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Any dealings with Tentsmiths?

Started by Scotty Hunter, July 25, 2011, 11:29:48 PM

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Scotty Hunter

Was looking at the Tentsmiths website recently and have been arguing back and forth with myself on getting the Medieval Double Belled Wedge Tent after winter when finances are slightly less stretched. I'm considering the smallest 10' x 15'6" x 8'.

Does anyone have any experience with either Tentsmiths themselves, or the Double Belled Wedge style tent from another location? If so, please let me know either here or via Private Message your experiences.

Hoping this is the right place for this... guess we'll see. If it has to be moved, I apologize.
~May the leaves of your life-tree never turn brown.~

groomporter

Never dealt directly with them, but owned a used wedge tent they made and we were we happy with. I think Tentsmisths are better known among the historical reenactor crowd than the Renfair market.

For comparison:
http://www.springvalleylodges.com
http://www.pantherprimitives.com
http://www.underhillpavilions.com
When you die can you donate your body to pseudo-science?

Scotty Hunter

I have PantherPrimitives on bookmark from a while back and they have several things I would love to get, but will check out the other two as well. Thanks for the links.

I'd like to find a larger tent for "home base" at a campground, not really for ren faires, so accuracy in the historical department is not of utmost importance; wind stability would be since, like right now, we are up on a ridge and the wind can sometimes be a bit much. I just don't want your run of the mill dome tent like everyone has around here and I don't really want an RV or travel trailer for myself, I'd prefer a wedge style large tent. I like to stand out. ;D
~May the leaves of your life-tree never turn brown.~

knarlyknot

We own a Tentsmiths Round End Marquee.  Love it!  Well made, has stood the test of time, we've owned it since 2006 with no problems.

dragongirl

I have not purchased from Tentsmiths though when I was looking for my wedge tent they were on my short list.  I eventually purchased my tent from www.midwesttent.com   

I love my wedge but after alot of research I did not get the double bell because they were not in stock when I ordered.  Now, I prefer the having the double doors at either end for cross ventalation. My tent is the Large wedge so it's 10h, 10 w, and 15 l.  2 people shared the tent with a full sized cot and queen sized air matress with no problem.
Lady Hermina Dolores De Pagan
Captain of the Tres Flores
Sailing with Ye Pyrate Brotherhood

Captain Teague

Problem with an old school wedge is that they can sometimes catch more wind.

If you are looking for simply a camping tent and on a budget (who isn't ) I would maybe recommend something like this. Lower priced at this time of year, fair quality and only weighs 30 pounds. Slight domes allow less wind buffeting.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-20-x-11-Tent-Sleeps-10/16386306

Or if like you say, you wish to be a little different:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Wenzel-Kodiak-14-x-14-Tent-Taupe-and-Red/13228634

Or even this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/SwissGear-St.-Alban-Family-Dome-Tent/15111441

Of course, knowing you were at one time asking after gypsy type stuff, you could always make your own. ;)
http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/bender.htm



The Code is the Law...

Scotty Hunter

Knarlyknot, how do you find the stitching on the marquee? I've heard the point of pieces stitched together may or may not be a big problem for weatherproofing. Have you had problems with leaks? Are they double folded?

Dragongirl, I'm more partial to the look of the double bell, but like you I wouldn't be against getting a simple wedge if the double bell was sold out. Hoping thats not the case tho. :D Good point on the cross ventilation, I was aiming more for a single door on the front width of the tent and would likely have a TwoDog stove in it for winter and some sort of fan or air conditioning for summer. Yes, my period-ish looking tent WOULD have luxuries inside. :p (I hired Merlin to travel forward in time to bring me this wonderful technology, of course)

Lord Dragon, definitely on a budget, but not the kind of person to go for anything sold in department stores. I MUST be unique. Weird. Different. I must stand out... if only to have people come into my area to comment on the tent so I can shoo them away like a grumpy Scrooge. ;)
I must admit though, I do like the looks (and price) of that Wenzel Kodiak...

In regards to the gypsy part, I'll be working on the Vardo at the same time I'm living in the tent(still making tiny payments on the trailer so construction will run thru spring net year, ugh); so sticking to a gypsy side would be the norm. lol. But, did I mention Im weird? I could have the vardo sitting in the gravel pull thru and have a medieval tent sitting in the grass area. My own little faire. lol Plus we'll also be having a normal conversion van (tow vehicle for the vardo) and possibly a 24-30 foot class C camper (my mom's residence) there as well. I'm also trying to talk a british friend into visiting for a few months before he heads back to the UK, so he'll have a conversion van as well.

Wind stability is a bit of an issue though. We've had a few storms here recently which have rocked the campers in the area. Would hate to be out there after a storm trying to find my tent after it blows a mile away. :(

On the Gypsy bender tent idea... I did something similar some years ago with PVC pipes. I made greenhouses and poultry runs in almost the exact same way. :)

OO!! perfect idea... I could go with a Wedge or that cute little Kodiak, and put up a small gysy bender tent for my pet goat!! Yes! Perfect idea... one must always have a goat companion... ;D
~May the leaves of your life-tree never turn brown.~

groomporter

We do historical reenactments as well as Renfairs and for years have used a marquee tent for sales space and a couple wall tents for sleeping quarters for ourselves and the shop help that travel with us. Wall tents give you a healthy increase in usable space compared to a wedge tent with the same footprint and are just fine period-wise for Renfairs if it's visible to the patrons. Ours are from Spring Valley Lodges and can open on both ends for airflow. They also have a loop at the peak on both ends so you can add a couple extra ropes for additional stability in case of stormy weather. We also travel with extra long wind ropes that we can toss over the roofs of all the tents to be extra safe in high winds. -And don't skimp on stakes.

Our camp from the rear:
When you die can you donate your body to pseudo-science?

knarlyknot

We've never had a leak with our tent, excellent construction.  And while we've never had a problem so I can't attest first hand, their customer service seems to be first rate, willing to help correct any issues you may have.