Anyone have any experience with Beckel Canvas Products tent?
Appears to be a good value.

I have no experience with this tent. I do have a snowtrekker tent though, and love it. I am very biased towards empire canvas works after using my tent for 4 years now, so keep that in mind when reading this summary (again, I am very biased):

What I like about the Beckel tent: Price. That is a very good price for a canvas tent

What I see as flaws with the Beckel Tent: (1) If you decide to add a stove, you'll need to create a stove-jack. The stove jack that comes with the snowtrekker is a non-flammable 1100 degree high temperature silica gasket. You'll want to figure out how to get something similar and figure out how to install it. (2) I would remove the canvas floor. It will reduce weight and it is a much better tent without a floor. Trust me, if you have a stove, there is nothing better thn coming into your tent with boots on (or off). Food falls onto the floor, nobody cares. Spill water, you will not even know it. I would never get a canvas tent with a floor. (3) You need two trees to set it up. My snowtrekker does not require any trees. It takes under 10 minutes to set up and stake out. (4) No side walls. It is designed like the old snowtrekker, an upside down V. The added sidewalls on the snowtrekker is a much more comfortable and roomy design.

Bottom Line: A good canvas tent can easily last 20 plus years (with minimal care...much longer if you actually care for the tent). I'd rather wait till I had enough money to buy a quality tent that I would be very happy with for 20 years and spend a few more dollars thn go for best dollar value for a piece of canvas.

It is just like a sleeping bag. You spend 1/3 of your time in the sleeping bag (and slightly more in a canvas tent). Would you rather get a cheap bag that is sub par and save a few bucks? Or get a bag you'll be proud of for the next couple of decades that is roomy, comfortable and longer lasting?

Disclaimer: I camp a lot and have my own philosophy. this philosophy might not match you and your needs.

BZ
Great price on the tent. After doing a little clicking around on their www, have the following thought/observations. Tent does not appear to have a floor,see the picture on the lower left on the Wedge tent page. They show it opened up like an awning, no floor seen. Just add sod cloth to outside edge and you are good to go. They sell a stove jack for the tent, look at accessories. They prob would charge to put in but still a good price. Looks to me like a good option for the price, it has my attention.

cedarboy

Wow, you are correct, I did not look close enough.

It also looks like it can have several configurations (which is cool).

Only draw back I see is the set up is not as easy and it is slightly heavier thn the snowtrekker (but only by a few pounds). For the dollar, it looks like a very good deal.

I say go for it. Good luck!

I agree George, snowtrekker really makes it easey to set up etc with their frame. Snowtrekker has taken a great design(wedge) and made a few key mods. that make a big diff. in overall performance.
cedarboy

BZ let us know what happens. The larger model would give the added room for the stove at one end. IMO

Just looked at the Beckel site, they added a pic with a stove jack in the end of a wedge tent.
cedarboy

I just ordered a Beckel wedge tent. I should have it in a couple weeks and will post up a report then. I had emailed them about their tarp tent for bivy elk hunting and mentioned I'd like some info on their wedge. Well she had a very slightly used one for a very good price. I'm having a stove sleeve added, but it should work for me.

-Ben

Ben
What size wedge tent did you get?
CB

It's the 8'6" X 11'6". That should be plenty for 2 or 3 people I would think. Maybe 4 people in elk camp if we don't use a stove.

Ben N
When you get it can you post some pics or better yet a short gear report. Would like to hear more.
CB

Bump!!!

Ben Nicholson
Where are those pics of that new Beckel tent???
CB

ITs on the short wish list for gear this year.

Ben

I rented a Snowtrekker last year and we did sleep 4 in it one night after that we slept 3 and kept one man on fire watch. Not because we were afraid of burning the tent down but because these stoves are small and need to eat often. This created a situation where only 3 were down at a time, making it a 4 person tent.

The fire watch guy would also make water. As melting snow takes forever, by morning we would have all waterbottles full and enough water to make breakfast.

And that sir brings me to cooking. You are going to love how much easier cooking is in a tent. No wind screens and no heat loss from the cold temps. Even cold camping you'd love to have one of these just for the cooking.

Jeff