How Do You Use Your Tent?

[Karma]

HI All,
Other than getting out of inclement weather, sleeping and changing clothes, how much time do you actually spend in your tent? Personally, the number would be close to zero. Therefore, I don't see a point of an expensive, large, ground or roof top, tent. I'll bet most of you are the same way. Have I got this wrong?

Granted, my camping is mostly in the desert where biting insects are not a problem usually. This may be a difference. You tell me.

Edit to add: I use a Tent Kot. It's not an arrangement where you would want to spend a lot of time. So, I don't unless I have to.

Sparky

 

[Christophe Noel]

Depends on the climate. I've been on trips with tons of tent time as we escaped the weather. Others, the tent never gets deployed.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Heh Heh, I use my trailer tent to sleepin and my party tent to sleep/party/play/eat/ games-or escape into the jeep when bears are suspected-

Depends on the desert/Sierras-

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO

 

[Nomadllc]

...for staying dry and playing Uno while there's a monsoon going on outside!! Thank you North Face

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Being disabled, I looked for a few qualities in my tent.

1: Easy set up/takedown

2: Enough room to change, play cards, etc. in inclement weather.

3: Comfort!

4: Keep the bugs out! Up here we have mosquito's the size of chickens! Not to mention the gnats, flies, wasps, etc.


I don't get around like I used to, and often tend to overdo it when out on the trail.

Therefore I tend to spend more time in the tent than most. (as much as I would rather be out hiking/exploring/fishing/etc.)

My first RTT served me well, and our new Mt. Rainier from CVT is even larger.

Well worth the investment for me, considering how much time I do spend in it.

 

[jeepfreak81]

Ours gets used as a site keeper/gear keeper/storm retreat. We are also a family so tent cots are out.

We had a very large Coleman tent that probably would continue to serve our purpose with the child, dogs and gear, but I also wanted something much quicker to put up and take down. I wanted a trailer to keep everything in as well. I went with the Mt Rainier RTT recently, and loved it on our first trip. I am betting I will love it more once it is mounted on the trailer.

I also have a Gander Mountain 4 man tent that is 16 years old and still works beautifully. This tends to be lent out, and used as a gear tent any more.

Frankly even I think what I paid for the RTT was ridiculous, but I am also banking on it lasting 20 years. If the $75 Gander Mountain tent can do it I would hope that RTT could do it.

 

[RockyMtnFamily]

Hello, my name is Kevin and I am a tentaholic.

I have:

A small 3-4 man tent for when my kids need their own space for my sanity.

A large Cabelas extreme weather tent that I bought used for $500 for our Spring/Summer/Early Fall backcountry trips

A 14' fold out Tent Trailer with the kitchen sink, shower, furnace, lights and soft beds for when the wife comes along.

A 12' Teepee for Mountain Man re enactments and cold weather camping when the whole family does not come

A 16x20 Canvas Outfitters tent for cold weather camping when it is myself and the family or several friends.

I have seen other tents that interested me and thought about picking up another 4 man tent for when we cannot find a large enough site.

Some say that I am too tents about my backcountry preparation needs

 

[ColoDisco]

I have a 2 person old school eureka which I never use, a 2 room target special that never fits on a tent paddock, a 87 Starcraft basic pop up camper which I have rigged out with solar and some other goodies which we use as a base camp if we are going to explore one little area. But what I just added (CVT mt Shasta and awning) means camping wherever the truck stops on long Overlanding trips. Having this kind of gear so readily accessible is priceless.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I currently own 9 tents ranging from a vintage 2-man Springbar to a Coleman Cabin tent and a few Walrus brand tents, most of which never get used because we have our off-road tent trailer and an Appleby tent trailer that gets towed when staying on pavement. And given the fact that it never rains here we spend 90% of our time outside of them.

 

[Cody1771]

i own 2 tents, a small MEC Tarn2 backpacking tent for the motorcycle, im a big guy and the Tarn1 didnt have enough space, and i have a massive 8 person tent with a full vestibule that i use when car camping, its nice to have a tent i can stand in when its pissing rain outside. it can also sleep 4 guys and all there gear very comfortably for winter camping.

 

[Honu]

Larger tent here with kids and dogs nice to have a chaning spot getready to go area etc...

 

[MidnightRider]

I always hate taking down the tent.

 

[Karma]

I always hate taking down the tent.

HI Midnight,
Me too.

Sparky

 

[brianwj]

We have two tents now. A big three room family tent for the four if us plus the dog trips. It has a nice center room for storage and the dog its also good for getting out of really bad weather. I just picked up a four person backpacker tent for quick trips and a hammock for solo camping that I love. We try to spend as little time in the tents as possible so we always bring a tarp with us for cover that way we can stay outside unless the weather gets real nasty.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I always hate taking down the tent.

Especially when it is 70's at the campsite and 95 with fires in the valley....