| Author | Message | ||
     Hybridmomentspass |
Guys and gals, looking for some advice on tents I do not camp. I didnt own a tent until yesterday with only one weekend planned to use it (WVBR). I paid 40 bucks for a Quest 8x7 tent at Dicks yesterday Today I saw a 7x7 Ozark Trail at Wally World for 25 bucks. Other than the extra foot one way, the other dimension difference I saw was the peak internal height - the one I bought has 52", the one at walmart at 42" Does anyone have experience with the ozark trails tents? How they compare in quality to the Quest? I just wonder if its worth it to save 15 bucks or if I should stick with what I got because of its superior quality. I measured myself, Im 35" sitting down to the top of my head, so both have plenty of headroom. | ||
| Blackm2 |
In that price range you won't see too much of a difference in quality. If you can save a few bucks, go for the Ozark. If you were doing more camping then I'd say go up a hundred or more bucks to the Coleman instant tents. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_06X3f-IcM As long as it is a free standing you should be good, the ones where you have to stake to keep it standing on its own aren't worth anything, they should be giving those away. If you did backpacking where weight was an issue then there is a whole mess of differences in brands and quality. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I have an Ozark trail 8-man tent with a vestibule for a good sized cooler... I actually use it as a 4-man tent, with 2 queen size air mattresses... It's held up pretty well, haven't had to patch it yet, but I'm pretty careful with my stuff. Properly staked, it held up very well in 20mph gusts and light rain. No water came in from above. I use a heavy tarp on the ground and I sweep thoroughly beforehand. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Put a tarp under your sleeping bag, foam pad over that, bag, then another tarp over the bag. Much better than a tent unless it rains. | ||
| Iamike |
The first time you are out after a long day, with many more to come, and it is rainy, and your cheap tent fails in the wind. You will wish you bought a better tent. Their zippers are cheap, the poles bend and break easy. When you see what tents go through in the mountains during storms you will understand why good ones cost what they do. Quality is a lot like oats. If you want good oats you have to pay for them. If you want oats that have been through the horse....well, they are a little cheaper. | ||
| Kruizen |
I just used the quest(8x7) $40 one for 3 nights, we slept 3 tight, had rain with no issues. It was a $100 tent on sale for $40 clearance. Very light weight, easy set up, and seemed to be of high quality. | ||
| Ratbuell |
i look more at pack size than anything. every inch (that extra foot) is gold when it rains and you want to keep your gear dry along with you. i have a eureka! that i love. small dome, easy setup, dual vestibule, and packs down to something like 12x3. i'd have to look to see what model...but its a nice color match!   | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I only camp when there's no other viable alternative. Yes I miss out on those "campfire moments" but I sleep in a proper bed, & more importantly everybody benefits from me not being a complete & utter arsehole every morning. Not called Mr Grumpy for nothin' yer know. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Rat: We agree on something. Eureka builds excellent tents. I own one. But I have to admit, there is more adventure had when you sleep behind a dumpster  (Message edited by two_seasons on August 14, 2011) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
there is more adventure had when you sleep behind a dumpster I'm thinking, if you're sleeping behind a dumpster, you've probably had the adventure already!! | ||
| Two_seasons |
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| Hybridmomentspass |
kruizen - i THINK thats what I bought, cause it was marked down to 39.99, dont recal the original price Im thinking of maybe staying what I have, that maybe it'll be much better quality (100$ tent reg price vs 25$ regular price) I dont camp often, this will be the first time in about 15 years, only reason Im camping this time is cause of the trip. Who knows though, maybe I'll like it. Maybe. I appreciate all opinions. Do yall find it good to have one of the little hammerr? Or will a rock do fine for the stakes? | ||
| Ourdee |
I use a foot to just push them in. I have a Gallian's tent (triple cross) for three plus day camp outs. Handles a storm well. Enough room for air mattress, electric blanket, fan, heater, large cooler, laptop, lamp, etc. For one day setups I want a Eureka, or smaller. For now I just use 2 tarps and a blanket. | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
I can't offer much in the way of those tiny little things. My tent is 14'x14' square with 6.5' walls and 11' peak. It can sleep everybody that's posted here so far and probably their bikes too. I do 18th Century living history events... It was funny to see it up at the Relay for Life event. It looked like a blimp hanger! | ||
| Kyrocket |
I've got a Coleman dome tent that's probably around 12X12, I've never measured it but it holds a queen size matress for my wife and I and the three kids on the floor. Try getting dressed in 42" then in 52" and tell us which is easier You'll spend the $15 in worry and gas, just keep what you've got. I just went motorcycle camping and used my brother's backpack tent which was absolutely awesome in saving space for packing but that thing was literally about two feet wide and about eight feet long. Felt like I was sleeping in a coffin and getting dressed? Forget about it, one end was about 12" tall and by the door was about 24". I loan my tents to friends all the time, don't you have anyone that could loan you one? | ||
| Strokizator |
Whatever tent you have ditch the flimsy wire stakes and get some of those 20d aluminum nails instead. When you camp somewhere with rock-hard ground, you'll be glad you did. Last trip, I bought a luxurylite cot. Pricey but the best thing I've bought so far. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Ky - to be truthful, I know noone that camps. But thats a good point about having the extra room to dress | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
strok - thanks for the tip on the stakes, not sure what the conditions will be at the state park where we are camping for the rally. At least I think that is where people are camping at | ||
| F_skinner |
That is an excellent point.  (from my trip to MI last month) Good idea on the stakes. It is the first thing I do. I think you made a good choice on the tent. I have several tents depending on what I am doing but I have had my last night in a one man backpacker tent. Frank | ||
| Kyrocket |
Frank, that's exactly what I stayed in. Me, my motorcycle backpack and some Cortech soft saddle bags. Taking off boots, socks and pants in that thing was not fun. I didn't set it up when we first got there because I didn't know if I'd need it or not so we set it up in the dark, for the first time. I thought I'd have to call MIT with that exo-skeleton frame work it has but we got it up. It was 90 degrees with 95% humidity, man that night blew. Not to mention the three generators that ran ALL night around us. | ||
| Etennuly |
I am like the Indian with a big family aptly re-named "Two-Tents". Or is it "Too-Tense". This is a Walmart 9' x 11' that cost around $48 with two sleeping bags. That allowed for a slightly oversize carry bag without the crappy sleeping bags. So I carry a second tent in it that is 8' x 6' that I pop up right inside the bigger one. I carry a small camping hatchet in the tent bag also. There are a lot of benefits to a two tent deal. It insulates from cold, rain, and wind very well. And if the boots,sox, shirts and what have you, get a little, wet, muddy, and odorriferious, well you can place them between the tents to stay dry but out of your face. Another benefit is if you want to take a daytime nap it is much darker. Even with that and a fold up chair, a folding soft side cooler, sleeping bag, and stuff that won't fit in the side bags, it fits across the pillon with no problem. I fit it all together and slide it into a 55 gallon heavy duty garbage bag to keep it clean and dry from the road trip. After all, March Badness has been known to be a little cold and damp!   |
