The Kodiak isn't one of those cheap Chinese knockoffs where it looks the same but falls apart instantly. I found this chart
http://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/assets/images/Kodiak_Springbar_Comparison_6055.pdf that compairs the two, granted it's by a website trying to sell the Kodiak tents and I'm not sure I agree on some of the points. Like the floor one, I've camped in a springbar as a scout growing up where we almost had a river running around the tent cause of the rain couple of times and I've never seen the floor leak. Both floors felt heavy duty and more than adequate to me.
One time I was at sportsman's warehouse out here looking at both tents when I was trying to decide what to buy and I ended up talking with 2 guys in their 50's about tents. Turns out they owned Kodiak and were there for a meeting with sportsman's and were just there early. The guys were both big scouters and had been around springbar tents for 40 years. They both iterated that their idea wasn't to undercut springbar and make a cheap chinese knockoff but to improve upon the design. That said there are several things I like about both. Springbar I like the metal tent stake loops better. The kodiak has the sewn in fabric loop type, I've never had to use oversized sand stakes or anything like that so maybe it is an advantage. The metal just seems sturdier to me, but that said I haven't had any on my kodiak rip.
I like the front and rear D shape doors that zip all the way around on the Kodiak better then the T shape on the springbar. I like the pole design better on the kodiak, the 2 upright poles are just 2 pieces that are shock corded together. The springbar's poles slide inside each other and have a little button you push and raise the tent to the height you want and the button pops into the hole. I have had the two poles get stuck together when you're camping in a sandy area. But the biggest complaint is if your hand is on the upper pole when you push the button, the upper pole slides rapidly into the bottom because of the weight of the tent. I lost a good chunk of skin when my hand got caught between the two poles.
The kodiak has a lot of loops with a ring sewn around the top of the tent to hang up the gear organizers. What I like these for is to hang up my light-a-life led lanterns. It's easy to tie some loops in 550 cord and tie it up between 2 of the rings, makes for an easy way to light up the tent. Another difference between my kodiak and my dads traveler 5 is the kodiak the awning is sewn on and rolls up. On the springbar it can zip off, I don't have a preference either way but some might.
I like the bag a lot better on the Kodiak. They both fold up about the same size since there's only so small you can fold 50lbs of canvas. The springbar has the usual canvas stuff sack. The kodiak has a bag that you fold around the rolled up tent and then fold up the flaps, buckle the straps and synch them tight. It's way easier to put away. At the end of the video you can see the bag. The side windows in the VX model are a godsend when camping somewhere like Moab. The kodiak is made in china but the stitching and materials are top quality. An employee at kirkhams told me the springbar is sewn in america with foreign made fabric. Either way they're both excellent tents that cared for will last a life time. It just comes down to price, features and where it's sewn really.
