Ramping up for the camping season
I know this is a difficult subject to ponder when the temp outside is in the negative numbers, but now is the time to start thinking about tent needs for the camping season.
If you are planning on making your own tent/ shade fly now is the time to start, however if you are thinking about purchasing your first pavilion this is a good time of the year as well because many companies are clearing out their stock and are having SALES. In hopes of spreading the canvas bug I am including a list of commercial pavilion sellers in this e-mail. Most people are aware of the big names (Panther) but there are many pavilion sellers who have reasonably priced tents that are useful for the SCA.
Panther: http://www.pantherprimitives.com/
Most familiar pavilion company serving the SCA.
4 Season Tentmaster: http://www.geocities.com/tentmasters/
While they don't have as many styles available as Panther, the quality of their tents is excellent and their service is very good. My only purchased pavilion was from them and it served me very well. (I suggest contacting them directly for a current catalog since their website is rather primitive and out of date)
Tentsmiths: http://www.tentsmiths.com/
This company has a HUGE selection of tents and has a very good reputation for it's service and quality.
Midwest Tents: http://www.midwesttent.com/catalog/index.php
Their stock changes quite a bit so you should check with the owner to see what he has currently. It appears that they have a large number of rounds in and they are having a special on shipping. I know a couple people who purchased a bell wedge from this company and are really happy with it.
Dragonwing Tents: http://midtown.net/dragonwing/default.htm
This site has wonderful tents and shade flys available but it also is an excellent resource for tent construction, care, storage etc. Check out the articles.
Fall Creek Suttlery: http://www.fcsutler.com/
This company specializes in supplying Civil War folks, but a number of the tents used during the Civil War (wedge, wall and marquee) can be documented to the Middle Ages or earlier. Their prices are going up after Feb 15. A couple folks in the Barony own the large wall tent from this company and are really pleased with it.
Reliable Tent: https://www.reliabletent.com/
Located in MT, this company has some period styles but it mostly carries modern styles to be used for hunting parties, cabins, etc.
And now for some unique tent styles and some non-US companies
Past tents: http://www.past-tents.demon.co.uk/
Original manufacturer of the spoked round tent.
Northern Lavvu: http://lavvu.com/
Located in MN, this company specializes in making the tent used by the Sami (nomadic herdsman from northern Finland). The tent is similar to a tipi.
Zoge Tibet Tent: http://www.tibettentshop.com/english/tibet%20tents%20english.htm
(this site has a LOT of graphics and takes a while to load) Makers of traditional Tibetan tents with traditional decorations. The Tibetan tent art workshop is locate in cheng-du capital of Sichuan province in China.
Albion Canvas Company: http://www.albioncanvas.co.uk/index.php
Maker of traditional nomadic structures in the UK.
Ulaantaij Traidtional Yurt Company http://www.ulaantaij.com/
Located in the UK, this company manufactures and sells traditionally made Yurts (Gers) with modifications needed for use in wetter climates.
Great American Yurt: http://yurts-r-us.com/index.htm
Located in the US.
(Please note that I am not affiliated with any of these companies and merely offer this list as a helpful tool for those interested)
If you are interested in building your own tent there are plenty of resources available on the web. Here are some sites that I usually direct people towards.
Medieval Encampments group on Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MedievalEncampments/
Deborah and Steve's Plausibly period pavilion page.
http://home.adelphi.edu/~sbloch/sca/tents/
House Greydragon
http://www.greydragon.org/
Gypsy Vardo Wagon
http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm
Medieval Pavilion Resources
http://www.currentmiddleages.org/tents/tentlinks2.htm
If you are planning on making your own tent/ shade fly now is the time to start, however if you are thinking about purchasing your first pavilion this is a good time of the year as well because many companies are clearing out their stock and are having SALES. In hopes of spreading the canvas bug I am including a list of commercial pavilion sellers in this e-mail. Most people are aware of the big names (Panther) but there are many pavilion sellers who have reasonably priced tents that are useful for the SCA.
Panther: http://www.pantherprimitives.com/
Most familiar pavilion company serving the SCA.
4 Season Tentmaster: http://www.geocities.com/tentmasters/
While they don't have as many styles available as Panther, the quality of their tents is excellent and their service is very good. My only purchased pavilion was from them and it served me very well. (I suggest contacting them directly for a current catalog since their website is rather primitive and out of date)
Tentsmiths: http://www.tentsmiths.com/
This company has a HUGE selection of tents and has a very good reputation for it's service and quality.
Midwest Tents: http://www.midwesttent.com/catalog/index.php
Their stock changes quite a bit so you should check with the owner to see what he has currently. It appears that they have a large number of rounds in and they are having a special on shipping. I know a couple people who purchased a bell wedge from this company and are really happy with it.
Dragonwing Tents: http://midtown.net/dragonwing/default.htm
This site has wonderful tents and shade flys available but it also is an excellent resource for tent construction, care, storage etc. Check out the articles.
Fall Creek Suttlery: http://www.fcsutler.com/
This company specializes in supplying Civil War folks, but a number of the tents used during the Civil War (wedge, wall and marquee) can be documented to the Middle Ages or earlier. Their prices are going up after Feb 15. A couple folks in the Barony own the large wall tent from this company and are really pleased with it.
Reliable Tent: https://www.reliabletent.com/
Located in MT, this company has some period styles but it mostly carries modern styles to be used for hunting parties, cabins, etc.
And now for some unique tent styles and some non-US companies
Past tents: http://www.past-tents.demon.co.uk/
Original manufacturer of the spoked round tent.
Northern Lavvu: http://lavvu.com/
Located in MN, this company specializes in making the tent used by the Sami (nomadic herdsman from northern Finland). The tent is similar to a tipi.
Zoge Tibet Tent: http://www.tibettentshop.com/english/tibet%20tents%20english.htm
(this site has a LOT of graphics and takes a while to load) Makers of traditional Tibetan tents with traditional decorations. The Tibetan tent art workshop is locate in cheng-du capital of Sichuan province in China.
Albion Canvas Company: http://www.albioncanvas.co.uk/index.php
Maker of traditional nomadic structures in the UK.
Ulaantaij Traidtional Yurt Company http://www.ulaantaij.com/
Located in the UK, this company manufactures and sells traditionally made Yurts (Gers) with modifications needed for use in wetter climates.
Great American Yurt: http://yurts-r-us.com/index.htm
Located in the US.
(Please note that I am not affiliated with any of these companies and merely offer this list as a helpful tool for those interested)
If you are interested in building your own tent there are plenty of resources available on the web. Here are some sites that I usually direct people towards.
Medieval Encampments group on Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MedievalEncampments/
Deborah and Steve's Plausibly period pavilion page.
http://home.adelphi.edu/~sbloch/sca/tents/
House Greydragon
http://www.greydragon.org/
Gypsy Vardo Wagon
http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm
Medieval Pavilion Resources
http://www.currentmiddleages.org/tents/tentlinks2.htm