Tent search

[BIGdaddy]

Still going to be tent camping when we use the jeep. need something with these specs

5-6person (we are 2 adults and 3 little guys)
clips only - no sleeves. sleeves suck. :D
high-quality poles
vestibule/porch possibly?
3-4 season build quality
heavy duty floor

Considering an rv5, but jeez I'd love to pay less than $900 for a tent.

Maybe in the $400-500 range?
I like Rei's stuff, but I didn't find a clip-only tent that wasn't small.

[Fergie]

Springbar or Kodiak?

If weight and packed size are an issue, this won't fit the bill.

[BIGdaddy]

Springbar or Kodiak?

If weight and packed size are an issue, this won't fit the bill.

I have room next to our Yakbox on the roof for a longish tent like the RV5, so not really worried about that.

We also have a nice utility trailer that I might be re-working with a lock-n-roll, longer leaf springs, and some enclosed storage, so yeah, I'm cool with something having a largish pack size.

I'll have to check those two out. I think I've watched a few vid's of the springbar, actually.

thanks!

[RusherRacing]

Cabela's Alaskan w/ aluminum poles.
Not real light weight but a good quality tent. They do have short sleeves right at the top then everything else is clip on.

I have the cabela's XPG 4 person but it wouldn't be large enough for 3 little ones and yourselves. It doesnt' have any sleeves for the poles and it doesn't look like Cabela's offers one large enough for your purposes.

[Fergie]

Then I would definitely check out the large Kodiak that Cabelas carries. Sometimes you can find them in the bargain cave for under $400.

EDIT: Flex Bow (http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=715015&destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct.jsp%3FproductId%3 D747004%26type%3Dproduct&WTz_l=YMAL%3BIK-518889)

[stankfoot]

check out back country gear and mountain plus outdoor gear. i got my nemo from mountain plus outdoor gear. got tent, footprint, pawprint, and loft for less than others had for just tent.

http://store.mpgear.com/index.aspx

[Moody]

Springbars are fantastic tents, and are certainly capable of the 4 season weather (they used a Family Camper at Everest Basecamp awhile back).

Even better is the fact they actually breathe when it is hot outside...nylon/polyester do not.

I grew up camping all around Utah in a Springbar.

[BIGdaddy]

nathan (nwoods) likes this one. If I set aside my hate of sleeves, it fulfills quite a few requirements on my list:

Rei Base camp 6
http://www.rei.com/product/777755?siteId=cjIsd2x-it3792&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F777755&PID=4170002&AID=10456937&cm_mmc=CJ-_-Aff-_-4170002-_-10456937

[BIGdaddy]

This one is looks pretty good, too. I'll have to see if I find any reviews.

http://store.mpgear.com/big-agnes-king-creek-6-person-tent---free-footprint.aspx

[bucketosudz]

Just a note on the two canvas tent makers, Kodiak tents are manufactured in China, Springbar in Utah if it matters to you. It is refreshing to know that if one were to have a problem, you wouldn't have far to get better customer service.

I purchased both last year, and can tell you that I never received the Kodiak, the service for me was unpleasant.

The Springbar was Excellent! Unfortunately we ended up selling ours on the cusp thinking we were going to get a tent trailer. Never solidified, but I will buy a Springbar again someday.

[net4n6]

nathan (nwoods) likes this one. If I set aside my hate of sleeves, it fulfills quite a few requirements on my list:

Rei Base camp 6
http://www.rei.com/product/777755?siteId=cjIsd2x-it3792&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F777755&PID=4170002&AID=10456937&cm_mmc=CJ-_-Aff-_-4170002-_-10456937

I have Kingdom 6 and like it a lot.

http://www.rei.com/product/777768

Until this day, I had Kindom 6 but still looking at Pineview model from Turbo tent. The reason I chose Kindom 6 over Pineview turbo tent was the folded size and weight.

http://www.familytentcamping.com/site/1406228/product/30090

[RusherRacing]

This one is looks pretty good, too. I'll have to see if I find any reviews.

http://store.mpgear.com/big-agnes-king-creek-6-person-tent---free-footprint.aspx

That sure does look nice! I like the features but have never seen one in real life. If you find some reviews can you please post them up? or if you get it can you post a review?

Might be a nice larger option to our cabela's xpg if we don't get a little offroad pop up.

[georger]

Growing up in Utah, I've always been a big Springbar fan. I have a well used three-person tent that's 32 years old. This survived a micro burst two years ago that shredded your standard Coleman's, etc.

Last year we bought a 5 person Kodiak. It hasn't been subject to the same batterings that the Springbar has, yet. It suits my family well and I hope to get another 30 out of it.

[newmexico25]

Hi
first post here but I picked up the REI Camp Dome 5 Tent at the rei outlet store for my wife, me, 2 yo and 2 60 pound dogs. It seems to be well made and you can get it as low as $130 depending on the time of the year. Right now it is $164. Hope that helps.

[BIGdaddy]

Hi
first post here but I picked up the REI Camp Dome 5 Tent at the rei outlet store for my wife, me, 2 yo and 2 60 pound dogs. It seems to be well made and you can get it as low as $130 depending on the time of the year. Right now it is $164. Hope that helps.

that's a great price, thanks for the info.

Oh, and welcome!:victory:

[dirty Bakers]

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/dirtyBakers/IMG_9066.jpgWe had a tent from costco for the first three years. That tent only lasted three years and was a pain to set up alone while amamda tended to the kidos. We purchased a black pine turbo tent at the end of the summer and it has been great. Takes five minutes to set up. We opted for the four man tent. Since our children are under the age of five we all (five of us) pretty well. It cost just under $500.

[thenomad]

I highly recommend the Sierra Designs Wuhu annex 6+2. I have the 4+2 and its amazing. We have myself, wife and 3 year old (and bullmastiff). We sleep in the 4 side. We keep the gear in the other and during inclement weather we keep our table in chairs in and its plenty of room.
http://www.sunnysports.com/prod/SDSTWH6A.html?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SDSTWH6A


I can also recommend the LL Bean Big woods dome.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63697?feat=506832-GN3

[Hoosier 45]

We have an XWT Cabela's outfitter tent in the 12' x 12'. It is really very well made, kind of like "military over built" if you know what I mean. We are a family of 5 and my wife and I sleep on cots, the kids in bags and there is still a lot of room to play games etc. We payed around $600 for it about 5 or 6 years ago but the prices have gone up.

Last year we traveled with a French family that I let use it and the had 6 in the group (mom, dad, 18 yr. old and three other), It kept them dry and toasty in the San Juans.

They say it wiil stand wind of 75 MPH, no sure about that but we slept through a rip roarer on Cape Hatteras/ Outer Banks of NC two years ago.

I guess you really could think of it as a cabin that you can move.

We also have one of the spring bar screen tents and they are very well made as well. We se that one up on Cape Lookout last July in brutal (30 mph) wind. It was a bear getting up but stood well once erected. I kept waiting for it to rip but it didn't.

Good luck

[BIGdaddy]

We had a tent from costco for the first three years. That tent only lasted three years and was a pain to set up alone while amamda tended to the kidos. We purchased a black pine turbo tent at the end of the summer and it has been great. Takes five minutes to set up. We opted for the four man tent. Since our children are under the age of five we all (five of us) pretty well. It cost just under $500.


I very much appreciate this anecdote, because one of my major gripes with camping right now is that we have 3 small kids that one of us has to "tend" to just like you and your wife.

Really cuts down on the fun factor if your gear is very labor intensive. BUT we are making changes to self-inflating camp pads, and gear stowage solutions that stay packed till we go camping, and are easily accessible once out there.

I'll have have to check out the turbo tent, and all those links, fella's. Thanks!!!

[net4n6]

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/dirtyBakers/IMG_9066.jpgWe had a tent from costco for the first three years. That tent only lasted three years and was a pain to set up alone while amamda tended to the kidos. We purchased a black pine turbo tent at the end of the summer and it has been great. Takes five minutes to set up. We opted for the four man tent. Since our children are under the age of five we all (five of us) pretty well. It cost just under $500.
How was the pack size and weight? I saw some of the videos on YouTube. The packed size was very big and it was not "that easy" to packup. It was easy to unpack but not to packup.

[ExpediT-100n]

We have an XWT Cabela's outfitter tent in the 12' x 12'. It is really very well made, kind of like "military over built" if you know what I mean. We are a family of 5 and my wife and I sleep on cots, the kids in bags and there is still a lot of room to play games etc. We payed around $600 for it about 5 or 6 years ago but the prices have gone up.

Last year we traveled with a French family that I let use it and the had 6 in the group (mom, dad, 18 yr. old and three other), It kept them dry and toasty in the San Juans.

They say it wiil stand wind of 75 MPH, no sure about that but we slept through a rip roarer on Cape Hatteras/ Outer Banks of NC two years ago.

I guess you really could think of it as a cabin that you can move.


I have this same tent and would not trust back country travel to any lesser of a tent. I originally went with a $169 geodesic dome tent that was on sale on line. I thought that my original tent was a great deal UNTIL it got blown away and was nearly launched off the edge of a 1000 foot cliff deep in the back country of Canyonlands NP. It was at that point I tucked tail and headed the 65 miles back to paved roads. The long drive gave me plenty of time to reflect on what a great deal was and how much I had spent to get to that great campsite.

Kevin

[nwoods]

nathan (nwoods) likes this one. If I set aside my hate of sleeves, it fulfills quite a few requirements on my list:

Rei Base camp 6
http://www.rei.com/product/777755?siteId=cjIsd2x-it3792&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F777755&PID=4170002&AID=10456937&cm_mmc=CJ-_-Aff-_-4170002-_-10456937

Yes I do, and yes I think it does meet most of your requirements. The two main sleeves are lined and we don't have much problem with snagging or anything.

Go to REI and play with all of them. They will let you set them up right in the store. Its the best to way to really get a feel for whatever you are looking for. The only downside is that they only carry "modern" tent designs, and not stuff like the Springbars and the like.

[Flounder]

Big Agnes - Big House 6 with the additional vestibule.

I'm a big fan of this tent, and I'm super picky. This tent is truly a six person tent. At over 6', I can not only stand in it, I can walk around in it. What I love most about this tent is the fact it pitches in probably less than 5 minutes, and one person can do it without much trouble at all. It has a full front door, and a full rear door. That makes loading and unloading it really quick. The additional vestibule is MASSIVE. On one rainy trip in Rocky Mt Nat Park, my wife and I moved our two Pico chairs, table, stove, cooler and other gear into the vestibule to cook dinner. It could easily sleep another pair of people. The peak in the vestibule is probably around 4'6", so not some scrunched down thing. By the way, this tent does use sleeves, but only in two short sections. Pretty smart. How they were able to design a three-pole tent with this amount of structure is really slick.

It's easy to vent. Easy to pitch. Really very well thought out. My only complaint isn't really a fair one. It's not as durable as some of my other tents, but then again, it's a screaming value. I'm unfairly comparing the durability against my Moss, Nemo, Bilbler and MT Hardwear tents.

The Cabelas and REI tents are nice. They're really just re-badged Eureka tents.

[BIGdaddy]

Yes I do, and yes I think it does meet most of your requirements. The two main sleeves are lined and we don't have much problem with snagging or anything.

Go to REI and play with all of them. They will let you set them up right in the store. Its the best to way to really get a feel for whatever you are looking for. The only downside is that they only carry "modern" tent designs, and not stuff like the Springbars and the like.


meh, not at all worried about looks. Anything that is freestanding, keeps my bride warm and dry during a rainstorm, and doesn't take 3 years to setup is gettin' a thumbs up from me.

[SD07NISMO]

nathan (nwoods) likes this one. If I set aside my hate of sleeves, it fulfills quite a few requirements on my list:

Rei Base camp 6
http://www.rei.com/product/777755?siteId=cjIsd2x-it3792&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F777755&PID=4170002&AID=10456937&cm_mmc=CJ-_-Aff-_-4170002-_-10456937

I have the REI Base Camp 6 and my wife and I really like it. The sleeves are continuous all the way across (no gaps) and the assembled poles are constant diameter (male/female joints) so it's virtually impossible for them to snag. The tent is very roomy, full standing headroom with both front and rear vestibules. One thing to note is that a large percentage of the wall panels is mesh above the "bathtub" floor, so you pretty much always have to use the rainfly; this is actually a good thing though because it vents really well and there really is no way to get any condensation on the inside. Finally, the tent is VERY sturdy and has a lot of guyline attachment points on the outside, so it holds up well in the wind. Don't forget to get the footprint also if you go this route.

[dirty Bakers]

I very much appreciate this anecdote, because one of my major gripes with camping right now is that we have 3 small kids that one of us has to "tend" to just like you and your wife.

Really cuts down on the fun factor if your gear is very labor intensive. BUT we are making changes to self-inflating camp pads, and gear stowage solutions that stay packed till we go camping, and are easily accessible once out there.

I'll have have to check out the turbo tent, and all those links, fella's. Thanks!!!

I purchased it from camping comfortably on line. I think they were out of cali. We had to wait a while for the batch to arrive. Good luck with getting organized, we are working continuously to get the experience fun. We have discovered that less is best.

[dirty Bakers]

[QUOTE How was the pack size and weight? I saw some of the videos on YouTube. The packed size was very big and it was not "that easy" to packup. It was easy to unpack but not to packup.[/QUOTE]

It is huge when packed. Shoving it in the bag it the same as any other tent.

[gaap master]

The ALPS Mountaineering Taurus 5 Outfitter might fit your specs. I have one and like it a lot. It's 8x10, has clips (no sleeves), heavy duty zippers and floor. List price is $390, but if you're involved with scouting you can probably get it cheaper through their Scout Direct program. I bought my tent from them through that program, and at that time the scout discount was 45% off of list price. That was early last year, and I'm not sure what level of discounts they run now.

http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/tents/outfitter-tents/taurus-5-outfitter

http://www.scoutdirect.com/index.htm

[Mashurst]

I like these guys http://store.eurekatent.com/category/365433/Timberline%26%23174%3B_Series
They are cheap, hold up to high wind (I like to camp on the beach), keep you dry in a down poor, and are easy to set up and take down. They also have a number of options including two different styles of vestibules / porches. My first one was given to me with quite a bit of visible wear but in fine working order. I camped hundreds of nights in it over the course of the 10 years I had it. I recently handed it off to my BIL and got a new smaller one for the family. They aren't fancy but they work. That said if you want one big enough to stand up and have a barn dance in, this may not be for you.

[xpdishn]

Still going to be tent camping when we use the jeep. need something with these specs

5-6person (we are 2 adults and 3 little guys)
clips only - no sleeves. sleeves suck. :D
high-quality poles
vestibule/porch possibly?
3-4 season build quality
heavy duty floor

Considering an rv5, but jeez I'd love to pay less than $900 for a tent.

Maybe in the $400-500 range?
I like Rei's stuff, but I didn't find a clip-only tent that wasn't small.

BigDaddy, don't know if you have bought anything yet, but I was perusing the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog and found this:

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/78194?promo=eCatalog

Sure looks big enough for the fam and is up in a minute. Freestanding and comes with a rain fly. Lifetime guarantee.

[nwoods]

BigDaddy, don't know if you have bought anything yet, but I was perusing the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog and found this:

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/78194?promo=eCatalog

Sure looks big enough for the fam and is up in a minute. Freestanding and comes with a rain fly. Lifetime guarantee.

That one doesn't look particularly stout for wind & weather. It would be nice if they showed the fly, but I suspect it's a bit anemic, like the Turbo Tent fly's.

[Goochm]

X2 on the Big Agnes, advised several others to get them and everyone is happy. The vestibule seems to almost double the space, it's sturdy, and the price isn't bad considering the quality. I also like their awning that attaches to racks....much cheaper and more compact option than Hannibal,etc. Tho you do have to put it up.

[john101477]

That one doesn't look particularly stout for wind & weather. It would be nice if they showed the fly, but I suspect it's a bit anemic, like the Turbo Tent fly's.

X2 I would never ever ever buy a turbo tent or a HUBB style tent of any kind. Your just asking for trouble.
Everyone has pretty much seen my tents so i will not add a pic, but like the big agnes and the cabelas alaknak for family camping. Alaknak is strictly a base camp tent for week long trips, Not so hard to set up but takes time to put up and is very very heavy. The XWT is a good one as well nothing but rave reviews for it

[Viggen]

I have a Big Agnus Big House 4 with vestibule and it went through a hellacious wind storm without a problem. Guy lines werent even out. The 6 was on my list but too big for what I wanted. Im impressed with the ease of set up, the material and the stowage set up. Highly recommended.

[xpdishn]

Having posted about a tent that "doesn't look particularly stout for wind & weather", which I agree with - I threw it into the mix because it could be an option for someone - we have used the Big Agnes 4 and thought it was great. Except the zipper. We tried everything to keep them, the zippers, going but we finally had to return it. We still highly recommend the Big Agnes

[Qyota]

New guy here. We're going to start camping with our soon-to-be 4 year old this summer. My wife and I have camped many times together, but not so much with the little one. We're seriously considering another child, so room for 4 in a new tent is a must. We also like to be comfortable, so we bought a tall queen-size matress that takes up a lot of space in a typical dome tent.

My plan is to buy the Chinook Twin Peaks 6 tent. It's relatively affordable, it has a full-coverage fly, a very large vestibule that can convert to more sleep space, and has the option of aluminum poles. Although, even with the fiberglass poles it's not terribly heavy.

The screen vestibule takes the cake for us...no need to bring a separate screen tent.

I haven't seen any reviews for Chinook tents here on ExPo...but again, I'm new.

[BIGdaddy]

New guy here. We're going to start camping with our soon-to-be 4 year old this summer. My wife and I have camped many times together, but not so much with the little one. We're seriously considering another child, so room for 4 in a new tent is a must. We also like to be comfortable, so we bought a tall queen-size matress that takes up a lot of space in a typical dome tent.

My plan is to buy the Chinook Twin Peaks 6 tent. It's relatively affordable, it has a full-coverage fly, a very large vestibule that can convert to more sleep space, and has the option of aluminum poles. Although, even with the fiberglass poles it's not terribly heavy.

The screen vestibule takes the cake for us...no need to bring a separate screen tent.

I haven't seen any reviews for Chinook tents here on ExPo...but again, I'm new.


First of all, welcome! :victory:

Second, thanks very much for the info. I came down with a bad cold last week, so the shopping, and consequently, the camping trip we had planned for the prez day weekend was cancelled.

In short, I'm still open to suggestions, so I appreciate it!

[exploreFL]

I have a hub style coleman that I bought back in the poor college student days. I have had it for about 5 or 6 years now and it has held up pretty good. The seams are getting a little weak now, but after 6 years of use( probably 6-10 trips a year), that could be expected of a walmart tent! While I will say this, I now have a 8 month old that has two trips under his belt this year, the hub style is supe nice because it is quick and easy to set up and take down, sure not the most wind resistant tent, but I have never once got wet in mine and I live in Florida where we have torrential downpours! My next tent will probably be something different, but this one has served it's intended purpose well!

[Qyota]

I've changed my mind! This is what happens when you spend months researching!

I'm fairly certain I'm going to buy the Sierra Designs Wu Hu Annex 6+2. It is about the same price (comparing aluminum pole models), and has better features. Plus, SD is a more "known" name that I am comfortable with.

Have read lots and lots of reviews, only a few negative. We shall see!

[EuclidJr]

I'll second (or third or fourth) the XWT from Cabela's. No clips, pretty straightforward set up, one sleeve - for the front vestibule, good floor plus a clip in floor liner (option). It also has tons of guy outs and a floor that runs about 6 inches up the side (creating something of a tub) before you get to the sidewall seams. Ventilation is good when needed. The full coverage fly (which also establishes the vestibule) makes it a true 4-season tent.

We have the 12x12 and it comfortably sleeps the five of us (we have three little ones as well) along with room for the dog, a big buddy propane heater and our gear. The design of the tent does an excellent job of shedding wind-load and what's left is easily distributed across the many guy lines. We would go anywhere in this tent (well, it is a bit on the heavy side - comes in around 50 lbs., I think).

If you have time and nearby locations, you might be able to catch this tent in the Bargain Cave at the store. The best time to look is about 2 weeks after the close of major hunting seasons in your area (and particularly in the week or two after Christmas). Many people buy these tents and return them after one hunting trip - particularly around Christmas when the $700 goes a long way towards gifts.

We got ours the week after Christmas a few years ago for more than 50% off (less than $300) - it looked like it had been used for one trip - there was a -very- small hole in the main tent fabric that we easily repaired. Make sure, if you go this route, to take the tent out of the bag and examine every piece and pole of the tent. We examined ours very closely and were told by one of the associates that people rarely do so.

I'd also like to chime in on the Alaknak from Cabela's. As was previously mentioned - this is really a basecamp tent - we have the 12x20 and now use it primarily as a basecamp/community tent when we take our yearly family camping expedition. It has saved our bacon more than once in that regard, allowing us to have a place to sleep, but also room for everyone to congregate and eat in when it is 15 degrees and snowing outside (a few years ago up at Canyonlands N.P. in March). In fact, it weathered a wind-storm when none of the other tents in our group did - we ended up sleeping 14 in it. The downside is that it really needs a wood stove for heating it and we're not comfortable with that around our littles. The no-fly design and wet-burning nature of propane combine to exacerbate condensation problems that we would likely not have had with a wood stove.

Finally, invest in good stakes that are appropriate for your expected conditions and always try to carry a few of each type in the event of the unexpected.

[Alchemyguy]

I've changed my mind! This is what happens when you spend months researching!

I'm fairly certain I'm going to buy the Sierra Designs Wu Hu Annex 6+2. It is about the same price (comparing aluminum pole models), and has better features. Plus, SD is a more "known" name that I am comfortable with.

Have read lots and lots of reviews, only a few negative. We shall see!

Hah! I was just dropping into this thread to throw that one out. We bought one last year after tons of research. It's a solid piece of gear from a company that knows tents. It goes up pretty quickly with one person once you've learned the drill and even faster with two. Lots of room and packs up very well. It's a good piece of kit for family camping.

[Greggk]

just a suggestion.. dunno quality but i found it for ya

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/alps-meramac-6-person-tent.aspx?a=785859

[nwoods]

just a suggestion.. dunno quality but i found it for ya

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/alps-meramac-6-person-tent.aspx?a=785859

Fly seems pretty weak
http://image.sportsmansguide.com/dimage/205081i_ts.JPG?cell=300,300&cvt=jpeg

[Alchemyguy]

I'd second that sentiment; if you're going to be spending any time in a climate where it actually rains you'll want a fly that goes all the way to the ground. You'll find that this "top hat" style is going to leave you wet sooner or later. One of the other upsides of a full fly is that you can open your windows and ventilate withouth letting the rain in, preventing condensation on the inside of your tent.

[BIGGUY]

I've got the Cabela's Alaskan Guide model tents in both the 8 and 4 man sizes. They are very sturdy in winds. I was camped out in Moab and there were several awnings and chunks of motor homes and trailers that were torn off and a small 3-4" tree by my tent was bent over at a pretty good angle. My tent just shimmered a bit. I've camped in temperatures from the low 20's to the 100's with them. I usually put down a ground cloth, the tent, and then I put a wool blanket down. This lets me sit or stand on the floor without it being as cold and works really nicely. In the cold weather I've ran a couple of different heaters for about 15 minutes and it warmed up the interior pretty decently. It was enough to make it comfortable in order to wash up and get dressed.

[theksmith]

just received my new REI Hobitat 6 tent last week that had been on backorder. upon setting it up in the backyard for a dry run, it was promptly returned.

we had the 2008 hobitat for a few years and it was one of my favorite tents ever. it had one problem with pooling water at the top in a flat spot, which was fixed by a very slight design change in the 09/10 model. for 2011 they completely redesigned the entire tent and not only cheaped out in several areas, but also just plain didn't think out some things.

i finally decided that instead of buying $300-$400 tents every 2 to 3 years (the UV dry-rots the nylon and they all eventually start to rip after a few years of heavy use)... that we would buy hopefully our last family camping tent - the Kodiak Flex Bow.

we bought the Kodiak 10x14 deluxe model from Sportsman's Warehouse friday night. Cabela's also carries them. we were able to see the 10x10 setup at the Sportsman's in north phoenix, and while quite roomy, it seemed when spending that much on a tent, and with one that already weighs that much, we might as well have a few extra feet in case we needed to store things inside due to a long rainy weekend or what have you.

we joined another couple of families at a group camp site saturday (god i hate organized camp sites, much prefer dispersed camping!) having watched the youtube setup video for the tent, it went up without really reading instructions very quickly. tears down even quicker. i really dig the fold-around-it "bag" instead of trying to wedge into a zippered bag that's never big enough.

so no extended trips to report on, and no inclement weather yet.... but loving the spaciousness and looking forward to an investment in something quality. don't get me wrong, $600 really hurts for a friggen tent, but from every single review i've read, i won't regret the purchase.

[bedarda]

I Like the Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4 from HumbleOutdoors (http://http://www.humbleoutdoors.com/). This tent is lightweight, strong, and comes with a free foot print that keeps organics from the mucking with the tent floor.

[khronus79]

I have also been researching for tents with similar specs as the OP, good room for 4, decent weight and about the same price range.
I really like the sierra designs Zeta 4 http://www.sierradesigns.com/p-155-zeta-4.aspx.
http://www.backcountryedge.com/images/PRODUCT/large/sierra_designs-zeta-4.jpg


The Big Agnes Flying diamond 6 is another tent that seems very good, this one has a bit more room than the Sierra Design tent and a bigger price tag http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/FlyingDiamond6.
http://campsavercontent.campsavercm.netdna-cdn.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/i/big_gnes_flying_diamond.jpg


My favorite so far are the Quechua Instant Tents, I'm really considering the Seconds Family 4.2 XL http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-10,a-77,seconds-family-4-2-xl.html I really like the floor space, 2 rooms separated by a living area and of course the fact that it sets up in seconds.
http://tente.quechua.com/upload/mod_produit/77-209-en-visuel-visuel.png
I'm still reading reviews and doing research but so far the Quechua tents have my attention.

[nwoods]

My favorite so far are the Quechua Instant Tents, I'm really considering the Seconds Family 4.2 XL http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-10,a-77,seconds-family-4-2-xl.html I really like the floor space, 2 rooms separated by a living area and of course the fact that it sets up in seconds.

Hmmm. Intrigued, I went their site and watched the videos. Some things to think about:
1. Absolutely requires stakes. Can't be used in a location like my photo below
2. Relies on velcro to hold the floor to the walls. Not going to handy a big wind.
3. No integral floor! Nothing to keep the bugs out The floor doesn't even zip to the tent, it's just velcro'd a few inches every 18" or so around the perimeter
4. Vestibule does not offer wrap around weather protection
5. Absolutely requires two people (preferable one of them being an attractive blonde) to set up and take down.
6. Those tensioned loop contraptions can befuddle Eisenstein himself on some days.

Why ground stakes should not be mandatory:
http://nwoods.smugmug.com/Jeep-Adventures/Trail-Runs/Rubicon-2009/Rubicon-2009-06/597825131_uX6am-XL.jpg

[khronus79]

some great observations nwoods, never thought about the stakes and their limits as far as camping. The velcro-on floor did cross my mind, I thought about just adding more velcro all around and leaving no gap, however that would be a PITA to set up and remove every time and would defeat the purpose of setting up in seconds. Didn't think about the cons of velcro vs the wind, would hate to wake up in the middle of the night and see nothing but sky and have only the floor left.
Finally, you're right about the loop contraptions and I'm no Einstein.

The search continues............

[sasfrontier]

I just recently started looking into a bigger tent that was easy to setup and stumbled on this http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000007832&categoryid=11020&brand=
They have the 8 person in the link and also offer a slightly smaller 6 person. I'm not sure on the quality as i havn't looked at one in person but for the money it may be worth a look.

[jeffryscott]

I just recently started looking into a bigger tent that was easy to setup and stumbled on this http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000007832&categoryid=11020&brand=
They have the 8 person in the link and also offer a slightly smaller 6 person. I'm not sure on the quality as i havn't looked at one in person but for the money it may be worth a look.

Had one for a night set up in the back yard over Father's Day weekend. Got a little windy, not bad though, and my kids woke me up to tell me the tent had collapsed. Went back to Target the next day.

[Calilove1]

I have Kingdom 6 and like it a lot.

http://www.rei.com/product/777768

Until this day, I had Kindom 6 but still looking at Pineview model from Turbo tent. The reason I chose Kindom 6 over Pineview turbo tent was the folded size and weight.

http://www.familytentcamping.com/site/1406228/product/30090

I'll second the vote for the Kingdom 6. My wife got the final vote and this one was the tent for her. I didn't buy it with the vestible but it is an option. I love REI's return policies and I'll second the notion of trying to pick one up in the used gear sale.

[raven1911]

I'll second the vote for the Kingdom 6. My wife got the final vote and this one was the tent for her. I didn't buy it with the vestible but it is an option. I love REI's return policies and I'll second the notion of trying to pick one up in the used gear sale.


I have to say, I just bought the Kingdom 6 and was not impressed. There was a light wind when I put it up in my garage and it blew the tent forward and almost collapsed it. Seems like it has to be staked down to stand up properly. Like someone said earlier, what if you cannot stake the tent down? I am considering a cross pole design now instead of the Kingdom6 parallel pole design. Basecamp 6 and the Big Agnes Big house 6 and Flying Daimond and the Marmot limestone 6. I need to go to REI in the valley here to set them up and decide. I think I am taking back my Kindgom 6.

[psykokid]

I've got the TNF Trailhead 6 and its been a great tent. We've used it about a dozen times, a few occasions for a week at a time while camping up in the national forest near Mt. Lassen National Park. Sets up relatively quickly, has a huge front vestibule and a smaller rear one, ventilates well, pelnty of guy out points on the rainfly, and never had any leaks the few times it's rained on us while we were out. Its an older model so i'm not sure what the current similarly spec'd tent in their line up is..

[raven1911]

I've got the TNF Trailhead 6 and its been a great tent. We've used it about a dozen times, a few occasions for a week at a time while camping up in the national forest near Mt. Lassen National Park. Sets up relatively quickly, has a huge front vestibule and a smaller rear one, ventilates well, pelnty of guy out points on the rainfly, and never had any leaks the few times it's rained on us while we were out. Its an older model so i'm not sure what the current similarly spec'd tent in their line up is..


Been discontinued. Too bad, looked like a good design and I liked the vestibule!

[Karma]

HI All,
I have rather special needs compared to the rest of you. I travel in my '89 Jeep YJ Wrangler alone. In fact I only have one seat. The riders seat has been replaced by an ARB Freezer/Fridge. I can easily remove the ARB and reinstall the seat but I've never done it. The rear seats have been dumped in favor of a large Tuffy storage trunk. So, I am interested in only a single person tent. It must be relatively small when folded, easy to set up and easy to break down, and not require much space in my crowded Jeep where nearly every square inch is dedicated. I'm not overly concerned about living in the tent. I camp mostly in the desert so, usually, long term rain events is not an issue.

I have experimented with several back packing style tents that worked pretty well but I was never satisfied. Either too hard to set up and take down (I'm very picky about this), the stakes didn't work in sand and they were too small. I want something easy and fast and comfortable.

This past week I received a Kamp-Rite Collapsible Combo Tent Cot. In the finest tradition of rigorous tent testing, I set it up in my living room. :ylsmoke: Remember, stakes are not required. Since I had never seen one, it was an act of discovery. I must say that I'm impressed. Once I realized the the set-up instructions stunk, I found the set-up was very intuitive, easy and fast. There is no need for any instructions. The tent uses two exterior sectioned hoops from which the dark green tent hangs from clips which gives good interior dome style head space. One can sit up and not hit your head. My self-inflating air mattress fit like the tent was cut for it. The rain fly fit very well and is extremely easy to install.

Of course, the tent is mounted on the cot with zippers on the sides and Velcro on the ends. The cot frame just folds up like a camera tripod. Very easy. There is access on both sides each with good bug netting and a full fitting solid flap. There are four, small triangular, net covered, windows with zip up closures. On each end there are mesh covered air vents which can be closed. These match air vents on the fly. There is a flap stitched to the top where you can put small items like a flashlight, alarm and wallet. Underneath the cot there is a net where you can store clothes and boots off the ground. There is also a tie inside where you can hang an LED lamp.

Size is for one person only. I'm 6 foot tall and did not touch either end. But that is about it. If you are 6' 4" I'm sure you would touch the ends. Width is adequate for a mummy bag plus a little. It's cozy but not too small. There is enough room to store an unfolded change of clothes by your feet but a duffel would be too much.

Here is a link to the Kamp Rite site for this tent:

http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Kamp-Rite-Collapsible-Combo-Tent-Cot-CCTC-p-16138.html

I slept in the tent the first night. Very comfy indeed. The cot surface is forgiving and the mattress made for a good sleep. I do think a mattress is needed for heat insulation.

All in all I think this is a great product. I think it will work as well outside in a storm as well as it did in my living room. And it fits in my Jeep.

Sparky

[bluejeep]

Hey Karma! Wow, we must be twins or something. I've replaced the back seat with the same box, and am building a rack to go above it, and I've been planning on removing the front passenger seat so I can make room for my Engel 35 qt. frig/freezer.

What sort of structure/base did you use once that front seat was removed?

I had a rack I built that had a portion that extended out to the side and formed a platorm long enuf for sleeping. Used some no-name brand of single person tent big enuf just for my sleeping bag. Worked alrite I guess. Scrapped it and am building a new rack that converts out the back instead. then I pitch a rather large tarp over the jeep and area off the back for my "camp".

[mellowdave]

I have four kids and a dog that we camp with, I have a few smaller backpacking tents for when its just me, or my daughter and I (My usual camping partner), a TNF tent the model of which escapes me, here...
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/110/276848759_2213300120_z.jpg
I use this one most of the time for motorcycle camping and light backpacking, (yeah I motorcycle camp on a Ducati sometimes) its just smaller and lighter than anything else Ive seen, though TNF discontinued it a few years ago.

I am buying this in the spring to augment it

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H_jg5MvwakY/TJ02tLVlexI/AAAAAAAAAAM/QGRntwCVhNE/s1600/100_1644.JPG

which is an REI Half Dome, Ill probably get the plus, as with one or two kids, I need the extra room

We've been using a big, cheaper like 10 man tent for a few years now, I think its either a coleman, or a Eureka, and it has been really a lot better than I would have expected. Its still holding up pretty well, despite a number of big trips, and honestly, a lack of right proper maintenance. Its big, its heavy, (30 lbs?) its not waterproof.
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4124/5003407280_5cf4b26479_b.jpg

Most likely we will pick up a Big Agnes Flying Diamond 8 in the spring to take its place, and continue getting us out in the woods in some degree of comfort.

[Karma]

Hey Karma! Wow, we must be twins or something. I've replaced the back seat with the same box, and am building a rack to go above it, and I've been planning on removing the front passenger seat so I can make room for my Engel 35 qt. frig/freezer.

What sort of structure/base did you use once that front seat was removed?

I had a rack I built that had a portion that extended out to the side and formed a platorm long enuf for sleeping. Used some no-name brand of single person tent big enuf just for my sleeping bag. Worked alrite I guess. Scrapped it and am building a new rack that converts out the back instead. then I pitch a rather large tarp over the jeep and area off the back for my "camp".

HI blue,
How about that. I thought I was the only single seat Jeep in world. Guess not.

Well Bro, mounting the refrig is not easy. Here's how I did it.
1. Built a mounting plate out of two pieces of of 1/2 inch ply wood cut to the same size that matches the outside dimensions of the refrig. On one piece I marked and cut holes to accept the refrig feet. Then I glued and screwed the two pieces together and painted them. This keeps the refrig from scooting around but the feet still supports the weight.

2. As you know, the four holes that mount the seat are not in anyway symetrical or at the same height. Very difficult to accurately obtain a mounting hole pattern. So, I didn't. Instead, I bought bolts that would thread into the seat mounting holes, cut the heads off and sharpened the end to a point on my grinder. Then I threaded the bolts into the mounting holes to the right approximate depth. Then I placed the mounting plate on the sharpened ends and adjusted the bolt heights so the refrig was level and in the right position. Once that was obtained I hit the plate a stout blow with a hammer at each bolt position. As I remember, I actually only hit one bolt position initially so I could use that one as a reference in case things moved. I actually drilled that hole and mounted that position to the floor with a bolt that had a head. I left it loose. I proceeded to the other three positions which I did in one sequence. The reference bolt was the front left one (closest to the center console) which is the shortest bolt.

By hitting it with a hammer, the point of the bolt created a dent in the wood which marked the position where you will drill the mounting hole. It worked like a charm.

3. Once the holes were drilled, the plate had to be leveled. I used fender washers to get the proper spacing between the floor and the bottom of the mounting plate. I counter sunk the bolt holes so the bolt heads did not protrude above the mounting plate top surface.

4. I then mounted strap loops to the bottom of the mounting plate, front and rear, so I could use ratchet straps to secure the refrig.

That's it except for routing the wiring. I run my refrig with 12 Volts from the battery.

As an aside, by mounting the refrig in this location I lost my navigation computer mount. I solved this problem by mounting the computer tray to the top lid of the refrigerator pointed in just the right direction so I can see it while driving.

All in all, I'm very happy with the way it all worked out. It is stout, secure, does not move around, did not need new holes to be drilled in my Jeep, and the refrig can be taken out when necessary. Can't ask for more. And my laptop works well in its new position.

Sparky

[tyler93]

kirkhams springbar, the only one I would consider. g'luck.

[monkeyplunger]

Since 2004 i have regularly used my sierra designs alpha 3. (3 person, 4 season). I have used it about 50 times so far which is about once a month up until last year when work got real busy.

I have used it for all types of trips, from overnight to two weeks in back country and from 100 degree heat to the coldest i have personally every camped at -22f. As for rain it did very well, on one trip in the smokeys the remnants of a hurricane came through and it rained solid for 3 out of the 5 days - the inside was dry asides from the water brought in when physically getting into the tent.

It has also endured a massive wind and sandstorm in nevada. The wind was so hard that i though the tent was going to be destroyed. I dont know if it was a miracle or a good tent, but it survived. There were 70 mph wind gusts with sand - I honestly thought the sand blasting would wear through. My motorcycle windscreen was wrecked after in that storm, along with some small chips in the paint. Everything was full of fine sand, it totally sucked.

For me it has been the best all around tent - backpacking, motorcycle, jeep, and car camp. What i like about it - the screen on top zips shut with a cover which can make a huge difference when cold. It also has very generous screen area at front and back when it is hot (both of those zip shut as well for cold). I also like you can get inside from the front or back. The rain fly is great (but needs to have guy ropes attached to the side loops and staked down to be truly effective in keeping ALL water out during thunderstorms or heavy rain.

The only thing that is a drawback is that it is 9lbs fully packed. But you can ditch quite a few items for lighter backpacking if needed. It says its a 3 person tent, but like all of them - it is a tight 3 person and comfortable 2 person. It is not so bad either with the wife and 2 dogs.

For family camping this tent might be a little small so when looking for a larger one the rainfly should be looked at carefully as someone else pointed out. It works as i believe the key to the design is that the rainfly is about 1-2 inches from the main body and goes all the way to the ground. and has many loops to stake and add guy ropes to keep it tight and away from the main body of the tent. They dont make the alpha 3 anymore and the 4 season ones seem to be more like mountaineering type than mine. They only one i can see which looks much larger but similar design is the wu hu series. They have tent poles which clip and a rain fly which goes all the way to the ground.

One brand of tent at the overland expo that looked really cool, very durable, and set up real fast were the OZ tent and jet tent. If you are willing to spend the money i think those tents will give you years of good car camping fun. I believe some other posts have more details about them.

[raven1911]

So a quick update on my tent dilemma, if it helps the OP out. I ordered the Kingdom 6 and was unhappy setting it up in my garage because there was a light wind that blew it down like an accordion. I was unhappy that I had to stake the tent down and wanted a sturdier tent. I packed it up and drove 1.5 hrs to my local REI to return it for the Basecamp. I was willing to spend the extra $150 for the tent if need be. Once I got there the tent person at REI was very knowledgeable and talked me out of buying the Basecamp and keeping the Kingdom 6. He had owned all four of the tents that I was considering and basically went through each one and we discussed the pros and cons of each. He told me his Basecamp was on craigslist and he was keeping the Kingdom. Basically he stated that all tents that big need to be staked down and once the Kingdom is staked down it is rock solid. I originally wanted a free standing tent but understand his reasoning that all 6+ person tents needed to be staked down because the ceilings are so high and the tent acts like a sail in the wind. He showed me how to stake a tent down even on a granite slab where you don't have typical soft ground to pound the stake in, so I think I am GTG now.

[Honu]

Anyone have good pics of the cabelas xwt or Alaskan guide geo ?

[ExpediT-100n]

Anyone have good pics of the cabelas xwt or Alaskan guide geo ?

Years ago I bought the Sportsman's Guide Geodesic tent thinking it looked like a cheap knock off of the Cabela's Alaskan Guide tent. It lasted two nights on the White Rim trail before being shredded and tossed downwind on our second night. I had plenty of time to reflect on how much money I had saved as we traveled 65 miles, mostly by dirt road to get to our base camp near Moab.

The next year I repeated the trip with our newly purchased Cabelas Extreme Weather (XWT) tent. We slept like babies despite a heavy wind storm that left a couple inches of snow above the rim of the canyon. My lesson learned from this is to spend the money on good gear or you will end up paying for it later. I think that this tent will take whatever nature throws it's way and plan on passing it down to my children when they have families of their own.

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/49421/2352895600062605357S500x500Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2352895600062605357KkztrT)

Kevin