Tent Recommendations

[Wheelingnoob]

For a cheap alternative I have a Outbound Lakside Long 3 (also have a 6) this tent has been fantastic for the price. Got in on sale for $89 and it has lived through some truly amazing weather. We camped on the Oregon coast for 10 days 2 years a go and it rained and rained and rained. In the end and 10" of rain later we were still comfortable in our tent. We had a bit of water intrusion on the 2nd day (my fault did not fully stake out the rain fly).

It even handled a pretty good wind and rain storm one night with out issue.

For the price I could not have been happier.

 

[BIGdaddy]

As one who uses tents in various ways I thought my $0.02 could help. I camp in all seasons, in any climate and both drive and backpack.

If backpacking (5-10 milesperday) get an expensive, lightweight and very strong tent like Mountain Hardware, Sierra Designs, or MSR (just my favorites and I'v used them all). A pound or two difference in overall weight will make a huge difference after 15,000 steps taken. :ylsmoke: and if you are backpacking with a partner, split up the tent to each carry about half the weight. One with the poles and fly the other with the ground cloth and tent.

When a company says "three person tent" what they really mean is 2 people with packs and additional gear... or 3 people who are extremely comfortable with one another and all gear is left outside or in a vestibule which will get wet with rain.

If a vehicle is used to get from site to site then get a tent from pretty much any manufacturer with a well proven reputation. No need to get the Eddie Bauer 3 bedroom condo with a loft and foyer since you have the vehicle for gear storage... unless of course you need that sort of spacious accomodation when you are in the wilderness.

I appreciate that you added this last comment. Remember that many of the people on this website have 4, 5, 6 people in their family. I have 5, for example, and as such the first two pages of recommendations don't hold much useful info for me being mostly 2,3,4 man tents.

I'd encourage those who've used larger tents to feel free to add their comments on them. Some of us are listening inTENTly.

 

[Ace Brown]

After years of camping in the desert and mountains and using cheap tents, I finally broke down and bought the Cabelas XPG Deluxe 4 person tent.Cabelas XPG Deluxe 4 person tent

The main thing for me was good ventilation, good fly for the windy/dusty conditions and aluminum poles. More than once I have had a tent flattened in the wind and it always destroys the fiberglass poles. I figure with the full coverage fly, I can block the bottom to prevent dust incursion. I have used it once and it is very sturdy, even without the guylines staked. I paid about $200 after special and free shipping offers.

I purchased the 6-man version of the same tent last April for all of the reasons listed by you and in my earlier post. I do not like pole sleeves but reviews on Cabelas website mostly suggested not problem. The fact that it was 4-season (can be totally closed) won me over. I set it up alone the first time and it took way too long with the lengthy pole sleeves being the difficult part. I would have preferred the 4-man and believe it would be significantly easier than the 6-man, but it was not in stock. Short version: ret'd it to Cabelas and kept looking. If that same 4-man tent came with clips instead of pole sleeves it would probably be my first choice. My comments about difficult set up refer to doing it solo only. I am sure with 2 it would be easy.

Alan

 

[taugust]

I purchased the 6-man version of the same tent last April for all of the reasons listed by you and in my earlier post. I do not like pole sleeves but reviews on Cabelas website mostly suggested not problem. The fact that it was 4-season (can be totally closed) won me over. I set it up alone the first time and it took way too long with the lengthy pole sleeves being the difficult part. I would have preferred the 4-man and believe it would be significantly easier than the 6-man, but it was not in stock. Short version: ret'd it to Cabelas and kept looking. If that same 4-man tent came with clips instead of pole sleeves it would probably be my first choice. My comments about difficult set up refer to doing it solo only. I am sure with 2 it would be easy.

Alan

The 4 man version I just bought has no sleeves, only pole clips.

 

[sctracker]

In all my years of teaching/training in wilderness survival and backpacking trips, I have never slept in a tent better than a Mountain Hardwear. Little pricey, but nobody tests any of their products as brutally.

 

[refried]

I have several tents (including a 30 year old Timberline 4) but the one that gets the most use is a Sierra Designs Papagayo 4 person. It's a 3 season verson of the Stretch Dome 4 that uses several screen panels to increase ventilation. It sets up easily with clips, has 2 doors and vestibules (one very large) and has plenty of room for 2 people with gear. Unfortunatly they only produced this tent for one year and is no longer available and I don't see any replacement. I thought the Wu Hu 4 was a nice design but it's huge (16' long) and that kind of space isn't always available.

 

[Ace Brown]

The 4 man version I just bought has no sleeves, only pole clips.

I just followed your link and discovered we are talking about 2 different tents with similar names. Your refering to the XPG Deluxe and I was refering to the XPG Expedition 4-season. The latter is a true 4-season and can be totally closed against the elements. Something I really value when camping in the desert, especially if your caught in a dust storm. All the mesh in almost all modern tents does nothing to keep out the sand and dust.

Last spring I was camping out in the Utah desert and we got hit by 40 mph winds all day and night. I had set up my Mtn Hardware tent when it was fairly calm. I came back to camp after being in wind all day and found the inside of my tent and all gear covered with about 2" of sand/dust. I set about piling gear and tarps along the base of the fly and zipped it up tight and went to dinner. After a long night around the fire dodging flying sparks I finally went to bed and found even more sand in my home. Shook out my bag and crawled in. Lay there most of the night quietly cussing every time a blast shook the tent and dumped a new layer of sand on me. Yes, they were extreme conditions, but I know a true 4-season tent would have been worth it's weight in gold that night (and a few others too).

BTW the Cabelas XPG Expedition is the only 4-season tent I have seen that does not cost as if it IS made from gold. The 4-man model sells for $320.

Alan

 

[joneseyyy]

Going on the maiden voyage with a new Turbotent this weekend!

http://www.familytentcamping.com/site/1406228/product/30066

I have high expectations based on all the reviews and my test setup.

 

[Jim1960]

Nomad Tents

The bottom line is that every 2 man tent is low to the ground, A PITA to get out of in a hurry, no where to sit in foul weather and you have to lay down to get dressed unless of course you purchase a gigantic dome tent. This alternative I have found for Motorcycle travelers blows them all away. Take a look

http://www.nomadtent.com/

 

[john101477]

hahaha another tent thread AWESOME!!!
I did a ton of research in 09 and bought a Big Agnes flying Diamond 6 in 2010. Fits us perfect.

I also have 2 cabin tents, 3 Bivy type tents, the cabelas XPG deluxe 2 person, and used my fathers Cabelas alaknak 2 deluxe for 2 years.
The only 2 tents that get used at all anymore is the XPG and the flying diamond.

 

[benedmonson]

Introducing Equipts New Tent Line

I would like to add another tent to your list of what to look at! We at Equipt Expedition Outfitters just added a ground tent line from South Africa called Campmor tents. It is sold under various names throughout South Africa and Australia and billed as one of the toughest tents in the world. Here is a youtube link to a high wind test of 75 Hennie Bows setup in Australia:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfayxysJftw"]YouTube - The Perfect Storm - Kangaroo Tent City Camping Product Test in Sydneys Worst Ever Dust Storm[/ame]

Here is a picture of the Campmor "Rambler" from last year on our trip to Hole in the Rock. It is the smallest tent that we will be carrying in the US. It measures 83"x83" with a height of 73" that includes 3 windows. Jim of Reddox had brought along his Campmor from South Africa and this is where we started our testing:

We will be debuting these tents at Expo 2011. More to come!

 

[RichardAllen]

Are there any tents in the US designed to be used both on the ground and as roof top tents ?

Regards
Richard

 

[Ace Brown]

Are there any tents in the US designed to be used both on the ground and as roof top tents ?

Regards
Richard

All the Auto-home roof top tents have accessory legs that allow the tent to be placed about 8" off the ground. Also any RTT could be placed on the ground as long as it had something lifting it off the soil so the plywood base was not damaged by moisture. Some have overhanging entrances that would be about impossible to enter while so low to the ground.

 

[Ace Brown]

I have done a lot of research looking for a true 4-season tent that does NOT use pole sleeves and does not cost more than a used car. Finally found one:

Eureka Alpenlite 2XT currently selling at Campmor (the one in NJ, not Africa) for $250. It has tons of vents but all are completely zippable closed. Finally a tent that is 4-season but still can be opened wide for summer camping. About the only con i saw was it is a bit cramped at 37 ft/2 plus 11 ft/2 in the vestibule. Several reviews complained about the size for 2-man use.

Alan

 

[GR8ADV]

Do it right and do it once. I have spent way too much money doing things twice; tents are no exception. Spend some bucks and get a Hilleberg tent. A no compromise 4 season tent. End of story. A Namjet 3 would be perfect. The GT version has a HUGE vestibule. If you have three people, the Keron is the shizz for ya.

These things are light, stupid strong (I have actually tried to rip a demo piece of material that had a cut in it and couldn't). They are real world storm proof, truly waterproof, and they pitch with the fly on, so no problems with the inside getting wet while pitching in the rain. They are pricey but the best that money can by, and the last tent you will ever need. (until you buy a solo for yourself)

http://www.hilleberg.com/home/products/3-person.php

you can also youtube many video of these tents being pitched and 'in action'.

k
ps, to contrary popular belief, you can go very wrong buying a tent at REI