Cabelas Outback Lodge 6 person tent

[Savage Bacon]

We're thinking about getting a tent. Not quite a canvas tent. Something a big lighter. It will be used for family camping. The boss, myself, our 13 year old and 2 year old. We'll be most likely getting one of the little tent bathrooms, and maybe a small wood stove for if we decide to do some colder weather camping (fall weather, not winter)

Does anyone have any experience with the cabelas outback lodge tent? We were skimming through the cabelas website last night. And then this evening I see it's on sale.

We usually use our camper, but want something a lot easier to pack up and go. We're mostly on crown land with the side by side and quads. And we already have cots, cooking gear, and such.

Is this a decent tent? Or is there something better for a lighter duty family sized tent?

Thanks for any input!

[raab]

I havent used one but I dont like the design. With the short walls itll really reduce the space inside. At 100 sq ft itll be tight for 4 + gear and a stove. The cots will most likely be useless due to head room.

If it was me I'd just get a 4 person MSR Elixir or MEC Camper tent. Invest in good sleeping pads and sleeping bags, and you'll be fine in the fall. Since you're taking quads and a side x side Id take a pop up canopy, folding table, and some lawn chairs as well. Id cook and relax in the pop up. If you wanted to go smaller then the canopy take a tarp and cook/relax under that.

In saying that if your heart is set on a tent with a stove, where you can use cots. I'd recommend getting something with 5 foot walls.

Also wanted to add if you're worried about space in the elixir or camper dont be. My wife, myself, our 2 daughters, and dog all sleep in the 4 person camper. My sister, her husband, and her 3 younger boys all sleep in the 4 person Elixir.

[CBintheNorth]

I have the Otter Monster Lodge (much bigger than the cabelas model) and 4 small cots in there leaves just enough room to get out of bed.
If you have another tent or one of those Costco pop-up shelters to do your rainy-day cooking under, it might work?

A wood stove in there wouldn't work though unless it's REALLY small. Keeping it far enough from the walls to not melt the thing will place it roughly in the middle of the tent.

A Buddy or Big Buddy, and an extra carbon monoxide monitor shine here.

Bunk cots would help the space situation as well.

Unfortunately, for how you're describing your outings, a wall tent fits the bill MUCH better.

[Savage Bacon]

I havent used one but I dont like the design. With the short walls itll really reduce the space inside. At 100 sq ft itll be tight for 4 + gear and a stove. The cots will most likely be useless due to head room.

If it was me I'd just get a 4 person MSR Elixir or MEC Camper tent. Invest in good sleeping pads and sleeping bags, and you'll be fine in the fall. Since you're taking quads and a side x side Id take a pop up canopy, folding table, and some lawn chairs as well. Id cook and relax in the pop up. If you wanted to go smaller then the canopy take a tarp and cook/relax under that.

In saying that if your heart is set on a tent with a stove, where you can use cots. I'd recommend getting something with 5 foot walls.

Also wanted to add if you're worried about space in the elixir or camper dont be. My wife, myself, our 2 daughters, and dog all sleep in the 4 person camper. My sister, her husband, and her 3 younger boys all sleep in the 4 person Elixir.

It does have short walls. When I think of everything I'd pile in there, I think it would fill up fast.

[Savage Bacon]

I have the Otter Monster Lodge (much bigger than the cabelas model) and 4 small cots in there leaves just enough room to get out of bed.
If you have another tent or one of those Costco pop-up shelters to do your rainy-day cooking under, it might work?

A wood stove in there wouldn't work though unless it's REALLY small. Keeping it far enough from the walls to not melt the thing will place it roughly in the middle of the tent.

A Buddy or Big Buddy, and an extra carbon monoxide monitor shine here.

Bunk cots would help the space situation as well.

Unfortunately, for how you're describing your outings, a wall tent fits the bill MUCH better.

My thoughts keep wandering to an actual wall tent. The boss keeps saying it's too heavy duty for family tenting.

[raab]

It does have short walls. When I think of everything I'd pile in there, I think it would fill up fast.

If you'd like an alternative to a wall tent check out the artic oven tents. Not cheap, and I havent used one, but I've been eyeing them up. I think they'd be awesome for mid November hunts.

[CBintheNorth]

My thoughts keep wandering to an actual wall tent. The boss keeps saying it's too heavy duty for family tenting.

There is a lot of stuff that goes with a wall tent, especially if you go with a pole kit, and you should.
It'll fill up half a truck bed, no doubt, but you'll be camping in style! Space out the wazoo, nice wood heat, many pluses.

I have a 14×16 and I can set it up completely by myself in under an hour.
That's the tent, fly, floor, stove, chimney, cots, and table.
All princess has to do is show up....and she still doesn't!:angry3:
My wife hates camping.
Luckily my boys love it. Makes for some great "boys" trips.

[Savage Bacon]

I like the idea of the wall tent. The 14x16 does sound appealing. Maybe I should bite the bullet, cry once, and just get one.

I imagine it might be too big tho if she decided she wants to go to a camp site.

Raab, that arctic oven 12 looks nice but you're right about the price!

[raab]

Double post

[raab]

I like the idea of the wall tent. The 14x16 does sound appealing. Maybe I should bite the bullet, cry once, and just get one.

I imagine it might be too big tho if she decided she wants to go to a camp site.

Raab, that arctic oven 12 looks nice but you're right about the price!

Yea I figured the 12 would be perfect for you with a medium stove. The price is steep though. Would be interesting to know the packed dimensions and weight versus a wall tent. Might be worth it depending on the size of a packed wall tent. The Oven 12 is basically 3ft x 3ft x 2ft and weighs 78lbs packed. To put this in comparison for size my MEC Camper 4 is basically 6" in diameter and 2ft long packed weighing 8lbs. Honestly if you can take the sleeping on the ground with a good sleeping pad. (Since you're not worried about weight MEC has a 10" pad that'll be more comfortable then your mattress most likely), I love the convenience and size advantage of my backpacking gear vs the traditional stuff. For some people sleeping on the ground isnt an option though.

[nelsonob1]

I have the 12x12 Araknack (apologies for spelling) which is similar in design but the side wall is higher and floor space wider. I like the tent, lighter than a wall tent so easier to put up solo, but it's a three man at best for hunting with everyone's gear.

[Savage Bacon]

We might head into Calgary this weekend to physically see some tents. I was just on the MEC website and saw the 8 person hub. I thought it would be perfect and wanted to go look at it. Until I noticed the price :scared0015:

[ehrgeiz]

Might suggest the Seek Outside 8 person tipi with a half nest for sleeping.

I run Redcliff and have had 4 of us inside 2 nests with a stove. Not a lot of extra room but it worked. The 8 person should be lots for 4.

[Savage Bacon]

Might suggest the Seek Outside 8 person tipi with a half nest for sleeping.

I run Redcliff and have had 4 of us inside 2 nests with a stove. Not a lot of extra room but it worked. The 8 person should be lots for 4.

The 8 man is almost 200 square feet, with a 16ft diameter. I like the classic tipi design.

[ehrgeiz]

^
I can vouch for the quality of the Seek products.

Thought given your requirements it may be of interest to you.

I went Redcliff as it provides a sweet spot for space and weight. It can still be reasonably backpacked-in for a Sheep Hunt base camp with a stove. Especially if you have 2 or 3 guys splitting the load. I've used it down to -22 and the stove can still turn it into a sauna if you let it rage wide open.

If I had no intention of backpacking-in I would have gone bigger.

Like most quality products, it isn't cheap though.

[Stinky Buffalo]

I looked at that Cabelas tent as well. Looking through the reviews, it sounds like it would be roomy enough for two adults, and maybe a small child or two. There are recreational tents that would provide the same room with less setup (there are a lot of stakes involved!) If it would have supported a small wood stove, I would have been more interested.

The recommendations on the Seek Outside tents are the direction I'm leaning as well.

I had a chance to use a TentTipi tent (https://tentipi.com/en-gb/adventure-tipis) that my brother-in-Law's brother used on one of our camping trips, and it was awesome. Only issue was that, on hard ground, the stove would cause cold air to be drawn in along the skirt, past the beds, which made for a bit of a chill (one side of you would be hot from the stove, the other side would be cold from the draft). I'm sure there is a way to solve this, though. I'm thinking that we were doing it wrong. :D

It was fairly compact, and the stove had its own crate. Slick setup for our purposes.

[gramps73]

the guys I hunt with bought one for this past moose camp.
Less than impressed, lots of issues with condensation and wet gear.
the other issue is the short wall but its been said.

price point is nice but thats about the only thing.

[Stinky Buffalo]

lots of issues with condensation and wet gear.


That's true - that issue gets mentioned repeatedly in the reviews as well.

[Mavrick]

I went with a 10x10 Esker Classic 2 from Canadian Outdoor Equipment this winter. I wanted a smaller tent then my big wall tent when just my and the wife wanted to go. It has the center pole, then you use guide lines to hold out 3Ft walls. I have only used it a few times and the 10x10 was big enough for us and our gear.

The pros: Like other canvas tents it is warm with a wood stove.The 3ft walls allowed us to use cots to sleep, so we where off the ground. Room for two and gear somewhat comfortably. Lightweight compared to my big outfitter tent. Easier to dry out after a trip because it's smaller.

Cons: a bit of a bugger to put up, but I'm still getting use to the guidelines so that might get better. Room in the tent is ok, you can stand up in the middle so at least your not bent over all the time, but I knew that it wouldn't be like my big tent, you give up room to get the weight down. Smaller stove so when it got down to 20 below I needed to feed it lots. It also can take up room in the tent because of where it needs to sit.

So far I'm happy with it for what it is, a smaller tent to hall back in the bush for two people. For a family of 4 they make a 12x12 that they say sleeps 6 to 8, but I don't know, they said the 10x10 sleeps 4 to 6, but no way it can do that. Like every tent math, 4 to 6 =2

[Sundancefisher]

We might head into Calgary this weekend to physically see some tents. I was just on the MEC website and saw the 8 person hub. I thought it would be perfect and wanted to go look at it. Until I noticed the price :scared0015:

anyone know if with the management changes if MEC is still anti hunting?

[Savage Bacon]

I think I'm stuck with what we need. We might look at a wall tent in a few years. We're just not ready for that yet. But need something big enough for the 4 of us. But realistically we just need it for sleeping so it doesn't have to be huge. And we could have our stuff in a screen tent so it's somewhat out of the elements.

We do have a decent camper, but to go camping for just a night with friends, it's way too much of a pain to get ready and haul out.

Lots of great suggestions tho guys.

In my younger days, after enough drinks, a guy would just pass out in the chair, or on the ground somewhere. Thank God those days are over.

[Savage Bacon]

anyone know if with the management changes if MEC is still anti hunting?

If that's the case I won't be rushing in there to spend any of my pro-hunting money.

[calgarychef]

What about a bell tent? Kind of a compromise between a wall tent, and a yurt.
You can up put a stove in them. Trust me on this, a stove will make your family love you AND camping. They spring need the big frame that a wall tent needs.

[lead chucker]

I've been looking for an alaknak tent for a while now, cabelas says their discontinued? Is that true?

[Savage Bacon]

What about a bell tent? Kind of a compromise between a wall tent, and a yurt.
You can up put a stove in them. Trust me on this, a stove will make your family love you AND camping. They spring need the big frame that a wall tent needs.

Those look very roomy

[Savage Bacon]

I've been looking for an alaknak tent for a while now, cabelas says their discontinued? Is that true?

Yep discontinued, but still selling the vestibules it looks like. The cabelas tent I was looking at seems to be similar, but with shorter walls?

[nelsonob1]

Yep discontinued, but still selling the vestibules it looks like. The cabelas tent I was looking at seems to be similar, but with shorter walls?

Yes, very similar but not the same in quality. I'm surprised it was discontinued. It's a good tent. I think I'll try and find a used 20fter

[Savage Bacon]

Yes, very similar but not the same in quality. I'm surprised it was discontinued. It's a good tent. I think I'll try and find a used 20fter

The 20 footer looks huge.

[nelsonob1]

The 20 footer looks huge.

I can park my atv in there with me.

[Savage Bacon]

I can park my atv in there with me.

That's luxury for sure!

We're going to look at the cabelas tent today. I know there's been lots of good suggestions. For quick sleeping accommodations, it looks hard to beat. We have a small dome tent that works just fine for the two of us, but won't fit the kids.

[kilgoretrout]

While your there take a look at their Guide Dome tents I have used one for years and although not light they are fairly bomber as regards to weather

[Savage Bacon]

While your there take a look at their Guide Dome tents I have used one for years and although not light they are fairly bomber as regards to weather

Will do! Thanks for the suggestion.

[Jayhad]

The Outback Lodge 6 is $100 off this week

[raab]

That's luxury for sure!

We're going to look at the cabelas tent today. I know there's been lots of good suggestions. For quick sleeping accommodations, it looks hard to beat. We have a small dome tent that works just fine for the two of us, but won't fit the kids.

I think Cabela's also sells the MSR Elixir 4 person. You should check them both out and see what you prefer. I'd be looking at packed dimensions because when we had our big tent, with all the gear it took up the back of our entire van to go camping. Now I can fit all our gear in our hatchback.

Also worth noting that a smaller tent with a low roof may help to keep you a bit warmer in cool conditions.(Not much though) You just have to watch the condensation, but the elixir has vents if you need them.

Edit: I'd also check out the Cabela's Geodesic Guide Tent. The 4 or 6 person will probably give you more then enough room, and you're not as worried about the weight. Looks likes its still packable at 9"x30", but not as packable as the Elixir.

[Savage Bacon]

I think Cabela's also sells the MSR Elixir 4 person. You should check them both out and see what you prefer. I'd be looking at packed dimensions because when we had our big tent, with all the gear it took up the back of our entire van to go camping. Now I can fit all our gear in our hatchback.

Also worth noting that a smaller tent with a low roof may help to keep you a bit warmer in cool conditions.(Not much though) You just have to watch the condensation, but the elixir has vents if you need them.

That's a good point. I automatically think we have lots of room in the Silverado, but it fills up fast.

[Savage Bacon]

The Outback Lodge 6 is $100 off this week

Yep one of the reasons I keep thinking about it. We looked at tents the other night. Then the next day it was on sale. I thought it was maybe cabelas website trickery.

[Savage Bacon]

Double post

[raab]

That's a good point. I automatically think we have lots of room in the Silverado, but it fills up fast.

Yea, it fills up quick especially with kids. You mentioned doing ATV, and SXS trips. So that would be my main consideration. With that said I also looked for a tent I could set up by myself. Because undoubtedly you'll want to go out on a trip, and the family won't want to come.(Hunting trips) As a result you'll also want something where you can fit it on the Quad or SXS by itself along with all your gear. Those were some of the things I considered when we bought our tent. Hope it helps.

[Savage Bacon]

So we went to cabelas and checked out the tent. For when we want to leave the camper at home and take the tent, I think it will be plenty big enough. And being a 3 season tent will suit our needs. We also looked at the toilet tent, which we will revisit when it comes on sale.

So we bought the tent.

It is light material, but so are our small tents we've used for years.

We got the last one in Calgary. I think with this thread and being on sale you must have all rushed out to grab one too :sHa_sarcasticlol:

We did check out the 8 person Alaskan guide tent and had quite a bigger footprint, and was a 4 season tent. But was a lot more money.

Raab they did have the elixir tents but again were more $$. And I actually bought a 2 person tipi shaped canvas tent off a member here for if I decide to do some solo camping.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. In a couple years we will look into an actual wall tent. The real deal.

[raab]

So we went to cabelas and checked out the tent. For when we want to leave the camper at home and take the tent, I think it will be plenty big enough. And being a 3 season tent will suit our needs. We also looked at the toilet tent, which we will revisit when it comes on sale.

So we bought the tent.

It is light material, but so are our small tents we've used for years.

We got the last one in Calgary. I think with this thread and being on sale you must have all rushed out to grab one too :sHa_sarcasticlol:

We did check out the 8 person Alaskan guide tent and had quite a bigger footprint, and was a 4 season tent. But was a lot more money.

Raab they did have the elixir tents but again were more $$. And I actually bought a 2 person tipi shaped canvas tent off a member here for if I decide to do some solo camping.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. In a couple years we will look into an actual wall tent. The real deal.

Congrats, and yea the other two are more expensive but they'll stand up to anything nature throws at you short of a 3-4 ft snow dump. What were the packed dimensions on that tent? They weren't listed on the website. I think for your intended usage that tent should work well, especially if you have another tent for soloing. Will definitely stick out in the campground. That said, all this talk about camping has got me excited for the new season. I'm getting cabin fever with covid and the recent cold snap.

[Savage Bacon]

The box looks to be around 7 or 8 inches x the same, x about 2 feet long. It's in the back of the car. I'm waiting in here with my boy while the girls are getting groceries.

Ya I'm itching to get out camping too. If they don't hurry up I might set this thing up in the parking lot.

[raab]

The box looks to be around 7 or 8 inches x the same, x about 2 feet long. It's in the back of the car. I'm waiting in here with my boy while the girls are getting groceries.

Ya I'm itching to get out camping too. If they don't hurry up I might set this thing up in the parking lot.

I'd like to see that lol. Thats not bad size wise. Actually surprised its that compact. Anyways enjoy it, and lets hope for a great summer of camping!

[jungleboy]

The box looks to be around 7 or 8 inches x the same, x about 2 feet long. It's in the back of the car. I'm waiting in here with my boy while the girls are getting groceries.

Ya I'm itching to get out camping too. If they don't hurry up I might set this thing up in the parking lot.

I bet you can’t get it back inside that box after you use it once:).

Funny I went and picked one up today too . My friend bought one last summer and it seemed like a pretty good tent.

[CDNOutdoorsman]

if weight is a concern with wall tents, there are ones that are made out of sail cloth. We use my buddies every year for elk camp, pack it in on horseback. you get the room and size of a wall tent but are easily half the weight of a full canvas wall tent. We take in a collapsible wood stove and we are comfy, warm and dry.
too late as I see you purchased a tent but food for thought...

[marky_mark]

https://www.snowtrekkertents.com/canvas-tents/

[Savage Bacon]

^^ To the last 2 posts, those snow trekker tents look pretty tight. No flapping around at all.

Those sail cloth tents would be something to look into. When I do step up to a wall tent, I don't ever see myself getting on a horse, so weight will be a factor.

I honestly didn't know there were so many options out there.

[Savage Bacon]

I bet you can’t get it back inside that box after you use it once:).

Funny I went and picked one up today too . My friend bought one last summer and it seemed like a pretty good tent.

Congrats to you on your new tent. We checked out the tents last year and I swear it had the stove exhaust port, so it must have been the alaknak tent, which is no longer available. I would have preferred that one. But we went inside the display model yesterday and for quick trips I think it will be a great tent.

I'm almost tempted to take detailed pics as I open it, then print and laminate them so I know how it folds up in the future :sHa_sarcasticlol: