The tent thread

[Cimarron]

Any tent users out there that would recommend a good one? I already have a Coleman 6 man family tent so that's not what I'm going for here.

I know I want:
earth tone or camo in color
four season
rain fly...

But beyond this I don't know enough about a good sturdy all season brand that I could also use to bug out.
I don't know enough about them to know if I am comparing apples to oranges.

So, what do you folks use or suggest?

[lcas-271]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with 4 season tents but I'd be worried about the extra weight if yo're planning on bugging out on foot.

I've had a Kelty Grand Mesa 4 for the past few years and am very happy with it. Granted I wouldn't want to carry if miles on end but, It's very sturdy. Our first time out with it was in a nasty storm with 65mph winds and over 3" of rain over 5 hrs. Not a leak was found. We did have to send it in to have a zipper replaced but there was a quick turn- around and no cost to us.

My opinion would be to go with a GOOD 3 season tent from Kelty or Eureka. Check Campmor in the off-season and you can get a great deal.

[jloneill17]

I have a marmot limelight 2 that I absolutely love. it is a 2 person tent and the whole thing weighs around 4.5 lbs. I keep it strapped to the bottom of my BOB. I have a get home bag in the trunk of my car, in there I have a Tom Claytor Jungle Hammock. Again, I absolutely love the hammock, it weighs about 2.5 lbs. I have slept in the hammock in 9 degree weather, but I was in a 0 degree bag and had a sleeping pad underneath me. Stayed warm. The hammock comes with a big diamond shaped rain fly. The hammock is great for hiking. you can set the hammock up on a hill if need be, you just need two trees. here's a link for the hammock:

http://www.mosquitohammock.com/

[Cimarron]

Thanks for the replies. I definitely would consider getting a 3 season for something lighter and I am thinking of having the tent for bugging out in vehicle. When/if I ditch the wheels I will probably have to drop the tent then too and go with the tarp.
I am considering if I'm on foot we will have one of those deer haulers you pull or push around by hand so my weight load is not dead set yet.

[OR Medic]

Go to youtube and look up a guy named "Nutnfancy". He does gear and equipment (is there really a difference?) reviews and seems to know his stuff.

I have found him to be very knowledgeable about stuff, and has enough common sense to tell if he does not know something.

Just my $0.02

Jim

[jloneill17]

You have to watch it with Nutnfancy, he is kind of biased in my opinion to certain products.

[WiseOwl]

I have a Byers Hammock that rocks just for me and a "Bass Pro Shop" 2 man tent when my wife goes. The hammock weighs 14oz and with a tarp and some rope it is the best ligthweight option. As for the 2 man, well it can fit my kid too, when I remove it from its pack and position it in my pack correctly it weighs around 7-8lbs. I do have one of the 3 room colemans but it only gets used when a ton of folks go camping and we dont backpack, but campsite camping.

I would love to have a NEMO MORPHO 2P, it is probably the coolest and one of the top tents out there.

[Klayton]

@wiseowl: how durable is those air support beams on that tent?

[WiseOwl]

From what I have heard and read...they withstand some serious weather and wind.

I know the Dusty Camels used them on their hike of the AT last year...you can see their feedback....http://www.thedustycamel.org/

One of these guys is my friends nephew...they are hiking the PCT next month.. Cool adventures but they used those Nemo Morpho 2P's

[Cimarron]

Appreciate the input WiseOwl. More information I get to digest. Now I need to narrow down all the choices lol

[WiseOwl]

If I had $400+ to drop on a tent, it would be a NEMO product. If you go to their website, you can have them send you one of their catalogs. They are a neat company with a great story and produce great products. I will be buying one of their products in the next year. I love the idea of no poles.

[meyekey]

I'm from up in Canada and am a pretty big camper. I have a few different tents, depending on what type of camping I'm going to do, but when I do backcountry camping in the winter I always take this tent...

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442628707&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302885992

Its a great tent, the only draw back, as with most 4 season tents is the limited venitilation and therefore condensation.

mec.ca has some of the most amazing camping products IMO. check it out.

[meyekey]

I'm from up in Canada and am a pretty big camper. I have a few different tents, depending on what type of camping I'm going to do, but when I do backcountry camping in the winter I always take this tent...

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442628707&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302885992

Its a great tent, the only draw back, as with most 4 season tents is the limited venitilation and therefore condensation.

mec.ca has some of the most amazing camping products IMO. check it out.

[imann101]

NEMO, while expensive are WELL worth it! I originally got one years ago, and ever since then I have been hooked. I have 3 NEMO tents, 3 types of sleeping pads, and their pillow. Their quality, and customer service is well worth any price. The saying 'you get what you pay for' works in both directions; you pay more, you'll be sure to get the service you expect, you pay less, and if something happens to it, you outta luck.

As for the airbeams, they do much better in wind and what not than normal poles mainly because they can't crack. Under intense wind, the air beams will simply sway and bend -- still maintaining its structure. The one issue I have with it, is that its not freestanding. If you plan to be outside, not at a campground, and know you'll never need to move your tent, than its fine. But I prefer having the freedom to move my tent as I please.