I'm looking for a new tent

I'm in need of tent recommendations. I'm looking for a 2 or 3 person tent. Weight is not a factor as I 'car camp'. What I do need to it do it stand up to wind. I climb mostly in the So Cal deserts and at night the winds can really pick up.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

Actually Eureka! makes a very nice car camping tent. Sierra Trading Post sells them.

Mine got stolen last year and I am going the el cheapo route for now.

I actually really recommend the Alps Mountaineering tents. They have really good craftsmanship, relatively light, and you can get a roomy 2-3 person backpacking tent for 120-150.

just my 2 cents

I have the Marmot Aura 2P, 3 season tent. It is a great tent. It has withheld and has kept me safe in windy conditions (Oklahoma Wind) and has also kept me 100% dry in extreme thunderstorms. It fits 2 people very comfortably and has enough room to keep a small pack near your feet if the weather gets really bad. Another great feature is the dual entrance/exit access. Allows you to exit on your side of the tent so you don't wake up your partner. I am an average size person, ~165-175 pounds 6'0. The only con I can think of is the size, if you are car camping then it won't matter, but if you take this on alpine/mountaineering adventures it will be hard to carry in your pack.

-Brent

The Eureka 6 person dome tents do pretty well and they are big enough to stand up in and change if you are only car camping. Pretty easy to set up in the dark. They do need to be staked down and out to get maximum strength.

Great for car camping and reasonably priced. Used it in high winds in the desert.
eldoradocamping.com/

Bill C. wrote:I actually really recommend the Alps Mountaineering tents. They have really good craftsmanship, relatively light, and you can get a roomy 2-3 person backpacking tent for 120-150. just my 2 cents

I picked up an Alps Mountaineering 4 person tent a couple of years ago and for the price ($119) you can't beat it. We spent several VERY windy nights in it without an issue. It's been used about 25-30 nights now with my 2 sons and I, it's held up really well. Steep and Cheep has them in their regular rotation.

Just my .02

JP

John P. wrote: I picked up an Alps Mountaineering 4 person tent a couple of years ago and for the price ($119) you can't beat it. We spent several VERY windy nights in it without an issue. It's been used about 25-30 nights now with my 2 sons and I, it's held up really well. Steep and Cheep has them in their regular rotation. Just my .02 JP

To give a differing experience about Alps Tents, I bought one, pitched it for a windy weekend in J-tree, and promptly returned it because the grommets ripped and the fabric started to fray.

Personally, I have a 4 season Sierra Designs OMEGA tent for going on 5 years-probably 100 pitched days- and its held up to everything from wind to snow to rain.

Check out supertopo's reviews on tents. I bought the REI half Dome II tent and love it. It's so much more "roomier" then most 2 person tents because of the design. Check it out.

Jan

Steepandcheap has had atleast 2 or 3 tents on every day for the last while. Mostly ALPS Mountaineering and mostly around $100 plus or minus $20. No idea about the quality, but that's a pretty decent price.

I've always like Big Agnes tents when comfort was a high priority and the Copper Spur is pretty stout as well. It's a lot longer than their ultralight tents, which makes it much more liveable. They have a good warranty too.

For car camping I'd go cheap. I have an 3P ALPS that is pretty nice for the $100 that I paid but I'd probably buy a Coleman or similar if I just planned on always carrying it in a car. You really only need it to keep water and bugs out.

RNclimber wrote:Check out supertopo's reviews on tents. I bought the REI half Dome II tent and love it. It's so much more "roomier" then most 2 person tents because of the design. Check it out. Jan

I have the REI Quarter Dome T2 (2 man) and love it. On Sale right now for 199:

rei.com/product/761893/rei-…

Handles the j-tree wind really well. The 2 person is great for me and my girl but if it were me and a buddy I wish I had grabbed the 3 man.

Hate to be this guy......but, just posted a TNF Mountain 25 in the FS forum if youre interested. Definitely handles a stiff breeze well!

REI makes great tents in the half dome and quarter dome series. I've used a Half dome in high winds at an alpine base camp in Argentina for a 3 week climbing trip. The mesh lets some fine dust in but the tent stood up to very strong winds night after night. REI has a %20 off coupon coming up recently too.

Thanks for the feedback. I like the REI tents and the 20% coupon is very handy. I think I'm going to get the Mountain Hardware Drifter 3. It's received high marks and for the prince point it's the largest 3 person tent.

Check out NEMO! I was skeptical at first, but having seen IME in North Conway, NH back them all my worries have subsided. If those guys like em - they're great - bottom line.

Best,
John
Beer&Climbing

the only thing I'd recommend is go one person 'larger' than you actually plan to use it for. a 3 person tent is actually a 2 person tent etc. Since you are car camping the extra weight isnt an issue, and you will really appreciate the extra room to spread out with gear/clothes etc. I'd also say to get a tent with two doors/vestibules is certainly the way to go.

thecornyman wrote: I have the REI Quarter Dome T2 (2 man) and love it. On Sale right now for 199: rei.com/product/761893/rei-… Handles the j-tree wind really well. The 2 person is great for me and my girl but if it were me and a buddy I wish I had grabbed the 3 man.

This, and many others say the same. I have the Quarter Dome T3, regularly use it for two. One of my partners is a scrawny bastard, and we could fit a third in. It'd be shoulder to shoulder. But with two, you've got room to move, throw crap, and flake gear out. And it's fairly light, all things considered.

Phill T wrote:the only thing I'd recommend is go one person 'larger' than you actually plan to use it for. a 3 person tent is actually a 2 person tent etc. Since you are car camping the extra weight isnt an issue, and you will really appreciate the extra room to spread out with gear/clothes etc. I'd also say to get a tent with two doors/vestibules is certainly the way to go.

+1 on NEMO tents. I always say a tent is 3 person or 2 americans.