Lets talk: tents

[RockRanger]

I need a new tent. The elastic in my poles broke this weekend in my already ducktaped poles holding up my ripped tent. I am looking for a new tent. So what should you look for and try to avoid. Here is kind of what I want:

Size between 7x7 and 8x8 dome tent.
Easy to setup with one person.
Needs to withstand truckhaven winds
Packing size and weight are a minor issue as I wont be using it as a backpacking tent. I like how I can stuff my air matress, tent and sleeping bag and tent in an army duffle bag which is nice.
Would like to keep it under $50 maybe $75 if possible.


Is there is a price spot in general where there is a large jump in quality? ie is a $75 one going to be much better then a $50 one, or do I need to spend $150 plus or _____ amount to get a good one?

 

[BrooklynBay]

I think that there are a few places that you could price those things. I saw a car enclosure that was this size in Pep Boys Auto. Did you try to do a search on Harbor Freight? Any camping catalog should have something that you might be able to use. Maybe look at Northern Tools too.

 

[FROADER]

Mine is a 7x7 (3 person) Coleman, and it was $30 + tax at Sportmart. It's pretty much like your old one.

 

[Stang Girl]

I'd say go look at Wal-Mart or Academy. Decent tents at somewhat decent prices.

 

[Positive Vibes]

I got my coleman tent at Costco, don't recall the cost.

 

[chriswells78]

I got my 3 man 7x7 Coleman at Big Lots for $16. I don't know how much more I will be using it now that I have the Mounty and an air mattress

 

[Explorer#2]

i got my first tent at academy i was 8x8 and something like $40 + tax, I still use it for car camping i got a much better one for backpacking. Mountain Hardwear Airjet 2 almost $300 but this is a really light tent and when you are in the backwoods for days 4lbs is a lot less than 6lbs

 

[chriswells78]

If i'm in the woods for 4 days, I am taking a ponch liner and 550 cord, to hell with carrying a tent!

 

[Explorer#2]

I like my tent thank you very much , and when you are on a two week trip in the Canadian woods, and wind is blowing 20-30mph and it is raining the tent starts to look really good.

 

[Positive Vibes]

If i'm in the woods for 4 days, I am taking a ponch liner and 550 cord, to hell with carrying a tent!

You must not have a mosquito problems out there??

 

[Explorer#2]

You must not have a mosquito problems out there??

That too

 

[Michael]

Mine is a 7x7 (3 person) Coleman, and it was $30 + tax at Sportmart. It's pretty much like your old one.

I have the same one, 7x7 Coleman. Sun Dome is the model name I think. I don't exactly remember what it cost, but not much. It lived through a really nasty wind and thunderstorm in Moab one year, so it should survive a Truckhaven wind with good stakes.

 

[chriswells78]

You must not have a mosquito problems out there??

Naa, we got skeeders, but I'm just a Grunt!

One thing I learned in the Army, if all id does is make you comfortable, you don't need it!

I have noticed the older I get, the more I leave that HOOAH crap befind!

 

[KPT]

Get a Eureka. I have two that are at least 10 years old, no problems with them.

 

[Explorer#2]

My scout troop used Eureka and only Eureka. They make a great tent that will last for ever. Our troop went on one trip a month and some of the tents we had were over five years old, they were all simple A frames but tried and true. not my favorite but they are good tents.

 

[MONMIX]

Eureka, the best tent on the market. And you pay for what you get.

To answer the question, surprisingly to me Sears has tents at what I have found to be the lwest price.

 

[RangerX]

Matt, you've seen my tent. It's an Ozark Trail from Walmart. I think it's 9x7, really easy to set up, and I think I paid under $30. Quality seems really good for the price. I've bought Coleman tents before, and was disapointed in the quality for the price.

I don't know how well it'll do in real wind, but last month at T-haven, it was fine after I put the stakes in. That was windy, but we've seen worse out there.

 

[jobunn]

For that price I'd say get a Coleman. But if you can spend a little more you can get a much better tent. Number 1 feature I look for in a tent is aluminum poles. The fiberglass jobs are soft, heavy and less durable. Plus aluminum pole tents will come with more grommets to put stakes/ropes through and make the tent sturdier in the wind. And I like Eureka too.

 

[MonumentalX]

I had one, can't remember the name, but you could backyour rig into one side of it kind of like a large sock on one side. So you opened your tailgate and could sleep in it and use the tent as party central. Also had the tunes from the X etc. It was awesome! But as usual those days were a blur....don't know how much it cost or....?

 

[Explorer#2]

http://www.hannibal.co.za/Default.asp?pageid=541
how about this, more than most of us want to spend but still cool