Tent Suggestions

Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
244
Hey I'm getting back into the wild. But I'm a broke college kid so I have to be smart about my investments.

Can anyone point me in the direction a quality, inexpensive 2 person tent?

Priorities are

- Lightweight
- Easy to pitch
- Price
- Space(i don't need the taj mahal)

thanks!
 
How about a ripstop nylon tarp? you can rig it low to the ground if the weather gets bad and its only a fraction of the size and weight of a tent.

The MSR zoid series and the MEC tarn 1 and 2 are a good lightweight tent.
 
You know unless you are heading up real high and expecting bad weather most cheap tents are now pretty good and up to the job.
Sure some of them are slightly heavier and they may degrade slightly faster in sunlight than a top of the range number but if a cheap one only lasts you a couple of years until your not so broke what have you lost ?
 
How about a ripstop nylon tarp? you can rig it low to the ground if the weather gets bad and its only a fraction of the size and weight of a tent.

The MSR zoid series and the MEC tarn 1 and 2 are a good lightweight tent.

I personally love the idea of just using a tarp - i will probably purchase one for cooking under if the weathers crappy. But I'm trying to get my girlfriend to come camping with me and I know theres no way she would go for sleeping out in the open under only a tarp. Hence I just want a cheapie 2 person that is light and easy to set up.
 
Check out the Eureka tents. These are very reasonably priced and of good quality. I've had a Eureka 2-person Apex since 1997. It has been used hard, stays watertight, and is just now starting to wear enough that I'm getting ready to replace it. I think it cost about 120 bucks. Campmor has good deals.
 
What is inexpensive to you?

The Eureka tents are pretty darn good bang for the buck, and I would second the excellent recommendation to Campmor for your purchase. This late in the year, you should be able to get some pretty excellent deals.

These would all be good buys:
Backcountry 2 - $130
Zeus 2 - $130
Spitfire 2 - $140

My nod would probably go to the slightly more expensive Spitfire. There are others worth considering too.
 
I personally love the idea of just using a tarp - i will probably purchase one for cooking under if the weathers crappy. But I'm trying to get my girlfriend to come camping with me and I know theres no way she would go for sleeping out in the open under only a tarp. Hence I just want a cheapie 2 person that is light and easy to set up.

I hear you bro... my girlfriend is the same way.
 
First, a two-person tent is really too small for two adults with gear. I STRONGLY recommend you consider a 4-person tent instead.

Except for backpacking, when weight is a major issue, Scout troops usually recommend 4-person tents even for 11-year old boys.

Second, aluminum poles are much preferred over fiberglass poles. Aluminum poles will last forever. Fiberglass poles will eventually start to splinter, especially in colder weather. The rub is that you'll pay more for aluminum poles.

I used to buy Eureka tents - and they are good tents, but through my involvement in Boy Scouts I've come across Alps Mountaineering tents. They sell lots of tents to Scout troops. This small company was founded by someone who came from Kelty and they make great tent designs with excellent quality. The problem is that, being a small company, they don't have a big on-line purchase presence. I ended up calling them to purchase mine. They're web site is http://www.alpsmountaineering.com .

For aluminum poles I'll highly recommend the Alps Mountaineering Taurus 4-person tent, which is $190 from Amazon.com. This is a FANTASTIC tent with a full-length fly, no pole sleeves (clips - this is huge for me), and two full vestibules!!! The combination of being a simple 2-pole design with no pole sleeves and and vestibules means it is VERY easy and quick to setup. It will last you a looong time.

If that is too much for you, the fiberglass pole version of the Taurus is available here:

http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-equipment-180.html?brand=1393

for $90. This is the same great tent, but with fiberglass poles. They also list the aluminum pole version for $190. I don't know that supplier, but they look completely legit. Actually you could buy the fiberglass pole version now and later call Alps and order just the aluminum poles - that's actually what I did.

By the way, don't forget to (1) use a ground cloth and (2) attach and stake out the storm guylines when high wind is forecasted.
 
I personally love the idea of just using a tarp - i will probably purchase one for cooking under if the weathers crappy. But I'm trying to get my girlfriend to come camping with me and I know theres no way she would go for sleeping out in the open under only a tarp. Hence I just want a cheapie 2 person that is light and easy to set up.

I hear you bro... my girlfriend is the same way.

Guess I'm lucky. . . My girlfriend has no problems sleeping under just a tarp, or even completely in the open if the weather is good enough. We've also gone without sleeping pads and just made a pile of leaves and/or pine needles to sleep on.

As to the original question, I'll put in another vote for Eureka. I've got one that's a bit too big for us to use for backpacking, but we use it for car camping. It's over 7 years old and still going.
 
kenk makes a good point about tent size. If you look at most 2 person tents they are that at best - room for 2 people and no gear. Check out the diagram in the links I posted for the Eureka Backcountry 2, it shows how 2 sleeping pads just fit inside the tent.

For you +1 and gear, get at least a 3 person model unless you're car camping and can stowe all your gear in the vehicle.

The alps stuff kenk listed looks pretty decent for the money.
 
If your tarp is big enough you can pin it right to the ground on all sides supended from the middle. Add a ground sheet and you have a dome tent. My 10x12 tarp pins to the ground and is roomy enough for 4 with gear at 1/3 the weight.

It is silnylon and not the cheapest material but cheaper lgihtweight options are available that are reasonably priced.

I will NEVER! go back to tents again, tarps are just too versitile and lightweight.

Skam
 
Yeah I'm thinking of picking up a tarp for dayhiking or maybe a 1-nighter when the weather is sapposed to be good. Can you point me in the direction of a nice inexpensive tarp?

I still think i should invest in a text though if i plan to do a weekend-long camp though, don't you?
 
Cheap and just for dorking around, go for a WallyWorld 4-man dome tent! My wife and I bought one 14 years ago when things were tight and we needed something larger than my ultra-light backpacking 2-man tent. It's still holding on strong five kids later! We use it as a play tent now when we go camping with the kids.

J-
 
Go to walmart, and get a cheap tent for $20.00-$30.00. I have a cheapo tent and it has lasted so far 3 years of 4 week a year camping. Even cheapo tents are good these days unless the weather is extreme.
 
I like the Cabelas Outback Lodge. Stake the corners and either set up the center pole or hang the peak from a tree. The four man should give you room. Its a tough tent. I have two of them. The smaller one is about 200.00 however. There just is not a easier tent to pitch anywhere.
 
I like the Cabelas Outback Lodge. Stake the corners and either set up the center pole or hang the peak from a tree. The four man should give you room. Its a tough tent. I have two of them. The smaller one is about 200.00 however. There just is not a easier tent to pitch anywhere.

Interesting tent. Kind of like a pyramid wall-tent. Is that a single wall tent? I don't see any mention of a fly on Cabela's site. How does it provide ventilation when it is raining out?
 
When I got my Eureka Rising Sun (can't say enough good things about it!) I was pretty broke as well and trying to outfit myself to hike the West Coast Trail. I wound up contacting a local sports equipment rental place and bought the used one at the end of the season. It had one small spark burn in the floor which had been properly repaired and sealed and I was able to get it for about a quarter of the price of a new one. Just a thought.
 
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