Tent for a camping n00b? [Archive] - Beyond.ca - Car Forums

Mitsu3000gt

08-13-2012, 07:15 PM

I'm looking for a decent 2-3 person tent (for 2 adults). Nothing too fancy, but I don't want a POS. It would only be for light (1-2 nights) summer use, but wind & rain still need to stay out. I don't think I'll be hiking with it, so weight isn't overly important. I know there's some hardcore campers here so maybe you can help me out!

Looking to spend around $150-200 if that's reasonable. More concerned about quality than set-up time.

This one actually looked pretty good from CT, and is a 3 person so it might have a bit more room:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRD~0766020P/Outbound+Backpack+Tent%2C+3-Person.jsp?locale=en

On sale for $130 if it's a decent tent I'll probably just go buy that one, but I'd like to get some opinions first. It also comes with a fly, which looks like it might be extra on the MEC stuff?

I usually trust MEC stuff but I don't know a lot about tents...these all seemed pretty good with not much to differentiate them:

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Tents/TripandTrail/PRD~5027-694/mec-camper-2-tent.jsp

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Tents/ReplacementParts/Flys/PRD~4009-727/mec-north-wind-2-doors-fly.jsp

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Tents/TripandTrail/PRD~5027-697/mec-tarn-2-tent.jsp

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Tents/TripandTrail/PRD~5027-701/mec-twin-peaks-2-tent.jsp

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Tents/TripandTrail/PRD~5027-703/mec-wanderer-2-tent.jsp

If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated!

HuMz

08-13-2012, 07:23 PM

The one in your first link is just fine, I went with the http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRDOVR~0766007P/Broadstone+Easy-Up+Tent%2C+5-Person.jsp?locale=en

Takes about 3 min to set up, had it out one night in a wind storm and ended up bracing the 4 parts that fold with 4 sticks (wrapped duck tape around it) and it held like a champ.

So far its a good tent, much better then the last roots one I had.

Kavy

08-13-2012, 07:37 PM

Mec 2 person tents will only fit 2 if you're both 90lbs and 4'10.

Outbound makes great tents.

SOAB

08-13-2012, 08:17 PM

the wife and i have a Coleman 4-man tent that we used for almost a decade before we got a trailer. it is still waterproof to this day.

drtoohotty1

08-13-2012, 08:25 PM

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRD~0762194P/Coleman+Instant+Tent%2C+4-Person.jsp?locale=en

Buddy of mine has this one and it is perfect easy set up built in fly and you can set it up by yourself in less then 2 minutes

Mitsu3000gt

08-13-2012, 08:57 PM

Thanks guys - looks like that Outbound 3-person one at CT is actually a pretty good deal then, and it might actually fit 2 adults.

CanmoreOrLess

08-13-2012, 09:13 PM

You know MEC has pretty much all there tents set up in the store. Drop by for a test drive. If you are car camping, I'd get a four man tent. I bought a six man from Walmart and was flooded out this summer. Nice tent in the dry, it has a screened area which I think is the best feature. Terrible in the rain though.

Mitsu3000gt

08-13-2012, 10:09 PM

^^^ I did not know that - I'll be checking out MEC's display tents for sure.

I've been doing a little more research and what do you guys think about the following:

North Face Rock 22/32
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/equipment-tents/rock-32.html?from=subCat&variationId=3A0

Marmot Traillight 2P
http://marmot.com/products/traillight_2p?p=118

McKinley Sunrise 4
http://www.atmosphere.ca/atmosphere/catalog/camping.html?category=4651&pid=15242

I'm leaning towards the 3 man tents, but I don't know if I'll need a 4+ person tent. It would only ever be used by 2 people (5'10" & 5'2"), and the dimensions seem to fit that comfortably even on the 2-man tents. A little extra room wouldn't hurt though, for gear and such.

I can't find a bad word anywhere about that Rock 22/32 tent, and people claiming it has survived some pretty ridiculous weather. A big deal for me is ventilation + keeping me dry, and it seems to do that too.

MrSector9

08-13-2012, 10:28 PM

I can only comment on the quality of the North Face stuff and it is great.

I bought this at campers village and it is amazing (for a tent) Alot of ventilation. Very quick to setup and best part of all it was an open box so I got it for 50% off (I think)

http://beta.backcountry.com/the-north-face-flying-frog-33-bx-tent-3-person-3-season

Room on this is enough to fit 2 people and a dog (boston terrier) and gear no problem and it is still extremely light even with a heavy ground sheet i pack with it.

You can get away witha cheap tent however if you want to enjoy tenting it is like everything else, buy something good one time.

msommers

08-13-2012, 10:34 PM

Just an FYI, almost all tents are going to have condensation build up and you're going to feel a bit wet, with a fly on. We had very expensive tents on the West Coast Trail and it was pissing..5/6 days (yeah what a treat hey!). Our gear was dry but the tops of our sleeping bags were a touch damp and again, because of condensation. Without the fly on a dry night, it's never a worry.

If weight is not an issue, you really don't need a Northface tent. And their tents are typically overpriced as is the rest of their gear. Fact is you're basically car camping, which is fine. But realize what it is and spend accordingly. Put the extra money from a Northface tent into a sweet ass Thermorest (trust me, the top luxury one at MEC is worth every penny). Keep in mind the XL gets pretty wide! Or if you really want to car camp, get one of those big air mattresses haha.

If it's just two of you, figure out how much gear you typically have, how you bring it (some people bring backpacks, others bring suitcases..) and size it up at MEC (to give you an idea of how large it is setup). Worst case, you buy too big so I'd say a 4-man is handy especially if you want your stuff inside. If not, the two mans are totally fine if you leave your gear outside. They make not look spacious and you can't stand in them (many you can't anyways) but once you're asleep it's ample room. It'll be even tighter if you and the GF zip your sleeping bags together.

The tent I have is a light-weight Big Agnes and I friggin love it but I'm also in the backcountry and weight sucks. But honestly for your needs, I'd just go to Canadian Tire. Why? Because weight is not an issue and plenty of people have abused the crap out of tents like that partying, barely getting in their tents etc and they still are standing! If you're still really unsure of the tent's rainproofing, get a $10 blue tarp and string it up; better than any fly is going to be.

Look at this deal (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRD~0766007P/Broadstone+Easy-Up+Tent%2C+5-Person.jsp?locale=en)

Mitsu3000gt

08-13-2012, 11:34 PM

Thanks guys - now I'm more confused haha.

Matt I looked at that tent but the one review it has says that bugs could get through the mesh! That kind of scared me off. Seems like a good deal otherwise though.

I looked at those air mattresses and they seem awesome but they cost as much as some of these tents haha, so they might have to wait until next time. I can see how that would be a must-have eventually though. I will tough out the first couple trips to make sure I don't suddenly hate camping before I invest in much else (I liked it before, but I haven't been in years).

I don't *think* we'd ever use this tent for actual backpacking, but I can't really say for sure. I wouldn't mind having that option as long as I wasn't making any big compromises anywhere else.

I just want a good tent with enough room for 2 people, waterproof, and decent ventilation. I don't mind paying a bit more to get that, but only if it makes sense. I don't think it will need to stand up to the rigors of the West Coast Trail, but if it storms or whatever I don't want to have to worry about it.

I'll probably bring a tarp regardless, assuming there are trees to string it up with.

This one is dirt cheap, has a good review, and also a review where the guy says it was so bad he threw it in the garbage lol. Reviews on amazon suggests its decent apparently it leaks pretty good in any significant rain, even through the fly:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRDOVR~0765066P/Coleman+Sundome+Tent%2C+3-Person.jsp?locale=en

Here is one for $29 with surprisingly good reviews haha...I am extremely skeptical though. I guess it would be basically disposable, but I'd be pissed if it broke and I had to drive back to Calgary:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRDOVR~0765023P/Escort+Dome+Tent%2C+3-Person.jsp?locale=en

I'm very much someone who likes to buy something once rather than twice because I bought something shitty the first time, and I am trying to apply that to tents haha - maybe I don't really need to though.

I need to do some more thinking, but I appreciate the insight! I'm also going to go to MEC and get a better sense for sizing.

EDIT: Maybe I'll splurge and get this haha...its only $5k:
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/equipment-tents/2-meter-dome.html?from=subCat&variationId=712

Kavy

08-14-2012, 12:02 AM

Originally posted by msommers
Just an FYI, almost all tents are going to have condensation build up and you're going to feel a bit wet, with a fly on. We had very expensive tents on the West Coast Trail and it was pissing..5/6 days (yeah what a treat hey!). Our gear was dry but the tops of our sleeping bags were a touch damp and again, because of condensation. Without the fly on a dry night, it's never a worry.

^^^^Totally agree

Hunted in tents for several years, condensation is a pain in tents. The average person breaths out a litre of water through the night which is a large factor in the condensation.

What I suggest is to make sure you stretch your rainfly as far from your tent as possible. This will allow as much ventilation as possible. Down side, this will also make the ten cold as shit at night.

You will stay drier if you sleep fully clothed (long johns etc) and use an emergency blanket between your air mattress and your sleeping bag.

*The larger the tent the less the effects of the condensation will be but it will also be colder. We live in Alberta, nights get damn cold I would suggest when looking at a tent for one that has solid walls with vent at the top and a fly vs the full vent tents with flys. Fully vented tents are great in the dead summer and in california but here in alberta you will be buying hot water bottles (which work the best btw) to keep you warm.

msommers

08-14-2012, 12:18 AM

Yeah I get what you mean. The beauty of CT is that if it doesn't stand up to what you want it to do, you just return it! MEC is the same way, probably even better than CT.

The way I see it you either get a car camping tent from CT/Costco/Walmart or you get a proper backpacking tent like a Big Agnes, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, MSR etc.

There are cheaper versions if you don't necessarily need the 4-season capability. I know what you mean, long term it could be a good choice should you ever want to do backpacking and have only one tent. I mean that's what I did. Found a good deal here on Beyond and use the same tent for everything.

I did a quick look around for specifics and you may want to look into these:

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
Marmot Twilight & Limelight
Mountain Hardwear LightWedge

Personally I've never been that big of fan of Northface but other people really like them so I shouldn't say to totally write them off.

Mitsu3000gt

08-14-2012, 08:38 AM

Ok well my decision may have got easier, Atmosphere has the Marmot Limelight 2P and Marmot Earlilight 2P both on sale for $159. (Reg. $270 & $295 respectively). Plus they come with the footprint.

Is one significantly better than the other? The limelight has an extra 2sq ft but other than that they look the same to me.

EDIT: Limelight gets WAY better reviews on Amazon, which is the only place I can find tent reviews.

http://marmot.com/products/limelight_2p?p=118,173

http://marmot.com/products/earlylight_2p?p=118,173

All their tents might be on sale though, so I'll swing by there today at some point to see what else they have. If they have 3 person versions on for a similar sale, that would be even better, we will see.

That Big Agnes tent you mentioned looks sweet but it's $530 unfortunately so that one's out.

I figure if the decent CT tents cost $140 and these are $160, I will buy a "real" tent instead and keep my options open.

Knowing me I will come home with something completely different than I set out for anyways :rofl: .

Abeo

08-14-2012, 09:00 AM

I recently went through this to replace my costco tent, and took a look at the atmosphere tents, and ended up with a MEC tarn 2. Fits me (5ft 9) + my junk well, would be ok to have 2 people in it but if you want extra sprawl room, a tarn 3 would be better. Super fast to set up and tear down. First trip out, held up to 100+ km/h rain/windstorm while the CT tents collapsed around us. It is a backpacking tent, so its light and expensive.

Go to MEC and atmosphere and look for yourself, MEC has the tents set up on the floor, atmosphere has them hanging from the ceiling which makes looking at them harder.

Oh, and if you really want to be cheap, I'd sell my costco tent (http://content.costco.ca/Images/Content/Product/237966c.jpg) for cheap. Been used maybe 5 times, and I don't see myself using it again.

darthVWader

08-14-2012, 09:10 AM

Another option would be to rent a tent http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/pdf/Rental_Rate_Card_Web_en_v1_m56577569830811186.pdf OR http://www.calgaryoutdoorcentre.ca/gear_rentals/tent_rentals

My boss rents from MEC. His reasoning is that he can rent one the fits his needs for the trip he is about to do.

msommers

08-14-2012, 09:18 AM

The biggest difference I see of those tents is that there are dual side entrances and 2 vestibules vs. an end entrance and a single vestibule. You lose a measly 2 sq ft of vestibule space. One is slightly lighter than the other. Personally for me I like the dual vestibule because the other person doesn't need to crawl over anyone to get their stuff.

That said, just remember to take into account how much stuff you bring. These are backpacker tents and for the dual vestibule, are made to hold one backpack per side. Given that it has potential for dual purpose, I would really suggest a 3 man. But if the 2 man works for you so be it. Just don't let the price sway you and you kind of made-do because of it.

Good to know about the tents, I'm kind of curious what else they have on sale lol. Normally Atmosphere is so much more expensive than MEC but on these sale days really make it worthwhile stopping in.

http://www.atmosphere.ca/atmosphere/catalog/camping.html?category=4651&pid=15243

If that is onsale, get it.

megavolt

08-14-2012, 09:45 AM

I love my CT pop-up tent.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRDOVR~0765047P/Broadstone+Pop-Up+Tent%2C+2-Person.jsp?locale=en

Takes a few minutes to figure out how to get it back it it's bag but it only takes like a minute to set up.

Mitsu3000gt

08-14-2012, 09:52 AM

Yeah that was exactly my thinking - go for the 3 person version if it's on sale at all. 2 person would probably be OK, but if we had much more than a duffel bag/backpack each, it might get a little tight.

If I'm reading the website correctly, they list floor area separate to vestibule area, so I think the 2 extra sq ft of the Limelight is actually in the tent, which seems like it would be more valuable than another vestibule.

Apparently tents are a minimum of 30% off, so hopefully everything is on sale.

I still like the North Face Rock tent as well, as it's the only other tent besides the Marmot Limelight that I can actually find a large number of well written, very positive, reviews for.

Mitsu3000gt

08-14-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by msommers
Good to know about the tents, I'm kind of curious what else they have on sale lol. Normally Atmosphere is so much more expensive than MEC but on these sale days really make it worthwhile stopping in.

http://www.atmosphere.ca/atmosphere/catalog/camping.html?category=4651&pid=15243

If that is onsale, get it.

I went there over lunch and the Limelight 3P is on for $229, I think that is a great deal. Going to pick one up tonight I think. 2P is $159. I didn't see any of the North Face ones there but I didn't look very hard after I saw the 3P on sale.

Basically everything in that store is 30%+ off, with tents on at a minimum of 30% off, many of them closer to 50%. Backpacks too.

codetrap

08-22-2012, 07:45 AM

Man, you should come over to my place and go through all my camping gear with me. I've decided it's time to get rid of most of it since I have the tent trailer. Got a couple of tents, sleeping mats, tarps out the wazoo.. all in bins. I'll give you a good deal.

Grogador

08-22-2012, 07:51 AM

Mitsu3000gt

08-22-2012, 08:47 AM

Originally posted by codetrap
Man, you should come over to my place and go through all my camping gear with me. I've decided it's time to get rid of most of it since I have the tent trailer. Got a couple of tents, sleeping mats, tarps out the wazoo.. all in bins. I'll give you a good deal.

I have a tent now (Marmot Limelight 3P), but I will check with the GF to see what else we need and if there's anything I'll let you know. Thanks!

Mar

08-22-2012, 09:28 AM

Looks like I'm a little late but no doubt someone else will find this thread later.

I can only comment on 2 tents you linked to:
- cheap Canadian Tire tent
- MEC Tarn 2 tent

I grew up in the woods and it was always in a cheap Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire tent, they always got wet from the morning dew and the water always seeped through the cheap material. Plus they were hot as balls the second the sun came up. It worked but was uncomfortable and after using them for a few summers the poles started malfunctioning and didn't go together as nicely.

Last fall I bought the MEC Tarn 2 tent which is supposed to be for 2 people. Setting it up is amazing, a couple of weeks ago I was in Canmore and it was raining, I had the tent set up and a beer cracked within 4 minutes, none of my gear got overly wet sitting in the rain. I'm about 5 foot 10 and 185 pounds, it fits myself and my lady side by side just fine. The bad thing about this tent is you will not be sitting up inside it, there's absolutely no room for anything in it except sleeping and uncomfortable sex. There isn't any room for bags except a small pack by your head, so this is strictly a sleeping tent, keep your gear in your car if you're not too deep in the woods.

If you want a roomier tent get the Tarn 3 or if you want one that will hold gear, get the Hubba Bubba or the Mother Hubba (I think that's what they're called) because they have gear vestibules, a separate spot to store gear in your tent. That will be my next purchase.

sputnik

08-22-2012, 09:36 AM

Some of you guys need to stop looking at brands and start looking at what separates an expensive tent from a cheap tent.

10% quality
90% weight

Sure a North Face or Sierra tent might have better zippers or pegs, but what sets them apart is the weight of their materials. People who buy these tents spend the money because they don't want to have to carry around a heavy tent while backcountry camping.

If all you plan to do is drive to a campsite and camp for a few days, buy your tent from Costco or Canadian Tire. The tent will work just fine and probably even be MORE water/wind proof as the heavier materials are usually better in that regard. Especially the ones with the "bathtub" style tarp bottoms.

As for sizing a tent. For every 2 people in the tent have at least a 3 person capacity.

Mar

08-22-2012, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by sputnik
Some of you guys need to stop looking at brands and start looking at what separates an expensive tent from a cheap tent.

10% quality
90% weight

Sure a North Face or Sierra tent might have better zippers or pegs, but what sets them apart is the weight of their materials. People who buy these tents spend the money because they don't want to have to carry around a heavy tent while backcountry camping.

If all you plan to do is drive to a campsite and camp for a few days, buy your tent from Costco or Canadian Tire. The tent will work just fine and probably even be MORE water/wind proof as the heavier materials are usually better in that regard. Especially the ones with the "bathtub" style tarp bottoms.

As for sizing a tent. For every 2 people in the tent have at least a 3 person capacity.

Disagree on the percentages, I think more should be for quality. And also time to set up or break down. It was real nice last month when I saw people trying to get their Wal-Mart tent rods all snapped together one by one and pull the string through while I stood there with my magnetic pole, let go of one end and it all snapped together on its own.........click - click - click - click - done.

BerserkerCatSplat

08-22-2012, 09:59 AM

The Limelight 3 looks like a very good tent, and definitely light enough for backpacking when split between two people, if you decide to try it. Weighs around the same as my Stoic Arx 3XL.

That said, for just car-camping I greatly prefer something I can stand up in and fit a big air mattress in. We have a big-ass 6-person tent that we use for the two of us, which sounds overkill but it's really nice having something the size of a small bedroom on extended driving trips. As long as it has a decent rainproofed (1000mm+) fly that's completely separate from the main body, it'll probably do fine keeping you dry. Ours has been through torrential downpours and crazy winds over the course of 7 years with not a drop inside. It was bought for like $90 from the Sears outlet store, so good deals can be found.

But, regardless of tent, get something comfortable to lay on. If I'm ground-camping in any of my smaller tents, I love my Exped Downmat 7. It's just so much more comfortable than any other lightweight sleeping mat/pad I've tried. Bigger/heavier (and significantly cheaper) mattresses can be had from CT or wherever but I'm not sure how well they would fit in the Limelight.

LollerBrader

08-30-2012, 12:23 AM

[i]
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRDOVR~0765023P/Escort+Dome+Tent%2C+3-Person.jsp?locale=en
[/B]

This "Sundome" looks identical in design to the coleman I currently use (Model unknown), but a bit smaller.

For the price, this tent looks perfectly fine for weekend-car camping.

Don't believe "2-man" or "3-person" ratings - Look at the measurements of the tents comared to the people that are going to be sleeping in them - and the gear they will be sleeping with.

Also, I think MEC may be a bit more high-performance than you need. You will find the selections at Can tire more in line with your needs.

msommers

08-30-2012, 12:46 AM

He picked up a solid tent, it'll stand up to basically anyone's needs. Still, I'm thinking of buying a big ass tent for car camping, it's just fun to have when you have the option.

A lot of the heavier denier nylon found in the higher end tents are still part of the quality of the tent and in turn lead to the higher prices, not just weight. Weight is a very arguable factor in terms of cost, like poles is a huge one. But 90% might be a bit high. Either way, OP landed a solid tent (at a great price too) and I know it'll work out just fine!