In-depth review: White Duck’s new Regatta Bell Tent makes an excellent base camp for fishing and hunting

Canvas tents have long been the shelter of choice for base camps. Their spacious interiors and four-season designs keep backcountry explorers, hunters, trappers and anglers dry and warm in the worst weather. White Duck Outdoors, which  offers a range of canvas tents, recently launched a limited edition Realtree EDGE Regatta bell tent, and I’ve spent the last five months testing it. The camo version has the premium features of the original Regatta bell tent with camo canvas body. Realtree EDGE easily blends into the woodlands, and the dark colour delivers additional benefits I learned during my field tests.

THE SPECS

Quality materials and craftsmanship are evident throughout the Regatta. Everything is well made. Its storage bag, stakes, mallet, poles and tool roll shout quality. I have no doubt it will last a long time. The Regatta uses what White Duck calls DYNADUCK fabric—an 8.5-ounce army duck cotton canvas with a water-repellent, mould-resistant, UV-resistant finish.

Thanks to its tall profile and steep roof section, rain flows off the fabric quickly, and the finish ensures that moisture beads on the surface rather than soaking in. The bell-shaped roof extends past the lower straight-walled section, creating a drip edge that protects the lower section from rain. On one recent trip it rained for six hours, and we stayed dry and comfortable inside. The bathtub-style floor kept water flowing across our campsite from entering the tent. I was impressed.

The tent’s double-stitched seams and reinforced corners are made to last, while heavy-duty zippers open and close its doors and windows without binding. The tent has a triangle-shaped door with a zip in the centre and along the bottom, allowing all or only half of the door to be opened. Hook-and-loop closures secure the door without zipping, perfect for faster access in the bug-free shoulder seasons. The Regatta has a pre-installed heat-resistant silicone-coated stove jack with a five-inch pre-cut pattern. We never used it this summer, but I’m eyeing the possibility of using it for cold fall and winter nights.

White Duck incorporated a shock-absorbing grounding system that provides stability against high winds. This is one seriously robust system. Each tie-out has a thick black cord, a reflective thread for nighttime visibility, and an easy-to-use tensioner. The Regatta includes stout yet light two-piece galvanized steel poles for convenience at camp. I feel the round shape also cuts the wind. Once it was set up, the never wavered in the wind.

The sewn-in groundsheet keeps gear clean and dry, preventing the creepy crawlies from biting at night. Walking on it is a little noisy, but that’s a small trade-off for waterproof durability. A sound-dampening workaround is to place a wool blanket on the floor. Other extras include a built-in cable outlet, utility pockets, and roof vents. Thinking back to the rainstorm, condensation never accumulated in the tent, so I clearly the roof vents did their job of maintaining air circulation.

SETUP

The tent has clear instructions, and setting it up is intuitive and fast. Our first time only took 20 minutes, and now that I know what I’m doing, two people can set it up in under 15 minutes. The hardest part is finding a patch of ground that accommodates the tent’s large footprint.

The tent has pins to secure the bottom to the ground and heavy-duty “J-pegs” (rebar stakes) for attaching its guy lines. It also includes a rubber mallet. The mallet worked well in soft soil. However, my hardened axe poll worked better in harder ground.

SIZE

The Realtree EDGE Regatta comes in three diameters: 13-, 16-, and 20-foot. I chose the 13 model for my first bell tent. The interior floor space and stand-up headspace are luxurious for someone used to a low-profile, four-person dome tent. It easily held my family and gear with plenty of room for my two large dogs. I even had space to set up a small camp table for playing games.

This model features an eight-foot centre pole, and a six-foot, six-inch door, offering abundant head space both inside the tent and walking through the doorway. It is tough to describe the size of the tent until it’s fully set up and ready to move in. My kids’ initial reactions were, “It’s huge!” and, “We could fit all of the scouts in this tent!” They’re not wrong. It’s incredibly spacious, and that’s one of the best reasons to choose a tent like this for extended stays outdoors.

NICE FEATURES

The 13-foot Regatta has three large D-shaped windows near the base, allowing ample airflow and four roof vents for additional circulation. The electrical cable outlet is a convenient way of introducing power for lights and outlets for electronics. (Though I prefer a traditional camp, so I kept it zipped closed)

Reflective thread in the support ropes is a clever addition for nighttime safety. Two storage pouches on either side were the perfect place to stash my headlamp, truck keys, bear spray and other essentials.

WHY CAMO?   

Camouflage is a popular choice among hunters, so having a tent fabric cloaked in a versatile pattern, like Realtree EDGE, is a good choice for deer, elk, or duck camps—and anytime you want to blend into the forest. This is the tent I’m using for elk camp this year. The works independently or can be brushed in further conceal the the tent.

The camo model’s darker fabric (compared to white) also blocks more early morning light when you’re trying to sleep. This is a big deal in the summer, especially in the northern latitudes, where the sun is up by 4 AM or earlier.

Dark colours warm in the sun, radiating heat inside the tent. I appreciated this in the spring and fall when the extra warmth is welcome. Like most tents, the inside air gets hot in the summer by mid-morning. However the large windows, screened door and roof vents help regulate the temperature and make it comfortable most days.

CONCLUSIONS

The White Duck Outdoors, Realtree EDGE Regatta bell tents are made to last. I love the quality materials and workmanship throughout the tent and its accessories. Regatta bell tents are quick to set up, and their staking and guy line system keep the tent secure even in strong winds.

Realtree EDGE blends into the woods. Whether hunting, stealth camping or simply sharing my outdoor lifestyle, the camo Regatta suits me perfectly. I chose the Regatta 13, sized for groups of four to six. I’d consider a larger size or a second tent for larger groups. If you’re in the market for a canvas tent and have camo coursing through your veins, consider the White Duck Realtree EDGE Regatta.