Thinking about a new tent

Bill Siegle

Bill Siegle

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Messages
6,814
Looking for 2-3 man, light weight, at least 3 season(2 of those seasons are wet in Oregon), and easy to set up. My old Fred Meyer special is about 10 years old and I think the material holds more water than it sheds anymore. Gonna need a new shelter for car camping and backpacking. I like the simple dome shapes that use a couple poles and clips(sleeves suck!). So what is out there and what are you using?
 
I just got a new REI sales ad thats good through the 14th.

There is a Mountain Hardwear Lightpath 3 for $129. (Reg $190). According to Mountain Hardwear it weights 5# 14oz. I'm considering it myself cause the Sierra Design's Clip Flashlight I have is too small for me. (I'm a big guy and need my room.)

http://www.rei.com/product/747617
 
Look at the Eureka Timberline Outfitter. I have used a lot of tents, but this one is great. I have been in several very bad storms in it and stayed bone dry.
 
Hey Bill...

Not to ruin your future buying spree,, but..
Have you thought about spraying the tent ??

There are some good waterproof sprays available now that could possibly help that old tent...Even if not just to keep it in service...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Eric, I have thought about it but I don't think the tent is really worth the effort. It is too heavy for backpacking anyway so it's time for an upgrade :) I'd like to keep costs under $300.
 
Check out the REI half dome and quarter dome. There is a reason backpacker magazine keeps picking these tents to win their awards. I have an older half dome and it is a great backpacking tent.
 
I recently purchased an Alps Mountaineering Meramac tent as my "Scoutmaster's tent", and it is VERY well made, very easy to setup, and has NO POLE SLEEVES (yuck from me too).

I'm going to recommend to you an Alps Mountaineering Taurus, which would provide VERY good weather protection. This is a three-season 7000 series aluminum-pole tent with no pole sleeves, vestibuled doors front & back, full to-the-ground rain fly, and a very large tent body door.

Personally, I like the 4-person version. The tent body is 7.5'x8.5' and 4'4" tall, which gives good headroom and space for gear for two people. Cost from Amazon.com is $190.

There is also a 2-person version, which is 5'x7.5' and 3'10" tall. Cost from Amazon.com is $140.

These are well-made tents - similar to Eureka in quality - at pretty reasonable prices. If you happen to be a Scout leader, go to http://www.scoutdirect.com to get an amazing discount over retail cost through Alps Mountaineering's Scout program.

For a lot more detailed info on these tents, go to http://www.alpsmountaineering.com .

Note: I don't have anything to do with the company. I'm just a very satified customer and asst. Scoutmaster who camps in my tent fairly often and likes it more and more each time I do.
 
I hadn't caught that you were backpacking. Do take a look at the Eureka 2-person Spitfire tent. Great tent for the money!!

Again, aluminum poles, no sleeves, full fly. Minimum weight on right around 4 lbs.
 
I use the Marmot Early Light model. I think it's around 5lbs and has a removable fly and also has two doors so your buddy doen'st wake you climbing over you to go to the bathroom late at night :)
 
If you want ultralight, search on Henry Shires-- he makes some nice ones. The Golite Hex 3 is a good one for three.

I have an REI quarter dome and it's fine for two who know and like each other a lot, but you won't get two big guys in there and it would be a hard deal to get three humans over five years old in one :) A quality, light, three person tent is a stinker to find a bargain on. REI just started a sale today...
 
Bill Siegle said:
Eric, I have thought about it but I don't think the tent is really worth the effort. It is too heavy for backpacking anyway so it's time for an upgrade :) I'd like to keep costs under $300.
Click to expand...

Check out Big Agnes. They make a 2-3 person ttent for ~250$ that weighs just over 3 pounds.
 
Bill Siegle said:
Looking for 2-3 man, light weight, at least 3 season(2 of those seasons are wet in Oregon), and easy to set up. My old Fred Meyer special is about 10 years old and I think the material holds more water than it sheds anymore. Gonna need a new shelter for car camping and backpacking. I like the simple dome shapes that use a couple poles and clips(sleeves suck!). So what is out there and what are you using?
Click to expand...

Bill- Check out the Sierra Designs Stretch Dome. External aluminum poles with clips: no sleeves. We bought ours in 1987 and its still a great tent. The main zipper went bad this year so I shipped it to Sierra Designs in Utah for repair. Imagine my surprise when it was returned repaired within 2 weeks-at no cost. They said it was guaranteed and they weren't kidding.

GB
 
Bill,

I bought a REI tent last summer and have been very impressed with the fit and finish and the ingenuity of the design. I have the Base 4 which is a great car camping tent but is way to large and heavy for backpacking. However REI just started selling three new tents that look like it came from the same designer/team.
http://www.rei.com/rei/gearshop/features/sm5165.html
 
Just got home from shopping and hit REI. Looked at a bunch of em and decided on the Mountain Hardware Light Path 3. Very packable at 5#s and plenty of room for myself and my son. It is a 3 season but the salesman said it would hold up fine in the winter as long as you don't try to park it in a wind tunnel or let snow build up over 8inches on it :) Since I am a fair winter weather camper I went with the lighter weight over the 4 season tent I was considering. Thanks for all the help folks :D
 
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