Question on Tents...

[midnite-penguin]

Hey guys, back around after a bit of a hiatus, Study and work(while never ending) seem to really ebb and flow in intensity for me.

Who else is excited for fall? AKA THE BEST TIME TO DO ANYTHING OUTDOORS :thumbup:

Anyway, back on topic...

TENTS.

Do I need a "four season" tent to camp comfortably in the winter? Or will a "three season" tent do as long as I create a sub environment with say, sleeping with a few layers on.

Basically what I'm getting at is - What does a "four season" tent have to make it better for the winter? Is the material just a bit thicker for better insulation?

Does that make a "four season" tent uncomfortable in the summer or more likely to retain moisture?

And Lastly - Can anybody point me in the direction of an affordable all-season tent? I guess Euereka has some quality stuff - been eyeing up this one...

http://www.eurekatent.com/p-71-alpenlite-xt-tent.aspx

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bumppo]

Some three season tents might do very well as four season tents, but you might notice a lot of four season tents have less ventilation that three season tents, and mountaineering tents may have more poles and tie downs. if you are not actually climbing, and you cannot afford a tent for every environment, Think about where you will be using it, if it needs to withstand snow loads or if high winds will be likely.You will want your vents to be high, so drifts don't smother you in your sleep. Free standing three season tents with flys that reach or almost reach the ground might suffice, i use an old Eureka Autumn wind as my winter tent, and it works fine, but if the wind gets really bad snow blows up though the side vents.

 

[jw2n]

I have been using a Eureka 3 season for the past several years. In high winds, or snow, I put out the guy-lines that I dont otherwise use. I pay attention to the snow load and will clean it off the fly. I use a lightweight bag-liner to bump the heat value (I really need to fork out the dinero for a winter bag). I wear a superthin sleeping hat and some additional clothing while in the bag. A thicker, full length pad helps also. You will have to decide on whether you want a single wall, or conventional (fly) tent when looking at 4 season. You are looking at more money and more weight. Unless your situation demands a 4, I would try a 3 and make some mods to the sleeping equip. If you decide on a 4, try to find a new one which is the previous year's model as you can save some big bucks. The previous post has some great observations also.

 

[kgd]

I have both a 3 season (MEC Tarn-3) and 4 season (MEC-nunatuk). The 4-season is actually a full expedition tent designed for mountaineering. Basically, it is better handling in the wind and more robust to snow loading.

Comparing the features: the 4-season has 4 poles instead of 3 and there is no doubt with the two set up together that the 4-season is more rock stable compared to the 3 (not event he fly riffles in the wind). The poles are threaded through full pole sleaves on the 4-season. I.e. there is no way for the poles to slip out compared to the clips that hold the poles to the tent on the 3 season. The four season has 2 doors and 2 vestibules basically giving more living room for hunkering down in bad weather. The 4-season has many more tie down points for extreme conditions. The four season weights 2 x the 3 season even though the floor plan is similar.

In the end, I most often take my 3-season because it is lighter, more compact and for the most part I don't camp in times that test the limits of the tent. I don't doubt that my 3 season would hold up find in a 2-day storm over a weekend camping trip. However, if I had to hunker down for a week in nasty blowing wind on top of a mountain, I think I 'd enjoy the comforts of the 4-season more.

During car-camping, we take out the four season because of the extra room the vestibules afford. It isn't quite as well ventillated and as such in warm months you do get more condensation forming on the inside of the tent wall. Because the tent is pretty big its not a problem, unless you happen to decide to run your hands or clothing along the wall.

 

[stingray4540]

Like others have said, a 4 season tent is usually more robust for handling snow loads and high winds. If you camp in areas that have neither of those in the winter, or at least very little, then you can probably to pretty well in a 3 season tent.
I don't think 4 season tents are necesarily warmer or more insulated.

 

[Calebklyne]

if you dont spend the money on the ten the you will need to spend it on sleeping gear, but as long as your tent isnt mostly mesh like mine some more clothes and a nicer sleeping bag will likely do the trick, a pad that fits you is never a bad idea eaither