The Springbar story…from top to bottom
In the early 1960s, when Jack Kirkham's customers were asking him for a tent that combined the features of easy portability, quick setup, high wind- and rain-resistance, and long-term durability, he realized that he would need a new original concept.
With nearly twenty years experience crafting canvas wall tents, Jack had a pretty good idea of what did and didn't work in a tent. (We still make his classic AAA Wall Tent to this day, for groups needing a semi-permanent shelter.) For his new tent design, Jack reviewed the shortcomings of the various cabin tents of the day. Most were too complicated and had too many parts to get lost, misplaced or confused. Fabrics were either too heavy and bulky, or not durable and water-repellant enough. Frames were prone to breaking or bending in first heavy windstorm.
After much experimentation, he came up with a novel way to support a tent that consisted of only three main frame assemblies:
- a two-piece ridge
- four steel tension bars
- two adjustable upright poles.
He patented his design as the "Springbar® Tent," and the tent was an immediatate success. Early "Skyliner" Springbar models had the frame on the inside. Later, in the early 1970s, the frame was moved to the outside of the tent, suspending the tent from fabric sleeves. This improvement made a good design even better as it further simplified the setup without compromising stability.
The self-guying design of the Springbar tent is a revolutionary advance in tent technology. Despite its quick setup, a Springbar tent is able to withstand heavy wind and rain, without need for external rainflys and other complications. These tents have proven themselves in every imaginable extreme of weather, from sandstorms in Utah's redrock canyons to whiteout conditions on Mt Everest. We've made stepwise improvements over time, but the basic design has endured for over 40 years, a testament to just how good Jack's idea really was.
You'll appreciate the simplicity of a Springbar the first time you roll into a dark campsite. No guy ropes to fuss with (unless you're pitching the front canopy included on some models). No tiny, obscure fittings to get misplaced and ruin your trip. With a brief orientation, a Springbar tent can be easily set up by one person in 10 minutes or less—even on our largest 10'x14' model!