What is the best camping tent to buy?
I just wanted to find out what everyone else’s opinion is on trying to buy the best tent. Looking for one that does not leek if it rains. We went camping last year and the rain got in our tent it was one we bought from wal-mart and is Ozark Trail. If you could help me find a great tent I would appreciate it.
I swear by Euerka tents. I currently own 3 of various sizes. The oldest is now 13 or 14 years old and with a new coat of seam sealer, would not hesitate to take it on a camping trip. It has been used about 150 nights so far.
I work in the camping industry, NO not for Eureka! I am a manager in a large nationwide sporting goods company. I can basically get any tent I choose, but I choose Eureka due to their quality of workmanship, customer service, and value for the money.
get something at cabela’s. it will be a little more expensive but the quality will be higher.
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one that is waterproof and has azipper that works hilary approved
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I swear by Euerka tents. I currently own 3 of various sizes. The oldest is now 13 or 14 years old and with a new coat of seam sealer, would not hesitate to take it on a camping trip. It has been used about 150 nights so far.
I work in the camping industry, NO not for Eureka! I am a manager in a large nationwide sporting goods company. I can basically get any tent I choose, but I choose Eureka due to their quality of workmanship, customer service, and value for the money.
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Here’s a really good article on how to choose a tent:
http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Tent
Here are a few places to find a good quality tent:
http://www.rei.com
http://www.campmor.com
http://www.cabelas.com
http://www.llbean.com
I personally have a three-person Sierra Designs tent for when I camp with only two people. It’s a three person tent, and is a breeze to set up all by myself. Plus, because it’s smaller, it’s easier to find a place to pitch it. It’s also free-standing, so I can set it up, then move it around to different spots until I get the place I like. Try that with a cabin tent!
For trips with the whole family, we do have a walmart tent, but we’ve waterproofed the rainfly (spray the whole thing), and we’ve also waterproofed all of the tent body not covered by the rainfly (especially windows and doors). We also use a ground tarp underneath that’s slightly smaller than the footprint of the tent. This keeps ground moisture from seeping up from underneath, and also helps your floor last longer by keeping sticks and rocks from poking through your floor. Lastly, we also pick a campsite that’s rain-friendly (meaning it’s not in a valley or depression of any kind where rain will collect, and it’s not in a gulley where rain will travel downhill on its way to a valley or depression). All in all, it works ok. BUT, if you need a large family tent, and can afford it, definitely skip Walmart and look at something from Kelty, North Face, LLBean, Cabelas, North Face, REI, Eureka, etc.
So here are some actual recommendations:
** 1 person – I use my 3-person Sierra Designs tent, even for one person but no matter what, I take my Byer Moskito hammock (http://www.rei.com/product/736088). It’s great sleeping and has mosquito netting to keep the bugs out!
** 2 people – almost any good quality 3 to 4 person tent. The LL Bean Ultra Dome Tent #4 would be really nice for two people (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=ultra-dome-tent&categoryId=45603&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=500106&cat4=1096&shop_method=pp&feat=500106-tn) or get super luxurious with the LLBean King Pine Dome Tent #4 (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=king-pine-dome-tent&categoryId=53082&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=500106&cat4=1096&shop_method=pp&feat=500106-tn)
** 3 or 4 people – Go for a 6 person tent minimum here. Cabela’s Quad Pole Dome Tent would be good (http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?id=0013081)
** 5 or more people – My wife and I have lusted over is this tent for a long time. The Eureka Blue Mesa 1610.
http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-Blue-10-Foot-Nine-Person-Family/dp/B000EQAU9G
Shop around for the best price, of course.
Hope this helps a little!
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You could throw a pine cone and hit a better tent than one from Wal-Mart. If you want a quality tent you’re going to have to spend at least a couple hundred bucks. Here’s a few top 2-man tents that got good reviews from Backpacker Magazine in March:
Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2 Tent $295.00
http://www.rei.com/product/732200
Marmot Zonda $295
http://www.rei.com/product/747656
Mountain Hardwear Haven 2 Tent $320.00
http://www.rei.com/product/717784
Black Diamond HiLight 2 Tent $339.00
http://www.rei.com/product/748586
Marmot Aeolos 3P Tent $365.00
http://www.rei.com/product/731626
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