Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

[a65hoosier]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

Kwanbis - are you buying tent(s) for 4 guys? Or will these tent(s) be expected to sleep 8 guys? In your original post, you indicated 4 guys, but also needing the capacity to add an additional 4 more. Above you dismissed the 6 man tents as "too small" so I am assuming that most of the time, from your posts, your group will be 8.

I agree with hwc1954 on his tent recommendations assuming only 4 grown men are in your camping group. A couple of 4 man tents for 4 men (2 in each tent) - that is comfortable. A couple of 4 man tents for 8 men (4 in each tent). That would be, to me, not a comfortable experience. A 6 man tent and a 4 man tent (many good examples of both have been offered up throughout the thread) might be a better combo on the campsite for 8 grown men.

You'll eventually have to pull the trigger on a purchase and actually get out there and do it. Our advice can only get you so far. The rest is up to you man.

[howl]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

An easy way to sort through that list is to see which have the best ventilation and which have the heaviest coating on the floor and fly. I did not look at all of them, but that Mountainsmith Genesee looks like a heckuva deal.

[SBinTN]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

argh! The internet ate my post!

I don't really have a dog in this fight - my tent experience is very limited. I've only had two tents, the first one being a Hillary (which was awful), and our current one, which is the older Eureka Tetragon 1210. It works well for us. It's supposed to sleep 8, but it's crowded with two adults on an air mattress and two kids on the floor. I can't imagine fitting four men plus gear into it. It's not fancy, and it does leak if rain pools along the base wall or if something is touching the side wall, but most of the time, it's perfect for our needs.

Good luck with your search. Personally I don't think this should be a "buy once, cry once" event for you. Find something that's within your budget that looks like it'll fit your needs. Go camping. Take notes. What do you like/dislike about it? Go camping again. Take more notes. After a few camping trips, you'll know what you need and you can always upgrade to something that might work better.

[kwanbis]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

If it were me, just based on the options I saw with a quick look, the Mountainsmith Genessee 4 and the Marmot Odyssey 4 would be the best two options.

Thanks hwc. I would be buying the Mountainshmith or the Marmot. I would do some more research on both of them, and then pull the trigger. THANKS, once more.

[kwanbis]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

Kwanbis - are you buying tent(s) for 4 guys? Or will these tent(s) be expected to sleep 8 guys? In your original post, you indicated 4 guys, but also needing the capacity to add an additional 4 more. Above you dismissed the 6 man tents as "too small" so I am assuming that most of the time, from your posts, your group will be 8.

Yes, this is originally for 4 men, so two tents at least. Probably we would get a third one if we like it.

[kwanbis]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

Good luck with your search. Personally I don't think this should be a "buy once, cry once" event for you. Find something that's within your budget that looks like it'll fit your needs. Go camping. Take notes. What do you like/dislike about it? Go camping again. Take more notes. After a few camping trips, you'll know what you need and you can always upgrade to something that might work better.

Thanks for your comments!

[kwanbis]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

I know I said I would go ahead with the Mountainshmith or the Marmot, but I want to ask one last (?) question.

Is it possible to get a good enough (like we already defined) two/three person tent for 100 tops? I was wondering if the best option is to get 4 such tents instead of two 4 people tents, so that we can each sleep on our own tents, and if our wife come, we sleep alone each one.

For example, how about this ones?

Alps Mountianeering Meramac 2 Tent $75 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QCMAOC
ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 3 Tent $90 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EQEB3I
Kelty Acadia 2 Person Tent $95 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005F5L914
Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00452C2IC (it's been $95 on amazon)
Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent 2014 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LF64QY (it's been $99 on amazon)
Ledge Tarantula Tent http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QWIYIO (it's been $60 on amazon!)
ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 2 Tent $99 http://www.sierratradingpost.com/alp...eason~p~6936c/
ALPS Mountaineering Zenith 3 AL Tent $104 http://www.sierratradingpost.com/alp...eason~p~1480c/
Marmot Ajax 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season $117 http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mar...eason~p~4034v/ (a little bit over budget)

THANKS! (and don't kill me )

[tplife]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

The Marmot is the standout of the bunch, If you can't go to that level of quality (Sierra Designs, Marmot, Big AGnes, Mountain HardWear, NorthFace, EMS, REI), then the Kely models at least approach it in features and design without many compromises. If you're not planning on a campout next week, follow the eBay auctions and you can have the best of both worlds - quality and price.

[hwc1954]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

kwanbis:

Yes, I think that four 2P tents, so that each guy has his own tent would be the ideal way to do guy group camping. A 2P tent is the perfect size for 1 person and would work in a pinch for a romantic couple.

The only downside is that none of the 2P or 3P tents are really big enough to sit around and play cards in the rain, but that is offset by much more comfortable sleeping arrangements. An inexpensive rain tarp over a picnic table would give you a group socializing area.

Same considerations and rankings apply to the 2P tents. The ones with aluminum poles and full rain flys are better than the ones with partial flys and fiberglass poles. The top three in increasing order of quality are:

Mountainmith Morrison 2
Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Marmot Ajax 2

I have a Marmot Limelight 2P that I got for $110 last winter. It's the same size floor as the Ajax, but with one door and a spreader bar to give it vertical walls. It's an awesome single person tent.

[kwanbis]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

The Marmot is the standout of the bunch, If you can't go to that level of quality (Sierra Designs, Marmot, Big AGnes, Mountain HardWear, NorthFace, EMS, REI), then the Kely models at least approach it in features and design without many compromises. If you're not planning on a campout next week, follow the eBay auctions and you can have the best of both worlds - quality and price.

No, I'm planning on going in about a month, month and a half, I would be looking at ebay then. Any other place to try to buy? By the way, you probably meant Kelty, not Kely, right?

Yes, I think that four 2P tents, so that each guy has his own tent would be the ideal way to do guy group camping. A 2P tent is the perfect size for 1 person and would work in a pinch for a romantic couple. The only downside is that none of the 2P or 3P tents are really big enough to sit around and play cards in the rain, but that is offset by much more comfortable sleeping arrangements. An inexpensive rain tarp over a picnic table would give you a group socializing area.

EXACTLY my thought!

I have a Marmot Limelight 2P that I got for $110 last winter. It's the same size floor as the Ajax, but with one door and a spreader bar to give it vertical walls. It's an awesome single person tent.

Where did you got it for $110? I have a sister living in Miami, so I can ask her to lend me the credit card.

Same considerations and rankings apply to the 2P tents. The ones with aluminum poles and full rain flys are better than the ones with partial flys and fiberglass poles. The top three in increasing order of quality are:

This is the ranking I have now, and I'm going to get 2 person tents, as I think it gives us the best flexibility!

Kelty Acadia 2 Person Tent $95 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005F5L914
Mountainsmith Morrison 2 Person http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00452C2IC (it's been $95 on amazon)
Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent 2014 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LF64QY (it's been $99 on amazon)
Marmot Ajax 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season $117 http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mar...eason~p~4034v/ (a little bit over budget)

That said, I belive that the Marmot Ajax 3 Tent - 3-Person, 3-Season for $130 is the best deal? http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mar...colorFamily=01

[howl]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

If you're going to spring for a quality 2-person tent, you should consider weight. My original suggestion for the Coleman Hooligan 2 was because it is good enough and cheap. Of you are going to spend some money you can get a tent that is lightweight for backpacking should you never decide to do so. :diablo:

[hwc1954]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

That said, I belive that the Marmot Ajax 3 Tent - 3-Person, 3-Season for $130 is the best deal? http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mar...colorFamily=01

Wow, that is a fantastic deal. The Ajax 3 is an all-mesh version of the Limelight 3. Terrific tent. 93 x 66 inch floor -- now that's actually comfortable for two people. Perfect size for solo or with a wife/girlfriend. That's the size that a 2 person tent should be.

Very strong, three pole design with the brow pole that spreads the walls. Two doors and two vestibules. With the guylines that tent could ride out any storm you would consider camping in. For $130, that's awesome.



Some YouTubes:

http://youtu.be/7N6RYF82nS4
http://youtu.be/Lmwyre4vQks
http://youtu.be/toMSUAPpnF8
http://youtu.be/C3UA51KzAXM

[kwanbis]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

If you're going to spring for a quality 2-person tent, you should consider weight. My original suggestion for the Coleman Hooligan 2 was because it is good enough and cheap. Of you are going to spend some money you can get a tent that is lightweight for backpacking should you never decide to do so.

Yes. I decided to go for either a quality 2-person or 3-person (ideally) tent. I have nothing against them, and the price is wonderful, but is it water proof? the Hooligan 3 is very cheap at 70 bucks on amazon, but I don't want it to not survive a rainy night.

Wow, that is a fantastic deal. The Ajax 3 is an all-mesh version of the Limelight 3. Terrific tent. 93 x 66 inch floor -- now that's actually comfortable for two people. Perfect size for solo or with a wife/girlfriend. That's the size that a 2 person tent should be.

The good news is that I can pay with Paypal at sierra trading. The bad news is that they kill you with shipping! It is 160 each with shipping and taxes. But it still looks like a good deal.

Note that I still have to pay a about 15 dollars for shipping to Colombia, and about 15 more for import taxes, which makes it 190 each.

[hwc1954]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

If you're going to spring for a quality 2-person tent, you should consider weight. My original suggestion for the Coleman Hooligan 2 was because it is good enough and cheap. Of you are going to spend some money you can get a tent that is lightweight for backpacking should you never decide to do so. :diablo:

I wouldn't look at the ultralight backpacking tents for car camping. They cost almost double to save a pound and provide less room and less strength/durability compared to a comparable car camping tent. In 2P tents, you'll get a 4 pound tent versus a 5 pound tent. If you are really going to be carrying it on your back, then that's a significant difference. But, from the car to the campsite? The bang for the buck sweet spot isn't there.

For example, the Marmot Pulsar 2 is the ultralight version of the Ajax 2 only smaller and not as strong and only one door. Best price I've seen on it is $250 versus $107 for the Ajax 2. The Ajax will be more comfortable at less than half the price. The difference: 21 ounces. The ultra light fabrics are expensive.

The Coleman Hooligan 2 is a great comparison to look at the quality upgrades if you spend a little more.



Like the Red Canyon, that has a rain fly that is only water resistant (450mm) not waterproof (1500+ mm). And the floor is made out of polyethelene "blue tarp" material rather than the coated fabric (1800 mm to 3000 mm) of a higher quality tent. Despite being a single pole design (not freestanding), it weighs an almost unbelievable 8 pounds -- almost three pounds more than the 2-person Marmot Ajax 2.

http://www.campmor.com/coleman-hooli...ent-2010.shtml

The extra $55, in this case, is buying a HUGE comfort, durability, strength, weather protection, and all around quality difference. This also highlights the difference of a pole structure that pulls the sides of the tent out. The Ajax 2 and the Hooligan have roughly the same size floor, but I bet the Ajax feels more than twice as big because your head and shoulders aren't buried in the tent fabric when you sit up!

[a65hoosier]

Re: Total Newbie: Want to go out with 3 other friends. What tent should I buy?

I would expect that people would suggest different things. What would be yours? That said. I won't ever spend more than 300~330, so lets make it that tops. Thanks!

What happened to that budget? lol :blowingup: