Q. Im looking for a small dome tent, not more than 2 or 3 people max and was wondering if anyone had any good experiences with a tent like this that is under 100$ and if anyone can tell me why they like it. it is just important that it is WATER/WEATHERPROOF. i hate the rain...i just want to be able to chill out in the woods by myself and have a tent for me, my gear, and no water.
Answer
Avoid WalMart and Sears -- their products are not well engineered and tend to have seam leakage issues, pole breakage and condensation problems. Most of your dampness problems in camping come not from rain leaking in but your body and breath moisture not getting out. You need a tent with good ventilating design and a well made rain fly that won't touch the inner tent wall and can protect the open screens from blowing rain so you can leave them open for air flow.
Look at http://www.campmor.com
Their on-line catalog has dozens of good tents and they always have close-outs and special deals. I know there are a several models that would meet your requirements under $100. They have good comparision charts with dimensions, weights and other specs. They give great customer service and will ship quickly. All they stock are brand names that will provide warrantees and support, if for example, you lost a pole or needed a new rain fly.
If you plan to camp in the rain, look for a tent with a lot of ventilation, a fly with good overhang and with a large outside vestibule to stash gear. Less costly tents tend not to have seam sealer added so order a tube of seam seal, set up your tent when you get it and run a line of the sealer over all the exposed seams. It's kind of tedious but it helps a lot in the end. Choose a lighter or brighter color (avoid blue and dark green). Those new battery operated LED lights are great for inside the tent -- I got a disc shaped one with 12 bulbs that hangs up under the ceiling of my tent and makes it really easy to read or play cards during a storm. Another thing that helps keep condensation down in humid weather is a small battery operated fan you run at night to suck air out near the base of the door. Adding a lightweight nylon tarp with grommets and some nylon cord to your gear will help too -- you can rig a canopy over your site between trees to add protection to your tent and to give you a place to sit out during the day if it showers. Two or three people (or even just yourself) trapped inside a tent during a few days of heavy rain is a recipe for mental health breakdowns :-)
Avoid WalMart and Sears -- their products are not well engineered and tend to have seam leakage issues, pole breakage and condensation problems. Most of your dampness problems in camping come not from rain leaking in but your body and breath moisture not getting out. You need a tent with good ventilating design and a well made rain fly that won't touch the inner tent wall and can protect the open screens from blowing rain so you can leave them open for air flow.
Look at http://www.campmor.com
Their on-line catalog has dozens of good tents and they always have close-outs and special deals. I know there are a several models that would meet your requirements under $100. They have good comparision charts with dimensions, weights and other specs. They give great customer service and will ship quickly. All they stock are brand names that will provide warrantees and support, if for example, you lost a pole or needed a new rain fly.
If you plan to camp in the rain, look for a tent with a lot of ventilation, a fly with good overhang and with a large outside vestibule to stash gear. Less costly tents tend not to have seam sealer added so order a tube of seam seal, set up your tent when you get it and run a line of the sealer over all the exposed seams. It's kind of tedious but it helps a lot in the end. Choose a lighter or brighter color (avoid blue and dark green). Those new battery operated LED lights are great for inside the tent -- I got a disc shaped one with 12 bulbs that hangs up under the ceiling of my tent and makes it really easy to read or play cards during a storm. Another thing that helps keep condensation down in humid weather is a small battery operated fan you run at night to suck air out near the base of the door. Adding a lightweight nylon tarp with grommets and some nylon cord to your gear will help too -- you can rig a canopy over your site between trees to add protection to your tent and to give you a place to sit out during the day if it showers. Two or three people (or even just yourself) trapped inside a tent during a few days of heavy rain is a recipe for mental health breakdowns :-)
Best summer camping tent under 100$?
ellemenohp
I know buying a tent under 100$ adds limits, but its all I can afford to spend on it.
I'm looking for a 2 person tent and larger. Please give websites with reviews!
thanks!
Answer
In this price range I would choose the Coleman 6-Person Dome tent. It measures 11' x 9' with a 6' center height, so most adults could stand upright inside the tent. The material is heavier-weight than most other tents in its price range (75D Polyester Taffeta) which contributes to strength and durability (though it is not a RipStop material, so once a tear develops, the tent is done). The floor is HD 1000 welded Polyethylene in a bathtub configuration to help prevent water from seeping-up from below. There are gable vents in the fly to aid with ventilation during stormy weather. The only negative is the relatively thin 450nm waterproof coating, which may wear-out sooner than other models. But considering its size and price (~$80), it is a hard act to beat in this category.
Of course with a $100 limit you have to accept fiberglass poles, which are heavier and more fragile than aluminum. The fly design is better than average for inexpensive dome tents, but it is still not a full-coverage fly and there are no vestibules to protect the interior from rain when entering/exiting the tent, or outside gear storage. At 12.75Lbs it is a reasonable weight for its size and price, but like others in its price range, it is too heavy for any serious backpacking.
There are other decent tents in the price range, but this is the one I would choose if forced to live within a $100 budget. Just make sure to seal the seams thoroughly before its first use and then at the start of each season, and use a properly-sized ground sheet (should be about 2" short of the tent floor on each side, so that water doesn't run off the tent body and puddle between the ground sheet and tent floor).
In this price range I would choose the Coleman 6-Person Dome tent. It measures 11' x 9' with a 6' center height, so most adults could stand upright inside the tent. The material is heavier-weight than most other tents in its price range (75D Polyester Taffeta) which contributes to strength and durability (though it is not a RipStop material, so once a tear develops, the tent is done). The floor is HD 1000 welded Polyethylene in a bathtub configuration to help prevent water from seeping-up from below. There are gable vents in the fly to aid with ventilation during stormy weather. The only negative is the relatively thin 450nm waterproof coating, which may wear-out sooner than other models. But considering its size and price (~$80), it is a hard act to beat in this category.
Of course with a $100 limit you have to accept fiberglass poles, which are heavier and more fragile than aluminum. The fly design is better than average for inexpensive dome tents, but it is still not a full-coverage fly and there are no vestibules to protect the interior from rain when entering/exiting the tent, or outside gear storage. At 12.75Lbs it is a reasonable weight for its size and price, but like others in its price range, it is too heavy for any serious backpacking.
There are other decent tents in the price range, but this is the one I would choose if forced to live within a $100 budget. Just make sure to seal the seams thoroughly before its first use and then at the start of each season, and use a properly-sized ground sheet (should be about 2" short of the tent floor on each side, so that water doesn't run off the tent body and puddle between the ground sheet and tent floor).
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