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Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent

Does the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent Deserve 5 Stars? (Updated for 2020)

Posted on September 6, 2017February 12, 2020 by Brandon

Last modified on February 12th, 2020

Wondering what the heck the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent is and what it has to offer?

That’s good, because you are in the right place.

In this review on the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent I will be researching it from the top to bottom, finding out every single detail about it (the quality and all), then writing down my findings.

I know you’re really busy, so let’s skip the chit-chat and get right into it.

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent Review
  • Functionality
  • Waterproof
  • Strength
  • Value
4.8

My take:

The Kodiac Canvas doesn’t leak in torrential rain and won’t blow over in the wind. In fact, it stands like a house in fierce winds! It performs exactly as described to by the manufacturers and won’t let you down in snowfall. A great product that’s worth every penny.

 Pros Cons
  • A very solid and sturdy tent. It stays standing in strong winds and doesn’t leak in a heavy downpour
  • The zippers hold up just nicely, which seems to be a problem with most other tents
  • The carry bag is massive, large enough to get the tent back into it with ease
  • Includes plenty of features other tents don’t offer, such as the awning, heavy-duty floor, additional vents and upright walls
  • SURPRISINGLY easy to set up, which can be done by one person in 5-20 minutes
  • The weight is heavy, but of course this shouldn’t be an issue for car campers
  • It’s white so you notice the dirt easier
  • No mesh ceiling for stargazing


price-button

Specifications


Product name: Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent

Cheapest place to buy: Amazon.com

Color: White

Size: 8-person

Rating: 4-season (all-year round)

Weight: 79 pounds

Center height: 6.6 feet

Base Size: 10 x 14 feet

Packed size: 30 x 16 inches (tent) & 48 x 5.5 inches (poles)

What is this Tent?


The all-season tent from Kodiak Canvas is not your traditional tent.

It’s made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas. The tight weave and silicone finish makes this tent watertight so it doesn’t leak in the rain.

It’s still highly breathable so there’s no condensation buildup or mugginess, while the walls do NOT move or wick in the rain when you push on them, and that’s because the spring steel rods ensures the tent stays taut.

The 1-inch diameter poles allow the Kodiak Canvas to stay standing in fierce winds.

The Setup

It’s actually not that difficult to set up even though it looks like it.

The manufacturers and other reviewers claim it’s just a matter of unfolding the tent then staking it down.

After that it only takes a few minutes to get the rest of it pitched, and yes that is with ONE person.

The Floor

The floor material is seamless so water can’t seep through, heavy-duty so it doesn’t puncture, and consists of a 16 ounce vinyl material to ensure water stays out even in a downpour.

Interior Design

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent (3)

It has steep walls for a roomy interior, a massive floor area of 14 x 10 that houses 8 people total and a ceiling height of 6 ft. 6 in. which is enough room even for taller folks.

Exterior Design

The #10 YKK heavy-duty zippers extend the life of the tent and ensures smooth usability every time, while two large doors are located on the front and back.

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent (2)

There are a total of four windows and two vents for adequate air flow and no condensation buildup. The two vents help with temperature management so you stay comfortable in all 4 seasons.

These are all no-see-um screen mesh with tiny holes that keep out even the smallest bugs.

In addition to all of that, the massive awning offers shade from the hot summer sun and a place to sit out of the rain if you’re stuck in a storm and want fresh air.

Other things to know

A customizable gear loft (included in the purchase) and wall organizer provide plenty of storage for your equipment and valuables.

The storage back is much larger and more stress-free than other tent bags thanks to the strap-and-cinch feature! Yes, this means you can easily get it back into the carry bag without struggling.

The stakes are 12 inches long and good enough to keep the tent standing in strong winds.

At a Glance


The tent offers:

  • Upright walls for more livability
  • 6.6 ft. center height
  • Awning for protection from the elements
  • Steel poles to keep it standing in strong winds
  • Vast amount of waterproofing (Hydra-Shield, tight weave, etc)
  • Strong zippers
  • Multiple venting options

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent (4)

Common Questions


Does the tent hold up well over the years?   Many satisfied purchasers of the Kodiak report that the tent does have longevity.  Folks had good reports of the tents ability to withstand the test of time through rigorous use over 4-6 years.

Does it come with a tarp?   No this tent doesn’t come with a tarp.

Can this tent be used on soft soil or sand?  It certainly can be used in snow or sand but if doing so one should consider using a dead man anchor.

Is this Tent Unique?


It most definitely is!

It is actually one of the more popular 4-season tents that people use in other seasons rather than JUST winter time.

It offers plenty of venting options just in case you do decide to use it in the summertime and heavy-duty steel poles for when the wind picks up.

Who Should Buy the Kodiak Canvas?


People who want to camp in total luxury will fall in love with this large tent – whether it be at a public campsite or the wilderness.

It’s great for large families and a group of friends. Heck, even a medium-sized family will enjoy the benefits this tent offers.

It’s massive inside, so if you like “roominess” and a guarantee that it won’t blow over in a storm or leak in a torrential downpour, then it is absolutely for you and I have no doubts you will love it.

Where can I Buy?


Get this tent from Amazon.com and receive a bunch of great bonuses other online stores simply don’t offer.

So that is my preferred choice for purchasing this tent.

They offer free shipping, next-day deliveries and a 30-day return policy, plus a bunch more with Amazon Prime members.

The 30-day guarantee means you can get a full refund no matter what, even if it you decide you don’t like the tent anymore.

Repairs will be done free of charge as well.

See The Current Price On Amazon.com

Alternative/Similar Tents


The Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is much darker in color so you don’t see the dirt as easy and more lightweight in case that’s more important to you. It’s a lot cheaper, however, lower quality and not as good at combating the elements like the Kodiac Canvas Tent is.

Another great alternative is the Coleman Red Canyon Tent. It’s more spacious than the Coleman Instant tent, just not as easy to pitch since it isn’t “instant”. It actually has a mesh ceiling so you can view the starry night sky as you drift off to sleep.

Do I Recommend this Tent?


When the wind hits this tent HARD, it just sits there and takes it.

It’s so quiet when that happens. There could be a storm in the middle of the night and you won’t even hear it.

Other tents bash around in heavy winds, so usually you’re worrying too much about whether or not it’s going to hold up or not.

The Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent doesn’t have that problem.

It’s roomy, has a high enough center height so you can stand up freely and comfortably without grazing your head on the roof, and actually performs EXACTLY as described to by the manufacturers.

I’m all for this tent and can easily recommend it for people serious about camping.

Almost flawless – highly recommended!

My Final Opinion


Read the instructions properly.

You have to “season” this tent before using it, it’s in the directions. Basically, it’s just a matter of running a hose over it and letting it dry out. That’s it.

Other than that this tent has accumulated a whopping 5-star rating.

The only negatives were what I covered in the cons section – seriously!

The performance is outstanding, as many people have found out, and it’s going to last a very long time if looked after properly.

It only requires 5-10 minutes to setup after some practice too.

This is easily one of the best tents I’ve reviewed so far.

It exceeded my expectations by a long shot, so well done Kodiac Canvas!

Go here for the Price & Availability >>>

Share your opinions in the comment section below 🙂

Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent Review
  • Functionality
  • Waterproof
  • Strength
  • Value
4.8

My take:

The Kodiac Canvas doesn’t leak in torrential rain and won’t blow over in the wind. In fact, it stands like a house in fierce winds! It performs exactly as described to by the manufacturers and won’t let you down in snowfall. A great product that’s worth every penny.

18 thoughts on “Does the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent Deserve 5 Stars? (Updated for 2020)”

  1. Irma says:
    September 6, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    I love tent camping and my last tent was a 6 man instant tent that was 6’6″ in the center and had the mesh ceiling. It was a wonderful tent but only in good weather. The review tent looks phenomenal and has lots of room. Do you know if there would be a way to hang up a divider (for privacy) inside?

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 7, 2017 at 12:32 pm

      What was it called? It sounds very similar to the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent. The CORE 6 only has a 6 foot center height though.

      There is no divider included, no. But it’s shouldn’t be that hard to create your own.

      Reply
  2. Heba says:
    September 6, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    I am planning to go to a festival next summer and was looking at tents. We were planning on having smaller tents as I thought we might be cramped inside one big one, but this tent is a great size for 6 people, it looks super airy. Also, it would be great as you can never predict the weather.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 7, 2017 at 1:04 pm

      Spot on, Heba! It offers plenty of ventilation and much better protection against storms than cheaper tents.

      Reply
  3. Trey stafford says:
    September 7, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    The research done on this is very well done. The info you give is awesome and super helpful. I have been in search for a good tent and this one seems to be a very suitable one for my needs. Site is very nicely done.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 8, 2017 at 10:59 am

      It is indeed a good tent. Glad you like it 🙂

      Reply
  4. michel duhanmel says:
    September 8, 2017 at 8:28 am

    Hey Brandon,

    Great review man! I was actually in the market for a good tent as I am moving out west to British Columbia next year. I will seriously give this product a go. Once again great review you nailed every aspect of the tent features 🙂

    Mike

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 24, 2017 at 7:52 pm

      Thank you for the kind feedback 😀 Well I do hope you enjoy it if you decide to purchase it. Good luck.

      Reply
  5. Dira says:
    September 9, 2017 at 1:04 am

    I am not a camping expert so I have not heard of this brand before. A few friends have been planning a camping trip for a while. They have not purchased a tent yet and this looks like a great purchase. I think just the fact that it has plenty of room will help to convince them to consider it. I’ll share this article with them.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 24, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      It’s not a common brand so don’t fret about it too much. And yes, it will indeed be a viable option for them. Winter’s coming so you need to be prepared for the cold nighttime temperatures and the storms that are stronger than usual.

      Reply
  6. Lucia says:
    September 12, 2017 at 1:05 am

    I would recommend this product because i have used it before. It handles rain just fine. Plus, far less complicated than other tents. Aside from having to drive more stakes (which, btw, are incredible stout), this is a very simple tent to pitch. Less than five minutes by myself. The quality of workmanship is second to none. That is why it is heavy because in addition to the duck canvas, everything from zippers to floor to stakes to poles are heavy duty. I backpack a ton and am weight conscious, but when car camping? Who cares how heavy the tent is unless you’re driving a tiny car. My no.1 recommendation.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 30, 2017 at 3:45 pm

      Yes, it is heavier BECAUSE it provides a great shelter from whatever mother nature throws at it. Thanks for your personal experience with this tent.

      Good luck in the outdoors 😀

      Reply
  7. Jamie says:
    September 12, 2017 at 4:35 am

    Seems like a great tent. It would be nice to have a tent that stands up straight in the wind. I have been in tents where hard winds blow it so hard that the top of the tent is touching your face when you are laying inside. Nice review!

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 30, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      Lol, I’ve experienced this too much to be honest.

      It’s not the best feeling to wake up with a tent blowing in your face.

      You’re not even sure what the heck is going on around you – if your gear is dry or if everyone in your campsite is still there! The question is what do you do, go to sleep until day time, or try to pack everything up in strong winds and heavy rain?

      Reply
  8. JR Andrade says:
    September 15, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Hi Brandon, this is awesome. My family loves to camp and this one fits the bill. I also like the design and it’s interior finish. It is also great that you have it on video and have it for yourself. It gave me more personalized view. It convinced me. Thanks again brother =)

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      October 1, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      Well that’s good to hear, JR. I’m glad you found it useful.

      Good luck.

      Reply
  9. Robert J. Hamilton says:
    September 12, 2018 at 5:09 am

    I am planning to go to a festival next summer and was looking for tents. We were planning on having smaller tents as I thought we might be cramped inside one big one, but this tent is a great size for 6 people, it looks super airy. Also, it would be great as you can never predict the weather.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 12, 2018 at 7:31 pm

      This would be amazing for your festival, however, I also have a list of cheap festival tents for your exact trip if you’re not interested in forking out a lot of money.

      Good luck, Robert.

      Reply

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