Hillary Cabin Tent 9 x 12

We bought this tent used annd absolutely cannot find another to compare. We love that it's canvas and big windows/door. Sure it's old school but they don't make 'em like they used to. Weather proofed it and all is 5-star.

Now the bad news, the zippers started acting wonky this year and it's over $100 to fix. Alas, we cannot find one that compares, so we'll eat the cost to fix. If you can find one, scoop it up and enjoy for the next 2 generations!

We sure love this tent. We use it 3 seasons and being canvas, well, spring it's a lil chilly but awesome w/an extra blanket for night times. Summer it's a bit hot in there but you know you're well protected in a torrential downpour and you can stand up & move around.

Five of us adults hunkered down in the tent and played cards. We put 2 queen size air mattresses and a boatload of gear from 3 females who brought everything but the kitchen sink and still have room to play cards and move around.

The tent is easy to put up once the aluminum poles are color coded. Thank you for the previous owner spray painting them on, it goes up in less than 10-15 minutes. Stays very stable in wind and rain as long as it's staked down & we suspect even if it weren't, could be all our gear too LOL. Every year we weatherproof & seal the seams but we didn't in the first year & had no problems.

This tent is over 20 years old so...we don't always use a tarp underneath but recommend it. No condensation issues at all, keeps out all the bugs. We bought it used so we found an old army duffle bag & everything fits fine. It's a big tent but stands up in the corner, packed in our van, behind the seats.

So this is our 3rd year using this tent and other than the zipper issue we're having to fix, we wouldn't trade this tent for any other, except maybe a high end replacement like Kelty, Big Agnes etc.

This review is for the Hillary Tent Model 70103 by Sears. Fabric color white/red/black. I was lucky enough to find it at the local Goodwill store. The tent had a slight mildewy odor so I gave it a good scrub with a soft marine/boat brush and a weak dilution of bleach and dishwashing liquid to eliminate that problem.

One of the main poles had a split channel where the shock cord was seeping through. I easily fixed this by wrapping the split with electrical tape. It matches, provides extra strength and did not interfere with assembling or threading through the tent guides. (This may be an easy fix for any tent's graphite pole that is split but has not come apart)

All the parts were there from poles to rain fly. The only thing missing was the manual but I was able to figure how to get everything together in about 5 minutes. The tricky part was trying to do it alone but I finally managed to do so -- a second set of hands would have been, well, "handy".

I took a chance on this tent and I am very glad I did. It is light and the vestibule/mudroom is very handy. Zippers work fine, screen fabric is in great shape. I didn't know anything about this tent but it will get a lot of use in mild to three season weather. And, when the day comes that I can AFFORD a Kelty Yellowstone or REI's Big Agnes, I'll pass the ol' Hillary along to one of my sons. In the meantime, I think it could use some Native American designs painted on it . . . what do you think?

I'm afriad this might be the last year for this outstanding tent. I've had it since 1993 and use it about 4 times a year. Coldest temp 35 degrees, hottest around 100. It has been through a number of solid mid western rain storms and high winds. Used annually at the Oshkosh Airshow where it stays up baking in the sun a week at a time. Other trips just 3 days or weekends. Very easy set up. As this is out of production, I just wanted to comment on the Hillary quality. Bought it at Sears as a first tent. The fabric is starting to strech, so I was very worried when I spent this last week at Oshkosh. It rained every night, with very hard (occasional) microbursts and lightning. My friends' tents leaked. Mine did not. It has no fly on it, just the plain cabin style. Good quality steel poles, excellent fabric. It has never ripped.

I'm saying good-bye soon, as time has taken its toll on the fabric. It is fading and sagging slightly. I will be buying another Hillary tent. I have also learned to go with steel poles on the new tent. My friends' Coleman and Target brand tent both broke fiberglass support rods. Electrical tape fixed em, but why hassle with it? Anyway, very pleased with the price and quality. Not a mountain climbing tent, but perfect for the casual camper/family.

I purchased this tent back in the late 80's. We just went camping this weekend and used it again! We love this tent and wish they made them like this again. Cheap tent, no way. It is canvas and has NEVER EVER LEAKED. I treated it back when I bought it, and never had to treat it again, cuz I never had a reason to! Can't purchase canvas now a days, like back then...it all was canvas..nylon...WHAT?!!

The floor is super great, again, NEVER EVER LEAKED. The poles are aluminum, great product. No rainfly needed with these tents. I just know, that I wish I knew then.....what I know now...and that is..nothing compares!! Sad to say, it will go with us camping, but after all these years and a growing family we need to get a larger tent. Set up...faster on this old Hillary than any tent today!! I dread using a new model tent and having pole problems or tears in the fabric right out of the box!!

And...worry about the dew..I dare say rain!! Dew on these new tents is like a major storm for our old trusty Hillary..never will I get rid of it!! True so true...is that..they do not make things like they use to!!!!

I just picked up a beautiful vintage Hillary 6-8 person cabin tent. It's cream canvas with green stripes and looks like a circus tent. It's in great shape except, you probably guessed it...no poles! I really want to keep and use this tent. Can anyone provide me with the pole sizes, lengths andossibly a diagram

It's a great tent, but I have no poles, diagram, or manual. I really want to keep this tent and use it.  Can sokmeone please supply me with pole lengths and perhaps a diagram that would help me renew this wonderful tent?

This tent is Fantastic. Bought it at a garage sale for $10.00, 4 years ago. I use it 2-4 times a year. Gave it 4.5 out of 5 because I have never used it in the rain so far. It stood in high winds in a remote campsite 2 yrs ago in Minoqua Wisc. More recently my brother and I used it at Deer camp last fall in 30 degree temps and we did just fine without a heater.

Unfortunately, this past summer it could not withstand the idiocy of teenage boys. They were wrestling and broke 2 of the conduit poles. Should I just try to fabricate new parts or is there someone who has the replacement parts???

We have a Hillary Tent that we purchased around 1980, and have used it multiple times and weeks through the years. It is still the best quality tent we have been around.

We did find that we should not be right against the material in dampness or wet weather or it would cause some dampness to seep through. It has never leaked and has gone through several rainy days. It is simple to put up. We love it and would love to find another one made just like this and of the same qualiity.

Had my Hillary 9x12 tent for over 20 years. This year the door zipper won't close. It has served me faithfully all these years and I would really love to just get the zipper repaired!

I figure that it was the same style Sir Edmond Hillary used for his historic ascent. How can you argue with the ruggedness of his choice?

Buy a new nylon tent ?? have to go with tradition and fine craftsmanship!!

Bought my tent in 1979. It has NEVER leaked. Through Florida down pours to Midwestern snow, it has always done a great job. Just used it in early August, it's still as tough as ever!

Great tent, but my 9 x 12 has no rain fly, and when it rains, the tent leaks. It can only be used for dry weather.