Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 2,000
|
Post by Westy on Sept 8, 2015 6:41:50 GMT -8
If you stick with it, buying cheap will probably cost you more in the long run. Going, going, gone! Home Run for reubenstump! You mean buying the same item more than once? Been there, done, that. Now, I'm in the specialist and specific application mode. My advice to Huskyhiker...you have a lot of good input here. You have (4) primary gear items, tent, sleeping bag, pack and sleeping pad. You have budgetary constraints. There is moderately priced, great gear on the market. Of the four items, select at least one and buy for the long term. To me, shelter is investment requirement #1. The REI Half Dome or facsimile sounds reasonable. Good Luck!
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 8, 2015 10:00:46 GMT -8
"then getting a better tent maybe in the spring." If I am readng this correctly you are going to use a 25 dollar tent during the fall and winter and then, in the spring, maybe get a new tent? campmorI don't recall seeing where it's planned on being used: For places like Anza Borrego it'd be fine.... in many places around the country " Winter" is the milder season after all... and THIS: "after knowing what I really want in a shelter." says the OP has the brains to not be trying a Denali winter ascent with the thing.
|
|
|
Post by trinity on Sept 8, 2015 13:24:09 GMT -8
I'm pretty solidly in the Blue Bear camp on this one. This is a cheap tent with poor quality materials, poor weather protection, and poor ventilation, and it will soon end up in a landfill. But it will get you out there, and that's what counts. If it's all you can afford, go for it, know its limits, and have a great time. Backpacking is a lifelong learning process, with a steep initial curve. This gets you onto that curve.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 8, 2015 14:21:56 GMT -8
Maybe not that soon into a landfill but just repurposed?
That tube tent of mine is from the sixties and it STILL resides in my car trunk as a kneeling pad for when I have to install snow chains to keep me a bit out of the slush.
|
|
reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,445
|
Post by reuben on Sept 8, 2015 14:50:28 GMT -8
Is there an REI near you where you can rent a better (and lighter) tent? Know anyone who would let you borrow theirs?
|
|
BlueBear
Trail Wise!
@GoBlueHiker
Posts: 3,224
|
Post by BlueBear on Sept 8, 2015 15:40:35 GMT -8
Just go. It's not the lightest tent, no doubt. I solo hiked Mt. Rainier's Wonderland trail with a 6-lb 10-ounce REI two-person tent about 15 years ago, and had an absolutely spectacular trip. You'll probably learn soon enough that lighter gear helps, and by then you'll have a better idea of what you want anyway. But in the meantime, if that's the tent you have and you have an extremely limited budget with which to buy more gear, then go with what you've got. Go, have a great time.
|
|
|
Post by cheaptentguy on Sept 8, 2015 17:20:43 GMT -8
Maybe not that soon into a landfill but just repurposed? That tube tent of mine is from the sixties and it STILL resides in my car trunk as a kneeling pad for when I have to install snow chains to keep me a bit out of the slush. Definitely repurposed. I knew when I bought it that it would likely end up as a gear tent or extra last resort car camping tent and/or a play tent for my children. I've already got my eyes on some nicer tents. (Looking at an REI, a Marmot, and a Big Agnes) Just need to save a bit. Main purpose for this thread was just to get a heads up on what my experience will be like.
|
|
|
Post by cheaptentguy on Sept 8, 2015 17:21:52 GMT -8
Just go. It's not the lightest tent, no doubt. I solo hiked Mt. Rainier's Wonderland trail with a 6-lb 10-ounce REI two-person tent about 15 years ago, and had an absolutely spectacular trip. You'll probably learn soon enough that lighter gear helps, and by then you'll have a better idea of what you want anyway. But in the meantime, if that's the tent you have and you have an extremely limited budget with which to buy more gear, then go with what you've got. Go, have a great time. Thanks for the positive vibes! I appreciate all the critical feedback, but certainly appreciate the spirit to just get outside and get started.
|
|
|
Post by cheaptentguy on Sept 8, 2015 17:23:13 GMT -8
Is there an REI near you where you can rent a better (and lighter) tent? Know anyone who would let you borrow theirs? We have an REI fairly close by, but I don't believe they rent equipment other than possibly bikes.
|
|
|
Post by cheaptentguy on Sept 8, 2015 17:31:04 GMT -8
By the way, (while I have people's attention ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) ) I'm looking at the Marmot Limelight 3. I love the double doors/vestibules and construction looks pretty good. Most of the time I'll be hiking with a buddy, and I figure we could split the pieces or I could just carry the whole thing (6 lbs). A worthy upgrade from my Academy?
|
|
tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,548
|
Post by tigger on Sept 8, 2015 18:05:27 GMT -8
Worthy will always be in the eyes of the beholder. Anything would be a worthy upgrade from the Academy. Personally, I'd look for tents in the sub 4-5 lbs as a goal.
|
|
|
Post by FarOutFarley on Sept 8, 2015 18:17:56 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 8, 2015 19:13:26 GMT -8
Is there an REI near you where you can rent a better (and lighter) tent? Know anyone who would let you borrow theirs? We have an REI fairly close by, but I don't believe they rent equipment other than possibly bikes. You can check rentals here: m.rei.com/stores/rentals.htmlBTW that's what I did for a long time, for week long things where I couldn't trust the weather, or winter in the Sierra, I rented, summer Sierra weekends or winter in the SoCal desert and it was tube tent time. I learned what I did and didn't like for myself in shelters that way.
|
|
|
Post by dayhiker on Sept 8, 2015 19:42:33 GMT -8
I wouldn't take this tent anywhere except car camping in good weather, or maybe in a place & time I might cowboy camp (ie no tent) but use this for bugs. If you are camping 2 miles in, why not camp near your car and day hike? Or if you are prepared to hike out 2 miles at night this might be ok.
I did start with a cheap tent, it was canvas, and I used downed wood for poles, and this was for canoe camping, and it worked in bad weather rather high wind. This tent doesn't seem weather worthy.
|
|
toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
|
Post by toejam on Sept 9, 2015 4:48:21 GMT -8
I had a similar tent from Academy that I got for around $20. It had a much better rain fly than that one so it would actually keep you dry, and I used it kayak camping a lot. I would never carry it on my back, although I carried a Coleman 7'x7' dome a couple times long ago when I had both kids with me.
IMNSHO, the Eureka Spitfire has been the best cheap tent that's a real backpacking tent for a long time. You can find a Kelty Salida 2 for less these days - it's roomier but weighs more. So I see no reason to carry that redneck-won't-be-mistaken-for-a-backpacker tent from Academy when you can get a Salida for $120.
|
|