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Post by wander2016 on Jun 27, 2016 18:34:36 GMT -8
Hi Guys,
I just went for my first backpacking trip recently. On this trip I had taken a brand new REI Quarter Dome 2. The tent is great but I found this tent has a very delicate fabric. My particular piece had a manufacturing defect too, so it is going back anyway. So I was looking for a 2-person, similarly priced, backpacking tent that has a more sturdy fabric.
Please help!
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Jun 27, 2016 18:59:53 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure the REI tent is made of the same nylon as every other tent on the market, though you may find tents minus the polyurethane coating, that are silicone impregnated. I'm also pretty sure it's not as delicate as you think it is. It'll be easy to slice into with a sharp object, but it'll stand up to a nice tight pitch pretty well.
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Post by hikerjer on Jun 27, 2016 19:11:35 GMT -8
Kind of what almosthere said. I've owned numerous REI tents including current my Quarter Dome and have never had an issue with any of them. For the money, I think they are the best tent out there.
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Post by wander2016 on Jun 27, 2016 19:20:07 GMT -8
I am willing to carry an extra pound for a thicker rainfly
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jun 27, 2016 20:20:23 GMT -8
Mountain Hardware Trango
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Post by wander2016 on Jun 27, 2016 20:26:16 GMT -8
Sorry for being fussy, I guess I should have mentioned instead of simply writing "similarly priced", my budget is around 300-350 USD. Amamazon tells me that "Mountain Hardware Trango" 2 person is 600 USD
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franco
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Post by franco on Jun 27, 2016 21:02:26 GMT -8
The fly on that Quarter Dome is made of PU coated 15 denier rip stop nylon.(the floor is 30d)
There are tents now made with fabric as light as 7 denier but till not all that long ago people were commenting that 30 d was too low already.
BTW, the weight in denier does not tell you directly how strong (say tear/abrasion resistant) the fabric is.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 27, 2016 21:42:18 GMT -8
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Post by reptocarl on Jun 28, 2016 0:12:10 GMT -8
Marmot makes the Tungsten series that are good tents with more durable fabrics.
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dayhiker
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Post by dayhiker on Jun 28, 2016 3:33:48 GMT -8
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Jun 28, 2016 5:58:27 GMT -8
I am led to wonder what is being done that makes a tent that serves thousands of people well enough, years of service, that leads the OP to decide it is flimsy... You just don't see them falling apart.
Perhaps one of the old canvas tents would be better?
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jun 28, 2016 6:26:34 GMT -8
As a person who has been in way too many a storm, I would be more concerned about the pole structure and design than the actual fabric itself. If you want a weather worthy tent, a 3/4 pole tent will give much more strength than a heavier fabric. A shelter like a pyramid or dome style will shed wind from any direction. A tent with oodles of guy-outs is also another way to combat winds/snow. Mind you, simply adding a third pole into the mix I would take over more guy-outs. I'd start there if you are concerned about fragility.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2016 6:43:17 GMT -8
I had used and abused a REI 1/4 dome T2 for about 5 years without issue. For the last few years the tent has sat in the closet and the poles stored in the extended position; replaced by a lighter weight tent. Perhpas your, wander2016, has a defect but the REI tent is, from my experience, a good tent for 3 season use.  Looking for a heavier tent, to spend most of the day as dead weight, in your pack, on your back is a 'strange' thought process but HYOH. Me, before my last backpacking trip, I picked up a Sawyer-mini cause it weighs less then the Sawyer Squeese, that I have been using for the last 6 years, by a half ounce (back flushing syrange included). *shrug* |
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franco
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Post by franco on Jun 28, 2016 14:48:38 GMT -8
"I had used and abused a REI 1/4 dome T2 for about 5 years without issue"
From the REI Quarte Dome 2 FAQ :
The new Quarter Dome 2 is lighter by almost a pound thanks to the lighter weight fabrics on the floor, canopy and rainfly
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Jun 28, 2016 16:03:12 GMT -8
And STILL -- nylon is tough stuff, and the primary fabric used in most tents, and there is no real indication of WHY it's not tough enough for the OP. Are mastodons stomping on tents where he goes hiking? Are there rampaging herds of scissors? Does it rain pitchforks? Does the noise it makes when the breeze hits the unzipped vestibule make him nervous?
It's hard to make a recommendation when there's no real clear problem. REI tents keep the rain off and the wind out, in most conditions that backpackers see. Everest trips? There are big mountaineering tents for that. Hiking the Grand Canyon? Yeah, the Half Dome/Quarter Dome will do fine.
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