Need a new tent

runningboar

runningboar

Joined
May 27, 2006
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I do a lot of camping, roughly 2 to 4 days a month. Mostly car camping, so I am looking for a big tent, weight is no object but I am looking for a tent that is weather proof and can take fairly strong winds. I have been using this tent for about the last 5 years, I don't even remember the name brand but it has been a trooper. It has just enough room for two cots and my footlocker at the head, the rest of my gear goes under the cot.
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I am looking for something a bit bigger, maybe three cots with a bigger vestibule. I am seriously thinking about the 6 man version of this tent.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...arentType=index&parentId=cat602107&id=0043361

Does anyone have any experience with this model or can recommend another fairly high end tent of comparable size. Thanks in advance, Chris
 
Wow, that's strange, I am going to REI tomorrow, specifically to look at tents. I will definitely check those out. Chris
 
If you are going to REI, take a look at the base camp series.
I have a base camp six and like it very much. It uses four poles, so you get a rectangular footprint rather than the hex shape with a tree pole tent.
The fly has two built in vestibules, one that has a small window that is held up by a fifth pole. It has enough room that you can get in the vestibule, close it behind you and get out of wet clothes before getting into the main tent. Makes keeping everything dry much easier.

I have used it for six or seven years and it's still going strong. I have no complaints about the tent at all.

Bruceter
 
Bruceter said:
If you are going to REI, take a look at the base camp series.
I have a base camp six and like it very much. It uses four poles, so you get a rectangular footprint rather than the hex shape with a tree pole tent.
The fly has two built in vestibules, one that has a small window that is held up by a fifth pole. It has enough room that you can get in the vestibule, close it behind you and get out of wet clothes before getting into the main tent. Makes keeping everything dry much easier.

I have used it for six or seven years and it's still going strong. I have no complaints about the tent at all.

Bruceter
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I looked at that one on the web sight, thanks for the realworld take on it. Does it have fiberglass poles or aluminum? Chris
 
We purchased the Kodiak Flex Bow canvas tent from Cabelas a couple of years ago. Just a super durable and well-made tent that can easily take anything that mother nature can deal out. This tent has taken the worst of winds and rain that the Pacific Northwest could deal out and it has always stayed tight and dry. Incredibly easy to put up, too (poles are exterior). The vertical walls let you use every square inch of this tent and us tall people have no problem walking around in this tent without hitting our heads on the roof (I'm tired of ducking and leaning over in tents just to get dressed).
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Check out a Eureka Equinox.

It is as close as you can get to an expedition quality tent without selling your car.
 
PrimitiveMan said:
Check out a Eureka Equinox.

It is as close as you can get to an expedition quality tent without selling your car.
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+1 on the equinox - picked one up used off of craigslist for $50

It was used once still basically brand new but 3 cots would be pushing it.
 
I have the smaller Equinox 4. They don't make it any longer, but I thought the Equinox 6 that they still make would be big enough so I will have to take your word for it.
 
I think that columbia might be a bit large. I am looking at tents that are about 10x10 give or take. Have yall used the Eureka in very much wind, I have seen some 2 pole tents that did not fair well in a bit of wind. Chris
 
I used to live in Lincoln, NE and went to Cabela's several times each year. One time the sales reps for Eureka tents were there. They said for the money Cabela's brand of tents are more durable than most of the others. They said Cabela's had more waterproofing put on their tents than anyone else. A lot of the outfitters in Alaska seem to use them if they are tent camping and not using a Wall Tent. For my self, I like a tent you can stand up in to get dressed and can have room for a few chairs, coolers, gear, etc. Moss, Northface, and a few others also make some great tents; but the price for the size is spendy to me. Hope this helps.
 
turtleman said:
I used to live in Lincoln, NE and went to Cabela's several times each year. One time the sales reps for Eureka tents were there. They said for the money Cabela's brand of tents are more durable than most of the others. They said Cabela's had more waterproofing put on their tents than anyone else. A lot of the outfitters in Alaska seem to use them if they are tent camping and not using a Wall Tent. For my self, I like a tent you can stand up in to get dressed and can have room for a few chairs, coolers, gear, etc. Moss, Northface, and a few others also make some great tents; but the price for the size is spendy to me. Hope this helps.
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Yeah, I have been hearing the same thing. I have just been reading the customer reviews on the Alaskan guide model tents, looks pretty dang good, good customer support too. Chris

BTW welcome to WSS. :thumbup:
 
I'll put in another recommendation for Eureka! tents. I think tey offer the best qality for the price on the market. I've used an Apex XT backpacking tent for over ten years and it's held up great through all manner of weather. My sister has one of the big Eureka! tents for her family and loves it.
 
Didn't make it to REI, wife picked up a nail in her tire so I just got in from changing the flat, plugging the tire and putting it back on, too late now to drive to Raleigh. I am going to check and see if they are open tomorrow, I am very interested in the basecamp 6, looks just the ticket. Chris
 
Davis tents 1-877-elk-camp are the best I have come across, mine will stay set up for 2 1/2 months straight every year, through wind hours and hours of rain and snow and stay nice and warm inside, there's various set up options, just depends how big ya want to go.
 
Flix, That tent is the bomb but a bit more than I am looking for, I think that might be nicer than my house. :D

Me and my son camped weekend before last and it got down in the teens, I know for a lot of yall that is balmy but for the coastal carolinas that is COOOLD!!! My tents have to be 3 or 4 season with a full length fly because about 0600 I reach out from my sleeping bag, fire up the mister heater and in about 15 minutes it's nice and toasty. :cool: I am going to VA next weekend and I am hoping for warmer weather. Chris
 
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