Alaknak

[Deertick]

I got a text from an old friend yesterday. He mentioned that he had found a 12x12 Alaknak on Craig\'s List for a real steal of a price.

He didn\'t need the tent, but figured that he knew someone who would want it, so he bought it.

Well, he found that \"someone\" right away! For the price, there was no way I was going to turn him down. It was almost \"garage sale\" pricing.

I now have (well, I don\'t \"have it\" yet, as it\'s in another state) a 12 x 12 Alaknak with vestibule, floor, and stove.

Any experience out there with this tent?

I\'ve heard about condensation troubles when using propane for heat, but I\'ve heard others say it\'s no big deal.

I hope to get some pictures up here as soon as it\'s in my possession in a few weeks.

 

[otcWill]

I\'ve camped in on a few elk hunts. We used a wood stove. It was plenty warm and roomy for 4 people and 4 dogs. There was definitely some condensation. Stay away from the sides and you\'ll be fine. Good tent

 

[Baby Huey]

Tick, I have a 12\'x12\' Alaknak and I love it! I\'ve had it for at least 10 years, bought new at Cabelas. I also have the floor liner, roof protector and vestibule. I\'ve never had any leaks and it has held up great in snow, rain and wind. This was the first wall tent our group used and everyone liked the atmosphere much better than 3 pop-up truck campers and everyone segregated. The problem it was too small for 6-8 people, so we also purchased an ISQ that is no longer made by Cabelas. This is made of the same material, but has zip in separate sleeping quarter pods, so it frees up a lot more interior space. We have a wood burning stove for each one. The only issue is the condensation, and we haven\'t found a good way to combat it - bunch of heavy breathers at night! The condensation will gather at the corners of the tent under the floor protector. We usually take a bath towel or two from home and sop up the moisture during the hunt and then when we are breaking it down. The condensation is the only issue with that tent, otherwise it has been a great wall tent for us. Glad you got it for a steal, it should be a solid tent for you!

A couple of things we do is place a tarp under the tent when we set up, making sure the tarp is a few inches short of the outside perimeter. This helps keep and rain/snow from landing on the tarp and pooling under the floor. With the tarp underneath, it helps keep a softer floor (we leave our shoes in the vestibule, and protects the tent from punchtures and horse/cow dung. We also bought some astroturf (or whatever it is called) and put that in the vestibule so you aren\'t stepping on dirt mud when you are putting on your boots.

Without vestibule:


cinamon rolls, floor


ISQ & Alaknak

 

[Deertick]

Thanks for all the info ... I\'m excited to use the thing. I think it\'ll be great as a \"truck camping\" base camp. Weather or not it is a pack-in camp, we\'ll see. It\'s not overly heavy ... about 60-70 pounds ... but the bulk may be an issue.

Anyone put one on a horse?

 

[Scot320]

I\'ve put my Cabela?s Bighorn on a horse, but by the time you add poles and stakes and misc. that is about all that horse will be carrying. Mine also has condensation issues.

 

[Deertick]

I was actually thinking about the Bighorn III before I got this deal ... with the Alaknak, I think I\'ll have an easier time with poles, but they\'re both pretty heavy -- about the same, really.