cabelas alaskan tent and floor saver

[wiffleballbatboy]

I just bought these two items and figured I'd do a quick review. First off, I only got the floor saver today. The tent should be here tomorrow. So This is just the first half of the review. The floor saver was 12.99 and its too thin, feels and looks like a garbage bag, albeit a thick garbage bag, but still too thin. I will send it back and keep using the old blue tarps I have always used. It IS cut to the shape of the tent, although I cannot verify that because I dont have the tent yet. Anyway, tomorrow I will set up the tent and tell ya'll whats up with that.

[michihunter]

Is it a special material like Gore Tex or Neoprene?? It may serve the purpose better than the tarp even though it appears thin.

[ScottC]

michihunter said:

Is it a special material like Gore Tex or Neoprene?? It may serve the purpose better than the tarp even though it appears thin.

Good thought. Remember, camping materials are made to be lightweight.

[wiffleballbatboy]

Floor saver is made of polyethlene. Seriously, a garbage bag. I poked it with my finger and it didn't seem too tough. I could give it a realistic test and poke it with a stick, but then I couldn't return it. If that baby was gore-tex I'd turn it into a raincoat, bibs, boots, gloves and a hat! ;D

So anyway I got the tent and set it up and it is pretty nice. To start with I bought the 4 man, green, fiberglass pole. It is a dome,4'8" in the center and 56 sq. ft. which is pretty generous compared to other 4 mans I've seen. Price is 269.99 If you want aluminum poles add $100. If you want it in Seclusion 3d outfitter add $50.

Some nice features are:
3 doors. 1 main door and two others. All have windows.
3 vents in the roof and numerous gear pockets, I think 12. Also 4 cup holders that actually work. I put a completely full 24oz bottle of Becks in one of them and it held it no problem.
The zippers are big, especially the main door.
The 2 main features, and the reason I bought this tent, are the strength and the waterproofness. This tent has 6 main poles. The first three hold the tent up and the last 3 add rigidity. There are clips every 12" or so that clip the tent to the poles. By the time everything is attached, the tent is very tight and seems very strong. The rain fly almost reaches the ground and there is alot of seperation between the tent walls and the fly. The fly also has many guy lines to keep it tight. In fact, the tent has 6 stakes to hold it down, the fly has 18! The fly also unzips to access the doors. The zippers all have a rain flap that is held down with velcro.
The stakes are the best Ive ever seen. About 12" long and made of steel. Not just a steel rod bent over at one end, but a piece of flat steel bent at a 90* angle with a hook at the top. A photo would be better than a description, but take my word for it, they are nice.
It also comes with reflective guy lines, lots of 'em, and 2 extra pole sections, seam sealer, extra hooks, patch kit, bags for everything.
So, setting it up. The instuctions call for two people. Uh oh. No can do.I was on my own. It was a bit awkward getting the initial 3 poles erected,(insert joke here) but it only took a couple minutes and next time should be easier. After that it was a breeze. I only read the instuctions 1 time before I started, which I admit is not too manly, but next time I wont need them at all and I will look like a camping stud in front of all my friends.
My only concern or complaint is that the floor seems too thin. I guess I am pretty picky about the floor being good and tough, and I hope I do not have any problems. I will continue to use a tarp under my tent and I dont wear shoes in it anyway. If it ever tears so bad I cant repair it, I will send it back for a new one. That is the good thing about Cabelas, 100% satisfaction guarantee.
So, I think I will go lay down in my new tent now, and snooze off that 24 oz Becks.

[ScottC]

Thanks for the review. Sounds great. I, too, am one for a durable floor. Lots of reviews I have been reading on better models usually stress their durability of the floor and raised seams.