OAUSA Net - October 18, 2018 - Cold Weather Camping

[Jeff-OAUSA]

Springbar Tents:
http://www.kirkhams.com/springbar-tents/

CAUTION FOR PATRIOTS
Not all Springbar Tents are made in the USA. For example, the Highline series tents are not made in the USA. I'm sure the Highline tents are great tents as they are designed per the Springbar standards, but they are not made in the USA and if that is important to you, then look to the other Springbars with the USA tag clearly shown. Both of my Springbars are Made in the USA and the quality shows.

SUGGESTIONS
Order well ahead of your needs. The web site will often give a sew date for the tent, but it might take a week or two after sewing before shipping, and then a week to ship in CONUS, longer internationally. My suggestion is to order your tent such that you have at least a month from the sew date to your camping trip, and more if possible.

Kirkhams customer service is pretty good. Let them know your "need date" and they will generally be able to tell you if they can make it or not.

I have two Springbars and had to wait for both. The wait was worth it, but in these days of Amazon same day delivery, its easy to get frustrated with the sewing lead time. Again, the tents are worth the wait.

Buy accessories when you buy the tent as Kirkhams usually offers 25% off accessories if you buy they accessories when you buy the tent. Consider a groundcloth, portico, and entry mat and upgrade stakes...you'll kick yourself if you don't order them initially and have to pay full price later. You're going to have this tent for 15 or more years, so Buy Once, Cry Once.

STAKES
The Springbar tents come with stakes that are OK for soft ground. I've bought a heavy duty "wide" stake set for soft ground and a "narrow" set of 12" nail stakes, and they both work much better than the stakes that come standard with the Springbar tents.

FIRST TIME SET UP - SHOCKING THE FABRIC
The first time you have your tent set up, give it a good soaking with a hose to "shock" the fabric. You will notice the tent is oversize for the frame when new. We cut the tents to allow for some shrinking upon the first wetting; this will tighten up the fabric and seams, making it even more water resistant. Let it dry completely while on the frame.

Pay attention to how the tent is folded when you unfold it for the first time. The initial fold is the same fold you'll want to use to get the tent back into the carry bag after using the tent.

[kevinhum55]

W6RIP
My Bivy pick after lots of research.

Thank You
Kevin

A four-season, single-wall solo bivy shelter designed to be your go-to lightweight refuge when you need it. The CORDURA® rip-stop fabric on the bottom makes it ultra-durable while the electrospun nanofiber technology maintains optimum relative humidity inside - keeping the moisture well managed and your microclimate totally comfortable.

https://youtu.be/ZuXKhpa8n6w

https://www.bigagnes.com/Three-Wire-Bivy

[KA9WDX]

Check in please - Thanks - No Internet access for a while but do have it this evening - Bernie

[k9atk]

Please check inn
K9ATK BRAIN
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KD0EXI CHEYENNE
KD0GPE AUSTIN
thanks great topic

[HsuuJrt]

Please give me an early check-in.
James kg5pmn

[kevinhum55]

Early Check in
W6RIP

Thank You
Kevin

[KAP]

Dave and Tom
Please check us in
KK6DGL kevin
KK6WXQ Jack
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[KK6DYO]

Please check me in. Thanks.

[KM6OJB]

This is Joe KM6OJB asking for a check-in

[Diesel4x]

Thanks for early check-in, KF6KOC Randy