Need tent advice

HAB · May 17, 2010

I take it from the size you're only looking to car camp, yeah? If it's pretty much just going to be a fair weather type deal that might be OK, but stuff styled like that sucks if it gets windy/ really rains super hard.

SkaredShtles · May 17, 2010

I take it from your price range you're only looking at crap tents.

Bump the price range up for one that big and check the usual outlets:

Sierra Trading Post
Backcountry.com
REI outlet

etc.

Under $200 for a 6-person tent is going to get you crap.

IH8Rice · May 17, 2010

kingbee said:
I was looking at this one. But it doesnt have the best reviews on some other sites.

http://www.target.com/Coleman-Bayside-8-Person-Family-Tent/dp/B001O5H35K

i have the 6 person version of this tent and it work pretty good. its pretty heavy though and doesnt do the best job in big rain storms, but it works for everything else.
i got it pretty cheap. my next tent will be a nicer one that has better water proofing capability.

SkaredShtles · May 17, 2010

kingbee said:
I realize for $200 it isn't going to be anything too great. I guess I was looking for the best of the worst.

Do you want something that is going to be waterproof? If so - make SURE whatever tent you get has a full coverage rain fly. At a minimum.

SkaredShtles · May 17, 2010

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/outdoors/23477_d-tents/all/?page=1

The Alps Mt stuff in me experience isn't the more durable/reliable stuff... but it seems to be designed fairly well.

Edit: Never mind. Those don't have a full coverage fly... I would NOT recommend them.

TheTruth · May 17, 2010

I work next to the tent department, so I know a lot about tents. From what I hear, you get what you pay for. The more you pay, the longer it will last.

TreeSaw · May 17, 2010

Our "6 person" Columbia tent was sub $200 at Dicks Sporting Goods. It's waterproof, has full fly coverage, lightweight and has worked great. It doesn't have two rooms, but for the price it's perfect!

TheTruth · May 17, 2010

If you are just planning on smoking pot in this tent, then sub 200$ is fine.

amateur · May 17, 2010

Increase your price point a bit and then geartrade.com

dante · May 17, 2010

TheTruth said:
If you are just planning on smoking pot in this tent, then sub 200$ is fine.

Lol, we had a large dome tent (6-8 person?) that cost us well below $200 6 or 7 years ago, and used it 4-5 times per year for car camping (usually 3-4 nights per trip). Never used a tarp over it, never leaked, never had any issues with it. It did have a full rain fly, though, so that may well have made the difference.

Buy what you need (or what you want to spend), and nothing more. Buying a $500 tent to go car camping is like buying a $1100 bike to commute 3 miles on. If you have the money and want to do so, go for it. But by all means it's certainly not necessary...

buildyourown · May 17, 2010

$200 doesn't buy ****. Especially in that size.
6x a year is enough to justify a decent tent IMO. A good one will also last much longer than anything you can get for $200.

REI house brand is the best value IMO. High end stuff is much nicer but you pay for it.

Fshflys · May 17, 2010

I used to buy the better (higher price) stuff but found the things that what breaks on low price stuff breaks on high price stuff too, especially if kids are involved. Now I look at it as disposable, get a couple seasons out of it then get a new one. Case in point, higher priced tent, zipper broke, $75 to fix it, breaks again.

Big J · May 17, 2010

buildyourown said:
REI house brand is the best value IMO.

+1....plus you get a rebate from a great company. (Though I'm unsure about REI's unquestioning support of the Sierra Club.)

J

buildyourown · May 17, 2010

Fshflys said:
I used to buy the better (higher price) stuff but found the things that what breaks on low price stuff breaks on high price stuff too, especially if kids are involved. Now I look at it as disposable, get a couple seasons out of it then get a new one. Case in point, higher priced tent, zipper broke, $75 to fix it, breaks again.

Your doing it wrong.
Buy REI tent. Zipper breaks. Return tent for a new one.

Al C. Oholic · May 17, 2010

fvck the tent, get a tarp and some 550 cord. for six people? get a really big tarp. for two rooms? get two tarps.
you only need em if it's raining, so if it's clear you already got all the space you need.

Ithnu · May 17, 2010

Some REI brand gear is so-so; but their camping gear is great stuff. Go to their outlet online, check clearance bins at a store, or get there on one of their "garage sale" days.

Some people buy gear, use it for 1 trip and return it. REI will mark that stuff down big time during their garage sale events twice a year.

Batman · May 17, 2010

Just picked up a tent this week, although smaller than what you're looking for, I went with MEC (mountain equipment coop) Tarn3:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302885943&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442537451&bmUID=1274138218014

I would say any MEC brand tent is worth it and even any of the few other brands they carry (namely MSR). I will echo what others have said in that the more you spend now the happier you'll be. MEC has crazy good customer service and support and backs everything they sell 100%.
I know shipping is free within Canada, not sure about the states, but worth checking out.

Sounds like REI could be your 'merikan equivilant..?

Oh, and careful with the sizing and claimed occupancy...I bought a three person tent but it is suitable for two people plus gear...

I Are Baboon · May 17, 2010

We have a six person REI house brand tent. We don't camp, but when we do we love that tent. :monkey:

Arkayne · May 17, 2010

Sub $200? Gotta give Ohio's Craigslist a try mang!

Leethal · May 17, 2010

Kingbee...

Eureka Tetragon... as big as your budget allows, they pop up on sale every now and again...Amazon is good at finding the deals.

H8R · May 17, 2010

Costco.

$200.00 will land you a 2 season mansion, a cooler, some flashlights, etc.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11522392&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|111|22101&N=4014042&Mo=3&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=48806&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

TheTruth · May 17, 2010

dante said:
Lol, we had a large dome tent (6-8 person?) that cost us well below $200 6 or 7 years ago, and used it 4-5 times per year for car camping (usually 3-4 nights per trip). Never used a tarp over it, never leaked, never had any issues with it. It did have a full rain fly, though, so that may well have made the difference.

Buy what you need (or what you want to spend), and nothing more. Buying a $500 tent to go car camping is like buying a $1100 bike to commute 3 miles on. If you have the money and want to do so, go for it. But by all means it's certainly not necessary...

So, are you inferring that you smoked pot in an expensive tent?

Al C. Oholic · May 18, 2010

^^^AHHHH, HA HA HA HA!!!
+ rep bro
"Never used a tarp over it, never leaked, never had any issues with it. It did have a full rain fly, though, so that may well have made the difference.''
NO ****! a rain fly is a tarp, custom formed for the tent dude. nice observation tho, glad you aren't wet

jonKranked · May 18, 2010

dante · May 18, 2010

Al C. Oholic said:
^^^AHHHH, HA HA HA HA!!!
+ rep bro
"Never used a tarp over it, never leaked, never had any issues with it. It did have a full rain fly, though, so that may well have made the difference.''
NO ****! a rain fly is a tarp, custom formed for the tent dude. nice observation tho, glad you aren't wet

Your point being? I was stating that you don't have to spend $300+ to get something that will keep you dry. Unless that's too confusing for you... :rolleyes:

stevew · May 18, 2010

jonKranked said:

woodsguy · May 18, 2010

Love my REI Campdome. They usually go on sale (-$50) once a year either Mem day or Labor Day.

jonKranked · May 18, 2010

stevew said:

that's just a sleeping bag.

Da Peach · May 18, 2010

Rental?

stevew · May 18, 2010

jonKranked said:
that's just a sleeping bag.

but it matches the dead tauntaun you rode in on.

bizutch · May 18, 2010

REI just had a killer 4 man tent at 55% off, like $115.00 on rei-outlet.com. Buy two of those and get the heck out of the tent with the muddy, fidgety grommets.

bizutch · May 18, 2010

Better yet, 6 person tent from REI for only $150. WIN

Click here:
http://www.rei.com/product/798696

jonKranked · May 18, 2010

bizutch said:
Better yet, 6 person tent from REI for only $150. WIN

Click here:
http://www.rei.com/product/798696

I doubt that would be suitable on Hoth.

bizutch · May 18, 2010

jonKranked said:
I doubt that would be suitable on Hoth.

Dammit John, it color coordinates the whole Hoth ensemble....what more do you want? :rant:

If this blends in:

Then this maches it identically:

SkaredShtles · May 18, 2010

kingbee said:
Nice, thats a good deal

Do NOT get a tent without a full-coverage fly. Trust me on this. Unless you're going to be camping in places it NEVER rains.

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