?'s about tents

[NormalT]

It's been many years since I have been backpack camping and I am not sure what type of tent would be best for me.
I am interested in a three person tent, light to ultralight, and that is where things have gotten confusing for me.
I have a few trips planned for southern Utah this year as well as a couple in the Uintas. Possibly the Tetons as well.
Most will be with my 10 y/o boy, so something easy to set up. Not sure if we will have our hiking poles or not so I'd rather not have that be a part of tent setup.
I have thought about the Tarptent cloudburst 3 but am not sure if it's the best option. I like the extra head room it seems to have and it may be nice if I end up with a gal to go on trips with. (Figured women may like a bit more room, who knows I haven't figured them out yet )
Would love to hear some advice from experienced packers, I'm sure you've learned a lot over the years!
Thanks for any info!!

 

[Mullet]

It really depends how much money you wanna drop. I went with a marmot limelight that was about 6 lbs when I started. Then to a big agnes Copper spur ul3 that around 3lbs 9 oz. Then I dropped a bunch last year on a zpacks duplex thats 20 oz and love it, all though you need treking poles to do a set up but they are a must for me anyways.

 

[Nick]

I like trekking pole tents but not in the desert. Sometimes you get a spot that has good soil for it but soft sand is the worst. I'd go for a freestanding or better yet, a trekking pole tent for mountains and a freestanding for the desert. Source: too much experience pitching trekking pole tents in the desert.

 

[NormalT]

Is there any plus for a tent held by trekking poles other than weight if you have them?
I may not use trekking poles all the time, I've been on some hikes this last year where I did not want them.
I'm sure my locations are very different and some have tents for different location adventures. I guess what I may be asking is if you had a tent to buy as a beginner to go from high Uintas to zions (both summer/spring/fall but realize one can still be freezing) what would you look for?
I'm ok with $500 for a tent that will last and be light weight.
I am thinking some tents may be more prone to dust/sand getting in, maybe rain. Again, it's been probably 20 years since I've done this. Just car camping since, my little is fine with 7-8 miles a day with no complaining but I do not plan on those kind of hikes with him for over night, just yet.
I'm really stuck on the tarptent cloudburst 3 and some of the msr, BA tents.
Mullet, was ther something you didn't like with the BA tent?

 

[pstm13]

Trekking pole tents would kinda suck in Teton's as well. Most back country sites have rocky ground and I was glad to have a free standing tent when I did the TCT last year. I have a few tents but only one is considered high end, which is the MSR Hubba Hubba. The new version is the NX. Most people are very happy with it. The other top two are usually the TarpTents or Big Agnes Copper Spur.

 

[Mullet]

Is there any plus for a tent held by trekking poles other than weight if you have them?
I may not use trekking poles all the time, I've been on some hikes this last year where I did not want them.
I'm sure my locations are very different and some have tents for different location adventures. I guess what I may be asking is if you had a tent to buy as a beginner to go from high Uintas to zions (both summer/spring/fall but realize one can still be freezing) what would you look for?
I'm ok with $500 for a tent that will last and be light weight.
I am thinking some tents may be more prone to dust/sand getting in, maybe rain. Again, it's been probably 20 years since I've done this. Just car camping since, my little is fine with 7-8 miles a day with no complaining but I do not plan on those kind of hikes with him for over night, just yet.
I'm really stuck on the tarptent cloudburst 3 and some of the msr, BA tents.
Mullet, was ther something you didn't like with the BA tent?

It's not a bad tent but I was trying to cut my weight down. Zpacks makes there tents out of Cuban fiber which is lighter and more waterproof then sil nylon. I've set my tent in the shores of Lake shoshone up in Yellowstone and it was Sandy and I didn't have a problem.

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

Get back to us when you have women figured out, please.

 

[Mike K]

Haha...it's easy to get overwhelmed when looking for a tent! I feel your pain.

I think Nick brings up some good points about the advantages of freestanding tents. I have the Copper Spur 2 and it's an all around solid tent. Like most 2 person tents it is shoulder to shoulder and tight for my wife and I - and we're small. The Copper Spur 3 would be nice and roomy for you and your boy! I think it's a solid choice.

Another tent to consider would be the REI Quarter Dome 3. I haven't looked into it much. Looks like it's less $, but weighs a few more ounces. I like my Quarter Dome 2 though I don't backpack with it any more because I have the lighter Copper Spur 2.

If you're still considering the CloudBurst 3, also check out the Rainshadow 2 (the name is misleading, it's still at 3 person tent). It lighter*, less expensive, and has more headroom than the CloudBurst 3. I've got a crush on that tent and have considered buying it over the years. Note, you'd probably need to purchase the poles if you decided to not take trekking poles (*I didn't compare weights with poles). Then you' d have the option to take or leave the tent poles depending on if you took trekking poles. I'm not sure how the Rainshadow 2 would hold up in wind, or how it'd set up in sand, or in rocky terrain. Those were concerns I had.

Anyhow, hope something I said was at least a little helpful. Good luck and be sure to let us know what you decide on.

Oh, and don't forget to look for a sale. REI, backcountry, etc...usually have 20% off...or some other good deal/sale.

 

[pstm13]

One thing you may want to consider is the age of your son when buying a tent. My kids tend to be fairly rough on things because of sparks from fire, sticks, rocks, and so on. If your son is going to be around the tent a lot you may want to spend a little less and get a more durable tent rather that an expensive UL model. I have a 9 and 14 year old and have only had one hole in my tent so far. Zippers and bug screens are all intact knock on wood. Your son could also use it later if/when he is in scouts.

 

[NormalT]

Thanks for all the info! It's given me things to think about and lots more research to do!
That quarter dome 3 looks pretty nice, as well as the copper spur. I'm thinking I'll be down to rei this weekend and look around.

I've heard a lot about the 20% coupons but when do they come out and do I need to be on a mailing list?

 

[Mike K]

I've heard a lot about the 20% coupons but when do they come out and do I need to be on a mailing list?

REI has a 20% off one item (for REI members) 3 or 4 times per year. Maybe the next one will be in May as Memorial Day approaches? If that's the case, hopefully you can wait that long. It seems like when REI has this, I can often find the same discounts at backcountry.com or even on amazon.com. I've heard a lot of people talk about great deals on Sierra Trading Post but I've never got into purchasing from them.

 

[kimbur96]

this is another site that is currently having a sale on tents. http://www.steepandcheap.com/gear-cache/semi-annual-sale-gear-for-the-campsite

 

[andyjaggy]

Freestanding all the way. But I'm not a gram counter. Cooper Spur UL1 for me.

 

[Jimmy]

REI tents don't get a lot of love on this site, but my Quarterdome 2 has been a great backpacking tent for my needs for the past 2 years. $275ish or so on sale, weighs about 2 lbs (closer to 3 with the footprint), and has held up well for me. Two 6'+ male adults slept for a week in that tent in Canyonlands, and while it's not the roomiest, if you plan on hanging outside of the tent as much as possible, it's a nice option. Splitting the poles from the tent in your packs allows two people to have a nice tent at 1.5 Lbs each. It has decent room, but there are roomier options. Other than sleeping, I spent a decent few hours sheltering from a mega-sleet/thunder storm with 40-50 mph gusts in Islands in the Sky, and the Quarterdome held up like a champ. It survived well in a downpour in Zion as well. I've also used it for one-night trips with my two six-year-olds, and we all slept fine in it.

 

[gnwatts]

I posted this elsewhere on BCP, but I bought a Mountain Hardware Skyledge 2dp:

http://www.rei.com/product/846934/mountain-hardwear-skyledge-2-dp-tent

Which I am just getting used to but so far so good. I really like the options of setting it up 3 ways, the netting (w/integral floor), just the fly, or all of the above. It is on sale for $330. It says it is a 2 person tent, but 3 could fit . My other tent is a Bibler (now Black Diamond) I Tent single wall, that I purchased used on Ebay about 20 years ago. Still going strong, bomber tent. Not for everyone, no netting (only at the 2 doors). Could be had for $500 somewhere. Breathes very well, I have used it in all seasons:

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/tents-and-bivys/i-tent-BD810050YELOALL1.html

Buying a tent is fun!

 

[Bob]

Using a tarptent rainbow now for about 7 years..... Canyonlands, Winds, Tetons, Yellowstone....... works fine, can use treking poles for a freestanding look or stakes. In fact I'm ordering another this spring

 

[Nick]

Using a tarptent rainbow now for about 7 years..... Canyonlands, Winds, Tetons, Yellowstone....... works fine, can use treking poles for a freestanding look or stakes. In fact I'm ordering another this spring

Is the old one getting pretty worn out after that much use? Not to say seven years of your level of usage isn't a great run, I'm just curious.

 

[Jackson]

Is the old one getting pretty worn out after that much use? Not to say seven years of your level of usage isn't a great run, I'm just curious.

x2 on that question. After agonizing over the decision for weeks, I'm probably going to get a Double Rainbow soon.

 

[Bob]

No, it's still in decent shape. Zippers function, no tears, no leaks. I would say it's seen some hard weather. I need a better tent for my wildland fire job.......SO instead of getting a cheap tent for that I get a NEW backpacking tent. And my Rainbow was the first model and now received some redesign.

 

[Dustin Gent]

as someone stated, depends on how much money you want to spend. the next REI coupon starts March 18th - when the dividends come out.

I have a Marmot Force 2P that is fantastic. Another great tent that I think they still make is the Marmot Pulsar 2P. REI Quarterdome 2 weighs 3lbs 1oz and is a solid tent for $300. Hubba Hubba is a bomber tent that is also fantastic, but weighs about 3lbs 7oz for the 2 person which isn't crazy heavy, especially for a tent of that caliber.