Help me decide, canvas wall tent or Alakanak

[gutsnthegrass]

I grew up hunting out of a canvas wall tent and they were great, just takes awhile to get set up.  I have stayed in an Alakanak once and it worked great too and it set up quickly.  I am torn on wich one to go with.  I take care of my equipment, will one last longer than the other?  I know there is a pretty big price difference too.  I am leaning towards the 12x20 Alakanak, but not giving up on the canvas just yet.

[huntnfmly]

I love canvas it won't have condensation keeps heat better and are just tougher imo

[G-S]

Love my wall tent with the frame I have no problems setting it up by myself. When packing in and using log poles is the only time I need extra time and people

[Duckslayer89]

I love my alaknak! Can't imagine being happier with anything else.

[Oh Mah]

wall tent all the way.mine is going on about 20 years now.stronger easier to repair

[syoungs]

Alaknak won't be as large or hard to handle as an equivalent canvas.
Condensation Haas only been an issue in mine one time, with 3 propane lanterns, and a big buddy heater burning, when it was wrt outside, and I didn't open the eve vents.
Little more forgiving packing it away wet.

Canvas can be repaired, or modified.
Canvas looks cooler imho
May hold heat better
Doors are slightly nicer on most I've seen.

With that said, I wouldn't trade my 12x20 for anything, except maybe the 13x27. I absolutely love it. Easy to set up, packs to a much smaller package, has better windows and options than I could have afforded ok canvas, and is easily identifiable by people looking for camp. (Though that's a very small detail lol)

Dollar for dollar, I think the alaknak holds it own, I don't think it will last as long as a quality canvas, but I think it'll last me 12-15 years or better if I do my part. If I had a trailer to haul camp, or wanted a bigger tent for a larger party, I may have bought canvas. Most the time it's between 1-4 people in camp, which the 12x20 works wonderfully for, and still fits the shortbox truck, with plenty of room for other camp stuff.

[Oh Mah]

sounds good to me  Do you have anything pro or con to say about windy seasons?Does the Alaknak flap in the wind or is it quiet?

[Stein]

I have a Bighorn, so it is similar to the Alakanak.  I wouldn't consider canvas, I can carry and set it up myself in under 15 minutes.  It is great in the summer as well with screened door and windows.  With a stove, I could get it up to whatever temp I want.

The material is extremely heavy duty and I would bet much more resistant to rot or degradation and Cabelas has a decent to good warranty.

[grundy53]

Love my alaknak.

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[runamuk]

I lived with a man who "loved camping" for 21 years by about year 10 I hated tents and was tired of camping.  Basically I quit going.  Then we were invited to go hunting and the tent was an alakanak. There was a darn woodstove holy crow who knew camping in a tent didn't have to suck.

No longer with that person and if I camp now it's usually in a motel or my truck.  But if you are gonna tent those things are cool.

[ghosthunter]

I have tented all my life.
And I have made plans and positioned myself to be able to tent till the day I die.

I bought a white canvas tent three years ago and will never leave it.
Last year in deer camp I bought my friends canvas 10 x  12. So now I have two.

One is from Reliable Tent and Tepee the other The Tent shop in I D.
Tent one is lighter canvas and Alummium frame.

Tent 2 is heavier canvas and conduit frame.

My buddy sold tent 2 to me because he had trouble putting it up by himself.
He replaced it with a Alakanack. Which is easier for him to set up.
Putting a fly over it though is difficult for him.

I like the squareness of the wall tents.

I also think that a lot of people by more tent than they need. Most folks do t need the heaviest canvas and a conduit frame.

I like tent 1 because it is lighter frame and tent.
I like tent 2 because it has two doors and two windows.

Sit down and really think of what your needs are and how long you will have those needs. Than make a choice.

[Buzz2401]

Own a 14x 24 that's 25 years old and never had a tarp over it, and just bought a 14x15 for a cook shack.  Will never change.  Canvas wall tents are what elk camp is all about.  I'd live 365 in a wall tent with stove if folks wouldn't come and steal my shirt.  Been in an Alaknak and they are nice but don't compare to a canvas tent in any way shape or form.

[Duckslayer89]

Own a 14x 24 that's 25 years old and never had a tarp over it, and just bought a 14x15 for a cook shack.  Will never change.  Canvas wall tents are what elk camp is all about.  I'd live 365 in a wall tent with stove if folks wouldn't come and steal my shiit.  Been in an Alaknak and they are nice but don't compare to a canvas tent in any way shape or form.

Lol! If people wouldn't steal my %%%... that's funny and true. I actually have a different opinion, I've been in a few canvas tents and they just don't seem as cozy as my alaknak. Maybe it's the way I have it set up or my stove

[gutsnthegrass]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  What about durability.  I really like the fact that if a rip or tear were to happen, a canvas tent can be repaired.  Has anyone had issues with the Alakanak in this regard? Can they be repaired? 

[Wingin it]

I have a 12x20 alaknak with a vestibule and love it.

[fishngamereaper]

Just an idea for ya. I bought a 10x20 Costco carport tent. Cut the legs off 6". Cut a spot in side wall for stove jack. The tent cost me $230. It's been great. Two years use so far, should last ten . Easy to dry off, easy to heat, tons of room, set up takes 20 minutes once you figure it out. Again just a thought.

[huntnfmly]

Couple seasons ago I was stroking up the stove in my canvas tent and didn't realize a couple good size sparks came out  and landed on roof ended up with two 4in holes if it wasn't canvas they probably would have been big enough for me to walk thru😆

[The scout]

I have stayed in both a lot of hunting trips, and wall tent all the way for  me hands down for lots of reasons

[Snakeriver]

Canvas for me. Have spent plenty of time in both. The Alaknak is just not for me.

[Dale Gribble]

Have a 14x16 from the wall tent shop. Bought it used(1 short season per previous owner) used it for 3 deer and elk seasons now, imo it's a solid tent and wouldn't go away from canvas at this point. We add a pop up out front and cover the whole setup front to back with a large hay tarp, makes for a nice cook shack up front. If a fella is gonna spend the money of a hunting camp why not put a little more into it and get a wall tent. 

[opdinkslayer]

Davis wall tent

[Stein]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  What about durability.  I really like the fact that if a rip or tear were to happen, a canvas tent can be repaired.  Has anyone had issues with the Alakanak in this regard? Can they be repaired?

I don't see why it couldn't.  Sew it back up and coat with aquaseal or something similar.  It's the classic argument as to what material for your tent and both sides are right.

[ghosthunter]

Just an idea for ya. I bought a 10x20 Costco carport tent. Cut the legs off 6". Cut a spot in side wall for stove jack. The tent cost me $230. It's been great. Two years use so far, should last ten . Easy to dry off, easy to heat, tons of room, set up takes 20 minutes once you figure it out. Again just a thought.

That's our cook shack for the past 23 years. Just had a stove jack put in the roof. Plugged the side wall one.

[ghosthunter]

Well I love my wall tents but one advantage the Alakanak has is color.

That color doesn't show the dirt as well and down the road that may help the resale.

I work pretty hard at keeping mine clean. Use rain fly's etc.. So when I finally croak my wife has two tents in good shape to sell.

But I would by a Wall tent.

[trophyhunt]

I have the 13x27, love it.  My ex hunting partner has had his Alaknak for over 20 years and the only problem is small holes in the roof from not using the roof protector. Much easier to maintain, easier to put up and putting it away wet is no problem!  Try doing that with a canvas tent!  I had a canvas for two years and sold it, never again.  But, the heat in a canvas is the best!  But I will not freeze in my Alaknak, and zero condensation with my wood stove.

[gutsnthegrass]

Has anyone has issues with wind or snow storm in the Alakanak?

[Woodchuck]

I have two Alaknaks, I do put a tarp over them to help prevent them sweating inside. Other than that I am more than happy.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

A wall tent for sure.  I have a 12 x 14 with a internal frame and it takes me 15 min or less to set it up by myself.  You can add awnings to them with something as simple as a tarp.  The seem roomier as well.  You can get some extremely good deals on craigslist as well.  I would not get one with out having an internal frame though, setting those up is a pain in the rear and requires help.  With either tent, make sure you have a place you can dry it out after using it.

[7mmfan]

A wall tent for sure.  I have a 12 x 14 with a internal frame and it takes me 15 min or less to set it up by myself.  You can add awnings to them with something as simple as a tarp.  The seem roomier as well.  You can get some extremely good deals on craigslist as well.  I would not get one with out having an internal frame though, setting those up is a pain in the rear and requires help.  With either tent, make sure you have a place you can dry it out after using it.

This is important. I've seen guys with wall tents that don't have the ability to properly clean and dry them before putting them away, and they just don't hold up. They have holes and stains and mildew. My dad stretches his 15x18 across their living room with the wood stove cranked for 3 or 4 days after getting home from hunting to make sure its 100% dry. He's had it for about 15 years now and it looks almost brand new.

[C-Money]

We went with a 10x14 Kodiak Flexbow. Will be our first season in it.

[Oh Mah]

Members bringing up the resale part of this discussion,The wall tent holds resale value very well.People will buy a wall tent with sewn patches all over it for a few hundred less than new under price.whats the resale value of the alaknak?Could you sell a 10 year old Alaknak for a few hundred less than new price?

[Duckslayer89]

Members bringing up the resale part of this discussion,The wall tent holds resale value very well.People will buy a wall tent with sewn patches all over it for a few hundred less than new under price.whats the resale value of the alaknak?Could you sell a 10 year old Alaknak for a few hundred less than new price?

I got my alaknak in October when there was a 15 or 20 percent off sale going on plus the tent was on sale. 2 cots and a 12x20 for right around $950. Can't beat that!

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

We went with a 10x14 Kodiak Flexbow. Will be our first season in it.

I have one of those as well, used it for many years here in Idaho and it has held up great.  I recently added a stove jack to it to get some dry heat inside the tent instead of my propane heater, but the propane heater works well in them.  They are easy to set up, although pounding all the stakes in gets old after a few years 
If you plan on getting a wall tent in the future, don't add the stove jack.  It works well, but not necessary if you are going to invest in a wall tent at some point in the future.  There is a thread on here that shows a few member's Kodiak's with stoves in them if you want more info on that mod.

[Woodchuck]

Members bringing up the resale part of this discussion,The wall tent holds resale value very well.People will buy a wall tent with sewn patches all over it for a few hundred less than new under price.whats the resale value of the alaknak?Could you sell a 10 year old Alaknak for a few hundred less than new price?

I have seen quite a few for sale and they never seem to last very long.

[Davis4507]

I seriously don't understand people going with an alaknak over a wall tent. Crazy. No question, go with a wall tent! 

[Labs07]

I've had my canvas tent for 12 years now and never had an issue.  It a 14 x16 foot with internal frame.  I set it up by myself most of the time without much issue, you just need to fold it correctly so it is easy to unpack and set up by yourself.  I've stayed up to three weeks straight in it while hunting the high country in WY.  I cant speak to the other tent but for me canvas is the only way to go!

[follow maggie]

I'm a canvas man, myself. I love my Davis tent. They're easy to get repaired if something happens to it, easy to take care of, easy to set up by myself with the internal frame, and it handled the windstorm this weekend @ elk camp wonderfully.

[syoungs]

O ly been in bad wind one time in the alaknak, set it out to clean it and thought i could beat the storm, had it only 1/2 way pitched at first. After the wind got over 20mph I realized I couldn't get it down safely solo, where I had it set up, so I just finished pitching it. I can't imagine a canvas would have been much quieter, it wasn't like a cheap Walmart tent in the wind.  Ended up getting 40+ mph gusts, stayed Rock solid, minimal noise/movement.
Any tent will succumb to snow load eventually, long as your there to knock it off once in a while I don't think it will be any issue either.

[Larry S.]

This will be my 13th year in my 12'x12' Alaknak and I still haven't found anything about it that I don't like. Last year, for the first time, I noticed some seam leakage. When I got it home, it took me about 3 hours to re-seal the entire tent. It's been through snow/wind/rain and I've never had a problem. Too, I can have it set up solo in about 40 minutes - that includes the vestibule. The only thing I'd trade it for is a new Alaknak 12'x12', but the one I own is still going strong.