The Happy Camper: Esker’s Multi Winter Tent Is Pretty Awesome
A few years back, the Canadian manufacturer Esker released a winter hot tent, made of canvas. The design is simple: a pyramid-shaped structure with a centre pole holding it up and side ropes stretching it out. It costs a little less than the infamous A-Frame Snowtrekker tent, so many winter campers gave it a try.
The Esker Classic had its drawbacks. The side ropes stretched out like a spider web, and the centre pole cramped the room inside the tent. Now the new Multi Winter Tent has stepped it up a notch. To me, it’s a game-changer.
First, you can still hold up the Multi-tent with a central pole. If you decide to do that, you now have an adjustable interior harness support system which allows maximum flexibility, whether using a purchased aluminum pole or one cut from a bush. But, you can now choose to hang it! Forget the centre pole. Use a new stainless steel peak ring to hang the tent from a ridgeline between trees. Wow!
The second feature, a major bonus, is the grommets sewn along the tent’s exterior. Incredible! These tie-outs let you use sidewall poles (or cut branches from the bush) to anchor out the edges of the tent, eliminating the lengthy spiderweb-like tie-outs. Totally awesome!
The Multi still comes with the standard stove pipe ring (fits a three-inch or five-inch pipe), an adjustable air vent, a two-way zippered opening and installed drying line loops. It also packs down to the size of a medium gym bag for storage and hauling on a freight toboggan.
Here are the specs:
- Made from 10.10 oz Army Duck 4-strand fire-resistant/mould-resistant canvas (meets Canadian tent flammability requirements)
- Centre peak: 2.3m (7’6″)
- Sidewall height: .76m (30”)
- Overall Area (approx): 9.65 Sq M (10’x10′)
- Weight: 9.5kg (21lbs)
- Packed Dimensions: 32cm x 26cm x 55cm x (12.5″ x 10″ 21.5”)
- Includes instructions and side-wall guy lines (but not the side poles, they have to be purchased separately)
Check out the video of the Multi tent in use on my YouTube channel!
