Another question about a tent, or here we go again....

Kootaga13 said:
gadgetgeek -- Great points brother. 100 heads are better than one! Especially if one of them is yours.

22 rimfire -- this doesn't look to bad if we sleep the other direction...

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ke...n-3-season~p~163mt/?filterString=tents~d~228/

Robgmn - that Coleman looks pretty sweet also. decisions... decisions. What is that model called?
Click to expand...

It's the Picton 2. It's been discontinued, but I still see them in the stores.
The floor is basically a waterproof tarp-like material that forms a "tub" around the tent. Not good if you get a major leak, but very good at keeping water out (don't ask :-). It's been through a storm that included high winds and tornado warnings, and only a few drops got in.
It's heavy, so it's not suited for backpacking, but it works just fine for car-camping or short distance carry-in.

It's low-denier fabric and not expensive (<$70 if I recall); if I get 15 uses out of it before replacing it (I'm sure I will), I'd consider myself a winner. That's the cost of one Starbucks per 3-day trip.
 
DUDE! I ain't no Starbucks drinker but......I do like coffee but.......how much does that stuff cost? BTW, thanks for the Picton 2 info and $70 is real sweet. :)
 
My oldest tent is a 2-person Sierra Designs, which has been used quite a bit, both backpacking and car camping. Since then I bought a 3-person dome tent from REI that we use car camping. The floor is shaped like a hexagon so when 2 people are in it the 2 corners provide space for a little bit of gear. My newest smaller tent is a North Face 2-person. My suggestion would be to look for a 3 or 4 person dome tent perhaps from REI.

If there is a store near you that rents gear you could rent some larger tents to try out.
 
$5 a cup! No way Jose!

bdmicarta... I went into REI a few times and while they do have quality stuff, I could only imagine their tents would be as costly as Starbucks coffee is. I'm sure the old adage of you get what you pay for is true, but if you go all the waay back to my original thread, there are other things in life I want. I am NOT trying to beat you down. PLEASE don't take it the wrong way. Please. I simply can't afford everything REI has to offer. Same goes for their backpacks. Northface is another brand I can't afford. I'm more of a Coleman kinda guy. Then I can afford to throw a few steaks on the grill. :)
 
Kootaga13 said:
$5 a cup! No way Jose!

bdmicarta... I went into REI a few times and while they do have quality stuff, I could only imagine their tents would be as costly as Starbucks coffee is. I'm sure the old adage of you get what you pay for is true, but if you go all the waay back to my original thread, there are other things in life I want. I am NOT trying to beat you down. PLEASE don't take it the wrong way. Please. I simply can't afford everything REI has to offer. Same goes for their backpacks. Northface is another brand I can't afford. I'm more of a Coleman kinda guy. Then I can afford to throw a few steaks on the grill. :)
Click to expand...

It's amazing the prices that some equipment can demand, even if it IS the better stuff.
They reduce the weight by 30%, and increase the price by 900% :-)
 
It's also amazing when they have a sale at the end of a season. First of all, I'm ALWAYS a day late, but then you get a slight glimist, into what their profit margin really is. 40-50-60% off?
 
Heck, I'm so tight, you could prolly stick a lump of coal up my posterior and a week later pull out a diamond. So bdmicarta, please don't take anything I say personal. I appreciate all the feedback.

I still think some of the rain-resistant (is that correct?) tents out there, look like a good wind would catch that 'rain bonnet' and send then sailing.
 
I use a mountain hardware 2 person rambler I think is the model


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Geez totkstuno, those are some unique tents there brother, thanks for turning me onto them. Those are like Cadillac's. I'm looking for a Chevy. If I hit the Lottery, that Space Station was kinda neat. Does it hover?

Has anybody heard anything about these and who said something about seam sealing? How often and how? My tent I used growing up was a 7x7 umbrella tent. HEAVY green canvas with a floor. If you didn't wake up early enough in the summer, Mr. Sunshine would give you a wakey, wakey call and heat that sucker up. Remember the smell of canvas?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...rd_wg=Sv4ks&psc=1&refRID=QJR9XDF9RHGAKCZXM878
 
I hear you about wanting a Chevy and not a Cadillac. I'm not wealthy, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun! Sure, I'd love a top of the line tent, but honestly, it's not something I need. So, last year I bought a Coleman Highline II tent. It was quite inexpensive as far as tents go. Under $70. It's a 4 person tent. I'm a tall gal...6 feet 2 inches...and my spouse and I had no problems with the size of the tent. Even had extra room in there to store our gear while we slept. Of course, I applied water repellent and seam sealer to the tent before its first use. I always seem to have bad timing when I camp and encounter violent Texas thunderstorms. I would recommend this tent to those who are budget conscious. Let us know which tent you choose!


Alex
 
Kootaga13 said:
Geez totkstuno, those are some unique tents there brother, thanks for turning me onto them. Those are like Cadillac's. I'm looking for a Chevy. If I hit the Lottery, that Space Station was kinda neat. Does it hover?
Click to expand...

No hover at all and I can solo set it up in 12 minutes. Had to buy a new set of spikes to use it in sand at the outer banks but the standard ones that came with it were good for any solid soil. My wife gave it to me for Christmas 7 years ago and she got it on a sale at a outdoor store near our house. Great tent imho though it was kinda steep on the price scale



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm a fan of mcnett products, their seam-sealer is a great product. Since most production tents are taped, the tape is often the weak link in the water-proofing chain. A little seam sealer from above might not look great, but it gives the tent that little edge. Same with treating little pin-holes in the floor. But you can also take a little time and trench the edge for a little more protection. I often don't just to avoid making a mess of the site, but depending on where you are, it might be needed. And after a couple years, you can put some water resistance back into the fabric with some scotchguard or aquaseal spray. A lot of the cheaper tents rely on water beading off, rather than actual waterproofing coatings, since they are cheaper to do, but they are pretty easy to look after. The reality is that a cheaper tent might need a little more care, but as long as you start with one of the brands that has enough warranty to cover the first couple uses, most of the difference between them is cosmetic.
 
I seldom visit Starbucks. I pinch my pennies too much to buy $5+ cups of coffee. I was doing a job this past spring and a person wanders out with a Walmart tent (6 person) and asked if I wanted it..... I said, I would never use it. He needed some money, so... I gave him $50 and took the tent home with me. It is still in my garage in the box (never used). :D

Yes, treat the seals. It is something you need to do about once a year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top