tents for camping 4-person image
Mrs.Fine
I love to camp, but my poor old tent has worn out and it is time to purchase a new one. There are alot more features available now, and I want to know which ones are worth the extra money, and which ones just add more weight to my gear. It was a little overwhelming shopping at the Bass Pro shop last weekend.
Also, where is the best place to find a good deal on these tents? I only have a family of four, so an extra large tent is not needed. Just one that is relativley simple to set up.
Thanks for your input!
Answer
First, get a name brand tent. Almost everyone I know who has purchased a tent from a discount store has had problems with it very soon. Not only is this bad economics but can ruin a camping trip.
The tent that is right for you will depend on your own use and priorities. If you are car camping, you will likely accept weight and volume to have a comfortable tent. If you are bike touring, you probably want as small a tent as you can get.
Here's a few things to consider:
Self supporting - The more self supporting a tent is, the less you have to rely on stakes, but the more likely it is to have more poles and more weight. A classic pup-tent for example is simple, has only basic center poles, but needs good ground to steak it down.
Ventilation - Very important if you will be in warm weather especially. I find that having cross ventilation (two opposite doors for example) give much better ventilation than the percent of the tent body that is netting. ( I find that if the netting is completely surrounded by the fly, you won't get much wind movement anyways)
Mosquito netting - get the smaller no seeum netting. It's helpful if you can adjust this and the door rainflies without having to open the tent door (thus letting all the bugs in)
Zipper - get one with a substantial zipper on the doors. This is a point of failure on many bargain brand tents.
In my outdoor program I purchase Eureka Timberline Tents which are the mainstays of many outdoor programs. I think they are one of the best values you will find in a tent. They are well built, have good zippers, have excellent cross ventilation and are easy to set up with poles that are unlikely to break. You can adjust the ventilation from inside the tent. They are great for most general needs, but would not be my choice for activities where light weight is needed such as bike touring or light-weight backpacking. They will make more noise than a dome tent in a wind. A good source is Campmore. They also stock spare parts such as poles should you ever need them. Personally, I find myself using this tent most of the time unless I'm in the wind or snow I use a Eureka dome tent, and if I want to go light, I use a small
Sierra Designs hoop tent instead.
Help preserve your tent by shaking or sweeping out all the debris each morning when you take it down. This will make the floor last much longer. If you are not overly concerned about weight, cut a plastic ground cloth to fit, which you can always leave out if you don't want it. (Campmore sells these very cheaply to fit the timberline)
P.S. - the Timberline has a 4-person version, but it is room for sleeping only. If you are car camping for long periods of time, you may want something more roomy for a family of four.
First, get a name brand tent. Almost everyone I know who has purchased a tent from a discount store has had problems with it very soon. Not only is this bad economics but can ruin a camping trip.
The tent that is right for you will depend on your own use and priorities. If you are car camping, you will likely accept weight and volume to have a comfortable tent. If you are bike touring, you probably want as small a tent as you can get.
Here's a few things to consider:
Self supporting - The more self supporting a tent is, the less you have to rely on stakes, but the more likely it is to have more poles and more weight. A classic pup-tent for example is simple, has only basic center poles, but needs good ground to steak it down.
Ventilation - Very important if you will be in warm weather especially. I find that having cross ventilation (two opposite doors for example) give much better ventilation than the percent of the tent body that is netting. ( I find that if the netting is completely surrounded by the fly, you won't get much wind movement anyways)
Mosquito netting - get the smaller no seeum netting. It's helpful if you can adjust this and the door rainflies without having to open the tent door (thus letting all the bugs in)
Zipper - get one with a substantial zipper on the doors. This is a point of failure on many bargain brand tents.
In my outdoor program I purchase Eureka Timberline Tents which are the mainstays of many outdoor programs. I think they are one of the best values you will find in a tent. They are well built, have good zippers, have excellent cross ventilation and are easy to set up with poles that are unlikely to break. You can adjust the ventilation from inside the tent. They are great for most general needs, but would not be my choice for activities where light weight is needed such as bike touring or light-weight backpacking. They will make more noise than a dome tent in a wind. A good source is Campmore. They also stock spare parts such as poles should you ever need them. Personally, I find myself using this tent most of the time unless I'm in the wind or snow I use a Eureka dome tent, and if I want to go light, I use a small
Sierra Designs hoop tent instead.
Help preserve your tent by shaking or sweeping out all the debris each morning when you take it down. This will make the floor last much longer. If you are not overly concerned about weight, cut a plastic ground cloth to fit, which you can always leave out if you don't want it. (Campmore sells these very cheaply to fit the timberline)
P.S. - the Timberline has a 4-person version, but it is room for sleeping only. If you are car camping for long periods of time, you may want something more roomy for a family of four.
when buying a tent and camping gear is walmart the place to go because they are easy to return?
Drifter
Planning long camping trip. Getting new important stuff [tent, mattresses, stuff....] We will be going place to place all summer. Tenting, hotel, tenting,hotel off and on. I have purchased tents before that just leak from day one. So I am thinking I should just get a coleman or I am looking at this texasport 10 man tent which looks nice at Walmart. If I get the tent and mattresses at walmart and there is a problem I can return them with ease [except driving to a walmart]. There is one pretty much all over. Anyone know if walmart has anything good at all ? They have the simmons and sealy air mattresses for like 80.00 which is pretty good.
Top 10 things needed beside beer on month long camping trip ?
Answer
It sounds like you're planning a nice trip. Why spoil it by putting up with leaking tents and repeated trips to Walmart to exchange one poorly-made tent for another? There are many good models in the $200-300 range that, if not abused, will offer a comfortable and dry nights sleep. I've had good experience with Eureka tents, but there are plenty of other quality manufacturers of 2 to 4-person tents in that price range, particularly the Timberline and Mountain Pass series, which provide great weather protection and ventilation at a reasonable price. But there are many other quality brands to choose from.
Big tents can be difficult to setup and pack-up by yourself, and the extra space isn't necessary. The tent is your bedroom while camping; you only go inside to sleep. The outdoors is your living room, kitchen, dining room. You would never want to cook, eat or store food inside your tent because this would attract insects and animals. Much better to setup a separate kitchen/dining area away from your tent, covered by a tarp or screen room for protection from rain and flying insects. The rest of the time is spent out enjoying nature. After all, isn't that the reason for camping in the first place?
It sounds like you're planning a nice trip. Why spoil it by putting up with leaking tents and repeated trips to Walmart to exchange one poorly-made tent for another? There are many good models in the $200-300 range that, if not abused, will offer a comfortable and dry nights sleep. I've had good experience with Eureka tents, but there are plenty of other quality manufacturers of 2 to 4-person tents in that price range, particularly the Timberline and Mountain Pass series, which provide great weather protection and ventilation at a reasonable price. But there are many other quality brands to choose from.
Big tents can be difficult to setup and pack-up by yourself, and the extra space isn't necessary. The tent is your bedroom while camping; you only go inside to sleep. The outdoors is your living room, kitchen, dining room. You would never want to cook, eat or store food inside your tent because this would attract insects and animals. Much better to setup a separate kitchen/dining area away from your tent, covered by a tarp or screen room for protection from rain and flying insects. The rest of the time is spent out enjoying nature. After all, isn't that the reason for camping in the first place?
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