Wenzel Klondike 16 X 11-Feet Eight-Person Family Cabin Dome Tent (Light Grey/Taupe/Red) Review
Wenzel Klondike 16 X 11-Feet Eight-Person Family Cabin Dome Tent (Light Grey/Taupe/Red) Feature
- 8-person family dome tent with attached screen room
- Made of weather-repellent polyester with polyurethane coating
- Full mesh roof option; double-staked Power corners for stability
- Screened area functions as sun room or second sleeping room
- Measures 16 x 6.5 x 11 feet (W x H x D); weighs 27.3 pounds
Spacious and weather-resistant, the Wenzel Klondike 16-by-11-foot family dome tent sleeps up to eight people in its two rooms, making it ideal for large families or smaller families with lots of gear. The tent is taller than most other tents at 6.5 feet, letting campers stand up straight while inside. In addition, the tent includes an attached screen room that keeps bugs out and lets breezes in. The screened room functions as a sun shelter on bright days, a picnic room when mosquitoes are nearby, or a nap room during lazy afternoons. You can also zip up the walls of the screen room to create a secondary sleeping area. And campers will love the tent's full mesh roof option, which delivers plenty of ventilation throughout the evening, and the double-staked Power Corners, which increase the tent's stability in high winds.
The Klondike is made of rugged, weather-repellent Weather Armor polyester with a polyurethane coating for reliability, helping it keep water out and warmth in. The tent also includes double-stitched, lap-felled seams throughout the body, providing a shingle effect against water. Other features include a fiberglass frame, a removable fly, two hanging pockets for easy-access items, and a storage duffel.
Specifications:
- Base: 16 by 11 feet
- Center height: 78 inches
- Eave height: 61 inches
- Interior space: 98 square feet + 60-square-foot screened room
- Sleeps: 8
- Door: Inverted T-style, interior flex style
- Floor: Welded polyethylene
- Frame: Fiberglass
- Pegs: Steel and plastic
- Carrying weight: 27.3 pounds
- Warranty: 10 years
Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all-purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in. If you're a backpacker, alpine climber, or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to buy something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall, and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three-season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are specifically designed for summer backpacking or other activities. Many premium tents will also feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain fly for enhanced waterproofing.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four-season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types: freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and tents that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floorplan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being lighter. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.
Great for camping with family or friends, the Wenzel Klondike measures 16-feet by 11-feet. The Klondike sleeps eight, five in its 98 square feet of interior space, with room for sleeping three more in the 60 square foot screen room with its zip up walls. 6.5 feet of head room lets you stand up straight while inside the tent. The attached screen room can also be used as sun shelter, a picnic room, a gear room or a room just to relax in. A full mesh roof and two mesh windows keep bugs out and let the breeze in. In addition a rear mesh vent creates ground breeze. Weather Armor polyester fabric with a polyurethane water resistant coating protects from top to bottom. Double-stitched, lap-felled seams through out the body of the tent provide a shingle effect against water. All threads, zippers and webbing are treated with superior water repellency applications to enforce these critical areas. The Klondike has a fiberglass frame and uses Power Corners that increase the tent's stability in high winds. Included are two hanging pockets that create an area for items needing easy access, a storage duffel and a 10 year warranty against defects. Specifications: • Base: 16 ft. x 11 ft. • Center Height: 78 in. • Eave Height: 61" • Area: 98 sq. ft. + 60 sq. ft. screen room • Door: Inverted "T" style, interior flex style • Floor: welded polyethylene • Frame: fiberglass • Stakes: steel and plastic • Carry Weight: 27.3 lbs. • Sleeps: 8
