I have a Kodiak truck tent and build quality is fantastic. The cramped quarters, the zippers, the moistness. As the sun begins to sink, we watch a mama duck shuttling her babies around the glassy lake. Springbar was around but struggling when Measom and Duncan approached Jack Jr. about buying it in 2018. At the time, Measom was a marketing writer for Backcountry.com, and he sensed an opportunity to revive the brand. We spend the remainder of the day and evening paddleboarding and swimming in the crystal waters, returning to land to lounge in the tent with an icy canned Paloma before heading back out again, followed by a deluxe picnic. Measoms father, Ty, knew the Kirkhams from the outdoor businessTy had founded Camp Chef, makers of backcountry and backyard cooking and grilling devices, in 1990and a deal was struck with Jack Jr. (Jack Sr. died in 2008.). Ive written for this magazine on and off for 30 years, and heres a confession that might end my run: I dont like tents very much. Sewing tents is repetitive manual labor, and no one wants to get sidelined by carpal tunnel. Interested buyers can sign up to learn when the tents are in and they're sold on a first-come first-serve basis. Measom says its all about efficiency. I wouldn't necessarily use it for cooking as much as I would use it for heat. Then the inspector dudes step in to check out the finished product. January release this coming Thursday of the Springbar tents. Bought it from a couple old hippie ladies in Seattle who used it at Burning man events. The tent looks classic, like it belongs there. The company was still making tents by hand in Salt Lake City, but production was slow and the brand was fading. I ditched the cheap stakes that came with my Springbar and ordered the same length Snow Peak stakes. Not cheap at $5/ea but darned well worth the money. I went Kodiak based on availability, I needed a tent fairly quickly for an outing and SpringBar had a longer lead time. SpringBar tents | Bushcraft USA Forums I grew up here in Utah and was in Boy Scouts, and we camped in Springbar tents," he says. Kirkhams son, Jack Jr., told me that his dad wasnt exactly what we think of as an outdoorsman today. There was no rain infiltration on our second trip, although a fly would be advantageous in being able to keep the window/door open and aid in drying out the tent. It may not display this or other websites correctly. and making it waterproof in all but the most brutal downpours, says Measom, Sometimes he uses his backyard sprinklers to test the waterproofing. Jack Jr. is working on designs for stove-friendly hot tents that will enable campers to visit national parks in off-seasons, when the weather is cold but crowds are absent. I have half a mind to throw in an air mattress and Airbnb the thing for $200 a night. Springbar stakes for beach camping and they were fine. A man after my own heart. In Asia, as well as eastern North America, rain is more of an issue than in the American West. I saved a little over $600.00 compared to the Springbar. When the rise of air conditioning weakened the awning biz, he began making tents that he designed himself, starting in 1961. Adds Measom: "I hope, from what we're kind of seeing, there will be a bigger, longer-lasting trend to the outdoors where it's kind of a pronounced enough event that all these folks who are not going on cruises or to Disneyland and who are trying out camping or some of these outdoor activities . Then I would just leave the screen open for fresh air. What's a 'cosmetic second' you ask? A couple weeks later, we escape the Utah heat for a remote-working stint at a condo in Sun Valley, Idaho. At 9:15, shop boss Pam Russell announced the next run of tents: 46 Travelers, 32 of which would be labeled for export to Korea. "Jack Kirkham Sr. bought AAA Tent & Awning Company, a little sew shop in Salt Lake City, in the '40s," says Measom. If I had to do it over again, I'd get the 10x14 as 10x10 is a little tight for a family of 4 and 2 dogs. We have the 10/14 Kodiak, previously had a 10/10. Outside of the Toak's Titanium stakes I haven't seen better. ), and, of course, lots and lots of guns. Apr 18, 2022, By Eric Peterson | May 20, 2022, By Chris Meehan | Its the best day of the summer. We finally had a chance to use our Springbar Vagabond Factory 2ND on two separate outings. We've got the Springbar Traveler which is 10 x 10, excellent quality tent, holds the heat very good in the cold, haven't had a chance to use it it in the hottest months yet but it breathes pretty good, Kodiak makes a good tent also, I just purchased the the 8.5 x 6 two person tent I caught on sale and it's top notch also, two big sellling points for us other than the Springbar being made . FACTORY 2NDS $519.00 Sold out STORMFLY 10'x10' - RED $159.95 On sale CAMP CREW SWEATSHIRT 44.95 $34.95 Fresh Tents Dropped Monthly Join our list and you'll know the moment new tents are made available. Nice choice in tents with the Springbar. Classifieds - Engine/Transmission/Transfer Case, BJ42 | FJ43 | BJ44 | FJ45 | FJ45LV | HJ47, North American Clubhouses - Central Region, CA.AB- Rocky Mountain Land Cruiser Association, CO/WY- Horsetooth 4 Wheelers Cruiser Club, TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter, TX- The White Trash of the Elwood Chapter, CA.BC- Okanagan-Similkameen Land Cruisers, NV- Battle Born Cruisers of Northern Nevada, Vendors: Accessories - Electronics - Recovery, http://www.snowtrekkertents.com/stovejacks.html. It was a cross country ski heaven. Youre looking for these time savings of one minute here and five minutes there, he explains. one though. Love the tent. The first was hot and sunny with little shade, the other cooler but plagued with rain, some of it heavy. Yes I think those are the stakes people were talking about and they were complaining of them bending in rocky terrain. I love this style tent! How Springbar Became the Airstream Trailer of Tents JavaScript is disabled. They also work in desert heat: hes just back from a week outside Canyonlands. It's nice and roomy, ten feet on a side, and more than tall enough to stand up in . How feasible do you think a stove would be in that style of tent? They really grew into a big outdoor shop that did all kinds of stuff during the golden age of outdoor retail shops. There were about 20 employees on the floor, a mix of old-timers whove been with Springbar for decades, arts-and-craftsy young people, and immigrants of all ages from Chile, Uganda, and Afghanistan. When Kirkham first operated his workshop in Salt Lake City in the 1950s (the AAA Tent . The one downside is that the tent floor is only 9 ounces. It cost 679.00. And here it is: An old, maybe early/mid '60's canvas White Stag I got off C-List years ago. "That didn't work for a lot of customers, obviously, and it kind of opened the door for some copycat competitor products out there.". Wall tents have multiple guy ropes on all sides that are designed to prevent ant sway even in strong winds. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. A couple years ago, he explained, he and three partners, including Nielsen, bought an old-school canvas tent company called Springbar, which had been quietly operating in Salt Lake City since 1961. Its like the Airstream trailer of tents, Measom said. The price was right $599.00 includes shipping and a ground cloth. For the sake of experiment, I picked up a pair of Red Wing . . It works, says Jack Jr., so we kept it the same.. Measom explains that people would go to the store to buy a tent and be told it could take months before they could get it. White Dodge PU, faded tan tent behind it. It adds up over a week, or a year. ", Opportunities: "We just feel like we are at the tip of the iceberg of sharing this kind of product and story with a bigger audience," Measom notes. in terms of a great car-camping tent, there's just very little out there like a Springbar tent that really gives you that kind of glamping experience.". But the manufacturing always stayed pretty strong and that was kind of their special thing. So we kind of started to realize that it really was a local business and so we saw a great opportunity to take this great heritage product and share it with a bigger audience in the rest of the United States and then internationally, too. Amazon.com: Springbar The almond-colored canvas is soft to the touch. I know everyone loves the rooftop but I was looking for an. Sometimes he uses his backyard sprinklers to test the waterproofing. ", Challenges: "How do you build a team of skilled craftspeople to make, to make a great tent right here in Salt Lake City. The inspector dudes set up each and every tent as it was finished, to check the stitching and other details, like metal stake loops and the rope sewn around the tent bases. 12 gauge V-shaped , a little under 12" overall length. "Almost every component is sourced from a U.S. manufacturer. What's a 'cosmetic second' you ask? In 1962, a Springbar Traveler tent cost $83.62, according to an old catalog. They are very much alike. Russell asked if anyone had anything theyd like to say, and a middle-aged guy in a headband piped up. Explore our history, manufacturing, and. Never could find the defect that made this tent a factory 2nd. This part is something I just cant seem to figure out. Measom and his company, Dwell Outdoors, began working with Jack Kirkham Jr., son of the company's founder, in 2015 to develop the Highline tents built overseas to complement its U.S.-made glamping tents. "I kind of thought that that was a ubiquitous thing and everybody had Springbar tents. However tent manufacturers only recommend it in wall tents. We opted for the added vestibule, it hasnt gotten used much but makes a nice whelen tent as well. Bought my tent stove from SpringBar and was happy with the customer service. As of mid-October, the company was sold out of all tents, domestic and manufactured overseas. Theres no swishing whatsoever. Having grown up in Utah, Measom knew about Springbar, and their products reminded him of other iconic outdoor brands like Filson and Pendleton that sold well-made old-school gear at boutique prices. "Building that team and doing it at a cost-effective price. The shop did well at first, as interest in outdoor sports surged, but business slowly dwindled over time when big-box retailers like Cabelas and REI moved into Utah. ", The Springbar is "for a customer who wants a special, U.S.-made, traditional craft product," he continues. Eureka! The song ended, replaced by the percussive sound of industrial sewing machines. Its about to turn into a cussin job when I take a break, consult YouTube, and figure out the simple move required to tension the bars. They really grew into a big outdoor shop that did all kinds of stuff during the golden . Anyone own one? We used them for our scout troop, lasted a long time. Very minor defects and great springbar quality. Then I came across something unexpected: two millennial hipster guys who were showing off nifty compact stainless-steel wood stoves, which were designed to be used inside real, large, honest-to-goodness Boy Scoutstyle canvas tentswhich, it turned out, they also made, right there in Salt Lake City. I had purchased a Kodiak through Amazon . We were always out of stock, Jack Jr. says. It is 10 x 10 inside floor dimensions. I debated between the 2 companies and went with kodiak because of discounts, Great tents have had two of them, simple, weatherproof, MADE IN THE USA. Nov 01, 2022, By Eric Peterson | Were tenting. The roof bars tension the whole tent nicely, pulling against the stakes, so theres no slack in the walls and no sag in the roof. Free standing tents like Springbar and nearly everything other than a wall tent is designed to give in high winds. Picture is from the first set up before we went out on the trip, needed to be wet down to waterproof / condition. Plan on handing the tent down to my grandkids if I'm fortunate enough to have them. ", Measom says he envisioned 2020 would be a good year for the company under the new management. Springbar - CompanyWeek Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. If you did this in a smaller free stander you'd need to make sure fires were out during windy conditions, imagine what would happen to your stove in this. Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. Apr 10, 2022. Thats amazing customer service to match their product. Well, I went with the Kodiak 10x14. Had it in a massive 50-60mph downpour for hours & it hold tight & stayed bone dry. The first step is simple: pounding in 15 stakes around the edges. And I think we can help them by getting things right the first time.. Jack Kirkham, Sr. was the designer of the original Springbar Tent, so called for his ingenious framework that relied on flex, tension, and hardened spring steel rods to create a canvas tent that was remarkably durable yet required only a few poles to pitch. Recycled plastic is normally used in Trilogy Discs, and you can also find recycled plastic under the names 'Bio Fuzion' or 'Reprocessed.'. "As camping got popular, basically in '61, he invented the Springbar tent and that became their flagship product. It had no holes. "We've kind of eliminated that retail store component. I have the Kodiak 6014 Deluxe (10'x14'). I had assumed they were made by Springbar since they were identical and both. Being made of mild steel these can bend and be straightened over and over. At the time, the tents were a side business connected to Kirkhams Outdoor Products, a camping store that the two Jacks founded in the late 1970s. Were not preppers, Measom hastened to point out when we started talking. They take a pounding with a three pound sledge. It isn't enough to protect you against rain, rocks, and twigs. Their tents are simple but classic, with elegant lines and solid canvas construction, and theyre all sewn by hand in a Salt Lake City factory. Filson x Springbar Outfitter Tent Handcrafted in Salt Lake City Factory 2ndstents are typically discounted anywhere from 10% to 20% off of the retail price, depending on the nature of the blemish. "It really has been a regional brand in the Mountain West for most of its life. Sign up today. I have the 10 x 14 flex bar with the vestibule as wellMy outfitter tent is no longer my favorite No, I dont have one. Quality seems to be awesome. Iconic Springbar Tents: Highline Series vs. American-Made - InsideHook The only thing you can do to ruin a Springbar tent is to store it wet, which will mold it, Measom says. Measom says. Springbar Tents . A few reasons come to mind: USA-made Springbar tents are consistently backordered. ", "The retail side of that business really struggled over the last 20 years with the rise of e-commerce, and just like every specialty mom-and-pop shop out there. Measom says the main goal is to make sure the company has more tents available at all times. The canvas that the company uses is advertised as highly water resistant, because the fibers in the canvas expand in the presence of water, tightening the weave and making it waterproof in all but the most brutal downpours, says Measom. However, some have faulty construction that may make one boot larger or smaller than the other. Very happy with my purchase. Most of the imperfections that make these factory seconds do not affect the flight or durability of these discs. Now that same model runs $1,299. The design hasnt changed in 50 years. Makers of Jack Kirkham's Original Canvas Tent Designs Salt Lake City, Utah Since 1961 But the Highline Series will ship to you immediately, and for free. All the openings are covered with heavy-duty 50D no-see-um mesh. I really like the style and ease of setup. Most of those are imported to the U.S., while a substantial fraction of the Salt Lake City-made tents are shipped overseas. Introducing Factory 2nds, a selection of tents graded as a cosmetic second by our tent inspectors. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Highline 6-person tent goes for $600, with free shipping. Cut and sewn by hand in Salt Lake City since 1961, Springbar USA Tents are built to last and be loved for a lifetime. All the reviews that I could find were pleased with both companies. The overseas models are made in China and less expensive than their U.S.-made counterparts. Its nice to get back to nature with a little bit of style. There is the minor detail of a No Camping sign nearby, but my defense is airtight: Were not camping. And sometimes Ill just go sit in there and have a margarita.. ", He found that's not the case, which translates to potential. (Another plus.) that hopefully that there will be more of a permanent shift. By the end of the day they will be sold out. Needless to say the whole experience was pretty irritating. We are a small workshop and produce a limited number of tents each month. Factory Second. Camping Equipment & Supplies | Eureka! Finally got the chance to use my Springbar tent. They also launched a line called the Classic Jack series, which includes a setup that allows the tent to include an indoor stove to keep it warm and cook on. Red Wing Factory Seconds Buying Guide (2022): Need to Know - BootSpy Very sorry for your most difficult experience. "We" are two adults with two English Setters. We take a few pics for the gram, and they draw likes from around the world. I wanted to sing a song about our unsung heroes, the inspector dudes, he said. Our tents meet the demands of professional outfitters, hunters, and weekend warriors alike. Measom is working to expand the brand's reach as well. The lone mosquito that always seems to sneak inside. offers quality tents, stoves & grills, furniture, and camping accessories for a wide spectrum of campers and environments. I remember driving into West Yellowstone and the snow being piled 15~20 feet up on each side of the asphalt. These discs are usually cheaper, but are not sold as Factory Seconds. The v-shaped are better in loose soil and sand. At the time, Measom was a marketing writer for Backcountry.com, and he sensed an opportunity to revive the brand. Boom: Ive got a home outside my homea good thing, since our kid just tested positive for COVID, and we need quarantine space. The swish-swish sound nylon makes when you brush against it, which sets my teeth on edge. I got it for $500 delivered w/a free $50 tarp. There must have been a change in stakes because I got very good ones. Springbar Here is my experience with SpringbarI called Springbar to order a tent and the girl screwed around shuffling papers for 10 minutes occasionally asking me a question or yelling to someone in the background, I was then put on hold for 20 minutes while she tried to find an order form. A 'cosmetic second' is a tent that is found to have a minor cosmetic blemish in the fabric or construction. Should be a good investment. It also weighs about 60 pounds and comes with very substantial steel poles, so youre not backpacking this thing anywhere. The performance and utility of the tent are in no way impacted. For the extra 100.00 for the Springbar you get the better quality you'd expect, zippers, canvas, etc. The poles are machined here by a local company that does a really nice job, and the canvas is finished in Georgia with a proprietary treatment, and they just have a really special kind of handmade look and feel the way we make the tents here. In terms of durability and reliability in the great outdoors, you've got nothing to worry about. They are absolutely bombproof. "That's in the works," says Measom, "Whether it is for the warehouse or manufacturing, that is a problem we're working on right now.". Its the best day of the summer. I have a kodiak 10x14 and love it. The tents themselves are sewn in an unmarked industrial building south of downtown Salt Lake City, which I visited on a hot June morning in the summer of 2022. The silence in a snow landscape is wonderfully eerie. And sometimes Ill just go sit in there and have a margarita., Sounds like a great idea to me. springbar tents | IH8MUD Forum This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Wind and weather has not been an issue with the 10x14 Kodiak. As Russell finished up the morning meeting, Sheryl Crow came blasting through the speakers: All I wanna do is have some fun. Everyone stood and stretched, paying special attention to backs, wrists, and fingers. We passed it on the way to the gathering area from where we camped; That was me. Springbar - Home | Facebook Fall Tent Event Free Ground Tarp + Free Shipping with Any Tent Purchase All Tent Models in Stock Now, Browse Past Tent Releases & Color Archive, PORTICO AWNING PANELS for HIGHLINE & CLASSIC JACK SERIES TENTS. 3 were here. FACTORY 2NDS - Springbar Home / Products / FACTORY 2NDS FACTORY 2NDS 14 reviews $1,784.00 Style: #408 SKYLINER-Zipper pocket on wrong side, needle holes on back panel Quantity: Add to cart Introducing Factory 2nds, a selection of tents graded as a 'cosmetic second' by our tent inspectors. . When we do get snow here it's never cold enough to do that. One person will be putting together a wall while someone else works on the roof, or a window, and yet another person does the floor, and so on. My dad has a Kodiak he bought for hunting and loves it, he's 67 and can set it up solo in less than 15 minutes, takedown is even quicker. In 1962, a Springbar Traveler tent cost $83.62, according to an old catalog. A stove pipe through a tent wall would be dangerous if the tent was swaying back and forth. (Useful in Utah, where people have lots of kids.). (Appropriately, the state GOP convention was happening right next door.) Time to get back to work. Springbar usually releases its U.S.-made tents in batches of about 20, according to Measom. All thats left to do is install the two side poles and raise the roof. I called back several times and there was no answer. The cosmetic flaws range from specks in the plastic to bubbles in the rim. One afternoon, we shut the laptops and drive to a lake, where we set up the Springbar by the shore, in the shade of tall spruces. This was the last stage in a long but carefully thought-out process inspired by the way Toyota makes automobiles, a system called lean production. The way it works, Measom told me, is that each sewer or group of sewers works on a single part of the tent. That's crazy. My son has a (light green?) Red Wing factory seconds are boots that have failed to meet the brand's quality standards for one or more reasons. Lately, however, my tent-phobia has become a problem I need to work on. We make tents in America for people in Asia, and we make tents in Asia for people in America, Measomobserves wryly. Photos courtesy Springbar. The Vagabond easily accommodates the four of us. Oct 20, 2022, By Chris Meehan | Springbar Tents set up in minutes, provide a large living space, and when the weather gets badthis is a tent yo. We spend the remainder of the day and evening paddleboarding and swimming in the crystal waters, returning to land to lounge in the tent with an icy canned Paloma before heading back out again, followed by a deluxe picnic. 1987 FJ-60 OME lift, BFG AT 33's, ARB/Warn VR10000 W/ synthline/Factor 55. Most factory seconds have defects in the leather that are mostly cosmetic. And how do you keep doing that?" Everyone applauded. A quick search for #springbar or #springbartents pulls up some stylin glamping setups, many from places like Korea and Taiwan and Thailandand were not just talking about individual campsites, but entire hootenannies of Springbar fans and their beloved tents. Again, it's six/half dozen the other with these tents. By Mike Vieira | . "We were expecting to have a lot of demand and see a good response just from a ton of effort into telling the Springbar story, a new website -- new everything. There were the usual intense hucksters pushing water purifiers, solar panels, food dehydrators, combat-grade wound care products(! But theres a reason nobody does this anymore. Big bucks for a tent and so many problems.bummer. We do have a small retail shop here that's attached to the factory where people can come and see how we make a tent.". It would have been the first real camp season where all that would have been out there," Measom explains. Here's what I remember from the Cascadia gathering; a light colored,.maybe white truck, with either a Kodiak or Springbar tent set up behind it it was near the trail leading down to the main gathering area. Springbar tents were the creation of a World War II naval draftsman named Jack Kirkham, who went home to Salt Lake City after his discharge and started making canvas awnings for buildings. If you want one for yourself, you have to sign up and wait monthspossibly longer, if youre picky about the color. Now that same model runs $1,299. I guess, if you had some sort of support on the outside for a chimney, it wouldnt be a big deal. It's the same as any canvas tent, a stove jack. If I had time I would go with the SpringBar tent.Nothing wrong with the Kodiak tent, set up is easy with one person and the tent is well made. You are using an out of date browser. Great tent. I liked the sound of that immediately. Great tent for the price point and has held up to about 8 years of woods and desert camping. But nobody outside Utah seemed to have heard of Springbar. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. "As more people discover the tent . The cloth is treated with something called Sunforger to resist both moisture and mildew, while remaining breathable. What Are Factory Second Discs And Where Can I Get Them? If you want one for a camping trip on the Fourth of July, you're out of luck. Then they hung up on me. Following the acquisition, the company moved to a new facility with a larger warehouse.

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