View Full Version : Large tent question
Mr. Clean
12-28-2008, 13:27
First off, I'm very happy with my Hammock, but this summer I will be hiking with my two boys, ages 5 and 3. I'm asking what tent you guys could recommend that I look at that can hold 3 people. We will probably use shelters for the most part, but I don't like to rely on them. It needs netting for mosquitos, is fairly light, and can hold the three of us.
We have a huge tent for car camping, but I'd sure hate to carry it around strapped to the outside of the pack!! I'd say that each of us gets a hammock, but at their age, I think they'll need to be close at night. Will anything work for us?
Lone Wolf
12-28-2008, 13:36
MSR Mutha Hubba?
that's my first thought http://www.msrgear.com/tents/muthahubba.asp
You could try the Black Diamond Skylight for $450 it weights 5 pounds which is more that a pound lighter than the hubba.
The skylight has 36.6 square feet of space and you can get a 10 square foot vestibule for it too.
http://www.bdel.com/gear/skylight.php
Panzer
How much is your budget?
Without knowing the budget then I would look at Big Agnes tents. They have a 500 dollar Copper Spur UL 3 at 4lb3oz and then also a 240 dollar Seedhouse 3 at 5lb6oz. If you have more cash than you know what to do with the Copper Spur looks nice, but the Seedhouse is a excellent value if you don't.
http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=828&CFID=149051&CFTOKEN=83786935&mainproducttypeid=1
I don't know if you have a large tarp. The setup in the picture looks a little sketchy for rain protection. If you had a tarp that warpped further around the screen it might be worth considering. Of course, it doesn't have a floor, but that makes it that much lighter. Each person could carry his personal groundsheet or you could use plastic dropcloth.
I'm considering buying one of these for future "trail angel" summer events where I could grill up some food and hikers could eat it without becoming a buffet themselves.
Feral Bill
12-28-2008, 15:55
You are doing the right thing starting them young.
The "three person" tents mentioned seem pretty skimpy on square footage, even with kids. Consider that your boys are going to grow, and grow, and grow. I'd look for something at least 50 square feet. That worked well when my kids were young. Also, would your boys be terrified if they had their own tent, right next to your rig? That would be more flexible. Either way, as the boys grow you can shift more weight over to them.
Feral Bill
12-28-2008, 16:06
A little browsing came up with this http://www.rei.com/product/747995. Not light but not crazy heavy. It seems that 4 is the new 3.
Jim Adams
12-28-2008, 17:39
A little browsing came up with this http://www.rei.com/product/747995. Not light but not crazy heavy. It seems that 4 is the new 3.
Kelty also makes a Gunnison 3 and a 4. The 3 is plenty big for the 3 of you and you can put your packs inside. It also has 2 doors and 2 vestibules...nice tent. Somewhere around $200.
geek
The Tarptent Rainshadow 2 is another option that could suit your needs well. It is designed as a three person singlewall tent, yet weighs just a tad over 2.5 pounds. My wife and I have used ours in all types of weather, including hard steady rains, and continued to be very pleased. The price is quite reasonable as well.
jonathanb23
12-28-2008, 18:41
Well, not to self promote, but I do have a Mutha Hubba w/ footprint for sell over in gear for sell. I bought it New for my family tent but have never used it. Only set up in the yard. I'm getting rid of it because my daughters are too young to go for now (My oldest is almost 3). It's taking up space and gear money for me. It is a very nice tent...thought I'd let someone else suggest it first ;)
If you get a mid-price 3, you won't mind when they snag it a couple years from now, leaving you in the hammock. Time flies!
They might let you get some sleep that way.
buckwheat
12-28-2008, 20:05
Let the little guys carry your hammock split between them.
You carry a 2-man tent for them to sleep in, while you hammock. They'll absolutely LOVE the idea that they get their own tent.
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 (http://gearx.com/product_info.php?products_id=29872?ref=base)
It won't break down and it won't break the budget. I have an alps tent and it's well made.
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 (http://gearx.com/product_info.php?products_id=29872?ref=base)
It won't break down and it won't break the budget. I have an alps tent and it's well made.
It's been years since I hiked with three young children, And we mostly backpacked in Baxter State Park, where we could reserve a leanto for the five of us. Me, my wife and 3 kids. My youngest made the hike into Chimney Pond at age 3. (the oldest was six) Bugs were never a real problem, though when the youngest was five, no see ums came out at Russell Pond around 4 a.m. during the week we stayed there. Just avoid blackfly season.
My plan when they were young was to backpack into a place like Russell or Chimney Pond and stay for a couple of nights at least, doing day hikes until it was time to backpack out. I waited until the youngest was seven before hiking from site to site.
When not in Baxter, I and my two boys used a regular three-person tent. I forget the brand name. However, the Alps suggested by Tom is very similar, but lighter.
I think it wise to provide the kids with their own backpack. But for young kids it should only contain light items, maybe their own sleeping bag, a light toy and a piece of clothing. Maximum weight for my 3-year-old was around 3 pounds.
Weary
Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 (http://gearx.com/product_info.php?products_id=29872?ref=base)
It won't break down and it won't break the budget. I have an alps tent and it's well made.
Forgot to mention that it's less than a third the price (it can be bought factory direct for 100$) and a half pound lighter than the mutha hubba with the same floor space and larger vestibules. The mutha has more sit up room. The kelty gunnison 3 (174$) is a bit bigger but similar in weight to the mutha.
skinewmexico
12-29-2008, 17:54
REI Quarterdome T3
Alligator
12-29-2008, 18:02
I have a Black Diamond Mega light for family camping. I sewed on a skirt of mosquito netting, but they also make a bug netting insert. The insert is heavy and expensive though.
The skirt is not needed for bugs, but then you'd have to pitch it all the way down and that might be hot.
skinewmexico
12-29-2008, 19:25
Why are bug inserts for all ultralight tarps so heavy?
Mr. Clean
12-30-2008, 14:12
All great suggestions. I'm hoping for something minimal for now; as they grow, I'll get them into their own hammocks. But that's a bit away right now. Going to look closely at all tent suggestions. Weight and size are important, as well as price. Thanks again.
Dances with Mice
12-30-2008, 15:38
I have a Black Diamond Mega light for family camping. I sewed on a skirt of mosquito netting, but they also make a bug netting insert. The insert is heavy and expensive though.
The skirt is not needed for bugs, but then you'd have to pitch it all the way down and that might be hot. I did the same thing, I think you can see the bug netting skirt around the bottom (it's flipped inside the tent). Heat has never been a problem in the Megalite.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DSCN0041.jpg
Live the Journey
12-30-2008, 15:52
I work at an outfitter and we sell lots of family tents...firstly, bravo on actually taking kids backpacking...you're braver then most, and your kids will thank you for it now and forever!!
One of my favorite 3 man tents is the Sierra Designs ASP3. It weighs 6.4 (at it's heaviest) and it's pretty fabulous. lots of mesh, roomy but not in excess. I like it a lot. Also, it's on sale right now and I have it on good authority that it will be greatly reduced soon. http://www.rei.com/product/763162
If that one seems too heavy, why not try a big sil tarp and some bug netting...
http://www.rei.com/product/729007
Shabamba...big netting for $15 and 15 ounces. Use the money you save on a nice big tarp (which will together weigh half as much as most tents) and watch your little boys glow when they get to feel like they're manly-ier then the men camping around them in tents!
gsingjane
12-30-2008, 19:30
The two 3-person tents I've used with my children (they started at ages 10 and 12) were the REI Taj (really a wonderful and roomy tent, although awful darn heavy) and the Sierra Designs Sirius 3 (lighter but not quite as roomy). They both worked well and gave us enough room. I still use the Sirius with Girl Scouts and it's been great.
Jane in CT
Two responses: Our troop has both the alps taurus tents and the kelty teton 4. Both are good tents, the kelty is lighter and has better ventilation. Both have proven out to be tough. However, they are pretty heavy if you have to do all the hauling. Easy to split up, for when your kids are older to carry.
The tarp thing is a good suggestion. Look into a big sil nylon one, and bug netting. Oware in the past has sold a 12 x 12 model. We have also used a product from coghlan's called the travellers bug net, and upside down funnel shaped net, that weighs 1 pound and can hold 3 adult sleepers easily. Tarping may be more fun than tents. Bring plenty of rope, lol.
NCYankee
12-31-2008, 10:49
Just for some shameless self promotion... I have a brand new Big Anges Seedhouse for sale in the marketplace that is supposed to be a huge tent and more than big enough for three (especially if two are children).
Even if you don't buy mine it would be worth a look at
Mr. Clean
12-31-2008, 13:23
Anyone have experience with single wall tents? Condensation a problem? I'm leaning towards a tarptent for a few reasons: weight, room, and cost. With two wiggling boys inside, will they get wet if they sleep against the walls? I'm sure they're not great in a driving rain, but for the most part, they look pretty comfortable.
buckwheat
12-31-2008, 15:17
Yes, they'll get wet in a single-wall and more people will equal more condensate. I don't know about you, but the cold, wet kids I've been around were fun for about 2 minutes.
jonathanb23
12-31-2008, 16:06
Actually a single wall tent does not equate to more condensation. Lack of ventilation is the main cause condensation. A second wall will act as a barrier between you and the condensate, but it is still there just the same.
I suggest reading the following post over on BPL for a better explaination. Also search the forums and reveiws on TarpTents. I have owned 4 and think that Henry Shire has some great tents. I'm not sure it would be the direction I would go with young kids that might not be as careful with the tent, but if they are somewhat mindful of your gear I think you would be fine. The volume at the head of the tent also keeps most moisture to a minimum. (See link below for BPL reference)
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/17343/index.html?skip_to_post=132456#132456
Hope this is helpful. Cheers!
Take a look at the REI Quarter Dome T3:
http://www.rei.com/product/761895
I don't have any experience with it but with REI's reputation in tents it should certainly make your 'short list.'