What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Tent suggestions

chris85

chris85

1/2 ton status
 Premium
Joined
May 16, 2006
Posts
1,320
Reaction score
1,225
Location
vicksburg, mississippi
I saw some old threads about tents but looking for some more recent info. Really hoping to do a lot more camping in the coming years since my daughters will be getting to an age where I think they would enjoy it.

I’m wanting to find a good quality 4-6 person tent that will last for years. And my main concern is having something that would work good in cooler weather. Not winter, but humid 40 degree weather. Its just too damn hot in the south to do much summer camping so I’m looking to do most camping in the fall and spring. I don’t really have a preference in design or anything, just well made.

Eventually I want to build/buy an overland style trailer with a rooftop tent but until then I want something that’ll hold up until that is possible.
 
I tend to have have decent luck with coleman tents. The quality isn't what it used to be, but still good. My wife worked at REI for several years before we were together, and the tents that she has from them are great quality also.

Just don't cheap out. Around 300 bucks MSRP is a good starting place. Usually tents go on sale this time of year so you might score a 500 dollar tent for way less than 500 bones...

Make sure the tent has good sturdy poles, I usually avoid tents with the 8-12 section poles that have the elastic string tying them all together. The string breaks and then all of the sudden you go to use a tent and you are one 16" section of tent pole short... or you take 30 extra minutes trying to keep 10 sections of pole together and weasel it into the tent.

Make sure to carry a tarp or similar material that can be placed on the ground under the tent as an extra layer of puncture resistance. Little twigs and small rocks tear up the bottom of tents pretty bad. Make sure there is a rain cover included.
 
Last edited:
I’m a believer in you get what you pay for, so yeah I tend to go for the middle to higher price point in things. I don’t need top of the line, but I definitely steer clear of the cheapest stuff too.
 
https://www.rei.com/product/894016/rei-co-op-kingdom-6-tent

Looks like this may be the winner. It seems to have the best reviews between some Marmots, Big Agnes , NorthFace and some other brands. Looks to be easy to setup with one person, it’s a little heavy at 19lbs but that’s not a big factor. Price isn’t bad either.

Really considered the Big Agnes flying diamond but it’s pretty expensive and might be more than I need.
 
chris85 said:
https://www.rei.com/product/894016/rei-co-op-kingdom-6-tent

Looks like this may be the winner. It seems to have the best reviews between some Marmots, Big Agnes , NorthFace and some other brands. Looks to be easy to setup with one person, it’s a little heavy at 19lbs but that’s not a big factor. Price isn’t bad either.

Really considered the Big Agnes flying diamond but it’s pretty expensive and might be more than I need.
Click to expand...


I would recommend supporting a company that supports OHV rather than one trying to shutdown our trails.
 
skunked said:
I would recommend supporting a company that supports OHV rather than one trying to shutdown our trails.
Click to expand...


Hmm. That’s a good point. I don’t have any REIs near me so I’m a little ignorant on their politics.

Which companies support OHV?
 
I have found that 4 season tents are made with tougher materials. No real drawback in the warm months, they usually have plenty of ventilation like anything else. I also really hate tents with the long pockets that the poles have to go through. The pole clips like on the REI tent you posted are much easier and faster to set up.
 
I camp a ton with my family. We average 20-30 days per year in a tent. If we are backpacking, we are in hammocks. We have had multiple tents over the last 15 years. I worked at REI for 4 years while completing my undergrad degree. I was even more of a stinky hippy back then.:pimp:

My advice would echo the above advice to spend good money. I have had terrible trips due to a crappy tent, and have seen even more have their trips ruined. I always laugh at the folks with cheap tents at festivals when the storms hit. A lot of their issues are in how they are set up, though.

The tent we are using now is actually a coleman. Coleman sells a shit ton of crappy tents, so make sure that its branded with their WeatherTec rating. The tent we are using is https://www.coleman.com/octagon-98-with-full-fly/2000014462.html

It doesn't look like it's available through them right now, but we have well over 100 nights in it at this point and some serious storms. The downside to one like this is no outside storage, but it's bomber.

Backcountry.com is a great site and often has 20% off coupons, as is CampMor.com
 
Got ya. This thread has me looking into the Coleman weathermaster now. Looks to be decent.

I guess since you see Coleman stuff everywhere I just assumed they’re the cheapo high volume company now. The tent I have now is actually the Coleman Sundome which has been a great tent, but I know it’s not up for colder nights and bad weather.
 
not sure if it will work for you but I'd look into getting two 2 person tents instead of one 4-6 person
 
I can't wait to go to two tents. The youngsters aren't quite ready for their own tent and I think his kids are even younger.

We had a bear messing with us all night in the La Sal's above Moab one of the nights. I'm not sure it would have mattered, but I would not like it if they were not with me. This damn bear couldn't be scared off and ended up brushing against the tent a few times. First time in a lot of nights with bears that I had one push on the tent. Actually scared me a bit. Just a black bear but was still freaky to see the tent bow.
 
Yeah, my daughter is 2 and my other is due in January so 2 tents wouldn’t be ideal. But now that you say that I bet a 4 person would be enough room since it would just be 2 adults and 2 little ones.
 
Abusfullofnuns said:
I can't wait to go to two tents. The youngsters aren't quite ready for their own tent and I think his kids are even younger.

We had a bear messing with us all night in the La Sal's above Moab one of the nights. I'm not sure it would have mattered, but I would not like it if they were not with me. This damn bear couldn't be scared off and ended up brushing against the tent a few times. First time in a lot of nights with bears that I had one push on the tent. Actually scared me a bit. Just a black bear but was still freaky to see the tent bow.
Click to expand...

I'd be wearing that bear as a jacket right now..just saying
 
Blazooki said:
I'd be wearing that bear as a jacket right now..just saying
Click to expand...

I left my firearm in the truck about 20 ft from the tent door. 1911 but still probably would have just pissed it off. I almost made a run for it a few times and then would psych myself out. Felt like an idiot.
 
Abusfullofnuns said:
I left my firearm in the truck about 20 ft from the tent door. 1911 but still probably would have just pissed it off. I almost made a run for it a few times and then would psych myself out. Felt like an idiot.
Click to expand...

Just the sound of a firearm will usually send a black bear running and I usually only carry 9mm on the trail.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom