Looking for best camping tent for 4 - 6 people

[Bob]

Looking for a good tent that will sleep 4 - 6 adults that is as water resistant, roomy and durable as possible. Anything out there worth buying for around $300?

[Rick]

Bob,
I have a Cabela's boundry water, and love it. Easy to set up, and tough as nails in the wind. I just wish I had the 6 man, instead of the 4 man. It;s taller.

[Lucky Jim]

I would highly recommend that you purchase a tent made by Eureka. I own 3 Eureka tents--a 2 person, a 4 person and an 8 person tent. I have tent-camped with my family (6 kids) for 12 years with my largest tent and have also been on many fishing trips where I tent-camped with buddies in my smaller tents. These tents have been outstanding quality and have really stood the test of time with hard use. If they can hold up to my kids, they should for anyone. They are well designed and easy to set up. They have been in some terrible rainstorms and have kept everything dry--their fly systems are well designed. They look like they still have many good years left. The only reason I have 3 is to have different sizes for different needs. The styles or models do seem to change every year or 2 and I think mine are no longer made. I would go with anything made by Eureka though. Good luck.

[Box]

I have two Eureka tents and they are very good tents. I also have a Kelty tent, and I like it even better. All are very waterproof. The Kelty is a 4 man (more like 3 big man, 4 little men) and goes up in mere minutes. My brother has a Coleman tent, and it is much less quality than the Eureka or Kelty.

I am currently looking at a Wenzel tent for "family usage", and because the price is right.

Go to this site for some great deals, from what I can tell:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/CategoryDisplay?cgrfnbr=17305&cgmenbr=226

Or check REI, a big name in camping/hiking stores:
http://www.rei.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgmenbr=8000&cgrfnbr=4500538&seq=1&sort=1

I am looking at the big Wenzel for $179. I think they all will be waterproof, especially if you seam seal them correctly. If you want to spend more you certainly can and get a better tent. But for one or two uses a year, a cheaper one will probably work just fine. And if you are "truck camping", like what I'll be doing with the family tent, size and weight means nothing, so the bigger the better.

Good luck!
Box

[Don in Denver]

I really like the REI Camp Dome 6 tent. It is around $250. It' huge inside. Plenty of room for 4 people, a dog and gear.
Here's the REI page with a tents in your size/price range:

http://www.rei.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgmenbr=8000&cgrfnbr=4500538&seq=1&sort=1

[JohnH]

Bob, check out The Sportsmanguide.com. He has real good buys on tents, and he sells Eureka tents for fantastic price, among others. But hurry, when they say supplies limited, they mean it because of the prices!

[Mark N]

I would highly recomend a Eureka. Mine made it through a nasty hail storm about five years ago with out so much as a drop of water in it. It was kind of funny watching all the people with cheap tents ringing out their cloths in the morning.

[KevinA]

I'd also vote for the Eureka...had my 4 man dome for 13 years, still works & looks like new.

Here's a suggestion for you:
http://users.wi.net/~datuboat/images/camp2.jpg
set up a couple chairs inside the shelter & watch the rain & wind...especially this year. Sets up & breaks down in a few minutes.

[TimT]

Someone stated that their friends coleman was not of good quality compared to other brands. While I can't comment on the quality of others, I can say that my coleman "weathermaster" is very flimsy. The weathermaster is the big 17x9 3-room tent.

The first one had the threads give way where the straps for the poles fasten to the tent. Replaced it under warranty. The second one also has pulled away some, but not as bad. I do have 2 rips where the stake straps meet the tent. Also, the zipper is beginning to fail. This is my 3rd season with the tent, and it is used about 12 times per year. I really like the layout, but have been greatly disappointed by the construction.

Needless to say, coleman will not be selling me a tent again.

[Shellback]

Another vote for Eureka! I've got a couple myself. 4 person Timberline and a Titan. The Titan the ticket for your needs. It's 9' 6"s by 13' 6"s and has a zip in divider in the middle for privacy if needed. Campmor sells them for $450.00 but I got mine as a second at their factory outlet in Binghamton, NY. It cost me around $300.00 3 years ago. I believe they will sell by mail order if your interested e-mail me and I'll get their phone#. Shellback

[D189]

Bob,
I have had a Cabela's Alaskan six man for about four years. It's just about bullet proof. I've been winter steelhead fishing with five large men all sleeping with gear and had enough room. Four inches of snow on the tent with no condensation buildup in the morning.
D189

[lobo]

Second the motion on the Alaskan 6 man - I really like it and it has performed well. Designed to take REAL abuse from mother nature. I also have the vestibule which I don't use every time but certainly comes in handy should the weather get real bad and you can't just pick up and go home (cooking, storing gear, etc).

lobo

[WAeyes]

One more vote for Eureka. I have the 4-man tent but I convert it to a 1-man with gear tent. Is real nice having windows on all sides, you dont have to worry about which way the tent faces for air flow. Very easy to set up. Quality material and zippers. Good design for the rainfly, won't drip onto the bottom of your tent. If you put a cover down under the tent, make sure it does not stick out past the edge of the tent. If it does, it will collect water and pool underneath your tent, not good. I also use a cover for the inside of the tent floor. It will protect against sharp sticks and rocks cutting into your tent floor.

[Gumbo]

Are those your skivy's I see hanging on the clothes line behind the tent? :)

[Bob]

This web site is tops! Thanks to all of you experienced campers out there for the recommendations. Looking at these tents it looks like the features to look for are taped seams, good ventilation and well designed doors with zippers that will not leak. Do you still have to apply seam sealer and waterproofing to some of thest tents? Also, some tents offer either fiberglass or aluminum poles...is there much of a difference with each? I will not be using this tent for hike or fly-ins so weight is not that important. I just want to get the family out for an enjoyable weekend of camping and fishing. And finally, are there any tips or tricks about setting up your camp site that really help you to stay comforatable (and dry?)

Thanks again for all of the suggestions!

[Box]

Yes, you still want to use seam sealer UNLESS the tent instructions tells you not to. Definitely set it up at home once before you go, to make sure all parts are there and that you know how to do it. I'm sure many have "funny" stories about not doing that first. Waterproofing... no - don't add anything to the tent unless it tells you to. They are made to be waterproof.

As for poles... alum bends, but will not snap, and it is lighter. Alum is better if you camp in winter, I believe. Fiberglass is fine. I have both, and like fiberglass better.

As for a camp site... put a tarp (the cheap green or blue ones) under the tent. It makes it nicer to walk on and keeps the bottom safer. Also nicer if it rains. Also bring an extra tarp or two, big ones, that you can hang from trees like a little roof. While it might look like a shanty town, it will be comfy. Maybe a screen house (you can get them from those sites) would be good if you are in mosquito territory, like I am :)

If you are going to have a truck nearby, bring an extra battery (charged) and you can easily run a 15 watt bulb for a long time :)

Make sure you had good bed pads (the self inflating ones work pretty good) or if you have space in truck get the big blow up mattresses. Your back and wife will love you!

Lastly, unless you KNOW FOR SURE that it won't rain, and I mean for sure, put the rain fly on at night.. hehe.. we got soaked in the BWCA after leaving it off on a "beautiful" night... ugh... it came down so hard my sleeping bag was floating :)

Lastly part II... bring comfy chairs to sit in.

Good luck and have fun!
Box in MN

[Gumbo]

>Also, some tents offer either fiberglass or aluminum
>poles...is there much of a >difference with each?

Aluminum is far superior. It's stronger, lighter, and more durable.

[Nick(IA)]

Third the motion on the Cabelas Alaskan. This thing is bomb proof. I've had mine for about 8 years. I use it as my "car camping" tent...you would never want to carry it anywhere beyond a few yards. I've been through storms that have tipped over campers and kept this tent upright and in one piece. Lots of room and if you add the vestibule it's a cabin. Good Luck.

[Nick(IA)]

Gunga? Have you changed your handle?

[KevinA]

:-) Nope, that's the people behind us hanging everything they brought with them out to dry since they didn't have a portable A-frame shelter to protect them from the 7 hour downpour that happened overnight. That night was the first time I used my creation...made be a believer. The tent alone would have worked fine, but the A-frame made it a whole lot 'finer'.

[Gumbo]

Yea, I figured I'd better conform to the standard naming schema and declare my western origin rather than use the lowly water boy's namesake of Kipling's poem.

[bigeye]

The Cabela's Alaskan tent is one of the best I have ever used. Holds up in all weather conditions. The vestibule adds extra strorage and just makes it more comfortable when a lot of guys are going to use it at the same time.

[Xplorer]

Bob,
Will just give you one more option to consider. I have just finished my own new tent search and decided on a Cabela's Denali XWT. It is not in the regular catalog but is in the camping catalog. I came down to either the Alaskan or this, and because I frequently camp on islands of larger lakes (Rainy/Kab/Namakan) and the wind can really blow at times (like most of memorial day weekend:-) I chose this one. This model is a bit more rugged looking than the Alaskan (no rear/side opening windows) but is built even drier and sturdier in both poles and material. The front can be completely zippered closed and the rainfly is 2000mm rated(vs 1500mm) My in-laws bought one for their 2 week moose/caribou flyin hunt in the Brooks range of Alaska last year and fell in love with theirs.
I believe it is $349 as compared to the alaskan's 299, but it comes standard with 3/4 aluminum poles which the alaskan does not. It does not offer the vestibule option, which you may want either now or in the future tho.
Just figured I'd give you another option to look at. With either tent you will be more than happy I'm sure, they were my two top choices. Happy Camping!! Xplorer

[Kevin B]

This discussion has caught my interest since I am looking for a new tent (still using a canvas 10x13 Montgomery Ward's that is 17 years old but has withstood the hail and windstorms of Wyoming). Although I'm a canvas man, I realize that my choices for a new tent are limited unless I consider nylon-type tents. Know of any chat sites on tents/camping?

[Don in Denver]

Kevin-
This is not my real area of emphasis but I do know that rei.com has a "Learn" area and a "Share" area where some of this type of info is available. Here's the web address for their page on How to Choose a Tent:

http://www.rei.com/reihtml/LEARN_SHARE/detail.jsp?URL=/reihtml/LEARN_SHARE/camp/howtentf.jsp&ls=Camping

[vetspet(ind)]

hey shellback...are you don surber?...he goes by the same name...steve

[Kevin B]

Thanks Don. I drove past REI in Denver last week, but forgot where they were! On Speer Blvd. I think! I'll read up.