Updated March 2023

Anyone who has done a weekend trip, or an extended out-of-state excursion, knows the importance of a quality tent. Although an RV is preferable, they are not always practical. Having a quality tent is a must in order to stay dry, warm and comfortable. The last thing you want is to be miserable or have to cut a trip short because of a tent failure. After buying and using many tents over the years, this article is my honest review of the Cabela’s 6-Person Alaskan Guide Tent after owning it for two years.

Specifications of the Cabela’s 6-Person Alaskan Guide Tent

Height	6’ 3”
Length	10’ 8”
Width	10’ 8”
Packed Size	31” x 9” x 10.6”
Weight	33 pounds

Product Overview

• Ultra-rugged, 4-season use
• Built to withstand nature’s most extreme conditions – field tested in Alaska
• Extremely stable, state-of-the-art shape and strong frame made of 7 shock-corded fiberglass poles
• Durable, 75D polyester ripstop rainfly with 2,000mm PU waterproof coating sheds rain and snow
• Integrated vestibule for protected gear storage and entry
• 210D polyester oxford tent body includes 3 mesh roof vents and D-style windows for ventilation
• Abrasion-resistant, bathtub-style floor made of 210D polyester oxford with extra-thick 3,000mm-rated coating
• Reinforced guy line loops
• Smooth-operating No. 8 and No. 10 YKK® zippers throughout
• Multiple gear storage panels and pockets
• Includes 24 aluminum stakes, 16 tie downs, 2 oz. seam sealer, and repair kit

Field Test

Since owning the Cabela’s 6-Person Alaskan Guide Tent for 2 years now I have taken it on numerous camping trips as well as two, week-long whitetail hunts in November in Southern Illinois on public land. Below are my takeaways:

Durability – Right away the first thing I noticed about this tent was the thickness and durability of the walls, ceiling and rainfly. When set up, you can tell this tent has a solid construction. Every inch of the tent is taught, and all the seams are reinforced and feel strong. The floor is also reinforced with additional material for added durability and thickness. I bought the separate Cabela’s removable floor liner to add another layer of protection from muddy boots and anything else. This liner attaches to loops in each corner of the tent to easy installation, remove and clean.

My first impression of the tent poles was that they seemed slightly thin for the tent, but I have not had any problems with them, and they feel very strong once the tent is set up. The Alaskan Guide tent comes with a bag of long heavy-duty stakes that ensure the tent does not go anywhere.

Spacious – What makes this tent different than your average tent is its geodesic design, meaning its floor is shaped like an octagon and its walls and ceiling have a bubble appearance. This is the largest 6-person tent that I have ever used, which is due to the walls being popped out from the multiple poles, creating a larger appearance inside. The geodesic shape creates more room inside compared to a traditional square or rectangle tent, allowing for plenty of room for cots (Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Cot), a large air mattress, clothing and other gear. The 6’3” center height allows for most people to stand up comfortably inside.

Another added benefit of the Alaskan Guide tent is the vestibule area at the entrance. This area is part of the rain fly and zips closed to provide cover. This is a great area to keep boots and other items to create additional room inside. Cabela’s makes 4 and 8 person models of this tent also. I decided to go with the 6-person because the center height allows me to stand up compared to the 4 person model, and the 8-person model seemed slightly too big for my use.

Warmth – Because of the thickness of the tent material and the added rain fly, this tent holds heat very well. Unlike most budget tents that have mesh walls under the rain fly, the Alaskan Guide tent has a few small built-in mesh openings in the ceiling for ventilation. I have run a Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater in this tent throughout the night in freezing temperatures and it stays nice and warm inside, while still being able to vent properly out the ceiling. This tent also holds up well in the wind and the walls barely move if staked down completely.

Not only is this tent plenty warm in cold temperatures, it can also be opened up easily for more airflow in warmer summer weather. The rain fly zips open on each side and the interior windows can be zipped down for more circulation and to cool it off inside if needed. I have used this tent in 20-degree weather all the way up to 90-degree weather and it has worked great.

Dryness – Compared to other tents I’ve used, this tent stays completely dry. The rain fly drapes over the entire tent covering both the ceiling and walls, keeping virtually all water out. In light to moderate rain, water droplets bead up and run down the rain fly. The vestibule zips up completely, and gear stays mostly dry under it. I lay a heavy duty tarp under the tent when I set it up for added wetness protection and have never had any problems. The ability to stay dry was one of the main reasons I decided to purchase this tent.

Organization – The Alaskan Guide tent has mesh webbing in the center of the ceiling that acts as a shelf for small gear. I place a small light up there to brighten up the entire tent at night. There are also multiple built-in pockets on each wall for convenient storage as well as built-in cup holders along the lower edge of the walls. The tent comes with one large removable storage compartment that can be hung up on the wall for added storage and organization options.

Ease of Use – Everything about this tent is great, although it does take slightly longer to set up. This is because there are more poles, straps and stakes to assemble than an average tent. The first few times setting up can be confusing, but once you have done it 2-3 times, it becomes much faster. I would much rather take the few extra minutes to set up a quality tent.

Summary

Overall, the quality and durability of this tent is incomparable to any other tent I’ve used. Yes, the $450 price tag was higher than what I wanted to spend on a tent at the time, but I’ve been completely satisfied with it. I am sure this tent will hold up for many more years and will be well worth the investment. Since owning this tent for two years, I can honestly say it looks the same as it did when I first bought it with no signs of wear. As you can tell from above, I highly recommend this tent for any hunter or serious outdoorsman looking for a quality product. For related articles, check out other posts from Bowhunting Depot!