Tents

So far I've used cheap tents that last a couple years, but I'm thinking it's time to move up to something that will last awhile, and hold up to wind, snow, and rain...

Pretty much have it narrowed down to two choices:

-REI's house brand "Mountain II", a nice 4-season, runs about $320.

and

-Eureka USMC combat tent, sometimes available used on ebay for around the same price.  Made in USA.  Stronger, but heavier, too.


Does anyone have any feedback or any other tents/shelters to add for consideration?

It seems nuts to spend that kind of money on a tent... And 9 times out of 10 I'm car camping anyhow...

My experience was that the cheap REI tents were great unless it rained.

After my summers in AK I went I got a Marmot tent. It was pricey, but I needed something reliably waterproof with a vestibule that was light enough to backpack with (even though 95% of the time I use it either car camping or paddle camping) as well as having a low profile for wind.

We spent an exposed night with 5"+ of rain on the Lost Coast in that tent & stayed warm & dry.

Eric check out this one http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9830-246&categoryid=31003&brand=

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000ODYUU4/ref=cm_cr_pr_redirect?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0#customerReviews

IMO: THE BEST!!!!!!!....and it's on clearance!!!!


http://www.rei.com/product/753336


*similar to what I've been using during my backpacking days.....which also by the way, held up perfectly at the Del Valle Perfect Storm   (free standing, two pole design and double doors are KEY - IMO)

 

  Eric, you how brutal the weather can be at Dell Valle, "Been there done that" applies to you as you know.  I'd base your decision on a tent that you feel will survive those conditions and yet be light enough to pack in on your yak.

Forgive me, but I'm kind of a zealot on this subject after spending a few years as a backpacking guide in Arizona and seeing first hand how important quality gear is. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it does need to be quality (used gear sales/gear swaps/Craigslist are great places to pick up high quality used gear). Anyhow, here's my 2 cents:

For car camping I have a big heavy Eureka Backcountry 4 tent. For backpacking or "paddle in" camping I use a Sierra Designs Omega CD convertible 3/4 season tent. Both of these tents are bomber, have lifetime warranties, and have come through extreme conditions with flying colors. Unfortunately Eureka doesn't make the Backcountry 4 anymore.

IMHO there are some basic requirements everyone should require for any tent that you intend to use in any weather conditions where you wouldn't be willing to sleep outside:

Aluminum poles- won't snap in the wind, are lightweight, they last forever
Bathtub floor- keeps moisture from seeping through the bottom of the tent and protects against blowing rain
Multiple venting configurations- keeps condensation from forming in your tent when it's cool out, allows heat to escape and fresh air in when it's hot out
Factory sealed seams- seams are the weak point of any tent for rain/dew/fog/etc. Factory seam seals are warrantied[/li]

Cheap/inexpensive tents work great 75% of the time. They are tolerable for most people another 15% of the time. But that last 10% can be miserable. When I was a guide I would always advise friends to get the best tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and backpack they can afford. These aren't just comfort items, they are safety items.

One more example, Del Valle Fish n Chill '09: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,16993.0.html
The guys with quality tents were dry as a bone the next morning. The Coleman tents and others like them were drenched. I still remember one of the guys wringing out his sleeping bag the next morning!  

Thanks, guys.

My cheap coleman was fine on the DV hell trip, even without a tarp over it I stayed dry.

When I tried to take it down in high winds unassisted, however, it started to tear at the seams.

I don't like the side doors on the REI tent, Mooch, but otherwise it looks perfect.

Leaning towards that Coleman Mike posted...  aluminum poles...  good reviews...  but not free-standing...

Thanks, guys!

Thanks, guys.

My cheap coleman was fine on the DV hell trip, even without a tarp over it I stayed dry.

When I tried to take it down in high winds unassisted, however, it started to tear at the seams.

I don't like the side doors on the REI tent, Mooch, but otherwise it looks perfect.

Leaning towards that Coleman Mike posted...  aluminum poles...  good reviews...  but not free-standing...

Thanks, guys!

I don't know much about that tent in particular, but the basic design is very common. I have a one-man bivvy made by Walrus that is the same basic design. It holds up well most of the time, but in the rain or in heavy dew it sags in the middle no matter how taught it is when I pitch it.

Better designs for a similar price would be any of these. You wouldn't want to camp anywhere it's going to snow in these, but they should hold up better under a wider set of circumstances:
http://www.rei.com/product/731378 REI Camp Dome
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28100 Eureka Pinnacle Pass
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28502 Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent (no side doors)
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___41972 Kelty Trail Dome (more of a car camping tent)

A bit more expensive at $140, but IMHO the best choice of all of these tents in the price range:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___27675 Sierra Designs Sirius 2

i got the sirius 3 off ebay this summer prior to albion..used it twice so far, once at bass lake and the other time at big sur.  both trips were in great conditions so i didn't get to test it out too much.  the tent is very easy to set up with just one person, seems to be fairly stable...

i think i got it for like $115 or so with a free footprint, so decent in the price range.

I've been looking too, and its frustrating!!    Trying to find a comfortable 3/4 season tent that is easy to set up, has at least a 4ft center height (hate crawling around) that is fully waterproof, has a large vestibule, easy to open doors, and bathtub floor. 

So far, Mountain Hardware, Sierra designs and REI are the ones that i'm looking at:

http://www.rei.com/product/779436

http://www.rei.com/product/779456

http://sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=72


I have always liked Eureka, and have the Sunrise 9 which is great for summer, nice and spacious! Stood up to DVFNC, but was too big for one person in the cold really.   I looked at the Manan 7, and even picked one up, but then returned it. 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001M5TMXS/ref=asc_df_B001M5TMXS994674?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B001M5TMXS

Think I want to go with something higher quality and probably buy from REI, so I can return it or have it fixed for free if something goes wrong with it.

This is the one I really want...  looks bomb-proof...  but out of stock.

made in usa!
http://west.loadup.com/military/surplus/12747.html

This is the one I really want...  looks bomb-proof...  but out of stock.

made in usa!
http://west.loadup.com/military/surplus/12747.html

If you can find it I would get it. It's very similar to the Backcountry 2 but with an extra tent pole for strength. 

I've always been a fan of the REI tents. I used to have a half dome, and now have the Quarter Dome T3. http://www.rei.com/product/761895

I've always been a fan of the REI tents. I used to have a half dome, and now have the Quarter Dome T3. http://www.rei.com/product/761895

I've looked at this one several, several times... It meets all my requirements, except it looks like it would be very cold. It seems to be all mesh, and I don't feel like that will keep me warm and dry...  Also, mixed reviews on REI.com...

here is the one I have. The pic doesn't show the rain fly. When that is on you have a nice covered area to store gear. I used it at shelter and Del Valle and had no issues. It is a bit tight with two ppl. But there is no way my wife is gonna camp with me. So the size is perfect

http://www.outdoorreview.com/cat/outdoor-equipment/backpacking-camping-hiking/tents/kelty/PRD_77321_2955crx.aspx

here's one with the fly....

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.trailspace.com/out/images/aHR0cDovL2ltYWdlcy5iYWNrY291bnRyeXN0b3JlLmNvbS9pbWFnZXMvaXRlbXMvbWVkaXVtL0tFTDAxMTYuanBn&imgrefurl=http://www.trailspace.com/gear/kelty/zen/review/12024/&usg=__UYko_8azIlnQkL76Ak41HayxwdY=&h=300&w=300&sz=11&hl=en&start=1&sig2=fZIdPoHHrIBSe1pMc0EIZw&um=1&tbnid=p7X-23K8-ifQ9M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkelty%2Bzen%2Btent%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=HEQ5S8jPB6CQswPR26j6Dw