Tents

[fzsk4p]

Back again with some more newbie questions.

Need to get a decent 3 man tent. Seems that there are the hiking tents made by Marmont, REI, MSR etc. and then another group made by ALP, Sierra, Spring etc.

Is there a difference between them ?

Perhaps the hiking tents are made a bit lighter but with a more modern materials ? While the expedition tents are a bit more robust ?

Any suggestions for a tent used in the typical Midwest 3 season environment(s) ?

 

[JIMBO]

:arabia: checkout www.airzonerecreation.com

Back again with some more newbie questions.

Need to get a decent 3 man tent. Seems that there are the hiking tents made by Marmont, REI, MSR etc. and then another group made by ALP, Sierra, Spring etc.

Is there a difference between them ?

Perhaps the hiking tents are made a bit lighter but with a more modern materials ? While the expedition tents are a bit more robust ?

Any suggestions for a tent used in the typical Midwest 3 season environment(s) ?

Super tents, I've got one for my trailer and one for our ground tent (4 people)

:gunt: :gunt: JIMBO

 

[Overland Hadley]

With tents you get what you pay for. The first time it rains for 12 or more hours you will be glad you spent the extra money. But for car camping you will not be needing a ultra light tent, or a 4 season mountaineering tent. A three season tent from MSR, Marmot, or Sierra Designs will most likely be what you are looking for.

Be sure to spend some time setting up the tent before you buy it, that will help narrow down the options.

 

[norshor]

I really like my Mountain Hardwear Hammerhead 3. I use it for paddling trips, backpacking and truck travel, and feel it does all the things well. We have 2 yellow labs, so the space is great for me and my wife. The the inside wall zips out to cool down and ventilate the tent, and the rainfly rolls up to give a huge amount of ventilation, not to mention a great view. I am very impressed with this tent.

 

[paulj]

Backcountry Equipment/ Moontrail in Texas has a quite informative online catalog
http://www.moontrail.com/home.php?cat=288

They distinguish among 3 season, 4 season, and mountaineering. They used to have a separate family camping selection. Among backpacking tents, 3 season ones are optimized for things like ventilation, space, and lightweight. The body of many of these is nearly all mesh. 4 seasons add some weight to gain strength under snow and wind load, with less emphasis on ventilation. Mountaineering go even further in terms of strength, plus adding things like snow flaps, more tieouts, and specialized ventilation holes. Generally strength is gained with more poles.

Another thing, backpacking tents are 'measured' in terms of 72x20" person, i.e. one standard sleeping pad. A '3 person' will have space for 3 such pads side by side, with elbow or storage room.

 

[7wt]

I just bought a Nemo Nano. I love it so far! Look into their Losi models for a three man.
http://www.nemoequipment.com/

 

[adventurebuddies]

It wasn't clear from your post if this is for vehicle camping or not. If you don't need to carry the tent on your back, then you absolutely can't beat the REI Base Camp 4 for quality and value. It's totally storm proof and will handle heavy wind no problem. It's big enough to bring your chairs in and hangout if it's raining and the 2 vestibules are really handy - especially the main one which is plenty big to stores a bunch of stuff. It sets up fast and offers plenty of ventilation for hot nights but not too much so it's good for freezing temps as well.

 

[Gonzzo]

Did someone say REI Base Camp?...

Im with adventurebuddies, for the price, guarantee, craftsmanship and overall bang for the buck, you will be hard pressed to beat the base camp series of rei tents. I have used and abused mine on several (base camp 4)from kid camping in my back yard to late winter/early spring camping near mammoth, ca. for fishing opener in Crowley lake. It is usually my private dueling but i have had to share it a few times when my friend's coleman and ozark trail tents have folded over like soggy origami artwork. If you have a REI store near by take a trip and set up a few of their tents(my family HATES it when i sucker them into going anywhere near an REI store, they know ill spend HOURS setting stuff up). I guess you can tell where my loyalty's lie when talking about tents. Base Camp 4 gets my vote.

Jimbo:

A question about your choice in tents if you dont mind. I also own an airzone tent and cant help but wonder how you use it in your trailer, can you elaborate?, any pictures?.

I have been obsessing over the idea of making an RTT with the use of airzone's air poles.

I just DIGG the fact that i can just throw the tent on the floor, plug in my compressor and flip a switch. By the time the tent is set i have most of the rest of my camp set and am enjoying a cold...:beer:

Here end of thread hi-jack.

Thanks.

Gonzzo.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I just bought a Nemo Nano. I love it so far! Look into their Losi models for a three man.
http://www.nemoequipment.com/

Those Nemo tents do look really nice.

 

[rambrush]

Why no mention of Eureka tents? they have held up great over the years for me.

 

[JIMBO]

:smiley_drive: Good question Gonzzo, But my trailer is different than just about anyone here has, its a TENTRAX

Im with adventurebuddies, for the price, guarantee, craftsmanship and overall bang for the buck, you will be hard pressed to beat the base camp series of rei tents. I have used and abused mine on several (base camp 4)from kid camping in my back yard to late winter/early spring camping near mammoth, ca. for fishing opener in Crowley lake. It is usually my private dueling but i have had to share it a few times when my friend's coleman and ozark trail tents have folded over like soggy origami artwork. If you have a REI store near by take a trip and set up a few of their tents(my family HATES it when i sucker them into going anywhere near an REI store, they know ill spend HOURS setting stuff up). I guess you can tell where my loyalty's lie when talking about tents. Base Camp 4 gets my vote.

Jimbo:

A question about your choice in tents if you dont mind. I also own an airzone tent and cant help but wonder how you use it in your trailer, can you elaborate?, any pictures?.

I have been obsessing over the idea of making an RTT with the use of airzone's air poles.

I just DIGG the fact that i can just throw the tent on the floor, plug in my compressor and flip a switch. By the time the tent is set i have most of the rest of my camp set and am enjoying a cold...:beer:

Here end of thread hi-jack.

Thanks.

Gonzzo.

I have a Nissan Hatch tent for my Xterra

I bought the Airzone "Gold Finch" to add to my stable (and the Osprey), the "Finch" is yellow like my trailer. It is exactly the same floor measurements, as the trailer 5' x8'

I'm in the process of installing the tent on my TENTRAX right now, I'm doing it so that it will be justafiable and appealing, so that it doesn't look GOLDBERG

This will take another couple weeks and then we'll go up the Sierras to "try it out", I will take pics of both, the Goldfinch and Osprey !!

I have tried both and the trailer one takes 1 minute with my SLOW powerstation compressor and the Osprey takes 2 minutes, (Finch stays semi-installed in trailer)

Putting them away is a cinch, just open the air valve roll em up and stuff in Black Nylon bag, I never have been able to do that with a tent, they are AWESOME

They both have velcro'd rain flys that COMPLETELY cover the tent and are quick attach/release, also come with hearty (wind) tie downs

:tent: :tent: JIMBO

 

[BCcamp]

We bought a Eureka K-2 XT two years ago and love it. We are dedicated tent campers, so are very picky about quality and features. I was skeptical about Eureka tents until I did some research on good expedition quality tents, and the K-2 kept coming up. So we got one.

Good points: with fly is bomb-proof in rain and wind. We primitive camp in western Maryland and Virginia, and West Virginia, and summer thunderstorms and drenching rainstorms are always a threat (like today with Hanna!). Never a problem with the K-2 and always dry, even after night-long storms. Plenty of screened panels to open up for ventilation (very important during hot, humid summers), so have never had problems with condensation inside the tent. If the weather is nice, we leave off the fly, unzip all the panels on the sides and roof and watch the stars.

Bad points: think roomy 2 person tent rather than 3 person tent. Works great for us with all our gear inside, but would be cozy for three. Vestibules aren't that big (boots and backpack), and the slope of the vestibules is steep enough to require some contortions to get out. Not a problem when fly is off. Also, a bit heavy for backpacking.

All the others suggested are good tents, so pick the features that best suit your style of camping.

 

[goodtimes]

Those Nemo tents do look really nice.

Scott and I used a Nemo when we spent 2 weeks on the Trans America trail in July. Good tent. The only thing I did not like about it was that it didn't have a vestibule. IMO, a vestibule is absolutely critical if you are going to be spending any time in wet weather. See the summer Overland Journal for a good tent review.

 

[cnynrat]

If you don't need to carry the tent on your back, then you absolutely can't beat the REI Base Camp 4 for quality and value. It's totally storm proof and will handle heavy wind no problem. It's big enough to bring your chairs in and hangout if it's raining and the 2 vestibules are really handy - especially the main one which is plenty big to stores a bunch of stuff. It sets up fast and offers plenty of ventilation for hot nights but not too much so it's good for freezing temps as well.

Another vote for the REI Base Camp 4 assuming you are asking about a car camping type tent (way too heavy and big for a backpacking tent). It would be comfortable for 3, cozy but workable for 4.

 

[86cj]

http://www.kelty.com/kelty/products.php?type=8&cat=61&id=461&image=571

Here is a link to the newest version of the tent I use, a Kelty 4 tent. I have had good luck with Kelty stuff, we also use a Kelty sun shade.

I have used tent since 2001 all over the country and did not become a true product advocate until this year camping in the midwest this June. I weathered a long weekend of huge boomers in a cornfield campground.....
We had boomers every evening, the first evening we fled to the inlaws class A and watched as 70 to 120 MPH winds destroyed 3 tents, 3 awnings, 1 pop up and two trees in the campground. I watched the Kelty shake and shimmy when the rain let up enough to see 50 feet. After the storms passed I unzipped to find a roll of papertowels on the floor perfectly dry along with our bed roll.The inlaws offered a us a bed in the motorhome but after what we saw the tent survive. We comfortably climbed in and slept along with the next two nights that had only 40-50 mph winds and several inches of rain, one a 12 hour stretch (a mere annoyance for the Kelty)......