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Post by Coolkat on May 27, 2024 9:26:45 GMT -8
I've put this here instead of the gear area so more people would see it. I also know that we have multiple threads on tents already but this is a bit different and I'm in a little bit of a schedule.
I have a friend who is in charge of a group that is very similar to boy scouts. However, their tents desperately need replaced and they have an up coming trip to Wyoming. He asked me for my recommendations and I told him I'd look into it and I will but thought the good people here might be a good resource also. Here is what they need out of a tent and I'm just wondering if anyone has anythoughts on this. They will end up purchasing around 6 or 7 tents. These tents will be used about 10 to 15 nights a year.
They need to be...
0) only car camping (no need for light weight stuff)
1) 6 person
2) price point about $400 (if that can be done)
3) he is worried about them standing up to wind in Wyoming
4) Durable (especially zippers) and think how 10 to 16 year olds might treat them.
thanks!
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 28, 2024 15:31:29 GMT -8
I just took a look at REI with a 6 person filter on their tents and they have a lot of choices. Many under $400 and some really cheap. The one that caught my eye was a Kelty. I've had good experience with Kelty. Good bang for the buck. Fiberglass poles though. This one is only $180: www.rei.com/product/202472/kelty-discovery-basecamp-6-tent |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 28, 2024 16:02:02 GMT -8
Given the budget, I might look at this $300 tent with a porch area, as it gives the sleepers a place to put their gear. I was never a fan of climbing out over others, but maybe the youngsters will be less bothered. the floorplan for sleeping 6 is less than ideal. Maybe buy more of the Keltys so fewer campers per tent? |
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 28, 2024 16:24:15 GMT -8
I was about to post the same link when I saw NF offering it for $300. Highly rated tent.
I have an REI Kingdom 8 with the "garage". When it is raining to have an area to deal with wet gear before getting in the tent is a big deal.
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Post by Coolkat on May 29, 2024 3:48:50 GMT -8
Given the budget, I might look at this $300 tent with a porch area, Was that a one day flash sale? Its $500 when I click on it. Funny that you guys suggested that one as that was one of them that I suggested after digging around on the www. |
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Post by trinity on May 29, 2024 3:52:38 GMT -8
It would exceed their stated budget, but we've had an REI Base Camp 6 for about 20 years, and it's still going strong. Since high winds in Wyoming are a concern, I would probably avoid fiberglass poles. If your friend is able to get to an REI store and check out some of these tents in person, that would be ideal. Sometimes that's the only way to get a sense of how burly the materials are. |
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Post by Coolkat on May 29, 2024 4:58:14 GMT -8
It would exceed their stated budget, but we've had an REI Base Camp 6 for about 20 years, and it's still going strong. Strangely enough yet again but that is the other one I ended up recommending. However, I didn't realize that the poles were fiberglass. I will say something to him about that. And that is exactly why I asked the question here. I didn't even think about fiberglass poles as all my tents have aluminum. Edit: I see that the Kelty BaseCamp is the one with fiberglass not the REI Base Camp 6. |
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 29, 2024 5:18:31 GMT -8
Maybe buy more of the Keltys so fewer campers per tent? That's a good suggestion. Coolkat you didn't say how many nights in a row. One night with 6 people in a 6 person tent is OK. A week might be rough. Is your friend looking for long lasting outfitter-like tents or just good enough to get kids out? |
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Post by Coolkat on May 29, 2024 5:40:51 GMT -8
They never get these kids out more than 3 or 4 days at a time. With the exception of their Wyoming trip which will be 7 days.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on May 29, 2024 6:38:58 GMT -8
the floorplan for sleeping 6 is less than ideal. Sleeping five abreast in 96 inches...no problem if every kid cuts down his 20-inch ground pad and the outer two cuddle up against the sidewalls. Looks to me like it would hold four comfortably, five in an emergency. |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 29, 2024 6:56:53 GMT -8
Was that a one day flash sale? Its $500 when I click on it. It appears it was a one day sale, but I can still see it offered at that price at other sites. I was not aware it was a sale at the North Face site. I'd still lean towards more tents, unless their original intention was to put 4 in each tent. |
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Post by Coolkat on May 29, 2024 6:59:31 GMT -8
They want a 6 person tent with the idea of only putting 3 to 4 kids in a tent.
I really wish the camping industry would just simply advertise what is realistic. For instance....
A 6p tent is in reality a 4p tent maybe 5
Your 2.3lb tent is actually 2.8lb because we don't include tent stakes and guylines
Your headlamp is only 2ozs oooppps.. well that is minus the batteries
etc..etc.. fill in your with your choice
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 29, 2024 12:03:05 GMT -8
Coolkat I just left Costco this morning and they have a $99 6 person tent. I didn't really look at it other than to observe the size of the bag it packs into, and hoist one to see the weight. I couldn't reach the display to determine if the poles were aluminum or fiberglass. I'd still lean towards something from REI or a similar merchant.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 29, 2024 16:05:02 GMT -8
I don't know if they would see it this way but cheap tents that might fail may not be the worst thing in the world. Unless they are somewhere where the weather would kill them if a tent failed then maybe a failure might be a growing experience. I know for me the failures I had as a young man I survived and learned a lot from. Knowing I can survive was important.
I don't know maybe they are going for more of a glamping experience for the kids. |
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Post by daveg on May 29, 2024 18:53:01 GMT -8
You might want to take a look at the Sierra Designs Nomad 6 tent. Three aluminum poles, two doors, currently on sale for $375 at the SD site. My wife and I car camped all over the country in a Sierra Designs Bedouin 6 (discontinued). It is a great tent. Never leaked even during prolonged heavy rain. There were a few times we encountered high winds. The tent flexed quite a bit but endured with no damage. And it was only a two pole tent. I have no first hand experience with the Nomad 6 but the material specs appear similar to the Bedouin 6. |
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