Tent Options - Page 2 - Utah's Rock Crawling and Off-Road Forum

**Rusted** · 11-03-2009, 07:22 AM

I have done well with springbar tents even in the wind. I have 4 different sets of tent stakes for them. Pick the set that holds into the ground the best, and stake it down at all points. And streach the floor out. When the scouts get lazy and think that just the 4 corners are good enough they find themsleves out in the middle of the night looking for the hammer

mesha · 11-03-2009, 07:46 AM

Here is one called the Asolo Chameleon. it is close to your price range retail(I can do much better than that). Really good tent. Asolo tents are high quality units. they are made at the same factory that makes 70ish percent of the middle to upper end tents in the industry. Check out the mm of water proofing. heres the specs.
CHAMELEON 6
Asolo

FEATURES
6 person, 2-room tent
Internal room divider can be removed to make one huge sleeping area
135 qu. ft. vesibule/entertainment area has a stand-up height of 6'9"
Rear access/exit
Convertible "no-see-um" mesh windows throughout
Sturdy duffle carrier bag
Heavy duty aluminium pegs
Fly: UV resistant rip-stop polyester, 3000 mm PU coating
Floor: Heavy-weight nylon oxford, 5000 mm PU coating
Poles: 7000 series aluminium on main, vestibule and ridge poles
Inner tent: breathable polyester with large mesh panels
Colour: Blue/Grey
Dimensions: 19'10"x13"x6'8'
Wt: 27lb
Persons: 6.
Price: $529.95
A little big maybe.
I can also do the Kodiak tents and any msr tent. the kodiaks are all about PROPERLY staking them down. use the guylines that come with them and all the stake out points and they do very well in the wind. they are heavy though. about 10 pounds more than the springbar due to the higher quality floor.

**Caleb** · 11-03-2009, 08:00 AM

I've been using Springbars for years for anything that I don't need to pack in. If properly staked down, they hold up to just about anything. I've been down at Lake Powell when a fierce wind storm came through. We had about a dozen tents in our group. The ones that weren't Springbars ended up with snapped poles and torn sides while the ones that were Springbars were all just fine. Another experience, camping at Flaming Gorge and a huge rainstorm came through. It caused a mudslide right through our camp. Our tent that was not a Springbar, but was a very nice tent, got clobbered. completely ruined. The Springbar stood strong. To top it off, Springbars take about 2 mins to setup and take down, much quicker than most tents.

Cody · 11-03-2009, 10:03 AM

I've had a Mountain Hardware Trango 3, 4 season tent for about 15 years. Spent hundreds of nights and it's held up amazingly. My only complaint is that in warmer weather it doesn't have the ventilation to keep it cooler inside. Unless you're seeing lots of snow and winds well over 30-40 a 3 season would be sufficient.

I'm going to pick up the Mountain Hardware Hammerhead 3 next spring to replace it.

Here are some other big options...never looked at them in person though.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorge.../MHW1090M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorge.../TNF1344M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorge.../KEL0359M.html

WayneXJ · 11-03-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusted

I have done well with springbar tents even in the wind. I have 4 different sets of tent stakes for them. Pick the set that holds into the ground the best, and stake it down at all points. And streach the floor out. When the scouts get lazy and think that just the 4 corners are good enough they find themsleves out in the middle of the night looking for the hammer

I've helped the tent fall on the scouts a few times when they only stake the corners.

bergdh · 11-03-2009, 08:22 PM

Thanks everyone for all the input, its great.

Those springbars really lack the cool factor...

but ill have to check them out. I guess I should also include a weight size requirement in there as well. Id like to go with something lighter rather then a bigger canvas tent. I havent cross checked the weights but im sure the springbar options are simlar to nylon tents.

Ill look at those asolo and msr tents.

mesha · 11-25-2009, 08:37 AM

the springbar tents weigh about 70lbs.

**Caleb** · 11-25-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesha

the springbar tents weigh about 70lbs.

What size springbar is that? Mine weighs 10-15lbs and can sleep three comfortably, my parent's that sleeps 6 comfortably with gear and everything weighs maybe 30-40lbs with poles and everything. Yes, they weigh a ton more than a nylon tent, but if you're not packing them in, it's not a big deal.

mesha · 11-25-2009, 10:08 AM

traveler 5 is 59 family camper 7 is 74 lbs.

I didn't list smaller tents cause I assum he needs a 5 or bigger if he wants to sleep 4 plus gear comfortably.

solidfrontaxle · 11-25-2009, 11:08 AM

Does springbar still make backpacking tents? I have a three man one my parents bought brand new in the late 60s thats ripstop nylon and Paul May had a similar one or two man one on the relic run. They are fairly light for their age, super tough, and mine at least is a great four season tent.

**Caleb** · 11-25-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesha

traveler 5 is 59 family camper 7 is 74 lbs.

I didn't list smaller tents cause I assum he needs a 5 or bigger if he wants to sleep 4 plus gear comfortably.

Yeah, I saw that on their site after I posted. My parent's is the camper 7. It must just not FEEL 74lbs.

Their site says mines 49lbs.

DAA · 11-25-2009, 04:43 PM

I would never have guessed that either of my Springbars are that heavy either. I mean, I knew they were heavy, but I didn't realize they were THAT heavy. Maybe it's because the tent and poles are in separate bags and I never carry both bags at once.

The weight is not an issue for me though. I've gotten so much trouble free use out of them, that it would be hard to talk me into anything else, regardless of cost or weight. In just the last two weeks I've spent five nights in my smaller Springbar. Two in the Red Desert, in howling winds and sub freezing temps. No drama, warm and dry. Three more nights in the Henry's at higher elevation, temps in the teens, nice and comfy.

- DAA

KWight · 11-25-2009, 10:04 PM

I really like my Cabelas XWT Extreme Weather Tent. It weighs 75 pounds but will hold up to 70mph wind gusts and heavy snow. It has a full rain fly and a very large vestibule that I (6'1")can stand up in on one end and a smaller vestibule on the other end. I bought mine after the previous owner used it 1-2 times for under $500 but think you might be able to get the smaller one for around your price range.

You might also look at the Cabelas Alaskan Guide series tent. They are similarly built with the exception of having smaller aluminum or fiberglass poles. I had considered getting one of those before I found mine.

Kevin

KWight · 11-25-2009, 10:11 PM

I really like my Cabelas XWT Extreme Weather Tent. It weighs 75 pounds but will hold up to 70mph wind gusts and heavy snow. It has a full rain fly and a very large vestibule that I (6'1")can stand up in on one end, and will fit two grown men and a cooking area. It has a smaller vestibule on the other end that would do fine for taking off wet clothes or muddy boots. I bought mine after the previous owner used it 1-2 times for under $500 but you can get the medium sized one for uder $600:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...set=ISO-8859-1

You might also look at the Cabelas Alaskan Guide series tent:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...set=ISO-8859-1

They are similarly built with the exception of having smaller aluminum or fiberglass poles. The largest one can be purchased for well within your price range. I had considered getting one of those before I found mine.

Kevin