I already have the Outfitter Springbar tent and have liked it although it is incredibly small. 2 people winter camping with a diesel heater through the door in the was too cozy. I needed something bigger. I have taken the CJ 140 on one trip already and it was amazing. The OD green was great and not as bright as my other gray Springbar and the quality even from an imported tent was what you would expect from Springbar. The folks at the SLC store and manufacturing facility were great with helping me choose between the Classic Jack 140 and the Skyliner. I would have loved the Skyliner, but the price for 30% more volume just was not worth it to me. I would also say if you are in SLC go to the store. I was able to pick up some of the upgraded stakes used on the Skyliner with very minor corrosion on them for more than half off. Overall great experience and I can't wait to continue to use this tent for years to come.

My main comparison is the Springbar system and the newer inflatable tents such as RBM. I’ve done a good amount of research on the internet and mainly on YouTube before landing on a Springbar tent as I cannot try and buy, and it’s hard to return such a big item. My choice came down to time constraints, price points, reliability, ease of use, and customer service. I didn’t go with RBM because inflatable tents are prone to leaks and punctures. It may or may not happen, I don't know. Also, they are a newcomer, their tents are more expensive, and their after-sales support is unknown.

RBM had more going for it than the Springbar CJ 140. It has a lot of big vinyl and mesh zip-out windows, pockets for storage, a room divider, and skylight windows. It has more usable space due to the vertical walls and it looks spacious.

I picked Springbar because of its tried and true design and its reputation for great customer service. The tent is bulletproof or so I thought. The sum of its parts makes it a great tent but it fails in several areas.

I noticed a downgrade in the material choices. The tent poles are painted black instead of a galvanized coating. The paint scraped off just by extending and retracting the poles. Rust will inevitably become a problem. The rust will somewhat blend in with the black paint but will likely tarnish the canvas roof when rain, snow, and moisture are involved. Either way, rusty poles are not a good look.

I had a catastrophic failure with the tension bar on my first use of the tent. The tension rod snapped in twos. I was lost for words because I would never have imagined a metal rod would snap like a twig, granted that the tent was drenched after a heavy rainstorm. I would be more forgiving if it happened during the rain storm but it didn't, it snapped and tore a gaping hole in the canvas shortly after the storm. The sky was calm. The tension bar was only carrying the weight of the wet tent. I suspect that the metal composition of the bar was brittle and stiff. Do not cut costs if it affects the structural integrity of the tent.

Suggestion and Improvements

Stakes are Important for a Springbar Tent:
The nature of this tent design needs at least 4 stakes at the corners. In general, staking down a tent is important for bad weather but staking down a Springbar tent is a requirement. I would be pissed if I can’t pitch my tent. I was staking down the tent halfway and I was exhausted from driving the stakes through rocks and roots! I was using a dedicated staking hammer. I did not stake two spots because the stakes were hitting rocks. When I took the stakes out, some of the tips got blunt and out of shape. I suggest designing some carbide-tipped screw-down stakes. At least 4 of them. A more economical solution is to suggest to your customers to purchase a concrete carbide drill bit coupled with a hammer drill to pre-drill stake holes for the stake. This would provide a better user experience.

Another thing to try is to develop a removable/attachable stake loop so that if the stake is obstructed by a rock, a stake loop can be added or relocated to a different spot. This can be done by cinching the attachable loop down on the rope that goes around the base of the tent.

Pitching the tent:

It may be my inexperience but twice while raising the tent, the pole slipped out of the socket and the tent came crashing down. It was a jarring, unpleasant, and scary experience and it can cause damage to the tent. While raising the tent, the pin is not in line with the hole which makes it very easy to slip out. One of the solutions would be to have a hinged pin that can fit straight into the hole and it can move with the changing angles as the tent is being raised. Or make a conical opening so the pin can fit further in the hole when it’s not at the optimal angle so that it lessens the chance of it sliding out.

Expedition Package

Sell this as an enhanced expedition package:
- Hinged pin tent pole
- Removable/attachable stake loops
- 4 or more carbide-tipped screw-down stakes and/or a carbide concrete drill bit

That’s all I have for now. Take this as constructive criticism. I’ve only used the tent for a day in the field. At the time of this writing, the tent was sent out for repair. I will have more Ideas as I use the tent more. Let me know if you want to collaborate.

- Kenny

Their customer service is amazing.

CLASSIC JACK 140

The new Classic Jack 140 is a wonderful addition to the Springbar lineup. What sets this one apart for me are the large side-windows and the easy adaptability into a heated tent if that's your desire (it's not mine!).

The zippers are excellent and the poles actually seem lighter than my Highliner 6's poles. The new storage bag makes it incredibly easy to pack back up. It's so spacious, we love being able to stand and walk around with ease. Plenty of room for our family of 4.

Downside: I wish there were sewn-in pocket storage bags like in the Highline 6 under the windows. I bought a hanging organizer to offset the loss of that feature. Also, one of the poles didn't fit well into the top T part. I took it in and Springbar swapped it out, no fuss no muss. Great customer service.

Other than that, this tent seems like a winner! We loved our inaugural campout in it. Looking forward to many more.