Shopping for a tent

dipbait

dipbait

Joined
Feb 9, 2008
Messages
5,421
We will be heading west this August. Wyoming, South Dakota , Montana. Plan on spending some time in Hotels and some time in campgrounds. Heres what I need. Their will be three of us so a five person, one room tent should be comfy. Im planning to be sleeping on cots. The tent must be quick and easy to set up, so I can set it up in the dark if necessary. Dont want to spend a lot of money but want a lot of bang for the buck. Two to three hundred dollars tops. Cabelas , Bass pro, Dicks sporting goods are all accessible. Any recommendations ?
 
If you're car camping, I'd consider going slightly larger (6 or 8 person), just to make sure there's plenty of room to maneuver around the cots while dressing, etc. That said, on a budget, I've always had good luck with Coleman tents:thumbup: My current 4-man tent I've had for around 8 years, and the only problem is that one of the small fly poles broke last summer. I don't do a lot of bad-weather camping, but I did spend a few nights last summer in it in the rain, and I had no problems:cool: Not bad, considering it's never not been on the ground, nor has it ever been re-waterproofed.
 
The Cabela's WestWind 6-person sports a stable and proven pole-crossing dome design, a full-coverage fly (door area is open though), and an affordable price. Check it out:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&indexId=cat602107&hasJS=true


If you want spend ~$400, I can vouch for the REI Base Camp 6. We have one, and it is a fine tent. It is rather large, and the poles are really long, but as long as you have the space, setup isn't an issue. I usually set it up by myself, too.

http://www.rei.com/product/777755
 
After reding thr reviews for the REI base camp 6, I may have to up my price range to four hundred dollars. I know how windy it can get in S.Dakota.
 
I'd measure those cots before you buy anything.

Doubtful you could get three cots in a 5 or even 6 person tent.

May be possible if it's A-frame or rectangular tent, but anything round and it ain't gonna happen.

A good air mattress is better than a cot anyway.

Have fun.
 
The reason Im leaning toward cots is that I have never been in a tent that didnt leak in a heavy downpour. A cot keeps me off the floor.
 
dipbait said:
The reason Im leaning toward cots is that I have never been in a tent that didnt leak in a heavy downpour. A cot keeps me off the floor.
Click to expand...

Then I'd say you've never been in a good tent. :) I have several tents, have slept many a night in pouring rain and have never had one leak.
 
I bought a Cabelas Quad Pole 10x12. I wanted the REI but the wife wanted the extra room and it was a hundred and twenty dollars less.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top