queen mattress and then put cots in the remaining L-shape space. Hope that helps.

[@fredbear205]

Why don't you recommend putting a wood tent stove in your tents, while every other canvas tent does? I understand canvas is flammable, but so are all canvas tents. Please tell me how to heat this tent off grid? Any solid answer would be appreciated. I do love this tent and I have one. But I really want to put a wood stove in it.

[@JamesWillmus]

I think the simple answer is that Kodiak tents are not designed for stoves. You can modify the tent and a stove would be possible, but that violates the warranty and it puts you (and everyone else sleeping in the tent) at risk of fire or suffocation. 3 things would have to be done for a stove to work properly. First, a window or door would always have to be open in order to allow fresh air into the tent. Fires consume oxygen so air from the outside would need to be allowed in so as to keep people breathing and the fire going. Second, a hole needs to be cut in the roof for a stove jack. Such kits are available, but the surgery on the tent fabric could allow water in during rain and such a modification would certainly void the warranty. Third, the stove needs to be isolated from the tent floor. I'd recommend a plywood box that's about a foot bigger than the stove's width and length and a few inches high. This would keep sparks or hot metal from coming into contact with the floor. Another option would be a flame retardant rug. No, I'm not affiliated with Kodiak or Competitive Edge Products, just a former Boy Scout that knows a thing or two about tents and fire. I hope that was a solid enough answer.

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

just use a propane mr buddy heater, you do not need a damnd wood burning stove in a small tent ....I use my mr buddy heater and it is super warm with no bullshit of having to keep a fire going.

[@yepyep27]

Are either available with a stove jack?

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

No stove jack on those models. Only the Lodge tent has a stove jack model 6170.

[@duncansutherland47]

Can you fit four cots in their?

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

Regular sized cots? Yes. XXL Teton Cots? 3 comfortably, but they are ridiculously big cots.

[@duncansutherland47]

Your video is awesome by the way!We have a Springbar family camper seven. It’s getting to small for my me and my wife along with our two kids. They were on air mattresses but we are all ready for cots. That allows also for better storage under the sleeping areas. The Springbar walls are on a slight angle which robs us of some room. I was hoping that the tent you are showing (because it’s more straight walled)would allow for three cots against the walls (minus the entrance) and one perhaps down the center. What do you think? Thank you very much in advance!

[@Competitiveedgeproducts]

@@duncansutherland47 Thanks for your nice comment. The video starts out by showing a 12x9. The front and back walls are completely vertical so that one does feel more like a room or a wall tent. The next one is a 10x14 and the walls do slightly slope. If it doesn't appear that way in the video it's a bit of an illusion. They do angle slightly.

[@duncansutherland47]

Competitive Edge Products, Inc thanks for the help!

[@yepyep27]

Are either available with a stove jack?