Which Tent?

[K-Man]

Help. I'm in the market for a new camping tent. I've always owned and used "backpacking" (bikepacking) sized tents, even while car camping, but my 50+ year old bonz are craving a bigass comfy tent that I can use with some cooshy smooshy king-sized air bed, or some other sort of luxo sleeping arrangement. Nice for stashing gear an keeping it dry too.

So, if you've got any recommendations on "larger" dome tents or even "house style" tents, let's hear 'em. I"m not sure how large I wanna go, but since I'm not carrying it on my bike, the sky's the limit. The one requirement would be bombproof with respect to rain (it rains frequently in these parts).

Note that I have a minivan and did find some tents that attach via the tailgate, but they seem lacking waterproofness. If anybody has used one of these, I'd love to hear your comments.

[Spatafore]

I haven't looked into tents for a while now but years ago, I used to think that the north face tents were pretty sweet. One thing being that they were super light. I don't know where they stand now...

[Lockwood]

I bought the Mountain Hardware Hammerhead 3 (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=144&cat=27&viewAll=False). It's big enough for the family, but the Hammerhead 2 might be better for one person and gear.

[Tman]

I have 100s of nights in a cheap Coleman 8 person dome.

Really, works great, less leaks than some fancy backpack tents I have tried and you can stand up in the thing.almost.

[Mauriceman]

I like my tents with two poles only, so easy to set up. Ended up buying one at REI this spring for my ride to DC.

[myron]

I use an inexpensive dome also. I found that setting it up in the back yard and waterproofing and seam sealing goes a long way. Upgrading the stakes and rope went a long way toward storm proofing was well.

[Tman]

I use an inexpensive dome also. I found that setting it up in the back yard and waterproofing and seam sealing goes a long way. Upgrading the stakes and rope went a long way toward storm proofing was well.

Good points

[tryandgetme]

tarp and a hammock. doesn't matter how hard it rains, you won't get wet.

[OTBSkinloss]

tarp and a hammock. doesn't matter how hard it rains, you won't get wet.

Comfy as hell too. I love my hammock.

[tryandgetme]

mine rolls up into the size of a water bottle, so it's great for hiking. A tarp's not too big either.

[rockyrider]

and with just a tarp the bears don't have to guess what's inside the tent...

[Spatafore]

I slept out in a hammock once on a high school trip in the early 90's. My one buddy swore he had a 3 man tent and the thing was hardly that once we got to our campsite and set it up. I opted to use my hammock I carried along and not cuddle between two dudes.

It was not very enjoyable because I had a down bag and the hammock compressed my whole bottom half. I swatted bugs at night and woke up early with a cold ass.

I actually enjoy the the whole setting up a tent, firepit, etc. thing. The privacy aspect is also a plus when you are with your girlfriend.

[Spatafore]

Oh, and I use to get a Campmor catalog all the time. Check out their site:

http://www.campmor.com

Maybe something like this?

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39281720&memberId=12500226

[K-Man]

Wow, thanks for the quick responses and great ideas folks, much appreciated.

Lots to consider....

Keep the ideas coming.

[MacGyver]

I've used and stayed in Coleman tents with good success. They're a good value if you're not concerned with packing size/weight and will just use it for car/vehicle-based camping. That's the extent of my camping outings lately.

I have a 4-man dome; fits 2 twin airbeds and gear perfectly, would have to go to sleeping mats and limit the extra bags brought in to really go 4-man. I just bought it off the shelf and never treated the seams or anything, has stood up to a few afternoons of steady rains with no leaks.

Buddy has a HUGE Coleman house-like tent, 8 or 9 man I think. I call it the "Holiday Inn." Easily stand up in it anywhere, will probably fit like 3 queen airbeds easily. He treated the seams, but don't know if it was necessary. Has stood up to a couple uses at Big Bear and a few other places. Never a drip inside to my knowledge during the rainstorms.

[ironspoke]

The best things about a larger tent are all the Cadillac comforts that come along with it. The missus has perfected her Princess and the Pea method and I swear sleeping in our tent is more comfy than what I have at home.

Just make sure your larger tent comes with a full rain fly.

Those little toupee rain-flies are worthless.

[Zinger]

I've got a couple of 2-pole dome Eurekas and they work fine, didn't cost too much either.

The big one is a 9'x9' "Sunrise" model that's good for family camping, or when I have tentless friends along, or when I'm expecting rain. More than once it's turned into the campsite social hall when the rain wouldn't stop. It has a screen window on each side, and a big fly that forms an awning over each window, so you can still get air when it's raining. An adult can stand up straight in the middle area, a big plus at times.

The other one is their 2-man XT for when I'm camping alone or for a quick overnight trip with my son. Small, but it goes up in a flash. Looks totaly different than the big tent, but at heart it's the same design. It has this big-ass fly that covers the whole thing and keeps rain away from the tent, and also gives a pretty big vestibule on each side for stashing muddy gear, dirty clothes, etc.

Both are good year-round tents here on the Gulf, but may only be 3-season worthy farther north. They let in lots of air while staying dry, but can zip up well enough for freezing weather. The two sizes cover both of my extremes, social & solo; YMMV.

If you're going to be camping in serious rainy season, get two ground tarps: one for under (as usual) and a slightly bigger one for the inside to keep your stuff dry if sheet flow starts outside.

Wow, that was more than I intended to write. Hope it helps. Let us know what you settle on.

Just make sure your larger tent comes with a full rain fly.

Those little toupee rain-flies are worthless.

Yep.

[Zinger]

p.s.: "3 man", "8 man", etc. -- the tent companies hire tiny people for these measurements. Figure on about half the man-count rating for extended camping comfort.

[fxdwhl]

If you're open to the idea of a hammock check out
http://www.hennessyhammock.com/

I've got the basic Expedition model and it's pretty nice. Screen netting keeps the bugs at bay and the rainfly is pretty big, though I've never used it in rain yet. There's a whole hammock 'scene' that has tons of info on insulating in the winter and different tricks.

[tryandgetme]

yeah, that's the one I have. kickass with the mosquito netting in an area where we're best known for our mosquitos. winter camping is easier in a hammock too, you don't need a ground pad to keep the cold ground from sucking heat from your sleeping bag because you're not touching, just need a really good sleeping bag.

[ironspoke]

Regarding hammocks... Are the people who use them sleepers who only sleep on their backs? I mean I've taken naps in them but I cant see them being comfortable for a nights rest. Then again I move all over creation when I sleep.

[fxdwhl]

Regarding hammocks... Are the people who use them sleepers who only sleep on their backs? I mean I've taken naps in them but I cant see them being comfortable for a nights rest. Then again I move all over creation when I sleep.

At home I generally sleep on my stomach but didn't have any trouble in the hammock. On your back is most comfortable but I did sleep on my side too. You want the hammock pretty taunt so you're not sagging so much.

The hammock is cut different too. The base is rectangular with the attachment points at opposite corners. You basically lay diagonally across the hypotenuse. This helps give you a flat back too.

[Zinger]

Speaking of hammocks, a friend has one of these:
http://www.junglehammock.com/
and he swears by it. I've climbed into it, and it really is pretty nice.

[OTBSkinloss]

Check out MarryAnne's hammocks. The best part is that MarryAnne gets right in the hammock with you. It's in the hammock district.

The Scorpio episode rules!
:D

[Family Guy]

Karl,

you are welcome to take my tent out for a test drive is you would like.

[jerman]

Speaking of hammocks, a friend has one of these:
http://www.junglehammock.com/
and he swears by it. I've climbed into it, and it really is pretty nice.

That is a really cool hammock. The only drawback would be you have to have trees to hang it on. No open field camping.

[Phillium]

http://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/single-nest-hammock.html

Ive had alot of sucess with this set up; you can get a bug net and then just use any old tarp if you're expecting rain. It takes a while to get accustommed to sleeping in it, and it isnt very good when the going gets cold, but for your average 3-season night, it sets up fast and simple. it also packs up real compact and itemized- you dont need to make room for anything long or bulky.

As for tents, I like the single person (two-man) backpacking worm-type tents. they tend to be able to close everything up better if you want a warm space fast.

[realSaint]

Tried Dirtbagging in Joshua Tree with a Coleman tent, and left my mountaineering tent at home thinking it was overkill.

After one night of wind, rain, and more wind, was wishing that I'd just brought the good one. The tent buckled and thrashed, and made it nearly impossible to sleep. By week TWO, I was unslept, miserable, and seriously considering going to Walmart and Canadian Tire and setting their camping sections on fire...

My MSR, on the other hand, doesn't have those problems. Even in areas that are particularly windy (like Waiporous Ghost Area, Joshua Tree, Cape Breton (soud-ester winds)...etc) it holds out great. It is light and strong, and it is going on its fifth year of heavy use and, with the exception of a few patches, is still in pretty good shape. As well, not relying on ropes to hold your tent up is convenient in rock-y or treeless places (re: alpine).

It's a cozy two-person, but I use it alone when touring and there is plenty of room.

Anyway, that's just my opinion. If you spend the money on a good tent, just like on a good mountain bike (for that matter), you can't go wrong.

[jhl99]

I own 3 tents, 1 person, 2 person, and a 3 person... all Eureka tents (I consider them a good value). I use the tents for bike touring, backpacking and ski touring.

For car camping, I sleep in the car. I go solo. I am lazy. For car camping, a tent is hassle--set up/ move stuff to tent/ take down/ tent is not secure for valuables/ dry out back home prior to storing/ etc.

Being able to sleep in a car means that you sleep in rest stops along the interstates which expands the options for low cost road trip. Sleeping in the car is good when you are not staying in a single place for an extended time. Last year, I did a 3 week road trip to NM and with the exception of a overnight backpack into a wilderness area, I slept exculsively in the car.

K-man, you mention you have a mini-van. I have a Honda Element, which is kind of a short mini-van. I built a folding bench for the back of the Element. I had to be a bit creative because I am 6' and the Element is short.

Basically, there is fixed platform right behind the driver's side. To the rear is a folding down bench. To sleep, the driver's seat is pushed foward and a extension folds upward which gives a platform that is about 6' long. Add foam pads and sleeping bag and get some zzzs. The bench is high enough so that plastic totes slide underneath.

The right side of the vehicle is used to haul bikes/skis/ whatever.

[jhl99]

Here is a picture of the camping Element in action.

[jhl99]

One last pic to show how the front seat gets folded to get a 6' platform. With any regular mini van, the driver's seat probably doesn't need to fold....

also in this pic, the front passenger seat is removed for more usable storage.

[S. cerevisiae]

Once had a VE-23 from North Face. Absolutely bomb-proof. Lost it in an ugly break-up with a girl in Georgia...entirely not pertinent to this discussion.

I'd go this way (http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=NA&model=AJ5D) if I had your income :D .

'Yeast

I do recommend the tried-and-true Eureka Timberlines. I have a sleeps-4 and it has been good in a couple of gully-washers so far. No real gale-force winds yet. Great product for the price though.

[K-Man]

jhl99 I hear what yer sayin, and I can sleep on the floor of the minivan in a pinch or for quick trips. But sometimes I have to haul so much shite or it's otherwise it's not convenient to sleep in-van, hence the desire for a tent.

S. cerevisiae that looks like a bomber tent, but I got burned about 15 years ago by North Face refusing to warranty a failed main zipper on the one and only tent I bought from them, and the customer service person who I dealt with was rude to me. I never purchased another item of North Face gear since then. Purchased plenty of gear from Patagonia, and others, so I figure saving the cost of replacing my zipper cost N.F. plenty in the long run.

[Ripp]

I have two tents, a small Mountain Hardwear (2 man which means me and my gear barely fits) and a large (7man so I have room me my stuff and two big dogs) Kelty, both are excellent tents. I've had less expensive tents in the past but tired of replacing them every other year or so, both my current tents are under a year old so time will tell if the investment will pay off.

[tryandgetme]

That is a really cool hammock. The only drawback would be you have to have trees to hang it on. No open field camping.

I've got two telescoping poles that I can stick on the ground and tie down. tie a rope between the tops of the poles, then tie two or three runners to the ground pulling the top rope taut. ropes to the ground set at 90 degrees to each other (45 degrees from the angle of the top rope) keeps it upright. They're pretty beefy poles, but it's still lighter than an average 3 man tent. I also sometimes back the jeep up to a tree and use the tree and the roll bar. Two vehicles works too. I'm thinking of trying to figure out how to make my bike support one end...

[K-Man]

Hope it helps. Let us know what you settle on.


I went with the Mountain Hardware Casa 4 (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=331&cat=23&viewAll=False) tent. Just got it today.

[Zinger]

Looks pretty slick. Thanks for keeping us updated.

[Scott G.]

My favorites:

If I know I want to haul it down a trail or even backpack with it, I like the Taj 3. It can fit three folks, is not too heavy, and the three pole design will take a beating weather wise ;) http://www.rei.com/product/731430

For the bling bling of outdoor party and recreation tents, for Burning Man or just pure outdoor enjoyment, the Mountain Hardware Space Station is pretty sweet, but you will need a Sherpa to carry it and it broke the bank :o: http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=3&prod=220&cat=21&viewAll=False