Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 20:31:29 GMT -8
We're about to buy a tent but we are on a major budget (in medical school). We have a 5yr old and a 3yr old and we're just beginning our overnight backpacking trips. We want to make sure our kids are ready to do the JMT (in 6-7years). Currently, we're considering the Kelty Gunnison 4.3. We'd love to hear some insight. We currently have the Kelty Salida 2 and it has just gotten too cramped. We thought about buying a smaller brand Teton Sports Ultra 4 which really seems promising, just unknown. I know the REI half dome is fairly popular but I'd really like to save at least $100. Thoughts??? Thank you so much!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 12, 2016 20:54:07 GMT -8
Welcome! I think we've discussed this topic before, but I'll offer my thoughts anyway. We didn't try to use a family tent backpacking. We used two 2-man tents from almost the very beginning with our 2 boys (they are 19 months apart, so we went through infancy pretty quickly!). The first few years we used horsepackers, so it wouldn't really have mattered about the bulk and weight of such tents, but the other issue with them is how hard it can be to find a place to pitch something with such a large footprint. Once we started backpacking without any support, we went for the smallest and lightest tents we could afford/find, and I'll admit that led to 2 or 3 upgrades over the years, so that our packs dropped weight extra-fast (both from shifting weight to the kids and getting lighter stuff). Early on, we pitched the 2 tents as close together as possible, sometimes even door-to-door so that the boys could call to us easily and we could respond to nightmares, etc. But having 2 tents gave us flexibility in siting, and also meant that we didn't give up our privacy (or our ability to read in bed without disturbing the kids). Not every family likes this approach, but it worked very well for us. You already have one 2-man tent (I assume from the name). I'd think about buying another. If they kids aren't comfortable on their own, you might have to split the parents. But by the time they are ready to do the JMT, you will definitely need the 2 tent system. ETA: The tent thread was in Gear: bpbasecamp.freeforums.net/thread/3578/large-4-man-tent |
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Post by mocamper on Dec 13, 2016 9:28:21 GMT -8
We opted for one large tent to fit all the kids in with us for a long time. As they've grown older and we've had more kids, we now use separate tents. I purchased an REI Base Camp 6 this summer for my wife and I and four youngest. Then we put four in another. The Base Camp is a great tent, but as the name implies, it isn't for backpacking. Get the best quality you can afford whatever you do. Avoid fiberglass poles. It's worth the peace of mind knowing the tent will withstand the worst if needed.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Dec 13, 2016 16:17:17 GMT -8
 Four-Pass Loop, COBombshelterThis is not what you wanted to hear. The price is $1,000. However....... It is four season, single wall and will last for years and years. If your target is the JMT why screw around? You might find yourself purchasing 2-3 tents during the same product life span. This is still our family tent and sleeps four. We have the prior version (Guiding Light) ever since our kids were 4 & 6. They are now 16 & 18. As the kids gained more experience and grew older we where able to split up carrying responsibilities, like tent poles, ground cover, vestibule (which really isn't needed when they are little). The tent is four season, but with both ends open works well in hot summer temperatures. We put them on team gear as soon as possible. When they were young and we encountered very bad weather conditions, the security of this primo shelter was very instrumental in keeping them on the trail. Not to mention avoidance of being stuffed in a sardine tent. That's my experience.  Canyonlands, UT
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tarol
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Redding, CA
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Post by tarol on Dec 14, 2016 11:04:35 GMT -8
I've had very good luck with Kelty Tents - I own the Trail Dome 4 which has been my main car camping tent for 10+ years. It's done well in snow and desert and everything in between. Once the tent blew away (despite being staked down and filled with stuff) near Lake Powell and the poles snapped and there was a hole torn in the fly. Kelty replaced the poles and repaired the tear for free! Also have had good luck with Eureka tents!
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kenv
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Post by kenv on Jan 19, 2017 8:00:14 GMT -8
Our family also prefers using to two tents, one for the parents and one for the kids, vs one big tent for everyone. We also like Kelty and Eureka tents and have had good success with them.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Feb 13, 2017 9:18:36 GMT -8
I'll add my voice to the two tent camp. Sometimes it's hard to find a nice level spot to setup a large tent, and a little privacy is nice.
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Post by johnparsley on Feb 22, 2017 8:38:26 GMT -8
I'm looking for a tent like that, thanks for recommendations!
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Post by crgowo on Mar 31, 2017 18:08:55 GMT -8
An option for 1 large tent is a pyramid type tent. You could sew some netting along the bottom so you dont have to purchase an inner net tent to save some money and weight. I purchased the golite shangri-la 5 before they went out of business and its been great. May companies make "Mids" or pyramid type tents so you could shop around.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Apr 13, 2017 20:13:57 GMT -8
I have twin 5 year old girls. We have been car camping with them since they have been a year old. We have a gigantic REI Kingdom 8. At first it was to fit a queen sized Aerobed for mommy and daddy and two pack and play cribs. Now it fits two queen Aerobeds. It's so nice to have all the dry space when it rains.
But backpacking is on the horizon now. I have been eyeing the Big Anges Copper Spur UL4 4 person tent. $650 is a lot and I have been thinking about how hard it would be to find a good spots for such a large footprint. I like the idea of having mom and dad on the outside edges with the girls in the middle for making them feel more secure as we get started. Also if it rains the family can be together and play games etc.
But in another year or two maybe I should just assume they'll want their own tent. Plus I guess with two smaller tents there are more ways to divide up the pieces as they girls can start carrying stuff.
One thing that I just thought of is what do you use as ground pads? I know my wife and I need our Thermrests but are closed cell pads good for kids? Or should I be looking at Thermarests all around?
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 14, 2017 9:25:03 GMT -8
But in another year or two maybe I should just assume they'll want their own tent. Plus I guess with two smaller tents there are more ways to divide up the pieces as they girls can start carrying stuff. Yes. And in the meantime, if necessary I guess you could split them--one girl and one parent/tent. I'm guessing it wouldn't take much of that for them to demand their own tent! When we started having the kids in a separate tent when they were very small (like 1 and 2), we just pitched the two tents door-to-door so that we were more or less within arms reach. One thing that I just thought of is what do you use as ground pads? I know my wife and I need our Thermrests but are closed cell pads good for kids? Or should I be looking at Thermarests all around? Yeah, kids are so light that they are fine with less padding--they just don't put the pressure on the ground that we do. But be prepared to upgrade when they hit double-digits or so. We moved ours to the super-thin thermarest pads when we upgraded to the NeoAir. |
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