Need help finding a tent - Family of 5

[SilverBullet]

Hey all, we are considering a new tent since we sold the tent trailer last January out of financial necessity.

I have been looking at lots of videos and the Coleman Instant Tent series keeps coming up not only for its ease of use, but for the thick material and durability. Anyone have any experience with one of these?

We need suggestions on a tent for the whole family and the dog (hence the thicker floor interest).

[5Runner]

I am in the same market right now. A tent for a family of 5 plus a dog that sleeps with us.

I am looking for a four-season tent however, as we do pretty rugged trips. I want a small one, so we can fit easier at some primitive sites where tent space is small. We sleep and change in the tent, that's it, so cozy is good.

We bought an REI Base Camp 4. For a lot of reasons, it's a great tent...but it's not working for us. Luckily REI will take any returns. I am returning it after one season of issues.

-Issue...it's not four season. One trip last fall we had snow blowing in under the fly and through the mesh. Last weekend in Moab we had sand doing the same thing. An hour with my very upset daughter in the middle of the night as she tried to cry out the sand that blasted her face. SUCKY. Their hella expensive, but my family and our destinations are worth it...four season is the way for us...

...However...it's not easy finding the right sized/priced four-season tent. Most are not for big families. Price is around $500 to $1000 and more. Ouch...but still...not a good night in Moab for my daughter that night.

Anyone else find a good 4-season tent for a big family? suggestions?

Sorry to piggyback your thread, but maybe my experiences will give you something to think about.

I need mesh doors that have solid zip up covers over them.

[61rover]

It might be a little tight, but we have an REI Base Camp-4 and we love it. It's been to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and on may trips here in Colorado. REI makes a Base Camp-6 which might give you more room.

It doesn't have the heavy floor, but I think it would hold up fine. It's a great tent.

[Moody]

I know nothing of the Coleman tents in recent years. My experience hasn't been great with them, many are poorly made, fiberglass poles, etc. Experience tells me that one thing you NEVER want to skimp on is your tent.

That is a tough tradeoff 5 runner. I use a Mountain Hardwear Trango 4 for my family when I need a bombproof 4 season tent. There's no way we could fit our dog in there with us. They are pricey @ ~$700. There are other companies that make similar 4 season tents, such as Big Agnes. Other than the Trango, we use a Springbar Traveler. I would dare say the Springbar is a 4 season tent (they used one at Everest base camp a few years back). The floor on the Springbar is amazingly heavy-duty. No problem with dogs or kids in there.

Just my thoughts...

[jCubed]

I'm using the Colemen Easy up system. And I've got to say I love it. It's the large two room system and we got it for around $169 with coupons. Go wife!

Super easy to put up and take down, like under 1-2 mins! I've only had it one season but it worked well and held up so far.

[nwoods]

We bought an REI Base Camp 4. For a lot of reasons, it's a great tent...but it's not working for us. Luckily REI will take any returns. I am returning it after one season of issues.

-Issue...it's not four season. One trip last fall we had snow blowing in under the fly and through the mesh. Last weekend in Moab we had sand doing the same thing. An hour with my very upset daughter in the middle of the night as she tried to cry out the sand that blasted her face. SUCKY.

5Runner, that is very interesting. I have used an older version of the BaseCamp tents for multi-season use and never had that experience, and I used our tent in similar conditions (including up to 75mph winds in the desert), and had none of that. But I just realized why! The newer tent design has a ventilation strip down low, good for hot climates, but I can see where wind could play havok with that. I'll have to keep that in mind.

[5Runner]

^^^ Love the picture! That's what I'm talking about.

Thanks, Moody. I'm looking at the Angus tents. The Mountain hardware one I also deemed too small.

[G jeep]

I would say base camp 6 from rei. We are 4 people with a dog and it has plenty of room. We have had it in high winds (60 mph) plus and horrible rain and it has been problem free. We have a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet that is cut to protect the inside floor of the tent. No tent is perfect for every situation and true 4 season large tents are difficult to find.

[nwoods]

I did a quick Google search and found some cool ones:

http://www.alaskatent.com/oven.html


http://www.backcountry.com/the-north...erson-4-season


Note, there is also a smaller Dome 5: http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/...on/dome-5.html


That Mountain Hardware Trango seems pretty cool:
http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-...season-mhw1052



Not sure what these are, but the tents from Arctic Kingdom look purposeful:
http://www.arctickingdom.com/catalogues/


Not sure which North Face tent this is, but its a cool photo:

[BIGdaddy]

those are great pics, nathan!