tent and sleeping bag recommendation

Aias

Aias

Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
5,188
Hello all,

I'm doing Cub Scouts with my son, and need recommendations for a tent, sleeping bags, and general camping gear. I'm more of a day hiker, so all this is relatively new to me.

Thanks for your help!

Anthony
 
That's cool. My son was just looking at joining them. I think it would help to know some info first. Are you going to have to hike in far or more car camping? Conditions you most likely would be camping in (hot, cold, rains all the time)? It will make a difference as to what is suggested. As for gear...... not sure. I still flip flop and switch my gear around. I think it's just start cheap and basic and slowly figure out what would benefit from an upgrade.
 
Thanks Tankerwolf,

In SoCal, we don't get much rain, but there is camping at the beach, in the mountains, and maybe the desert (high desert/ Joshua Tree... at least we may d that on our own). So, warm and cold is both possible. I don't think we hike far to the campsites, and there are many others around to help out. I also think that things are kept pretty simple and convenient with Cub Scouts.

Looking forward to hearing more. So far, I was looking at this tent: Mountaintop Watreproof 3 Season Tents for Camping/2-3 Person Camping Tent/Backpacking Tents with Carry Bag (which can be seen on that Big South American River site with shall remain nameless)
 
I've been using the same "the north face", cats meow for the past 15+ years. I used to hike and camp a lot. The past ten years a little less due to the advent of "my boys". It's a great three season bag. Light and compact.
I have a big Agnes tent. I have the copper spur 3. It's light, easy to set up and spacious.
Weight is everything when overnight hiking/camping. I would also recommend you look into sleeping pads for you and your son. They make a huge difference in comfort especially when it's cold and/or raining. There are many types. I like the hybrid foam/inflatable type. They pack light and small.
Oh and take a knife!
 
I would suggest asking the leaders of said troop. (Is it troop over there?)

It's what we (Dutch scout leader here) hope the parents of our young members do when they have questions.
 
Aias said:
Thanks Tankerwolf,

In SoCal, we don't get much rain, but there is camping at the beach, in the mountains, and maybe the desert (high desert/ Joshua Tree... at least we may d that on our own). So, warm and cold is both possible. I don't think we hike far to the campsites, and there are many others around to help out. I also think that things are kept pretty simple and convenient with Cub Scouts.

Looking forward to hearing more. So far, I was looking at this tent: Mountaintop Watreproof 3 Season Tents for Camping/2-3 Person Camping Tent/Backpacking Tents with Carry Bag (which can be seen on that Big South American River site with shall remain nameless)
Click to expand...

Don't buy that tent. It has a partial rainfly so if it actually rains you will get wet. Also fiberglass poles are outdated get aluminum poles.
For a few dollars more buy a Kelty Salida 2. Full fly with vestibule and aluminium poles. I sell these at a store I am currently working at, sell them all day and we rent them too. They work fine.

As far as sleeping bags go. Synthetic insulated bags are usually less expensive but heavier and bulkier. Another poster mentioned the TNF Cat's Meow. I also have one (over 20 years old and still going). It i not too heavy or bulky. Rated about 20F but YMMV.
 
Odog27 said:
I've been using the same "the north face", cats meow for the past 15+ years. I used to hike and camp a lot. The past ten years a little less due to the advent of "my boys". It's a great three season bag. Light and compact.
I have a big Agnes tent. I have the copper spur 3. It's light, easy to set up and spacious.
Weight is everything when overnight hiking/camping. I would also recommend you look into sleeping pads for you and your son. They make a huge difference in comfort especially when it's cold and/or raining. There are many types. I like the hybrid foam/inflatable type. They pack light and small.
Oh and take a knife!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll look all that up! And knives are covered!
 
billym said:
Don't buy that tent. It has a partial rainfly so if it actually rains you will get wet. Also fiberglass poles are outdated get aluminum poles.
For a few dollars more buy a Kelty Salida 2. Full fly with vestibule and aluminium poles. I sell these at a store I am currently working at, sell them all day and we rent them too. They work fine.

As far as sleeping bags go. Synthetic insulated bags are usually less expensive but heavier and bulkier. Another poster mentioned the TNF Cat's Meow. I also have one (over 20 years old and still going). It i not too heavy or bulky. Rated about 20F but YMMV.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice--much appreciated!
 
Lodd said:
I would suggest asking the leaders of said troop. (Is it troop over there?)

It's what we (Dutch scout leader here) hope the parents of our young members do when they have questions.
Click to expand...

Wow, such pretentiousness. I guess I never learned to ask questions while accumulating my two masters and Ph.D. I guess it is pure folly to ask many different people questions to obtain a range of answers in the Netherlands... One of my very best friends is Dutch... I'm sure he will get a good laugh out of this tale of his countryman's smugness. You could have simply said nothing at all... Do they teach that in how do you say it over there... school... life... Or did you get a merit badge in being a schmuck.
 
Aias, not trying to hack into your dealio here but from what I've seen, most rainfly's look like they would catch the wind and turn the tent into a parachute. Why can't the tent and the rainfly be ONE like they used to be???

Aias -- if I'm stepping on your toes, kind say so and I'll delete this.
 
The Alps Mountaineering folks have the "Hiker Direct" program that discounts their brands for Scouters, it used to be called "Scout Direct" I got my son's troop the Taurus 4 and 2 tents, they offer Al or fiberglass tent poles and a full rainfly. They have periodic sales emails with free shipping that are a legit deal. They have a whole family of brands where you'd likely find something you like. My advice with a Cub is to go larger on tent size so you can store your gear (not food!) Inside with you and stand up when you change.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 
Kootaga13 said:
Aias, not trying to hack into your dealio here but from what I've seen, most rainfly's look like they would catch the wind and turn the tent into a parachute. Why can't the tent and the rainfly be ONE like they used to be???

Aias -- if I'm stepping on your toes, kind say so and I'll delete this.
Click to expand...

No, it's cool... I like the constructive criticisms... I get what you're saying, and am not sure myself... it's still new to me too.
 
Awgie said:
The Alps Mountaineering folks have the "Hiker Direct" program that discounts their brands for Scouters, it used to be called "Scout Direct" I got my son's troop the Taurus 4 and 2 tents, they offer Al or fiberglass tent poles and a full rainfly. They have periodic sales emails with free shipping that are a legit deal. They have a whole family of brands where you'd likely find something you like. My advice with a Cub is to go larger on tent size so you can store your gear (not food!) Inside with you and stand up when you change.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks for that--I'll look into it. And yes, definitely no food storage in the tent!
 
I meant no disrespect of course. You might be surprised how many parents simply forget to ask for our advice and have their kids show up with the wrong gear.

Perhaps I did assume too much and inadvertently came across as a 'schmuck'. I will endeavour to do this differently next time.

Good luck with your search.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn XT1092 met Tapatalk
 
Lodd gave you excellent advice that I will second and I'm not sure why you took offense to it.

I'll go further. I recommend seeking clarification on whether you all will be car camping (likely) or if you are going to be backpacking less likely.

If you are going to car camping, I would recommend Walmart or Target quality tents and sleeping bags. Camping with small kids can be hard on gear as they are prone to stick their feet through tent walls while rough-housing. Also, repeated days of sitting in the open in the sun in a campground will kill an expensive tent from sun rot.

Primarily, you pay extra for lighter weight and that only becomes important when backpacking. As you make the transition into true backpacking, the basic value brands are excellent such as Kelty, North Face. Kelty in particular has great kids packs, both internal and external.
 
I been using the Catoma Limbo 2. It's plenty large enough for me, momma and kiddo. (A 3 yr old) or me and any gear I take. My buddy has been suing a Coleman Maxx for several years.

Catoma Limbo 2 on the left, Coleman Maxx on the right. Both are pretty budget friendly, and not bad on pack weight. As for bags I don't see super cold weather so a cheapo bag does fine for me.
 
pinnah said:
Lodd gave you excellent advice that I will second and I'm not sure why you took offense to it.

I'll go further. I recommend seeking clarification on whether you all will be car camping (likely) or if you are going to be backpacking less likely.

If you are going to car camping, I would recommend Walmart or Target quality tents and sleeping bags. Camping with small kids can be hard on gear as they are prone to stick their feet through tent walls while rough-housing. Also, repeated days of sitting in the open in the sun in a campground will kill an expensive tent from sun rot.

Primarily, you pay extra for lighter weight and that only becomes important when backpacking. As you make the transition into true backpacking, the basic value brands are excellent such as Kelty, North Face. Kelty in particular has great kids packs, both internal and external.
Click to expand...

Lodd stated the obvious, and did so in a manner to suggest that parents don't know what they are doing. I didn't ask for an editorial on parents, not did I ask if I should ask the Cubmaster or not about gear. I asked about tents, sleeping bags, and gear.

Your points regarding clarification are well made and well taken, as was your advice. As for Lodd, I don't care to follow-up on that any further. I didn't see the excellence in his advice.
 
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