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Posted by Tom D on May 11, 2007 at 5:12:30 pm EDT
In reply to Hillary Grand Safari Tent posted by BFig on May 5, 2007 at 12:27:56 am EDT

Many companies that started as small independent manufacturers are now divisions of large conglomerates (large by outdoor gear standards)such as K2, who own many different brands. There are previous discussions about this same topic here, which you might find by searching through the archives. For example, K2 owns Marmot, Atlas, Tubbs, K2, Vokl, Morrow, Marker and other brands; Johnson Outdoors owns Eureka, Scubapro and other brands; Cascade Designs owns MSR, etc.

Wenzel is owned by American Recreation Products, which also owns Kelty, Sierra Designs and Slumberjack; they are all separate brands owned by Kellwood Company, which owns 36 different clothing and outdoor brands.

There are still a number of small companies that make tents here and in Europe; many of them are micro companies, often referred to as "cottage manufacturers" because they are so small. Many only sell on the Internet or by mail order. Tarptent is a good example-innovative products, well made and good customer service. Unfortunately, some of the others have interesting designs, but can't deliver what they promise.

You aren't likely to find the kind of tent you asked about made by any of the small specialty companies; they can't compete with mass marketers selling Chinese made tents. Instead, they make and sell primarily high end lightweight or expedition quality tents.

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