Anybody bought a tent lately?

NCWayne · Jan 1, 2013

Looking to buy a tent to take the family camping. I did alot of camping 26 plus years ago when I was in school but almost always either slept on the ground or simply under a tarp. The only time I slept in a tent was a big green canvas one my Grandpa had that was probably made back in the early 60's. Too my parents bought me a small two person tent that was OK for inclimate weather unless you happened to touch the side and then it would leak like a sieve where you touched it.

Over the years I know they have made alot of advancements in materials, etc but beyond that I have no clue who makes a good tent for occasional use anymore (ie the name brands), what kinds of materials to look for, etc, etc. Granted I know there are some that are supposed to be "top of the line", and they usually fetch 'top of the line' prices too. All I need is something for occasional use that won't break the bank. So, any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 1, 2013

I bought an 8 man tent several years ago at a garage sale for just a few bucks. Don't know what the fabric is but the tag says to spray with water before using to close up the fibers.

showcrop · Jan 1, 2013

Consider a used pop-up tent trailer. When the wife and I were first married we did some back pack camping and that was good at the time, but with kids when you get that unexpected front suddenly comes through and dumps an inch of rain, being up off the ground makes a big difference. They are also very roomy.

MarkB_MI · Jan 1, 2013

If you have an REI store nearby, I recommend you go there and let their treehugger staff advise you. REI is careful to only sell quality products, and consequently their stuff tends to be on the expensive side. You'll regret paying two or three times what you might pay for a similar tent elsewhere, but you won't regret it later when you and your better half find yourselves in a day-long rainstorm. (If you want to find out how compatible you are with someone, just take them camping in the rain.)

I have an REI Hobitat 4 tent that I've taken to Oshkosh several years. It's quite dry and is tall enough to stand in. Big enough for two cots with space left over. I also purchased the "footprint" that REI offers for this tent. It's a heavy ground cloth sized custom for the tent, intended to protect the tent floor. The campground at Oshkosh is a mowed hayfield, and I've had tent floors punctured by alfalfa stalks; the footprint takes care of that problem.
Tents at REI

Jim in Ma. · Jan 1, 2013

To start out camping with a family, All the little things needed will add up quickly.
Look around for a rental place and rent the equiptment for the first time out. That will give you an idea if your family will enjoy camping.
Over the past 60 years I have camped with everything from tents to motor homes. If I were to start out on a budgut - I would look into a used popup camper. Everything you need will be in there except food and clothing.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 1, 2013

Much as I enjoy tent camping, Ibagree with you Showcrop.

Glenn

Steve Fawks · Jan 1, 2013

Domes are easy to set up, ocme in several sizes, don't take up much space to transport, and aren't that expensive. 'Course I use a 7' bell-backed wedge at rendezvous and my wife wants a lot of 'tin' at the lake. <G>

Gene Dotson · Jan 1, 2013

Check out the Eureka tents. I am very satisfied with mine. Be sure to get a tent that has a fly over the main tent to keep the moisture from penetrating.

Eureka is the manufacturer that makes tents for the military. I use mine when I camp with my airplane. Always use a double air mattress and have a electric pump to inflate it. Can't sleep on hard ground.

Gene

pete black · Jan 1, 2013

as a younger man with family we went from tent to pop-up trailer to full travel trailer. now at age 66, of them all i like not having none the best. however, when we were actively camping we preferred the pop-up trailer the best. easiest, neatest and closest to camping than any other means.

CH(upstate,NY) · Jan 1, 2013

I second Eureka. Between backpacking and family camping I've had 3 in the last 40 years and have been very satified. My backpack tent climbed most of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks. I was so much younger then.

sixtyninegmc · Jan 1, 2013

I bought a 2 man Mountain Hardware tent several years ago, and I am in love with it. The bigger tents they make look to be just as good of quality, not cheap though. I live in Alaska and am an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and I have yet to get wet in that tent. It has been snowed on, rained on, rained on with 50 MPH gusts, and been out to 0F and not let me down yet.

Goose · Jan 1, 2013

I lived in a tent my uncle provided for me for a couple of years once. Never much cared for it since.

BTW, my uncle's name was "Sam".

504 · Jan 1, 2013

Watch CL listings. You can pick up a trailer pretty cheap, I saw a pop up listed here for 750.00. I kind like A/C-heat etc. You will find listings for tents there too.

DownSouth · Jan 1, 2013

Funny you mention the old tent, I had one as a kid and used it a lot. I always remember my Dad telling me that if it starts raining, don't touch the material or it will leak. Many uses and it never rained, and I even dug the trench around the base as I was taught. Then one day it rained on a trip. Yep you guessed it, I had to confirm what my Dad told me not to do. Sleeping bag got soaked, I got soaked...sheesh. Later I advanced to a 62 Falcon station wagon, much nicer. Then at age 16 I got a cab over camper, talk about living high style. Many different RV's over the years and finally ended up with this set up we purchased in 97. Still have it, hardly ever use it though. Just costs too much now in my opinion. Maybe I should buy a tent again and start all over! Watching your thread for opinions!

Janicholson · Jan 1, 2013

I second REI. Member since about 1980. They fixed a broken pole on a tent they didn't sell for free. Jim

NCWayne · Jan 2, 2013

Fortunately I've got everything I need to camp except the tent. Me and my Grandpa camped out a good bit and I got alot of my equipment from him. So, when I was young, about the only thing my buddies and I ever skimped on when camping was the tent. As it stands I do have things like pots and pans, stove (and when I can get it from Dad's shop, an oven), canteens, cots, sleeping bags, back packs,etc, etc, etc. The old tent I mentioned is also still around, and in good shape. Unfortunately, like the oven, it's locked up in Dad's shop and caught up in their whole 'divorce saga'.

That said, I still always enjoyed more of the 'rough it' style of camping and really never used alot of the 'conveniences' even though I had them. By that I mean I liked cooking by wrapping the food and putting it the in the hot coals instead of using pots and pans, etc, etc. Basically just getting away from the 'modern things' and enjoying 'getting back to nature'.

While I enjoy all of the modern comforts just as much as the next guy I want my wife and daughter to learn, and they want to learn, how to do things 'the hard way' as part of the camping experience. If they can handle 'the hard way' then they ought to be prepared for anything the great outdoors can throw their way. Once they get to that point we can bring in the conveniences.

Ultradog MN · Jan 2, 2013

I think it was Joan Rivers who was talking about camping one time.
Her idea of camping was to get the biggest motor home they could afford and then stay at the Holiday Inn.

C.R. · Jan 2, 2013

another way to do it is to find a hammock and a 10 x12 tarp find two trees the right distance apart,hang your hammock, and put the tarp over the top if its buggy get mosqueto netting it is an infinatly customizable set up that works great on hilly terrain and keeps you off the ground

larry@stinescorners · Jan 2, 2013

I know this is not what you asked,but I couldnt resist posting what my friend did with army surplus for camping,he probably went there looking for a tent,,, lol

Zachary Hoyt · Jan 2, 2013

If you are going to car camp in a campground then whatever would be comfortable in size would be a good choice. If you're going to be carrying it very far in a backpack then light weight is very helpful. I bought a Eureka Spitfire 1 person tent a few years ago and like it a lot, it is about 4 lbs and has a long narrow shape which is easier to find a place for and fits me quite well. My old tent was a 6x7 dome tent that weighed 7 lbs and was harder to find a flat spot for in the Adirondacks where I mostly do my camping. The picture is from last summer.
Zach

Anonymous-0 · Jan 2, 2013

I often wanted to get a camper like yours but the cost of gas to pull one down a road scares me off that idea.

just another old geezer · Jan 2, 2013

my tent

JRSutton · Jan 2, 2013

I'd stick with something like a coleman large family size tent.

The larger the better.

Depending on the age of your kids - you might be better off with two medium size tents instead of one large (but camp grounds may charge extra - not sure)

A few years back I bought a canvas tent (think it's 9x9 - but not sure.

It's not one of the REAL expensive canvas tents - it cost around 400 - can't remember the brand.

If you're searching, you'll probably be able to figure out which one I'm talking about.

I wouldn't recommend one of those. I figured for that price, it must be a step up.

But - It's a pain to lug around - it's a pain to set up - and mice love the material. Plus a major stitch tore that I had to repair.

Did I mention it's a pain to set up?

If you try to do it alone, make sure nobody can see you. It can be humiliating.

It's nice once it's setup properly - but not that nice.

Those coleman's pop right up in about 5 minutes with minimal effort.

All tends will gather condensation from breath - even it it's not raining. Put four people in a tent and the ceiliing is going to drip no matter what you do.

That's why larger is better. More air circulating.

Of course, for all I know Coleman may have gone the way of the rest of america and given up on quality. But every coleman product I've ever bought, I still own.

BAnNC · Jan 2, 2013

Another vote for checking with REI. Also, we have a place called Diamond Brand near us that is good competition for REI. These will offer the high end product. Lighter weight, stronger, more choices, etc.

MFPoor · Jan 2, 2013

Here's the brand I like. I have a 2-man back pack tent, and a 6 person model. 2-man is almost 20 years old, has had a LOT of use and is still in fine shape. 6 person tent is less than 3 years old, and no issues.
Lets go camping

Mel in SW Iowa · Jan 2, 2013

After Dec-Jan at Ft Bliss and Feb-Mar of 1967 in the snow at Ft Lewis, I have never had the urge to spend any more time in a tent, much less with a foot of snow on it!! Goose, by the way, we just got 1/2 of a tent. Larry at Stines Corners, that's quite an outfit!! That's what I would have liked to have had when Uncle Sam saw fit to provide a shelter half!!

GeneMO · Jan 2, 2013

No, but buy a good one. When the politicians are through wrecking the economy and we can't afford the taxes, we will all be living in tents.

Gene

WyoDave · Jan 2, 2013

I'm a fairly avid camper, mostly backpacking deep in the backcountry, but the one thing about camping gear is you get what you pay for. It's similar to tools, but that doesn't mean that the most expensive is the best, and definitely not the best value. The other thing about outdoor gear is it's an awful lot like clothing. Huge mark ups, and as soon as it's the "old" model they discount them drastically. I'd look online for a good name brand tent that is marked down due to being last years model. Sierra designs, Black Diamond, Mountain Hardware, Marmot, are all top brands that you can't go wrong with. I personally don't think much of North Face gear, just seems to be overpriced for what you get. With that said, Kelty, and Eureka will be a cheaper option, and you'll still get a pretty darn good tent. Another thing, is if you don't care about weight, set up time, etc.. you really can't go wrong with the canvas wall type (hunting) tent, but they are pricey.

David

jackinok · Jan 2, 2013

used to do a lot of camping when kids were small. the best times were when i had a old van and would stretch a tarp over the side and down to the ground,ladies could sleep inside while the boys slept out on the ground. my boy and i would sleep out deer hunting years ago when we back packed in. i would buy a cheap pup tent,and carry one of those plastic tarps with me to use as a rain fly,slept out in some really bad weather in that old setup. my camping nowdays is done at the holiday inn! or in a camping trailer with all the goodies. probably wouldnt be able to get up if i had to make a night on the ground anymore.

GordoSD · Jan 2, 2013

Don't buy one. Split the group into two. Check out the Eureka Copper Canyon line.

Oliver 550Dave · Jan 2, 2013

Try a King Canopy - http://www.kingcanopy.com/
Phone 800 800 6296
I've borrowed from a neighbor and used a couple of their 18' x 20' tents/canopies for Ruritan, Relay for Life, church events, etc. for almost 10 years. They seem well made - pipe frame for that size seems a size larger and bigger gauge than I've seen on the smaller tents. If not properly tied down, wind can still do a number on the pipes and canvas!! They're located in Fuquay-Varina - moved there from just outside Lillington sometime in the last 10 years.

Anybody bought a tent lately?

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