tplife69
SoCal
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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thehelferfamily wrote:Thanks for the great replies so far. I feel our kiddos are still a little young to be sleeping in another tent by themselves...youngest is only 4. My hubby is intrigued by the 2 tent scenario simply because he thinks we can have 1 tent for sleeping and one for storage, play area, etc. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good quality 6-8 person tent for sleeping?
Thanks!
You can buy the Sierra Designs Bedouin 6 off Ebay for about 1/2 retail new. I got one for about $175.00 last Fall. The Eureka Tetragon 8 is very inexpensive and the Eureka Sunrise 8 is popular and no doubt of higher quality. Don't overlook Ebay, I'm quite happy with 3 different tents I've purchased new.
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hunt182644
home
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Joined: 09/30/2008
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The wife and I tent camp as well as camping with our pup. The tent we use is 16x14 imo just right for two people. By time we set everything up it is full, yes we rough it in comfort. WE have had the tent for sometime went thru some good storms have never had a problem. If you are going to just use tent for sleeping packed like sardines then a small tent would pobably suffice. Probably have not been much help but I guess that is why they make so many different sized tents. Myself two adults three children one dog, one large tent and one small tent.
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racing75
Mt. Pleasant, Texas
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Joined: 05/20/2007
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Our Coleman Weathermaster 10 man cabin style tent has been great. Got it through Wal-mart online for just over $100.00. We are a family of 7.
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thehelferfamily
Walla Walla, WA
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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Thanks for all of the replies. Hubby wants to look into a canvas tent...says he thinks they will hold up better in the wind and also they "breathe" better  But boy are they expensive. We've looked into Springbar and Kodiak canvas tents.....REALLY nice, but REALLY expensive. Does anyone have experience with either of these manufacturers? Thanks!
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tplife69
SoCal
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With today's synthetic materials and 21-st century designs, the only reason I'd even consider a canvas tent is for a permanent or season-long campsite. Canvas is hot, heavy, prone to insect damage, prone to mildew, is a leakier single-wall design, and will absorb odors. Today's tents have a lot of ventilation and full double-wall fly coverage with breathable inside walls. Some like the Bedouin have sides that can be raised for flow-through ventilation. Some like Marmot offer polyester flys that resist UV even better than nylon. My Sierra Designs Base Camp (a 1988 model in this 2008 video) survived 50-60 MPH desert sandstorms. If your forecast calls for stronger winds, maybe it is time to give canvas a shot - but I'd hang on to the receipt. Take a look:
Calm day in Glamis 2/09
50-60 MPH sandstorm in Anza Borrego 11/08
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Mike Up
here
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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I wouldn't use a cabin tent in areas that have thunderstorms. My Eureka 1312 was destroyed even staked out good. Since we weren't to have any bad weather, I didn't add any more than a couple extra tie outs than whats recommended.
I was extremely lucky, I had it set up at home to see if it needed to be seam sealed again. While at work, a quick but average rain came through. Came home, tent was gone!
It was wrapped in my neighbors fence. The poles were curled in the fense, STEEL POLES!!
Luckily no damage to fence. Only left scrape marks on my shed, BUT could had taken my phone and electric lines down! OR even went through mine or a neighbors window. It was air born as it hsd to be to clear some obstacles.
Had a rectangular Coleman screenhouse and it did the same. It also had a roof that was like a giant kite. After going with a round shape, never had a problem with the screenhouse, same with my dome and modified domes.
Heres my next inexpensive family tent (but family won't tent ).
Click on pic
It has no giant rain fly to catch wind, has a more arodynamic shape and after seeing in person, EVERY SEAM is heat taped, never, ever seen that on any tent!
Here's my next expense family tent:
Click on pic
It has no giant rain fly to catch wind, has a more arodynamic shape. Since it's canvas, seams don't need to be sealed.
I'll likely get a small springbar or Kodiak canvas tent for myself instead.
Have a good one.
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Vapor_Trails
Yucaipa, CA
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Joined: 09/29/2004
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Mike Up wrote:
Here's my next expense family tent:
Click on pic
It has no giant rain fly to catch wind, has a more arodynamic shape. Since it's canvas, seams don't need to be sealed.
I'll likely get a small springbar or Kodiak canvas tent for myself instead.
Have a good one. You are going to love this tent. I've had it in 20-30mph desert winds and it didn't even blink. The walls did flap around, but it was not nearly as much, or as loud, as I thought it would be. This will (probably) be the last 10x10 tent I buy.
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Big Mike Beefhammer
Michigan
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Joined: 02/03/2006
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Wow, we kind of went through the same thing. We got rid of our 30+ foot rv and went back to tent camping. This is the tent we went with for my wife and I and out two teenage sons-
http://www.amazon.com/Wenzel-16-Foot-Eight-Person-Three-Room-Family/dp/B000EJR00K
it's a great tent- it has a large main area we put our queen size ait mattress in and has two side rooms for the boys to each have their own areas and it has a small screen room. The screen room is kind of useless but is nice to keep shoes and other small gear in. I find now that we are back to a tent that it works out better to scout out the campsites first instead of just reserving online- alot of sites aren't tent friendly,,,, also, SEAL THE SEAMS on your tent!!! I cannot emphasize this enough,,,,,, I learned the hard way LoL
We've been back in the tent for two years- We couldn't go all the way back to roughing it, I had to buy the wife a little porta pot and a privacy tent- and we take a mini fridge and a microwave. the tent is fun, but sometimes, usually when it's raining and the tents all moist and humid I miss the comforts of that darn RV,,,,,,, but sure don't miss all the expenses of something we only used maybe 5 times a year.
Wow,,,,, guess i need to edit my signature!
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wiiawiwb
Adirondacks
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Joined: 06/27/2008
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Every tent is a compromise. Large and roomy usually means a compromise to high winds. Bombshelters snicker at the weather but tend to be warm and not as well ventilated. It goes without saying that if money is no object you can get every thing your heart desires.
I happen to have 3 tents but wanted a "family-sized tent" with more room. So earlier this year I began my own search. I live in the Northeast where you need something that can withstand a wet environment. If you're in the Southwest your choice of tent attributes will be entirely different.
You can ignore the quality or design of a fly if you're committed to setting up a wing or tarp above you tent. That generally allows you to keep all the windows open in a storm so you get full ventilation and view. No closed up, coffin-feeling tent in a storm.
I considered a few different tents. I nixed the canvas tents because they were too expensive for the amount of use I would give them. Cabelas has a good variety and two, in particular, caught my attention. The first was the "Trekker-Willow Creek". It is inexpensive, 10x14, walk-in vestibule, lots of screening and a fly that goes almost to the ground. I would have nabbed it but it seemed too large for me. One the other end of the spectrum is their XWT Extreme Weather Tent which is as weather proof as a tent comes.
Cabelas also carries Kodiak canvas tents and their own line of canvas tents which are beloved by outdoorsmen needing a basecamp.
Cabelas tents
I've noticed some of the tents offered for sale in the UK appear to be VERY family tents. I would give them a hard look if roominess is a primary concern:
Khyam Aspen
Outwell Maryland XL
Good luck!
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thehelferfamily
Walla Walla, WA
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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Wow thanks for the great info. Those european family tents look AWESOME! I just wonder how much it would be to ship one from overseas Thanks again for all of the posts!
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