Who Knows About Cabela's brand Tents?

Greetings!

I recently purchased an Cabela's XPD Deluxe 2 person backpacking tent. Currently, I am camping out for my last three weeks (in this area) at Walnut Woods State Park in West Des Moines (Iowa).

Over the years, I purchased outdoor clothing, hiking boots and other gear from Cabela's. All of these items proved to be well made and durable and I trust this tent will shew the same durablity.

Anyone here have and any experience with Cabela's brand gear, namely their tents? What is your experience with this particular brand?

I have a XPG (XPD?)solo tent for about 5 years. I've used it in Colorado, Wyoming, Grand Canyon and many trips on the AT. In fact I'll be using the tent on a upcoming 2 week trip on The AT in Pa. and Va. in April.
I paid $ 100 for the tent and been very happy with it.
The tent is simple to set up, the vestibule is roomy enough to lay you're pack in. The fly is fully taped. It came with a little storage netting to lay out stuff to dry and a couple of pockets to store items. These are some features you would find in you're more expensive tents.
As far as weather proof I only had two nights where it rain pretty hard and I felt was a good test for waterproofness and it passed with flying colors.
Durabillity is very good, the zipper works like day one and there are no signs of any wear and tear.
I would have to assume the same quality in you're 2 person tent.
For the money this tent is tough to beat.

I hope this little testimony helps out.

Thanks for your feedback.

This is my very FIRST Cabela's brand tent. So far, I like the tent. Last night we had some fog hanging around central Iowa so come this morning, the tent was a little damp inside. Not suprising though-the air was full of moisture.

No rain comes through the rainfly. Plenty of mesh on the tent body. Come the next sunny day the tent will be fully dry again.

Most of my other tents are from ALPS Mountaineering, though I own an REI model, a The North Face VE-25 and a Trekk Vega 2 (a Canadian brand) I purchased from the Outdoor Outlet a couple of years ago.

I wish you the best on your trek on the Appalachian Trail. Happy Trails to you! :)

Yes Thankyou!

I hoping to finish Pa. (82 miles) and Va. (27 miles) with this trip and that will leave me with a little less than 20 miles to finish the whole AT after 30 years.
The miles remaining are 7 in N.Y., 2 in Vt., 5 in N.H. and the last 3.5 to 4 miles on Katahdin in Maine.
When I lived in N.Y. I guess I never expected to finish. Now living in Houston, Texas almost 10 years now had motivated me to finish.

I hope you enjoy you're Cabelas like I enjoyed mine and like I said the quality that has been built into the tent you'll be using it for many years to come.

Thanks for you're wishes.

You are very welcome. Greetings and Salutations from a fellow hiker and lover of the Great Outdoors! :)

One question I do have...which I have been wondering about for some time now.

How exactly does one manage the time to hike those long distances on the Appalachian Trail? What I'm getting at how does one get the time off from work? Not trying to be "nosey" but I am curious. How do you do that? I've actually considered hiking the entire length of the Ozark Trail, which is not as long as the AT, but should prove to be one very rewarding experience nonetheless.

Today is bright and sunny here in central Iowa. Come home from work tonight the tent should be nice and dry. I do look forward to getting a lot of use from the Cabela's tent. If it shews the same durability as their hiking boots (which I consider top-notch), then I should be enjoying the tent for many years to come!

There are two types of AT hikers, thru hikers and section hikers.
The thru hikers are either young people just out of college and have the time, 6-8 months to do the trail before they tie theirselves down to a full-time job or retired people that have the time and an understanding wife (if married) to spend the time away to complete the AT,PCT or CDT.

Then you have the section hiker who have full time positions and responsabillities like being married and possibly have kids. Or they couldn't see themselves away from home any length of time to do a thru hike.

I know a close friend of mine who was married with kids and started doing day hikes on the trail. He got so caught up in it he decided to do the whole AT over a two year period.
The time spent away from his family and plus quitting his job to pursue his endeavor cost him his marriage.
Not really advisable!.

I'm a section hiker and love doing backpacks for 7 to 12 days. I could probably go a month but I would definitely want some time off for few days in a motel, pool and real food.
When I started hiking I was single and in my 30's, I also had 3 weeks vacation so at least two weeks was for a 1 week backpack and the other week break into long weekends for short backpacks and day hikes.
Hiking was and still is my main hobbie. If you have the love for the outdoors in the form of hiking, backpacking and camping like I do, you would make it a priority to make time to pursue it.
If you have a friend (male or female) with the same interest, this really helps in you're logistic planning because you can have the flexabillity of having two cars(assuming the other person drives and has a car).. When you're driving to a trail head to start a day hike or backpack, its always comforting to know that there is a car waiting for you at the other end whether be 20 miles or 200 miles down the trail.
That being said, unfortunately where you leave you're car is an issue due to many trailhead break-ins. Check ahead and see if there are reports of any break-ins at the trailhead you're planning to leave you're car or check other areas close to the trailhead where you can safely park you're car like a church or private home (with permission of course).
Instead of two cars you may want some one to provide shuttle service (for a fee) and usually they will let you park you're vehicle on their property. Or have them help spot you're car at the trailhead you're hiking to (safe spot) and let them drop you off at you're starting point.
There are many options.
Of the 30 plus years that I've hike I had one trailhead break-in and that was up in the White Mountain National forest in New Hampshire.
Well I hope this gives you some idea, if you have any other questions feel free to ask and I'll try and help.

Here in Houston:
Sunny in the 70's with low humidity.

Makes sense...that is about hiking the trail in sections.

Soon I will be working in Wisconsin again, for the Department of Natural Resources. In that State there is the Ice Age Trail and up far north the North Country Trail passes through on it's way to New York State.

After the DNR job ends for the season I may have to "park" myself in Wisconsin for awhile. I need a steady job plus I'm personally getting sick of this nomadic lifestyle of mine. At least for awhile. I would like to save up for another car...I'm thinking about either an Hyundai Accent (1995-98 model) or Ford Aspire (which is in reality an Kia Avella).

Just some "brainstorming" on my part.

I've been living in a Cabelas XTW Xtreme Weather outfitter tent for the last four years and it has held up and hasn't yet leaked. I heard somewhere that perhaps Kelty makes their tents?? Don't know. My tent is not one for backpacking, it's a 12x12 basecamping model to which I added a Mr Heater propane stove for the winter. Total weight? 75 pounds. But for semi-permanent living it sure beats a FEMA trailer or even a commercial canvas tipi, just doesn't look as good as a tipi.

Cabela's makes some excellent gear. Period. Stuff really holds up...from hiking boots (the best I've ever used thus far) to outdoor gear. Cabela's has simply amazed me with their high quality standards and durablity.

Are you down in Louisiana by chance? Since you mentioned FEMA trailers. Just curious.

Tonight there will be some rather nasty storms passing through central Iowa, with an 50% chance of tornadoes. It is my good fortune to be camping at Walnut Woods State Park in my Cabela's XPG Deluxe 2 person tent. Can't wait to see how the Cabela's tent holds up to these rather nasty storms. Lo, the tent is well staked out and I always use the included guy-lines.