What to look for in a tent?

[maroonandwhite]

This isn't necessarily for survival purposes but will double for that if needed. I am looking at getting a new tent so the wife and I can do some weekend camping. I don't want to spend a lot of money at first so lets set my budget at around $150 +/-. I only need room for 2 people so a simple dome tent should do. I am wondering if I should stick with a well know brand such as Coleman or are the bass pro or other brands OK?

[UncleJak]

I got the "tellico" from academy sports for under $30. I have used this tent for over three years with zero complaints. It sleeps two comfortably and three fair. Unless you just need a massive tent I'd go cheap. Sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

[maroonandwhite]

Nah we just want a cover over our heads. I'd love to just sleep under the stars but the wife won't have that. Plus she doesn't have a nice sleeping bag. Even though she always said mine was a dumb purchase she sure does love using it when the time comes haha.

[Clod Stomper]

Don't go too small. If it says 2-person, assume it will comfortably hold one. But just to try out camping, get a "bargain" type.

Get your wife a nice thick sleeping pad and a good sleeping bag. Those are more important than the tent, IMO. I spent most of one summer sleeping on a cheap inflatable pool float. Very comfortable, but it eventually started leaking.

BTW, I don't consider Coleman to be a high-end brand when it comes to tents and such. Not in the same class as Kelty or North Face anyway.

Its been a while since I've slept on the ground though, so some things might have changed.

[Jonnin]

quality of the material, really, is the only difference between the good ones and the cheap ones.  A *lot* of camping tents are designed to be used 5-10 times over as many years and won't hold up to a lot of use.  Which is fine, if you have a kid in scouting or something.   Not having bought one in a long, long time, I cant say what the going quality ones would be. 

 

Not quite happy sleeping under stars (darn bugs...)  but I can make all I need for a good 2-3 man tent with a couple of tarps.  If its just me, I would roll up in 1 tarp and forget about it, burrito style.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Jonnin

[Wingshooter]

I personally like a tent that has a screened porch/vestibule over the door. This allows you to store your gear, boots, etc and gives a buffer between your entryway and the outside. I also like a tent that is tall enough to stand up in and has good ventilation. This can all be had in a relatively small tent without breaking the bank. Mine's an old 9'x11'(?) Coleman that I use for small camping trips. Put down a ground cloth and have a rain fly handy, and most tents will do the job around here. When I go out west, I take my better tent though.

This is the type I prefer, but I can't seem to find one any cheaper at the moment http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/68612?page=king-pine-6-person-hd-dome-tent Edited August 4, 2014 by Batman

[daddyo]

Whatever you get, try to find one with taped seams and a bathtub floor. It will make all the difference if you get caught in a monsoon.

Edited August 4, 2014 by daddyo

[Lumber_Jack]

Are you looking for a 4 season or 3 season?

[maroonandwhite]

I'm looking for a 3 season I guess. I won't be camping in extremely cold weather. Probably Aug-Oct.

[tnguy]

Don't go too small. If it says 2-person, assume it will comfortably hold one. But just to try out camping, get a "bargain" type.

 

Very much this. Consider also storage space for your gear. For two people, you'll want either a 3 or possibly 4 person tent.

[Lumber_Jack]

I assume 3 season. I would buy name brand just because of warranty and quality and I'm kind of a gear queer. Just like I wouldn't buy a Hi-Point instead of a Glock. [url="http://www.backcountry.com/the-north-face-stormbreak-2-tent-2-person-3-season?ti=UExQIENhdDozLVNlYXNvbiBUZW50czoxOjQ6YmNzQ2F0NzExMDAwNDE&skid=TNF00CN-CASGREYL-ONESIZ"]http://www.backcountry.com/the-north-face-stormbreak-2-tent-2-person-3-season?ti=UExQIENhdDozLVNlYXNvbiBUZW50czoxOjQ6YmNzQ2F0NzExMDAwNDE&skid=TNF00CN-CASGREYL-ONESIZ[/url] http://www.backcountry.com/kelty-grand-mesa-2-tent-2-person-3-season?ti=UExQIENhdDozLVNlYXNvbiBUZW50czoxOjU6YmNzQ2F0NzExMDAwNDE&skid=KEL0763-ONECOL-ONESIZ Edited August 4, 2014 by Lumber_Jack

[Dane]

If you are wanting wife to continue to camp with you I would suggest this tent: Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[peejman]

What they said....  Get a tent that's rated for at least 1 more person than you intend to put inside it.  My tent is rated for 6 and it's plenty cozy with just 4.  It'd be spacious for 2. 

 

Get good sleeping pads or an air mattress.  If it's just you and the wife, sleeping bags won't really be necessary until it gets cold.  We've been fine with just a bed sheet and a blanket or two.

 

Get a ground cover / footprint / tarp to put under the bottom of the tent. 

 

Don't take a cheap tent camping in the rain.  It'll leak and you'll be miserable.  A light shower, fine.  Real rain with wind and such... no. 

[gregintenn]

I'd go with a cheap "on sale" tent to see if she likes it. As everyone else says, get one rated for more than two people. Those ratings are based on newborn people sizes. They also don't take into account for other stuff you'd want in the tent besides you and her.

 

I tried to acclimate my wife to camping, and it just didn't take. We tried a tent, a larger tent, cots, air mattresses, and finally a pop up camper. Unless I could tow around a Holiday Inn, she just doesn't like camping.

 

Don't spend a fortune on the front end. Most inexpensive tents today do a decent job of shedding water. That's about all you could expect of a tent.

[maroonandwhite]

All good advice. Honestly we probably wouldn't go camping if it were supposed to rain. She is a fair weather camper. We used to own a popup but got rid of it because I hated setting the thing up. We have also had the larger sized tents and had good luck with them. Just never had one of these cheaper/smaller ones before. I don't need anything extremely rugged because it will likely not get used more than 4-5 times a year. I would however want one that wouldn't leak if a decent rain came through. Taped seams may be the remedy for that though. I think I'll swing by academy and check a few out. Can't recall if they have any set up though. I know Bass Pro has the little small models set up sometimes.

[gregintenn]

I think my last tent I found on clearance at Kmart. I've been very happy with it, and it is several years old, and has been used several times. My son and some friends used it just last week.

[tnhawk]

I had an inexpensive coleman tent and it was fine for moderate TN and TX weather.  Ease of setting up, good ventilation and netting seemed to be the most important features to look for.

Edited August 4, 2014 by tnhawk

[Wingshooter]

You can get seam sealer to put on the seams. Comes in a brush-on applicator or spray and helps to seal it up from moisture.

[tennessee01tacoma]

I bought a tent at Kmart this spring it says 2-3 person. I say 2 plus gear. It was only 30 bucks and I am extremely pleased with it. If you only camp a couple times a year I would say this tent is more than adequate. It is a simple design quick to set up and easy pack up, which to me is as important as other features.

http://m.kmart.com/northwest-territory-sierra-dome-tent-blue/p-089W005734934001P

Edited August 8, 2014 by tennessee01tacoma

[monkeylizard]

Ugh. I hate that stupid seam sealer in a tube. I use seam tape. It's cleaner, makes a neater finish, and works great. The better quality tents will have this done at the factory. According to some Amazon reviews, some of the factory-sealed seams still leak because they'll tape the joints, then stitch them. Oops.

 

Deffinitely go up one size, at least. I got a 6-person for me and Mrs. 'lizard. That's overkill, but it was on sale and will give us plenty of room for her to have an air mattress and a steamer trunk.

 

If you're going in warm weather, get one with good ventilation. Some today are 80-90% mesh on the sides and top. Less privacy, but great airflow. Add the rainfly for privacy, but that can kill the airflow. I have a Kelty Salida 2 that has a snug rainfly. It works great to keep the rain out, but can create condensation due to restricted airflow.

[Dolomite`s Breezy]

My coleman tent says it sleeps 3..NOT.

 

We have tried the tent thing for a weekend. .First night, we slid down the hill into the corner of it. You have to remember to put a tent on level ground. Second night,it rained and we got a bit wet .At 48 years of age ,you wont get me into a tent anymore in the summer time. Not comfy enough and no AC makes  it hard to enjoy. Husband bought be a gooseneck horse trailer with AC/heat and a king size memory foam bed.

 

I don't do camping anymore:) I call it glamping....

 

 

Buy the  tent 2 sizes bigger,,you will need the room...

Edited August 5, 2014 by Sour Kraut

[maroonandwhite]

Haha Glamping. My inlaws do that too. I do cheat though. I have been know to put a small AC in the tent door or a heater if it's cold.

[Guest ab28]

I use a silnylon tarptent that doubles as a poncho, pretty light, I sewed mosquito netting on it, weighs in at around 13 oz. But I hike 10-15 miles before I get to camp. If you are car camping, any tent will work, and weight isn't a restriction. I go lightweight on gear since I did the entire Appalachian Trail in 2010. My pack with food, water, and gear weighs in at 17lbs or so.

[Guest cchelsoi]

I have a Coleman right now and its ok for fishing trips or overnight stays in good weather, I would love to get a 4 season tent but men the good ones are price.

[Wingshooter]

I have a Coleman right now and its ok for fishing trips or overnight stays in good weather, I would love to get a 4 season tent but men the good ones are price.

That's how I use my Coleman too. It's plenty for 90% of the time in TN. I also have a Cabelas Big Horn II outfitters tent with a wood burning stove. That thing is awesome for long stays in cold weather if you can drive to a spot. I'll be using it again this year out West. It's overkill in TN though, so I use it about once a year.