Author Topic: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?  (Read 26559 times)

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Offline lembeh

I am in the market to buy a reasonable priced tent that is also easy to set up (Im not much of a backpacker!). I found this tent that is really easy to set up but it looks a bit too big to haul (check out the video provided by one of the reviews).

Do you think this would be too cumbersome to carry cross country?

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Person-Camping-Dome-Tent-Touch/dp/B002PHW6I0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1270438558&sr=8-1

Thanks

Offline denver_whitest185

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2010, 12:32:15 am »
so, they aren't the cheapest, but tarptents are very easy to set up and MUCH lighter. if you need a three person tent, look at their rain shadow 2 tent. i have their cloudburst 2 tent, which is a two person tent, and it only takes 5 minutes to set up by myself.

they are waterproof and bug-proof when you zip up the door. its also only weights 2.5 lbs, instead of the 10 lbs the one on amazon weighs. also, that amazon one doesn't look like a tent i would want to be in if its starts raining hard.
http://www.tarptent.com/rainshadow2.html

if its too pricey for you, look for a used one on the backpackinglight forums
« Last Edit: April 05, 2010, 12:38:43 am by denver_whitest185 »

Offline Tourista829

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2010, 12:48:39 am »
Might work if you had a trailer, but if you had to purchase one, you would be defeating the cost savings. Quick to set up, over a 60 day trip you might save some time. I like the following: Footprint, Plenty of room for two. 52 inches is good sit up height. Three windows and the door for ventilation and the ability to close or screen the windows. The price is right for the budget minded. I would check the material out. Contact Camp Mor in NJ. & ask their repair department what they think. Concerns: The opening mechanism for reliability, the tent for overall durability for a cross country trip, and portability. If I understand the packed dimensions correctly, having a 42" tent hanging off the back of a bike rack may not be practical.

Offline John Nelson

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2010, 09:58:00 am »
"Too big" is a valid question, but "too heavy" is an even more important question. This tent is both. But it's cheap, and if money is very tight, we all make compromises.

How many people do you need to sleep? If only one, then look for a two-person tent rather than a three-person tent. You'll have hundreds to choose from.

Offline lembeh

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2010, 10:12:06 am »
Thanks for the vhelpful input guys. I am going touring solo but thought having a large 2 person tent (which what this tent looked like to me) would be a versatile choice in case I have someone go along with me in the future.

I am looking for a 2 person tent, so Ill check out your suggestion and hopefully can find something under $150 ($200 absolute max) thats not only light but also easy to set up. I'm a rank rookie when it comes to camping so the ease of setting up a tent is more of a consideration than a couple lbs of extra weight.

Offline vanvalks

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2010, 10:35:10 am »
Check out the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 at REI.  With the current 20% off coupon if you are an REI member, comes out to $157 + tax; free shipping to REI members.  Has gotten great reviews, is reasonably light (5 pounds), can be set up in two minutes, and has sitting headroom for those days when you are stuck in the tent because of weather.

Bob

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2010, 10:44:33 am »
Check out the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 at REI.  With the current 20% off coupon if you are an REI member, comes out to $157 + tax; free shipping to REI members.  Has gotten great reviews, is reasonably light (5 pounds), can be set up in two minutes, and has sitting headroom for those days when you are stuck in the tent because of weather.

Bob

Was just going to post the same.

Offline johnsondasw

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2010, 01:53:48 am »
I wouldn't be intimidated set up difficulty issue.  Modern tents are easy and quick to set up.  Way easier than the basic bike maintenance you'll be faced with on tours.  Weight and durability should be your main issues.  If going solo, I'd go with one of the 2-3 pound solo tents.  In the long run, over many trips and miles, you want to go as lightly as possible.  Also, there are highly compactible sleeping bags now, too.  Stuffed, there's not much bigger than a large loaf of bread.  At REI and other stores, you can see these tents and bags as set up.  You can even get in the tent and lay down as see what you think. 
May the wind be at your back!

Offline bogiesan

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2010, 08:46:02 am »
I am in the market to buy a reasonable priced tent that is also easy to set up (Im not much of a backpacker!). I found this tent that is really easy to set up but it looks a bit too big to haul (check out the video provided by one of the reviews).

A good quality tent for one or two people, not a top end tent, should cost three times that and weigh one-third less. The compromises might be worth the risk of failure or leakage. Up to you.
If I'm relying on a tent to provide reliable shelter in unpredictable and vicious storms, I'm looking for a fly that comes to the ground and a profile that hugs the ground and at least eight guy points. If your prevailing weather is known to be fair and dry, you're traveling with better information than most of us would trust.

david boise ID
I play go. I use Macintosh. Of course I ride a recumbent

Offline John Nelson

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2010, 09:50:55 am »
I'm a rank rookie when it comes to camping so the ease of setting up a tent is more of a consideration than a couple lbs of extra weight.

You're only a rank rookie for the first few days. But you'll be carrying the tent a lot longer. And, as previously mentioned, all modern tents are reasonably easy to set up.

Keep in mind that the larger the tent, the harder it is to find a suitable plot of ground and the harder it is to set up. Furthermore, if you get a three-person tent, the manufacturer might assume that you're going to have somebody with you to help set it up.

Offline rvklassen

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2010, 11:08:20 am »
Thanks for the helpful input guys. I am going touring solo but thought having a large 2 person tent (which what this tent looked like to me) would be a versatile choice in case I have someone go along with me in the future.

I am looking for a 2 person tent, so Ill check out your suggestion and hopefully can find something under $150 ($200 absolute max) thats not only light but also easy to set up. I'm a rank rookie when it comes to camping so the ease of setting up a tent is more of a consideration than a couple lbs of extra weight.

We went tent shopping this weekend, in preparation for an 8 month sojourn by tandem.  The tent we settled on (but have yet to buy) is the MSR Hubba Hubba.  The Hubba is a one-person tent; the Hubba Hubba is two-person (there's also the Mutha Hubba for three).  It can definitely be assembled/disassembled by one person, and an advantage which we hope not to use often, but know we will use sometimes, is that you can put up/take down the tent beneath the fly, thereby avoiding getting the tent wet when you take it down in the rain.  After the in-store experience, which included lying in it to be sure my 6'3" frame would fit alongside my wife, and experimenting with set-up/take down, I found it on the web for $225.  This is a little higher than your price range.  The tent is just under 1.9 kg (4.2 pounds), which is less than half the weight of the tent you're looking at.  And it probably packs substantially more compactly.   I saw somewhere an ad for something that is "based on" the Hubba Hubba.  I don't know how good it is, or how close it comes to matching the Hubba Hubba advantages, but it might well meet your needs and budget at the same time.

In general, there is no correlation between ease of setup and weight.  Super-light and ultra-light tents tend to be easily set up.  They can't afford to put a lot of complexity in as it generally adds weight.

Offline Tourista829

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2010, 12:47:59 pm »
rvklassen the Mutha Hubba? I did not know they made a 3 person tent, thanks, I know someone who has a Hubba Hubba and loves it.

Offline rvklassen

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2010, 01:16:22 pm »
I haven't actually seen a Mutha Hubba set up (only on the web).  But yes, that is the three-person version.

Offline cyclingsteve

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2010, 02:25:48 pm »
I've used the Black Diamond Megamid, now the Mega Light - http://www.basegear.com/black-diamond-mega-light-tent.html for years ... it's VERY light (just over 2 lbs), VERY strong in high winds, LOTS of room.  I've been in one with 2 ppl and bikes and gear... and we were both comfortable.

Many folks seem to thing there MUST be a floor - but it really isn't an issue - even in major rain storm it works fine and I sometimes will bring a large plastic bag that I cut and used as a groundsheet - it weights a few ounces and packs smaller than the size of my fist.

I'm amazed more cyclist don't use these...

Steve

Offline rvklassen

Re: Anyone think this tent would be too big to haul cross country?
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2010, 03:39:12 pm »
Many folks seem to thing there MUST be a floor - but it really isn't an issue - even in major rain storm it works fine and I sometimes will bring a large plastic bag that I cut and used as a groundsheet - it weights a few ounces and packs smaller than the size of my fist.

I'm amazed more cyclists don't use these...

Steve
Perhaps more cyclists camp where there are mosquitoes, black flies and/or no-seeums?  If insects are the issue, not rain, then having something that essentially seals you into a complete bubble (with netting for ventilation) is pretty much a requirement.  I suppose you could sleep in a mosquito net inside the floor-less tent.