Tent Question...

D

dingobubba

Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
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I'm looking for a family size tent. I was talking with the wife about doing a family camping trip and she was really excited(go figure). I was looking at a Northwest Territory family size tent for $60.00(nice price for me). Now remember this is for family camping. Just a few days at a civilized state park. Not the hard core stuff most of you guys do. Anybody have any experience with this brand?:confused:
 
I have had okay experience with these, they have gotten pretty good over the last few years. they will not hold up as well as a Kelty or eureka by any means, but if you seam seal them and take care of them they chould keep the rain off in all but the foulest weather, and in those cases you can throw a tarp over them to weather the storm.

these tents main lack is in ventilation, they never seem to have the airflow of the better brands.
 
I would love to get a Kelty or Eureka but more than I wanted to spend. Any other suggestions for a family tent in the $50. - $100. range?
 
My one complaint about a lot of department store tents is that the fly supplied with them is like a little beanie that just covers the the top where there is usually a bit of screen for ventilation. This means that most of the tent is single walled and if the kids are restless and/or playing in the tent when it's raining then there is a good chance that they'll be brushing the walls and you'll have water seeping through. This might not be much of an issue depending on how old the kids are and exactly what tent you get, but If there is any chance of more than a brief shower or two when you're on your outing, I'd make sure to take a tarp and some cordage so you can give yourself a bit more protection if necessary.
 
dude check dicks sporting store i got a quest dome that sleeps 4 for 39 bucks regularly priced over 100 $$. i use the tent for the kids and camping light and beach. it has both sides wide open for ventilation.


i just checked their website ,it is not listed , but month ago we walked into dicks store in cary , nc and we really did not need another tent but for 39 bucks i bought one and my brother got one. they are not on website , you have to go check instore.

its orange and gray dome quest .
 
I've had my 2-man Eureka Timberline for 18 years and still use it regularly. So when it was time for a family tent, car camping, I didn't hesitate to buy the 4-man Timberline. A bit more than $100, but well worth it.

In college we traveled around the country on a bus for a semester, camping everywhere we went, in 4-man Timberlines. Never had a single problem with any of them. And the school continued to use those tents for many trips after that.

I notice that Sears.com has it for $10 less than campmor.
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Sorry I don't have any experience with that brand you're asking about. My intuition is that they're probably fine for what you have in mind, occational short-term use.
Double-check the construction to make sure you don't have to thread the poles through a sleeve. Set up the tent a couple of times in the backyard for practice before you head out. Seam-seal the tent, and check for missing parts. Being able to set up your tent blindfolded may be overkill, but I end up making camp after dark about 70% of the time (and I can set up my tent blindfolded).

If your child hasn't gone camping before, you should set up the tent for them to play in for a couple of days. We did that for our 1-year-old. He loved playing in the tent in the house, with his new sleeping bag inside too. I think that helped take the 'edge' off when the real time came.

And after a night in a tent with the old lady and kid, you'll be sorry you didn't buy seperate tents. :D

Good Luck,
-Bob

p.s. You didn't ask about sleeping bags, but the Eureka Grasshopper is what I bought for the Boy. Very nice bag, warm and well-made, for only $25. No sense in blowing a bunch of money on something they're going to outgrow in five or ten years.
 
I have no experience with the brand you mentioned but the coleman 5 man tent has plenty of room with a 72" height and is right up your alley for $60. The sports authority sometimes has a good sale on camping items.
 
Also I like the larger height tent because as mentioned before the kids like to play in it, plus if it gets to hot you and could put a chair and sit in it as well. You may want to put a tarp underneath your tent, but this is not necessary especially if you use a state park type of campground as their ground is usally softer and/or sandy.
 
Try Looking at www.sportsmansguide.com They usually have a good selection of tents, both less expensive brands and better ones. also check out www.campmor.com for closeouts.

I Would go with the cheaper tent if you havent been camping with the family before, dont blow the bank on something that may not become a regular activity. If you like camping you can always upgrade in a couple of years.

I definitley agree with height being a factor, Taller tents are easier, especially with a family, flat walls are nice but can leak easier than slanted or round ones especially in the cheaper brands.

PS : I would also recomend you look into a canopy of some kind if you dont already have one, it can really make a big difference especially on a rainy weekend. The pop ups are awsome but heavy and expensive. the ones with tubular pole frames are a good option but make sure you hang on to the directions as they can can be a pain without them. or you can do what I do and mark poles yourself with a simple code you can remember.

I really hope you and your family enjoy camping, I know I have been hooked since My mom took me when I was a Kid.
 
You may want to look into renting a tent from REI or similar store near you. You'll get a chance to try out good gear, see if the family likes camping, and not spend a bunch of money. You should be able to rent a good tent for much less than you would pay for a cheapie. If you and your family decide that you like camping, you can consider buying a tent then. (You'll also have some shared experience in at least one tent and it may help you decide on what features you want. Many times, these stores will let you apply your rental fee toward the purchase of a brand new tent.

I have had to replace way too much crappy camping gear that I bought simply because it was cheap. I'm not familiar with the brand you mentioned, but things to look out for in "cheapie" tents are shortcuts that can really spoil your campout. One I recall vividly si a tiny little rainfly that only covered a small portion of the tent. We got caught in a pretty good rain and my new bride was not too impressed with camping! Other areas where some manufacturers skimp is in the floor (materials and/or construction), poles, and tie-out points.

-- FLIX
 
Hey thanks for all the input guys. Gonna be four of us and the dog. I'm gonna check out some things mentioned. Let ya know later what I come up with.
 
I like bivy tents for just me, since their small weight (3lbs), but for families i suggest simple dome tents like Colemen or swiss gear. hope this helps.
 
Bob W said:
I've had my 2-man Eureka Timberline for 18 years and still use it regularly. So when it was time for a family tent, car camping, I didn't hesitate to buy the 4-man Timberline. A bit more than $100, but well worth it.

Good Luck,
-Bob
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dont waste money on a cheapo tent that you will have to replace.
$60 now, then what?

Eureka timberline 2 person tent - about $100
Eureka timberline 4 person tent - about $150
It will last for years.

My Timberline is still good after 25 years.
And if ever the Fly goes I can buy one for $50
 
You get what you pay for. If your tent leaks and your wife gets wet and cold you can kiss family camping goodbye. A strong tarp pitched over your tent can help keep the tent dry but if it is windy you really have to secure it. Those kind of days are best spent at home talking about camping. At least until you own a quality tent.

I use a Coleman tent from Costco for some family camping in fair weather. When I go horse logging for a few weeks to a month at a time I use a $50.00 Wenger POS with a tarp strung over the top. The tarp is much bigger than the 4 person tent. This allows me to have a porch to get dressed under and store my saws. I consider this tent to give good service if it lasts 2 years and I always have a new spare with me.

BTW seam sealing a tent is a real pain in the rear. But, it has to be done before you use it. A high quality tent will have factory taped seams that save hours of work. Seam sealing takes 2 days to do correctly.
 
Look for one with a "bathtub" floor. This means that the waterproof material that is on the bottom of the tent will extend a foot or two up the side of the tent. That way, if you do brush the sides, it is not as big of a deal than if it is just plain material.

My family used a Eureka 6 man tent for 15 or so years of car camping with no problem. The occasional tear was easily fixed with some duct tape. I would imagine any Target tent would be about the same for your purposes.
 
money has often been an issue with my outdoor purchases and i have learned the hard way that you get what you pay for. my dept. store piece of crap cause more arguments and headaches than i care to remember. i finially bought a eureka and it has held up well through storms and hail and is very easily worth the extra.
joshua
 
Talked to the wife last night and we both agreed to hold off till next summer. Save and get a quality tent and other stuff that we will need. Besides the boy is only 6 months old and will prob be a little difficult to enjoy ourselves. By next summer he'll be 1 1/2 yrs old and be walking. Thanks for all the input guys!
 
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