For those of you who are tent campers..

[mrsabbott]

We aren't planning on purchasing a tent until after tax time, and I don't plan on buying a super cheap one. I'm willing to spend around $300 on a tent for our family. There are 5 of us and we aren't going to be hiking in the middle of nowhere to camp. So weight of a tent isn't an issue. And I'd really like something that is fairly easy to set up (since I'll be setting it up solo 90% of the time).

I've been researching tents like crazy and I think I'd like to get a "cabin" style tent. I want to stand up in it and not feel cramped. I've seen ones that have attached screens, however, I noticed (in one of the picture threads) some of you have seperate screen rooms that you set up away from the tent.

Can you give me some feedback on tents? What are your experiences? What are some of the best brands? Attached screen room or seperate? How big it "too big"? I'm looking for a 6 to 8 person tent for our family. And anyone tent camp with pets?

It seems like every tent I research, people either love it or hate it. I liked the idea of Coleman's Instant Tent but there were mixed reviews on it. I want something that is going to withstand the test of time. I've heard that dome tents handle bad weather better but they can be harder to set up and the poles will sometimes snap. Not to mention they are a little cramped inside.

We have about a year and 4 months (give or take) to prepare ourselves for the ultimate camping experience and we're pretty new to this.. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[YodaGirl]

We're looking at replacing our 8 yr old tent after tax time with this one:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camp...uts?destination=/catalog/browse.cmd?N=1102574

I also have looked at the coleman instant tent (one minute up/one minute down sounds nice), but saw the reviews.

I think that once you get in the swing of things, most any tent you get will be fairly quick up and down.

Whatever tent we choose, we'll definitely be going with a cabin tent (our current set-up is a 3-dome tent that connects by tunnels). We've never had a problem with poles snapping, but it was tight on the inside with our queen-size bed. It also took a bit longer to sit up since there are actually three tents (20 minutes for all).

Never had an attached screen room, but we do have a separate one, which we love.

We've also considered purchasing a First-Up Gazebo.

I'm not very loyal to one particular brand, although I have heard good things about Coleman. There is a coleman tent that Wal-Mart sells that we had looked at until we found the cabela's tent.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Max-Cabin-Tent/11030641

I'm not really sure how much help that I've been. Whatever tent you go with, I hope that you have as much fun camping as we do!

 

[jonimce]

I spent a lot of time researching a new tent last year. (We ended up getting a TT) I really like the Eureka Copper Canyon. Or the Cabelas. Campmor has the Eureka under their hot deals now for 50.00 off. They also have a nice screen room on sale.

 

[retired and happy]

I think there is a hard rule against pets in tents. I'm not sure how it is written, but I know you can't leave them there if you wanted to visit a Park.

 

[itch1]

We had the same problem last year and went with the Eureka Copper Canyon
and we could not be happier.
311.00 shipped from Campmor . It is easy to put up and huge on the inside.
I can tell you get this you will love it
itch

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[itch1]

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[jonimce]

After seeing those photos I am almost sorry we bought the TT. Love this tent. Did you camp during the hot season? If so, how do you stay cool?

No pets can be left in tents. That I do remember.

 

[kaguilbeau]

We had the same problem last year and went with the Eureka Copper Canyon
and we could not be happier.
311.00 shipped from Campmor . It is easy to put up and huge on the inside.
I can tell you get this you will love it
itch

[/IMG]

Nice tent. but I would think that would be really hard to set up alone.

I know I would have to have someone help me.

 

[cheekymonkey]

I posted a similar thread when we first booked our FW site http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2419527

We ended up with a Eureka Terragon 8 for our family of 4. We went with the dome for the ease if setup and durablitiy in windy/rainy conditions.

We have been happy with our tent although it's not as roomy inside as I would have imagined. It suited our 4 night trip to FW in perfect weather just fine. Had our stay been much longer I think I would have REALLY prefered a cabin style tent-even a cheepy one specifily for the FW trip

 

[3gr8kids]

LOVE the gnome!!

 

[itch1]

here is my tent refurbed
http://www.eurekacampingctr.com/eureka/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_name=COPPER+CANYON&dept_id=3137

 

[mrsabbott]

Thanks for the replies! I've been researching tents for a couple of weeks now and it is turning my brain to mush! The hardest thing is that without good pictures, it's hard to determine what the tent can really hold! So thank you, itch, for the pics of the copper canyon. That is one of the one's that is in the top running. It got pretty good reviews and was on of the top of the list.

It DOES look very roomy! (Love the gnome, BTW!) Especially with seeing your stuff inside, I'm seriously considering it. I have a queen air mattress that is a MUST for me to camp (bad back) so it really looks like it would fit nicely! Looks like it has good ventilation as well.. Do you thing that, with practice, one person would be able to set it up?

I also looked at that same Coleman tent, Yoda girl! It's also in the top running. I hadn't seen the Cabela one.. The Coleman got fairly good reviews and I really like the hinged door aspect.

I think that I will definately look into a screen room! Especially if we go south. Not that we don't have bugs up north, but when we were living at Ft. Polk, I was blown away by all the crazy (and HUGE) bugs there were!! It would be worth having, even if we don't use it every time!

I'm getting very excited! Thanks again for your input!!

Oh yeah! And thanks for letting me know about the pet rule. We have a dog who, while exceedingly sweet, isn't exactly well behaved. We're surviving the puppy years right now and my hopes is that in another year or so she'll be a really great dog! Well, she's great now, I should say a calmer, more obedient dog! I know that there is a pet boarding place nearby the campground that we'd take her before we went to the parks, but I agree.. I think I'd feel better bringing Sally Sweet if we had a motorhome or travel trailer or something.. I'll just have to board her here or have a neighbor watch her..

 

[retired and happy]

You just came up with the reason to get a motorhome! Go for it. More seriously, you will likely find some neighbors or Fiends around who can and will help you put up a tent if help is needed.

 

[Total Joker]

I have the Coleman's Instant Tent and I love it. It does only take one person to setup and in only 1 1/2 min.(with practice) The poles are steal so they will not snap. You can put 2 queen air beds and your gear inside. You never have to bend over inside and I'm 6'2''. The coleman website has a video on the tent setup as well. http://www.coleman.com/coleman/video/video.asp?link=83865
I purchased mine at SAMS for $150.00

Hope this helps..TJ

 

[InstaCamper]

ITCH1- Your pictures of the copper canyon, I was curious how this tent has held up for you? what size is your tent? Any problems with the floor? Can you point me to any other pictures of it? Would you be able to put another tent on the same pad or does it take up the whole padd at DW? Thank you for your help

 

[Greenepona]

I have the Coleman's Instant Tent and I love it. It does only take one person to setup and in only 1 1/2 min.(with practice) The poles are steal so they will not snap. You can put 2 queen air beds and your gear inside. You never have to bend over inside and I'm 6'2''. The coleman website has a video on the tent setup as well. http://www.coleman.com/coleman/video/video.asp?link=83865
I purchased mine at SAMS for $150.00

Hope this helps..TJ

How is the ventilation in the Instant tent? I haven't heard many user comment on this, just others speculating that because there is no rain fly the ventilation would be poor when its hot.

my BF and I are looking for a new tent also. We went to FW 10/23-10/29 2010 and we had record highs. It was sweltering in our tent. This is also because the tent we were using is a 1970' Hillard... Heavy canvas... not good for heat.

I think we are down to deciding between the Eureka Copper Canyon and the Coleman Instant tent. Thoughts?

 

[itch1]

We love our CC it's held up great used it three times now! I will get more pictures in three weeks when we visit next ! Can't wait
Itch

 

[stky6]

Check these out too.

http://www.gigatent.com/

This is the one we purchased a few years ago and have had no problems with it.

http://www.gigatent.com/itemdetail.asp?mod=FT 022

Plenty of room for a family of four + 2 big dogs. Ventilation is good, we also stick a small ac in the back door in the summer. Take the rain tarp off on a nice summer night and the entire top is a screen, nice to lay there and look at the stars.

 

[Jedana]

This is the one we have:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Max-Cabin-Tent/11030641

The hinged doors are a nice add-on, you just have to make sure they are firmly closed, because a big gust of wind will rip the fabric.
It's tall enough for my husband to stand up in (he's 6'5") and we can fit 2 queen size air mattresses plus our gear in them with room to walk.
Takes about 15 minutes to set up for my husband (I can't really do it, because it is so tall, and I'm barely 5'4"--I can't reach the rainfly!).

We did get it at walmart, but you can get it other places as well. It has held up nicely with rain and wind, so far.

 

[duffy]

I'm a fan of simple dome tents, the kind with just 2 long poles that cross at the top and no "wings" extending it. That way, I can put it up by myself easily, in just a few minutes.

More important though, is PRACTICE in putting it up. If your kids are going to help, then they should be practicing with you, in your yard. Give each kid a job, for example, one can pound stakes, (kids usually LOVE this job), one can snap poles together, one can be "in charge of watching" to make sure all goes smoothly...

I also like having separate screenhouses or canopies. (we don't have a screen house now, but we used to.) That's because we don't always want to put them up, or need them. If we arrive late in the evening and are too tired, we can just quickly assemble the tent and get to sleep. The canopy can wait until morning, or, if the weather forecast is for no rain, and we have enough shade, we don't even bother with putting it up at all.