New tent recomendation

[13below0]

Im looking for some new camping gear anyone have any recomandations for tents? Looking for something farly small and packable only needs to sleep 2. Would like something waterproof in case of rain and would possibly use it in the winter if I ever get around to winter camping. TIA

[Dick.Breakey]

ok so i know you say only needs to sleep two, but i only spent $52 on mine from Walmart and it is pretty big. says it sleeps six and could do so easily. folds up pretty darn small. waterproof (i believe because the seams come up off the ground like 4-6") and has a pretty big top for it. combine that with the thick air up queen mattress and its a damn hotel (ask Matt-overkillzj) haha. i recommend that one. dont know the name of the stule but its ozark trail brand.

[Dick.Breakey]

though you say winter rated, none you find at the store like walmart will be 4 season rated(or at least not that i have found). this one is 3. just fyi.

[RUDY850]

these are supposed to be good tents


http://www.springbar.com/explore/tentmodels/index.html

[Muzikman]

Do you have a price range in mind? Do you want two people + gear, or just two people? Are we talking two people who don't mind sleeping close to each other? Are you willing to give up coolness and air flow in the summer so you can stay warmer in the winter? Are you looking for a backpacking tent, or just something that packs up small, but weight isn't as much of an issue?

I got a Big Agnes Parkview 3 last year and I love it.

If you are looking used, I have a Eureka Pinnacle Pass 3XTA I'm probably going to get rid of.

I would stop by REI and check out tents. Even if you don't want to buy there, they will let you open and setup any tent they have in stock.

[BAD_GNR]

I second checking out REI (I could have said check out Dick's, but that would be wrong.).

I usually get all of my gear at campmor.com, best prices you'll ever find, and usually high quality stuff.

The big question like Jason said is size. I go backpacking, and have both 2 & 4 man tents. My 2 man, well you have to be sleeping on top of each other if you even have a backpack with you. The 4 man is very comfortable for 2 people, extremely tight for 4. But the quality and size/weight of a backpacking tent is so high up there, you can't compare it to a walmart one, or even something from Dick's. My 4 man backpacking tent weighs under 8 pounds and packs to about 2' long x6" diameter, smaller than most people's sleeping bags.

Kelty and Walrus are the best tents I've owned. I also bought a walmart tent for family style camping, it's huge compared to the others, packs large, but it does the job and is reasonably waterproof. I've had close to 2" of standing water though around my kelty in a flash flood type scenario and not a drop inside, so take that for what it's worth.

[ridgerunner97]

Campmor is the shit. Great website to check out for anything camping/outdoor related related really. If your lookin for something value line I would have to agree that the tents from wal-mart branded Ozark Trail are pretty damn nice for the money. I've had a 5 or 6 person tent that is probably 10yrs old out in some nasty shitty weather and i've kept dry and it hasn't collapsed on me yet. The tents that BAD_GNR and Muzikman suggested are excellent tents. Just figure out exactly what your application is going to be and how much time that that tent will be used in a certain scenario, and what type of terrain you'll be using it in, and use that to help guide your decision.

[TimMichaels]

I third an REI trip for the same reasons, plus their staff usually is pretty knowledgeable. As far as brands, Kelty is top notch and Eureka is great too. A step down from that is Quest, which has served me remarkably well the past 5 years or so. My Quest 2-man is really like a 1 man or a 1 man + 1 woman, but I've really loved it and its been through some pretty damn rough conditions. Remember that with cheap Wal-Mart tents you do get what you pay for... they will work just fine on a dry summer day but any time the conditions get rough the price tag will be showing.

EMS has some pretty good online specials right now, including some good package deals.

Jason- how much for the Eureka? =P

[tjblair]

I had one very similar to this. it was a great tent. I had no complants.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Eureka-Alpenlite-2XT-Tent-2-Person-4-Season/ERK0011M.html

[EddyB]

I know it has been said before, but I will say it again. look but don't buy from REI. They give money and support to anti off-roading groups.

As far as tents go. I have the Halo 4P. Excellent quality and just a great tent.
http://marmot.com/catalog/tents/equipment/spring-2010/118-173-74

[notmYJ]

I had a Eureka and loved it. Heavy down pours, and never had a leak. It was top notch. I now have an ozark trail for family style camping with the air mattress. I figure if it leaks during a flood, I will simply ride my mattress to safety. That being said, I have to recommend a TentCot. A friend of mine has one and its awesome. http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/TentCots-orderby_0-p-1-c-249.html

[highlandercj-7]

Check out the Expedition Portal. It's an outstanding forum. The reviews cover everything imaginable pertaining to back country camping. I was at the REI store in Robinson. The stuff is a bit pricey.

[Deadman 94 xj]

I have a Quest 3-man that I put through a storm a few weeks ago. I slept like a baby. $40 at Dicks :)

[Muzikman]

Check out the Expedition Portal. It's an outstanding forum. The reviews cover everything imaginable pertaining to back country camping. I was at the REI store in Robinson. The stuff is a bit pricey.

You need to compare their prices with prices of equal quality. They are more expensive than Dicks, but then again, the equipment is high quality.

[Peccavi18]

I have always had and used Eurakas, throughout years of camping myself and in scouting without any real problems. These are the ones we used in scouting, http://www.eurekatent.com/p-52-timberline-2-tent.aspx# 2 person, easy to hike with, only rated 3 season but you said "if you get around to winter camping" and they aren't mindboggling expensive like the 4 seasons. I had the 4 person version and used it for years till a limb ripped through it. I just got a Field and Stream tent from Dicks to replace it cuz I had a giftcard and needed it in a hurry. Wish I would have just sold the giftcard and bought another good tent.

[mbg]

Cabela's also has some nice tents.

If you are looking for a tent for 2 people I would at least get a 3 or 4 person tent. The XPG comes in a few different styles, four season, and in 2-4-6 person sizes. It packs fairly small and is light. It has good ventilation with closabe screens. You can also put it up with the rain fly or without. It been through some pretty hard downpours and hasn't leaked yet.

I have the 4 person and I can fit two air matresses on the sides with some extra room in the center to get out the door. Another nice feature is that it has 2 doors so you don't have to crawl over anyone to get out of the tent.

[Muzikman]

Oh, and I will make two suggestions. If you plan on having the tent for years to come and / or plan on using it a lot, you want Aluminum poles and not fiberglass/carbon. They are lighter, they are stronger and they can be quickly fixed should one break. With a fiberglass/carbon pole, if you break one, you are up the creek.

Also, I avoid tents with pole sleeves. All my tents now have clips. This make setting up and tearing down MUCH easier.

[13below0]

I will definetely not buy anything from REI, there is not one close to me so I dont even have to worry about going there. I would like to sleep 2 people plus gear so I guess I should look for something a little bit bigger. I would like to find something if we do a winter camp out I could carry it with me on my snowmobile so something packable is something im also looking for. Thanks for the suggestions so far. I would like to buy something nice so I could have it around for a few years.

[highlandercj-7]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=30

Do a search in this forum.

[13below0]

after looking on that site I want to get all new gear and build another XJ asap haha. Muzikman do you know some brands to look for that will have clips instead of the sleeves? I havent camped in a long time, most of it has been renting a cabin. I want to get out more. Hell Im trying to figure out a way to make the TJ a ok rig to take. Is there anyone that has done a DIY roof top tent?

[Muzikman]

Tim, if you are serious, drop me a PM, it's in good shape with only minor issues.



Jason- how much for the Eureka? =P

[Muzikman]

Just about every brand has a model that uses clips.

If you look at the way the pole attach to this tent. It uses clips.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___27866#

If you look at the way the poles attach to this tent. It uses sleeves (and a couple clips).
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___21974

You pretty much have to look at them to tell.

[EddyB]

As long as the sleeves are continuous (no breaks in the center) you shouldn't have an issue setting up. Many tents these days use a combination of sleeves and clips.

[Dick.Breakey]

mine is sleeve and clip.

[Muzikman]

Many are, but a lot are just clips. Sleeves are just a PITA IMO.


As long as the sleeves are continuous (no breaks in the center) you shouldn't have an issue setting up. Many tents these days use a combination of sleeves and clips.

[Dick.Breakey]

ive never seen a tent that had a continuous sleeve. always broken at the top. i wish mine was all clips haha

[notmYJ]

Since I just bought another tent to replace the previosly mentioned Ozark Trail, I figured I'd let everyone else know. I just got an 11x11ft Eureka Bitterroot. I got it for a great price on Amazon. Has good reviews and judging by my past experience with Eureka tents in the scouts, I suspect this tent will do me good. I am a Car (Jeep) camper. I dont back pack and need to be able to bring everything in when the weather gets nasty since I usually don't have the top on the jeep, or even with the jeep. Due to the weather and my wrk schedule, I havent been ale to get it put up yet, but from my intial inspection it should be a great tent for the money. it is much heavier than the Ozark I was using and should last longer too. I am planning on putting it up when the weather breaks, seam sealing it, then using it memorial day weekend for our annual 4 day camping trip. I will post pics once it gets up and my thoghts once I spend some time in it...

[we3jeepers]

get a hammock and a tarp!!!

tent wise I won't buy anything I cant stand up in!!!
<----- 6' 4"

[jim91303]

high peak 4 season backpack tent with long rain fly
that is what i have .... very nice!
here is a review
http://cheapcampingnow.com/high-peak-enduro-4-season-backpacking-tent/

[JeepSteeler]

get a hammock and a tarp!!!

tent wise I won't buy anything I cant stand up in!!!
<----- 6' 4"

Agree. Also 6'4" and suffered through a recent camping excursion in an old 4 person Coleman that is about 50" high. Putting on waders in the tent was not very fun. Never again, time to trade light weight for more height. Thinking about a tepee style....

[SirFuego]

It doesn't look like Dick's sells the particular tent I bought a couple years ago, but I'm kicking myself for getting it.

It was a 4-6 person Field and Stream tent that was about 6' high in the middle. Most of my camping is at the trailhead, so I didn't care that it was oversized -- I want to be comfortable. It was on sale, so I went for it. The tent has performed great even during a torrential downpour before I was able to waterproof the tent. The problem is that it's a huge PITA to setup. It uses 4 poles that sorta criss-cross each other, whereas most other dome tents just seem to use two poles. I'm usually still setting up my tent while everyone else is already drinking a cold one around the campfire.

I also wish that they make the tent bag a bit larger than it needed to be. Even forcing all the air out of the tent it's a huge PITA to actually get it to fit in the bag. Most times, I just get it "close enough" and let half of the roll hang out of the bag since I don't have the patience to try to re-create the folding ability of the machine that folded it initially from the factory.

[rubicon04]

eureka apex 2 only five punds sleeps two easy as hell to set up and they run about 100 i use it for backpacking

[Sloth_Fratelli]

i just sleep in my jeep. but when i dont have that option, my wal-mart special never lets me down and its been thru some heavy rains

[JeepSteeler]

I tried sleeping in the ZJ once. Realized that I was too tall (6'4") to stretch out in the back with the seats folded down. Getting out to take a leak in the middle of the night was a debacle as well.

[ridgerunner97]

I've slept in the front seat of my XJ before, i'm 6'1" and only reason I was able to was I may have been mildly intoxicated.... :)

[Sloth_Fratelli]

you do gotta kinda curl up in the front seat, but im 6'2 and it works out. only problem is you gotta throw all your gear in the front seat unless you wanna cuddle with some spare shafts and a farm jack.

but im not one to judge. :040:

[SirFuego]

I tried sleeping in the ZJ once. Realized that I was too tall (6'4") to stretch out in the back with the seats folded down. Getting out to take a leak in the middle of the night was a debacle as well.
I used to do that (but I'm only 6' so I was able to find a way to fit), but ventilation and bugs became an issue in warmer weather. I needed to crack a window to get enough ventilation, but as a result bugs would make their way in. I'm sure I could have put up a net or something, but I just got a tent, because it was also annoying moving all the extra crap I take with me on the trails every night.

[JeepSteeler]

Tent is the way to go for me nowadays. Once you get old and creaky sleeping in the rig = unecessary punishment. My back is a disaster and I can't sleep in a chair/seat if I want to walk the next day. My crappy old Coleman tent goes up in a few minutes, another few for the air mattress - done.

I did sleep once in the back of my 1985 Saab 900 on a fishing trip, folded like a pretzel, but I was in my early 20's.

[ridgerunner97]

I'm young and its still unnecessary punishment LOL, you don't have to be old to be creaky!

As far as tents go, i've got a nice Coleman Hooligan 3 person 3 season I picked up from Midway USA for $43 on clearance last summer. I used it twice and the thing is awesome, good shape to hold up in high winds or heavy rains, the fly is awesome, setup was pretty straightforward, set it up the first time after dark and a few beers and it still only took me about 15min :) Can't recommend it highly enough for one person having alot of room, or for a couple it would be nice and cozy. I think they are still in production. For the price its a bargain.

[notmYJ]

Well, I finally got the new Eureka tent up this weekend. This thing is great! With a 7ft ceiling, I have room to stand up and walk around (I'm 6'1"). It has windows on all sides and mesh at the top. The door has the typical window plus a vent/window at the bottom of the door for more ventiliation. I left it completely closed up in the sun and it got hot. I opened all the windows and it cooled off instantly. My little Ozark Trail tent would be hot no matter what. I also put up the Ozark Trail tent to seam seal it as it has never been done and I am planning on keeping it as a backup and to use while camping on a small, sandy beach at Cheat Lake. The difference in the material is huge. Everything on the Eureka is thicker. It is drum tight when up and staked properly (Not done properly in the pic below) and judging by the wind we had this weekend, I suspect it will hold up very well. It uses two massive 12mm diameter fiberglass poles, and for its size, it is quite easy to put up by yourself. I did it the first time in 20 min including using all the stakes and tieing down the rain fly.

All seams on the tent and rain fly are taped from the factory and over all I am confident it will out perform my Ozark Trail tent both in keeping me dry and lasting a long time. As of right now, I highly reccomend this tent. For the price I paid for it on Amazon, it was a deal considering its size and construction.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/regalracer1979/IMAG0219.jpg

[TimMichaels]

If anyone is still looking for a tent, head over to Target. Target has started carrying a line of exclusive Kelty products. If you're not in the know, Kelty is a truly fantastic brand for backpacks and tents and the like. Target is offering essentially 'toned down' versions of Kelty's products. The tents are basically the same as the expensive, high end stuff but cheaper because of the elimination of things like aluminum poles. Basically, you get a great tent proven by backpackers on the cheap simply by having a little more weight to it. Fantastic deals on great gear, and I will personally attest to the quality of Kelty.

[Muzikman]

Tim, ya had me until you said they took out the aluminum poles. I will never buy another tent with fiberglass poles.

[TimMichaels]

Meh, as long as the poles aren't ridiculously thin they aren't bad. The one's I've seen in the Target-Kelty stuff seem beefy enough. Might not be a bad plan to even just buy the tent then snag some aluminum poles to put in it.

[JeepSteeler]

Thanks for the tip Tim. I don't mind fiberglass poles that much for all the more I'll use it. More concerned with welded seams and stuff like that - do you have one of these Target Kelty's?

[TimMichaels]

I do indeed have one; as a gear hound/guide/Kelty fan I couldn't resist. I picked up a Zenith 2 for about 60 bucks, figuring it was a relatively cheap gamble on a brand I really trust. Mind you this is a pretty tiny tent, just enough for two people and some belongings, but probably a little uncomfortably close if it's two guys. It's 3 season with a full rain fly, bath tub floor, welded seems. The set up is ridiculously easy... did it myself on the first try in about 3 minutes. No sleeves for the tent poles; it's entirely clip on with just two poles that make a simple x-shape, and even the rain fly latches on with easy click-in buckles on the corners. Front vestibule is small but convenient nonetheless. Also noticed that the zipper on the door is possibly the smoothest and quietest I've ever used. It still has the nice little touches inside for convenience too, like wall pouches for storage, a gear loft, and a lantern hook.

I have only had one chance to use it and man did it get tested out. If you remember that weekend on mid-April with non-stop rain and 50+ mph winds, I spent two nights in it. Flawless. I don't have a footprint for it so I used a tarp under it for now with the edges folded under. I actually missed a side the first night which allowed some water to run between the tarp and tent floor, but it still didn't come through. We also were a little too close to one end sleeping that night and the very end of the sleeping bag got damp from being up against the wall. I corrected those problems the second night by tucking the tarp fully underneath and staying better centered in the tent. After almost 48 straight hours of rain the inside was still completely dry. Never actually staked out the guy-outs on the rain fly so that probably would also alleviate the seepage from the wall on the first night.

The wind got really vicious but the tent really didn't even sway much. Stakes stayed in, poles were fine, rain fly stayed tight with no real draft. We actually even got struck by another tent in the middle of the night that got picked up by the wind after its inhabitants abandoned it without any issues.

Can't speak for the 4 or 6 man versions they have yet, but the Zenith 2 certainly impressed me. I have no where to set it up right now as I'm back at my apartment downtown. I'll try to get a few pics later this week though.

[JeepSteeler]

Thanks Tim. I was probably camping out that same weekend for the first day of trout on the 15th - 16th up in Neshannock Falls. Nasty conditions - wind and rain were relentless. I had no real water intrusion other than a little bit that was blown up under the rainfly and got the mesh window wet, but it didn't actually come in and get anything wet. I had just a tarp under my old 2 man Coleman (mistakenly typed 4 man in earlier post). I'd buy that one again if it was big enough to stand in, will serve as backup duty. Getting grimy and i burned a little spot of the mesh with a lantern a few years back. Just too difficult to get waders on inside of it and stooping to haul gear out of it.

Interested in a reasonable quality larger tent that has some of the features you are talking about, I'll check out the Kelty line at Target. Sounds like the rain performance is what I am looking for, if they have a taller model I might have to pull the trigger, or at least compare it to that Eureka that notmYJ discussed.

[Muzikman]

May I ask why you are putting the waders on in the tent? Hell, I don't even put boots on inside my tent.

[tjblair]

I bought one of these last summer. I really like it, its not the biggest tent but is great for back packing.
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/big-fat-frog-24-bx.html
I dont under stand why people want a huge tent though, They just take more time to set up. and IMO a smaller tent stays warmer.

[JeepSteeler]

May I ask why you are putting the waders on in the tent? Hell, I don't even put boots on inside my tent.

So i don't get dirt and debris on the bottom of the wader's neoprene soles before I put on my wading shoes. Can be done outside on a mat of course, but prefer the tent when raining. Also when changing clothes in the cold it comes in handy to be able to stand up inside the tent.

[notmYJ]

I went for the large tent because I car camp. I don't backpack at all so the added weight doesn't matter to me. But being able to stand up and change clothes, and put all my gear in it along with the queen size air mattress and still have room to walk around is nice. Especially since when we camp, its primitive. No services or utilities so the extra room is nice.

If I was a backpacker I would probably have a small 2 man tent.

[JeepSteeler]

I went for the large tent because I car camp. I don't backpack at all so the added weight doesn't matter to me. But being able to stand up and change clothes, and put all my gear in it along with the queen size air mattress and still have room to walk around is nice. Especially since when we camp, its primitive. No services or utilities so the extra room is nice.

If I was a backpacker I would probably have a small 2 man tent.

Agree - basically looking for the same use out of a tent as you are, never far from the car really. Does that Eureka have a lantern hanger and some interior storage pouches?

[notmYJ]

It has a large storage flap with a bunch of different size pockets. It hangs 6ft high from the rear. There are hooks on it to attach to the loops at the front of the tent so it can be hung across the top. Honestly Im not 100% sure if it has a place to hangs a lantern but I'm pretty sure it does. It is worth noting that the windows are huge and ventilation is great. As I mostly camp in warm weather this was important to me. Just mentioning it as we are/ were looking for the same thing. If you aren't in a hurry to buy, I will get pics of the interior over memorial day weekend when I put it up again. Didn't get a lot of pics as I didn't think anyone would care that much. Lol

P.s. its worth noting that the tent has a lifetime warranty too.

[JeepSteeler]

Thanks man - don't worry about more pics, you've been plenty helpful. Time to crap or get off the pot for me and buy a tent!

[Muzikman]

I have had several Eureka tents and although I have had a few complaints here and there about different things, they are quality tents.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

I think we get more spams than real posts.