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Post by lostwalker on Sept 13, 2016 7:16:59 GMT -8
When me and my wife started backpacking (pre Kid, Kids) We used a tarp to cover up. Then upgraded ( or downgraded) to a nice 3 person 3 season tent when we had our fist child. OH the weight!!!  But we learned how to pack it and moved on. We now have 2 boys (one 6 and one 20months) We have out grown our 3 person and need to move to a 4 person. We talked about getting (2) two person tents, but we do not think that would be the best thing. So we are in the market for a large 4 person tent. I have seen the Kelty Trailogic TN4 Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 4 Tent and REI Half Dome 4 Tent. Looking at weight and durability as the biggest factors. Cost is not that large of a concern. Does anyone have any experiencewith any of these, or is there another tent I need to be looking at? Thanks in advance. Lostwalker. |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 13, 2016 7:33:37 GMT -8
I don't have any thoughts on the 4-person tents, though I know the Copper Spur UL 1 & 2 are nice tents, very light for their space. I do have thoughts about the use of the large tent. I get what you are concerned about. But there are other considerations. It can be very hard to find a space large enough to pitch the big tent, and they are never going to be as durable in a high wind. Our own approach was the 2-tent approach (our boys are only 18.5 months apart, and we started this when they were very small, like the younger one under a year). You can use two and divide the parents, one adult and one kid in each tent. Or you can put the two kids together, and pitch the tents as close together as possible so you are handy in case of need. That was what we did. As the boys grew, we moved the tents farther apart. The first time we had to pitch them far enough that noise of wind and water kept us from hearing them, it was disconcerting--but all survived (by that time the boys were more like 6 & 7). Total weight of the 2 tents is about a match for a 4-man tent, but the flexibility of splitting them is helpful. Ironically, this past June was the first time we all 4 slept in one tent, a borrowed one on a camping trips with friends  Felt a little odd to share a tent with my almost-adult sons! |
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Post by lostwalker on Sept 13, 2016 10:00:45 GMT -8
I totally agree with you. And this is what I have said. But The wife wants what the wife wants. I know we will be selling the 4 person tent in a year and splitting them up into there own tent anyway.. Maybe I'll just drag my feet on buying. |
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Sept 13, 2016 10:45:13 GMT -8
Two two-person tents, with a large tarp to cover both of them. Sell it as a two-room, four-person tent.
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Post by lostwalker on Sept 13, 2016 12:21:52 GMT -8
So whats everyone's take on a 2 man tent?
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franco
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Post by franco on Sept 13, 2016 16:00:08 GMT -8
Given that I am part of Tarptent ...you could take a look at the TT Hogback. Takes only a little more space than a two person tent, about 4 lbs, pretty easy to set up and it does set up "dry" (that is fly and inner go up together) There is very good headroom to be able to have 4 adults playing cards or board games so no problem with kids. This is the Hogback opened up just to show the room inside :   www.tarptent.com/hogback.htmlfranco@tarptent |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 16:26:13 GMT -8
The Crawfords on the Wonderland Trail, has some useful info on taking children on backpacking trips. I take a zPacks Duplex. Our Duplex weighs, with all the fixings, 1.29 pounds. And if you decide a 3 person tent will do, the zPacks Triplex weighs in at 23.8 ounces. |
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Post by dirthurts on Sept 13, 2016 17:32:06 GMT -8
I have seen the Kelty Trailogic TN4 Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 4 Tent and REI Half Dome 4 Tent. Looking at weight and durability as the biggest factors. Cost is not that large of a concern. Does anyone have any experiencewith any of these, or is there another tent I need to be looking at? I have experience with the TN2 and the Copper Spur. I'm a huge fan of the CS for it's weight and relative durability. It's a surprisingly solid tent for the weight. The TN2 is also a nice tent, probably a bit tougher, but certainly heavier. If I had my pick, I would probably go with the Copper Spur 2, unless you think the youngsters might damage it or fall on it. I wouldn't worry about wind/storm stability. It's pretty solid there. |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 13, 2016 19:38:24 GMT -8
It does occur to me that at this stage of your family life, a decent 3-man tent would accommodate all 4 of you. Then, instead of selling it next year, you can hang onto as a luxury 2-man tent for car-camping |
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Post by lostwalker on Sept 20, 2016 11:18:12 GMT -8
Thank you all for the replies!! Picked up a CS. Going to give it a test run this weekend.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 20, 2016 11:41:14 GMT -8
Thank you all for the replies!! Picked up a CS. Going to give it a test run this weekend. One thing about larger tents? All that side fabric area makes for a perfect leverage point for wind. So I'd suggest taking the trouble to get extra line for guyouts as well as extra stakes and use ALL the guy points on the tent not just the small number usually thought of, corners etc. I like the cord with reflective threads as an added safety factor. |
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Post by lostwalker on Sept 20, 2016 11:58:32 GMT -8
I should have said that we went with a 2 man tent. The CSUL2 tent.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 15:54:33 GMT -8
I've been pretty happy with my Kelty Gunnison 4
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Post by dirthurts on Sept 20, 2016 18:11:41 GMT -8
Congrats on the Copper Spur. It's a fabulous shelter.
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Post by k9education on Sept 30, 2016 14:19:45 GMT -8
We've got an MSR Pappa Hubba NX. Very nice tent, plenty of room, and ultra light BUT the weight comes at the cost of durability. The mesh panels tear easily if you're not careful with them.
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But we learned how to pack it and moved on. We now have 2 boys (one 6 and one 20months) We have out grown our 3 person and need to move to a 4 person. We talked about getting (2) two person tents, but we do not think that would be the best thing. So we are in the market for a large 4 person tent. I have seen the Kelty Trailogic TN4 Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 4 Tent and REI Half Dome 4 Tent. Looking at weight and durability as the biggest factors. Cost is not that large of a concern. Does anyone have any experiencewith any of these, or is there another tent I need to be looking at?
Felt a little odd to share a tent with my almost-adult sons!
