Need a tent

[Bogeywon 2,519]

First time tent buyer. I live in michigan so it can get cold at night. Need a 4 person that I’ll probably use in the backyard and maybe to camp twice a year. 

[orange dream 1,255]

Just keep in mind that a 4 person tent comfortably holds 2 adults.  Not to say you can't get 4 people in there, but it will be cozy.

If you're carrying it a long way when you actually camp it might be worth keeping it small, but other than that get a 6 or 8 person tent to have a little room to spread out.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4,976]

One of these should fit your needs.

[BottleRocket 647]

One of these should fit your needs.

I should get one of those to put over our pool in the winter

[luke duke 6,413]

I’ve got a North Face, two Mountain Hardwear, an REI and a huge Coleman tent that I got from Walmart. Now that I’m an old fart with a family, I use the Coleman more than the rest combined.

[kmac30 416]

I bought this about a month ago and I’ve used it twice in my backyard with the kids. Wife isn’t down, but me and 3 kids fit. It can easily sleep 4 adults.


https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/coleman-rolling-meadows-6-person-dome-tent-118402486

[ROFL BOX 6,649]

Bogey, are you or your kids in Scouts BSA?

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4,976]

A cabin style tent with vertical or near vertical walls makes things much nicer for regular car camping. It's nice being able to stand up and walk around. We have a Coleman Weathermaster 6 with a screen porch that is nice for leaving shoes and stuff in in the event of inclement weather. That way you don't track so much dirt in. It also has doors with hinges like a regular door so you aren't fighting zippers when you get up to pee at night.

[RPM 26,336]

Paging @PantsTent to the white courtesy phone please.

[txhorns 2,413]

Really for your needs just go to the local sporting goods store and see what they have.  Definitely get a 6 person tent to have a little extra room.  

[WithoutAClue 15,414]

as people have noted, 4 people can sleep in a 4 person tent but 4 people cannot live in one.

there is no room for anything else. always buy a larger tent than what you expect so that you can toss stuff inside when it rains.

[dingleberryswitzer 2,724]

Word of advice:. Most people that use a tent a couple times a year just throw the tent in the garage or attic, attic is worse.  The consistent high heat of an attic will ruin the nylon eventually.  Keep your tent inside in a closet or under the bed or something.  

 

[Upgrayedd 5,818]

2 minutes ago, dingleberryswitzer said:

Word of advice:. Most people that use a tent a couple times a year just throw the tent in the garage or attic, attic is worse.  The consistent high heat of an attic will ruin the nylon eventually.  Keep your tent inside in a closet or under the bed or something.  

 

Loosely packed in a plastic tub with vent holes in the side.

[InkaUtexas 26,033]

Just now, Upgrayedd said:

Loosely packed in a plastic tub with vent holes in the side.

and make sure it is a dry place, drying them out after every use. 

 

[Bogeywon 2,519]

Thanks for the advice. This one seems ok

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/coleman-rolling-meadows-6-person-dome-tent-118402486

[davidg 4,038]

^^^ That will be OK for nice weather, casual use.     In heavy rain, that style tends to get some water inside since the fly doesn't to all the way to the ground.   We had a bunch of cheap, house brand, 4 person tents from Academy of this style and they lasted about 3 years under monthly use.    They have all been replace by 2 person REI backpacking tents and work much better.

Also, ditch the cheap wire or plastic stakes that come with the tent and get some of the stakes that are big nails with a green plastic top.  You can beat them into hard ground with a hammer and they won't bend or break like the ones that typically come with the tent.  

 

 

[Upgrayedd 5,818]

12 minutes ago, davidg said:

^^^ That will be OK for nice weather, casual use.     In heavy rain, that style tends to get some water inside since the fly doesn't to all the way to the ground.   We had a bunch of cheap, house brand, 4 person tents from Academy of this style and they lasted about 3 years under monthly use.    They have all been replace by 2 person REI backpacking tents and work much better.

Also, ditch the cheap wire or plastic stakes that come with the tent and get some of the stakes that are big nails with a green plastic top.  You can beat them into hard ground with a hammer and they won't bend or break like the ones that typically come with the tent.  

 

 

MSR Groundhog stakes are awesome BTW.

 

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

Best quality value is this.  https://www.rei.com/product/880483/nemo-wagontop-4p-tent

Read more here but ignore the title as it is really an article questioning roof top tents practicality in terrains that don't require one.  https://www.outsideonline.com/2071176/we-designed-best-rooftop-tent-ever-sort

You can likely get away with the 4person since it has a vestibule to take wet and muddy stuff off outside the tent.  How much room in your vehicle do you have haul the tent?  People in CUVs, when buying, tend to not consider the space a tent takes while driving. Beginning campers don't usually think of ease to set up either.

Edited May 5, 2020 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[dcbc 14,505]

[ROFL BOX 6,649]

6 hours ago, Bogeywon said:

Thanks for the advice.

Again, do you have any connection to Scouting / Scouts BSA?

[William_Cannon 86]

OP,
I’ve never heard of a tent helping with the cold. However look for one that can minimize the wind coming through. For example, my Coleman Sun Dome is great for the heat because of massive vent on top and also the rain cover canopies far to let air through. However that sucks when it’s cold because the wind passes right through.

[El Diablo 4,232]

6-8 person cabin tent, be done with it. Consider a starter home you can always upgrade or downsize in time. 

[Upgrayedd 5,818]

3 hours ago, William_Cannon said:

OP,
I’ve never heard of a tent helping with the cold. However look for one that can minimize the wind coming through. For example, my Coleman Sun Dome is great for the heat because of massive vent on top and also the rain cover canopies far to let air through. However that sucks when it’s cold because the wind passes right through.

Tents can add 5-7 degrees. 

[Zepol87 9,189]

Bought this last year and used it a few times on the lake and at the river. Easy as shit to put up and I don't shit about tents and we like the extra room. I am sure it isn't great but still works and I only use it a few times a year

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017NFRQV0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Asithappens 974]

Does anyone have any experience on the North Face Wawona 8-person tent? 

Only about 2 people would be using it most of the time, maybe 4 for a few other times. 

Looks like REI has it.

[Gil Bang 25,987]

PM @Wulaw Horn

[HornOnTheBayou 8,945]

20 hours ago, Asithappens said:

Does anyone have any experience on the North Face Wawona 8-person tent? 

Only about 2 people would be using it most of the time, maybe 4 for a few other times. 

Looks like REI has it.

[Asithappens 974]

14 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

PM @Wulaw Horn

Thanks.

[Asithappens 974]

6 hours ago, HornOnTheBayou said:

I don't understand this. Probably my fault. 

Most tents, from what I've seen, comfortably accommodate half the number of people that the rating says. So, a 4-person tent can comfortably hold 2. So, based on that, and because we'll be storing our bikes in the tent, along with a little crafts table, an 8-person tent seems to fit the best, with an Exped Megamat Duo. 

Please tell me if I'm missing something. 

[WhatTheBuck 28,795]

4 hours ago, Asithappens said:

I don't understand this. Probably my fault. 

Most tents, from what I've seen, comfortably accommodate half the number of people that the rating says. So, a 4-person tent can comfortably hold 2. So, based on that, and because we'll be storing our bikes in the tent, along with a little crafts table, an 8-person tent seems to fit the best, with an Exped Megamat Duo. 

Please tell me if I'm missing something. 

He wants to know if your wife likes photography. 

[shadow_operative2.0 16,013]

@Asithappens, the rare serious reply here. Post your question in this thread, those dudes will know. 

[ClubWhatever 12,154]

Tent camping is terrible without a thick foam pad and/or air mattress.  

[Biff Tannen 45,697]

14 hours ago, WhatTheBuck said:

He wants to know if your wife likes photography. 

And if she “goes”

[WhatTheBuck 28,795]

5 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

And if she “goes”

Snap snap, grin grin, wink wink, say no more. 

[Biff Tannen 45,697]

FWAAAARRRR!!!!

[Bevo 13,593]

On 11/24/2022 at 1:09 PM, Asithappens said:

I don't understand this. Probably my fault. 

Most tents, from what I've seen, comfortably accommodate half the number of people that the rating says. So, a 4-person tent can comfortably hold 2. So, based on that, and because we'll be storing our bikes in the tent, along with a little crafts table, an 8-person tent seems to fit the best, with an Exped Megamat Duo. 

Please tell me if I'm missing something. 

I get the math, but how many people would a 1-person tent hold?

[TexasHooch 5,122]

2 hours ago, Bevo said:

I get the math, but how many people would a 1-person tent hold?

1 person uncomfortably. Just as a 2-person tent will hold 2 people uncomfortably, and so on.

The reason that it's so frustrating is because we (rightly I think), consider a tent a room, whereas the manufacturers have always sized them as if they were a just a bed. A 2-person tent, for instance, has just about the same square feet as a queen sized bed (35ish).

[NeverMarryAStripper 21,919]

And that’s reasonable for a sex tent

[Brisketexan 105,199]

That it took this long for “sex tent” depresses me.

[shadow_operative2.0 16,013]

Check the dates old man, it was literally the first reply after the 2.5-year old thread was bumped. 

[luke duke 6,413]

Does anyone have any experience on the North Face Wawona 8-person tent? 
Only about 2 people would be using it most of the time, maybe 4 for a few other times. 
Looks like REI has it.

Are you actually going to be backpacking or camping in crappy weather? If not, you may consider getting a big ass Coleman for 1/3 the cost.

[Asithappens 974]

22 hours ago, luke duke said:

Are you actually going to be backpacking or camping in crappy weather? If not, you may consider getting a big ass Coleman for 1/3 the cost.

That's exactly what we decided to do.