Long Two-Person Trip Tent

[Macbeth]

 Hey Guys,

 Just seeking some opinions on tent options.....

 Planning a year+ long trip with my girlfriend, and my VERY cosy, but very light 2 person tent we have used for smaller trips just isn't going to cut it.

 I figure I won't mind something a little heavier as we'll be sharing the load this time around (instead of me carrying the bulk of stuff) so I dont need to go CRAZY light.... I also have the ability to get MSR tents at trade price through work. So.....

 http://cascadedesigns.com/en/msr/tents/basecamp-tents/mo-room-3p/product

 or

 http://cascadedesigns.com/en/msr/tents/fast-and-light-tents/carbon-reflex-3/product

 Or any other ideas you have......

 Never been on a longer-than-a-month trip before and would be interested to hear opinions on the 'liveability' of lighter tents long term....

 Thanks,

 Adam

[BrianW]

The MSR Mutha Hubba might be a good choice, especially if you get pro-deal pricing. Plenty roomy for two people + gear (it's a 3p tent).

[ezdoesit]

The MSR Mutha Hubba might be a good choice, especially if you get pro-deal pricing. Plenty roomy for two people + gear (it's a 3p tent).

I second that especially with two people.
You will both have your own entrance/exit and won't have to bother each other in the middle of the night. The two vestibules are good for extra storage. I have the Hubba and love it.
It is a very weather tight tent.

[Pat Lamb]

FWIW, I always add one to the number of people who will use a tent before looking for the tent.  One person, two man tent.  Two people, three man tent.  When we took the girls camping, the four of us used a six man tent, and there wasn't much extra room.

Kind of like cars, if you think about it.  Six people in a six person sedan works well if four are short and slim, and the other two are children just out of car seats.

[Paul A]

Go to Tarptent.com and look at the Rainshadow, that's what my wife and I use.
It's light, it packs small, and it's got plenty of room for 2 people since it's a 3 person tent.
The only down side is it's not free standing, you have to stake it out.

[JayH]

Yeah, if you want a LOOOOONNNGG two person tent, those tarptents from henry shires certainly fit the bill. I had an older Cloudburst that was long enough to fit me and my backpack end to end easily...  Of course, I'm only 5'5" but still, had lots of space, not much of a vestibule though.

Jay

[valygrl]

I'd do 2 tents, one the 2 person tent you already have, the other either another 2 person or a 1 person tent.

Sometimes you'll need a break from each other.  With 2 tents you can split up for a day or two.  I did my first tour with a boyfriend with one tent for the two of us, there were times it would have been nice to have my own space.

[MrBent]

We have been using this tent with success, light and roomy!

http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/CopperSpurUL3

We tour with a 55+ lb dog, so this is a palace.

Scott

[rvklassen]

I don't know what you mean by long.  We have an MSR Hubba Hubba.  While MSR has a lighter version, the gossamer-thin fabric only saves a few ounces and feels like it could be gone in a storm.  And, as I recall it was a hundred bucks more expensive.

I'm 6'3".  This works for us.  It also has two doors with vestibules.  Not as cavernous as the Mutha Hubba, but not as much weight either.

[staehpj1]

I don't know what you mean by long.  We have an MSR Hubba Hubba.  While MSR has a lighter version, the gossamer-thin fabric only saves a few ounces and feels like it could be gone in a storm.  And, as I recall it was a hundred bucks more expensive.

I'm 6'3".  This works for us.  It also has two doors with vestibules.  Not as cavernous as the Mutha Hubba, but not as much weight either.

That would be my choice as well.

BTW, I like my MSR Fling for touring with someone that I can tolerate in close quarters.  My adult daughter and I used one for a month.  It gives the feeling of roominess in a smallish tent by having more width and height at the head end.  It is no longer made though.

[CyclesafeSr]

I'd do 2 tents, one the 2 person tent you already have, the other either another 2 person or a 1 person tent.

Sometimes you'll need a break from each other.  With 2 tents you can split up for a day or two.  I did my first tour with a boyfriend with one tent for the two of us, there were times it would have been nice to have my own space.

I haven't thought about this before.  It's not like you'll be in another room or anything...

You can also rig a tarp between the two tent entrances creating a large sheltered space ideal for cooking, storing gear  etc.

[johnno]

Procratinating by trawling this forum so maybe this issue is resolved!  Check out the REI Quarter Dome T2 Plus. Most hiking tents are pretty much the same dimension but this is longer, wider and a bit higher. I'm 6ft 2 and it works well for me.

[sprocketman]

Think color. If you will be in warm area, a light colored tent will be cooler. Good ventilation is a must. Whatever you choice, test it out in the yard. Pick the worst weather and sleep out in it. Also, loops and pockets inside help keep things organized. Searching for TP in the middle of the night is never fun. A loop at the high point of the dome is a good place to hang a light. Over time, if you tent looses its water repellencey, use a product called Nikwax. That stuff is great.   

[mucknort]

I'll second (3rd? 8th?) the thought to get a good sized 3 person tent.

My wife, 12 year old son, and I rode from Boston to Seattle this summer/fall. Before going I agonized/researched whether to get a 3 or 4 person tent for the 3 of us. After many phone calls to tent companies/retailers and asking friends I chose a 4 person tent (Nemo Asashi) and at the end of the trip we all felt it was the right choice. Although it weighed more, having the extra space in the tent for that long a period of time (4 months) made a 4 person the right choice for us. There was plenty of room for each pad/sleeping bag, extra gear, plus wiggle room. We never felt any dread regarding having to crawl into the tent as a family at night.
I also recommend a tent that has steep sidewalls and high headroom (as our tent did) so that it feels roomy for sitting up and for changing clothes.

Nemo makes a 3 person version of our tent called the Nemo Losi 3P. It has been highly recommended by Outside and Backpacker magazines. http://www.nemoequipment.com/nemo2010-losi3p-tent

http://www.amazon.com/Nemo-Equipment-Losi-3-Person-Tent/dp/B0035ENPIM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=

Another one I'd recommend with similar qualities (and is on sale for almost half price here) is the Sierra Designs Lightning xt3:

http://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Designs-Lightning-Three-Person-Ultralight/dp/B001LNNIIG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1297279629&sr=1-2

Later edit: I forgot to mention that setup/takedown was incredibly fast/easy with our Nemo tent.

[Tourista829]

Hubba Hubba Baby!!!!! 3 person or 4 person. We have a two person Sierra Designs and four person tent Coleman. We share the weight and like to be able to stand up and have the extra room. We sacrifice 4 pounds for the extra comfort.