3-4 person tent

[mucknort]

Trying to choose tent for 3 people (mom, dad, 11 year old) on long tour. Sure, a 3 person would sleep all 3 of us, but a 4 person tent would seem to give enough space to prolong sanity on tour.

Tents in consideration:

Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4 (they now also offer a slightly heavier/less expensive option: Zeta 4)
MSR Mutha Hubba 3
Kelty Gunnison 4.1

Any comments on these or other similar tents in this size/weight/price range?
Thanks, Erik

[dwnptrl_777]

Trying to choose tent for 3 people (mom, dad, 11 year old) on long tour. Sure, a 3 person would sleep all 3 of us, but a 4 person tent would seem to give enough space to prolong sanity on tour.

Tents in consideration:

Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4 (they now also offer a slightly heavier/less expensive option: Zeta 4)
MSR Mutha Hubba 3
Kelty Gunnison 4.1

Any comments on these or other similar tents in this size/weight/price range?
Thanks, Erik

Not sure if it fits ALL of your criteria, but we bought a Big Agnes Big House 4 with the extra vestibule last year. Used it for the two of us, and used the extra vestibule for my bike—baby's got to have a place to stay, too!



Again, this thing's big. And not the cheapest. But the main tent, even withOUT the extra vestibule that you see attached in this photo, would EASILY and comfortably hold the three of you AND all your gear. Put it this way, this tent holds a full-sized air mattress with a little room to spare. Livin' large, baby!.....if you don't mind haulin' the weight...and the expense.

[John Nettles]

You might consider getting a 3-person tent for you and the better half along with a 2 person tent for the child.  I have traveled with my family on tours and I can say that, for me, I really like having multiple tents.  Sure it is more weight but sanity comes with a price.  Of course, the length of the trip may help determine how long you can endure crowded condition.

If you are stuck on a single tent, also consider some REI dome tents (quarter, half, etc.).  Relatively inexpensive and fairly well made.

[staehpj1]

It depends on your preferences for space.  Three of us (my daughter, a friend from college, and me) were quite happy in one tent for the TransAmerica.  We carried a Eureka Tetragon 8 (~$100) and it was fine other than weighing 9 pounds.  I think we would have been OK with a three person tent too, but the slightly greater space was nice.  That said I have no desire to bring bike or even panniers in at night.  I only bring in what I actually will use before morning and my handlebar bag since it has my valuables.

[Cyclesafe]

BA Copper Spur 3 (4 lb 12 oz) - http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/CopperSpurUL3

Hilleberg Kaitum 3 (6 lb 13 oz) - http://estore.websitepros.com/1764795/-strse-154/Hilleberg-Kaitum-3-Ultralight/Detail.bok

Hilleberg Nallo 4 (6lb 4 oz) - http://estore.websitepros.com/1764795/-strse-80/Hilleberg-Nallo-4-Ultralight/Detail.bok

Any of these tents will last a very long time.  But the Hillebergs have the potential to be family heirlooms.

[bogiesan]

Another vote for two tents. The many reasons should be apparent but only you would know if they are appropriate for your family.

Suggest you hit crazyguyonabike and search the family sections to see what other families did in the real world and how they might do things differently next time.

david boise ID

[Bikearound]

I have been backpacking and touring since the late 60's and I've never heard of anyone complaining about too much room in a tent so my advice is to oversize rather than follow the manufactures description of how many people fit in a given tent. The extra pound in weight will be meaningless on a long rainy day if you're stuck inside and you and your gear are nice and dry and everyone is happy (or as happy as you can be on a long rainy day)

[driftlessregion]

I advise always using a tent that holds one more person than the quantity that you want to put in it. Three in a three person is tight. Compare the weight for two tents v. one 4 person and the 4 wins easily. Only you can decide whether to split up the family.

[Tourista829]

Dwnptrl_777, I really like your Big Agnes "Big House" 4 person tent & optional vestibule. It might be too heavy for some, but works for me. Thanks!

[John Driz]

I would have to agree with pretty much everyone else.  Either go for a 4 person or bring two tents.  You might want to checkout your local REI scratch and dent sale which the tend to hold every other month or even reioutlet.com  I took kids out on backpacking and canoe trips for 4 years and I always brought two tents.  Take a look at the Alps Triton 1.5 or 2.0 which run about $109 to $120 has a two pole design and weighs in at 4 or 5lbs packed.  If I were going to spend a bit more I use to own a three person version of this North Face tent but a much older design.  http://www.rei.com/product/779039  
Either way, you probably know this but a vestibule comes in very handy for both storage and torrential rains.  Also head room can be more important than you think, and just because a tent has a very ergonomic design and costs a bunch doesn't make it better than other simple designs.  The REI Dome tent for $99 treated had treated me well too.  Good luck!

That Big Agnes is pretty cool though even at 10lbs.

[mucknort]

Thanks all for the helpful comments. We definitely want to go with 1 tent (rather than 2). One tent that kept coming up in reviews was the Nemo Losi 3P. It is one of the largest (50 sq. ft.) lightweight (under 6 pounds) 3 person tents and reviewers loved it. After calling around (and seeing the above suggestion for the BA Big House 4) I decided to go for the Nemo Asashi. It also has good reviews, has optional gigantic vestibule, and is on sale at REI for $279 (reg. $400).

http://www.rei.com/product/799101

[BrianW]

We have an MSR Mutha Hubba and like it. It's not super-roomy, but fine for my wife and I and our five-year-old son. It's pretty compact and light.

[velo]

Take listed weights with a grain, or 2 lbs, of salt.  "Variation in manufacture" seems awfully severe and always heavier, funny thing.

I have a Hubba Hubba and it's a great tent for 2. I suspect the Mutha Hubba would be good for your needs if it is large enough.