The stuff I was linking is for higher wind conditions or colder temperatures than your regular everyday camping. It's still REALLY solid stuff, but you can probably find something for your needs that's a little less expensive.

Still haven't bought my Alaskan Guide yet, think I'm going with the 4-person. 6 is just too damn big.

6/18/2014 9:54:45 AM

please excuse the repost, i was the last post on the previous page:

I need to replace my tent, I've been using a 3 person coleman that I bought from Walmart 10 years ago and its finally falling apart.

Here are my criteria:
weight is not an issue, car camping only
quick setup and take down
comfortable in hot weather and rain
budget is flexible but not unlimited

Would you guys recommend the tents posted above on this page or would you recommend something else if you are only using it for car camping only?

^other than from a thunderstorm, i generally don't have much issue with wind so it sounds like that tent is overkill

6/18/2014 10:06:15 AM

anything keeping you from going back to Coleman? I've had my Coleman dome tent, roughly 8'x8' for about 10 years now. In that time i've only had to patch up one hole in the bottom from an incidental ash burn. The poles have held up remarkably well and the seams on the rain fly have yet to split. Granted it may only get used 3-4 times a year for simple car camping, but it's survived thunderstorms from the mountains to the coast. Also loved that it had a full sized rain fly, and not just the half-sized ones you see on some "store" brands.


^if you are wanting something larger, i know elkaybie and her husband just bought a brand new one that was large enough for the two of them, their son, and dog. They go camping quite a bit, a quick PM to her might get some good advice on what they went with.

[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 10:41 AM. Reason : ad]

6/18/2014 10:39:45 AM

i have nothing against coleman, its held up great and lasted a decade with little maintenance, but i haven't kept up with new tent technology so I wasn't sure what was good

my only complaint with my old tent is that it definitely was not quick to setup, the poles would get caught on every single tab so it took >15 minutes. I want to find a tent that takes closer to <5 minutes.

6/18/2014 1:51:32 PM

what kind of size/occupancy?

6/18/2014 2:05:58 PM

decent size, needs to fit at least a full size air mattress so the wife is happy. the 3 person tent worked but the mattress takes up the entire thing.

4 person tent minimum size, but we never camp in the winter so the bigger the better as long as it sets up fast. a vestibule area is a plus but not necessary.

i almost bought this with the add-on rainfly but decided to ask here first
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Instant-Cabin-4-Person-59-Inch/dp/B00HN9FM9K/ref=sr_1_48?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1403116460&sr=1-48

my wife liked this:
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000008055-Prairie-Breeze-9-Person/dp/B004RDQK0K/ref=sr_1_22?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1403116175&sr=1-22
(because she's not the one who would spend 45 minutes setting it up)

I've looked at a lot of the air/inflatable "pole" tents but any setup time savings (if there are any) seem to be outweighed by the longer take down time trying to get all the air out.

I'm also looking at Oztents since they were one of the first to do quick setup tent and are expandable and can tie on to my car.
http://www.oztent.us/home
Not sure I'm ready to spend that kind of money though. They do have a line that is more affordable though:

http://www.oztent.us/malamoorange/malamoo-mega#.U6HgZfldVHQ
for $400


[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 2:54 PM. Reason : .]

6/18/2014 2:33:49 PM

no personal experience with it, but that prairie breeze looks like it would be hot as hell in the summer time because all the venting is up high, well above where you would be sleeping.

6/18/2014 3:24:32 PM

yeah, i wasn't really considering that one anyways.

i am worried though about the pop-up coleman because it doesn't have any venting at the top, i like tents that are all mesh at the top that use a rainfly on the top when needed. i can't find any well-vented tents that setup quickly.

Even that malamoo tent doesn't have much venting.

6/18/2014 3:43:18 PM

What size air mattress?

6/18/2014 4:06:48 PM

Glad I don't sleep in a tent anymore.

6/18/2014 4:25:49 PM

Jealous of your hammock

6/18/2014 5:03:27 PM

Second time using the under quilt. It's like a heat blanket! Almost too warm. Very comfortable without a pad in your hammock.

6/18/2014 5:08:58 PM

^^ full or queen size

6/18/2014 5:11:21 PM

^ Hopefully you haven't already covered this, but I would recommend one of the Kingdom tents from REI. My husband and I also use air mattresses (2x twin) and I wanted something that we could stand up in (we're both tall) and get dressed in without too much hassle. We have two family friends that both have the Kingdom 6 and highly recommended it. I debated between the Kingdom 4 and Kingdom 6 though, since it would just be the two of us.

However, I decided to go with the extra space and got the Kingdom 6 during last year's Memorial Day sale. I'm glad I did - there is plenty of room for the air mattresses, plus there's extra space at the end where we can store gear/get dressed without touching the air mattresses. It's easy to set up with 2 people - mostly clips - and one family friend claims he can set it up by himself. I even went back and got the optional garage attachment (highly recommended too), which is great for housing bikes or whatnot.

Take a look at the reviews and pictures on REI's website. The main drawback seems to be that people find it's not the best during heavy wind, but I haven't experienced enough wind myself to comment. I would recommend also grabbing the matching footprint (sold separately). You can get the tents and accessories for 20% off every few months during REI sales.

http://www.rei.com/product/827807/rei-kingdom-6-tent-#tabs
http://www.rei.com/product/829184/rei-kingdom-4-tent-#tabs

6/18/2014 6:46:40 PM

We just got the REI kingdom...wait for it...8. it's bigger than the 6 and is probably ridiculous for us now but with our son (3 yo) and dog (55 lbs) it's very roomy with more to spare to last (hopefully). We used it the other week at Jordan lake and it was awesome. Would recommend.

We had a full size air mattress, put up the divider and have our son on a twin mattress on the other side.

[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 11:04 PM. Reason : ]

6/18/2014 11:03:17 PM

Got two sleeping pads, two new camp chairs, and a light trail sleeping bag today at REI. Excited to try then out.

6/19/2014 12:31:46 AM

this is for sale in Charlotte...

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/spo/4527443717.html

6/19/2014 9:10:25 AM

^^^,^^^^

how tough is the REI kingdom to setup? some of the reviews say its tough, but a lot of people are idiots so I'm not sure if I should trust the reviews. can it be done with 1 person?

6/19/2014 9:29:24 AM

Most definitely. It was easier to do the rain cover with two people, but the tent itself can definitely be assembled by one person with tent assembly experience. I'm sure a novice would get frustrated. Took maybe 10 min to get fully set up.

Husband wants to get the additional garage vestibule lol

[Edited on June 19, 2014 at 10:27 AM. Reason : One day I'll have a pop up camper. One day.......]

6/19/2014 10:25:02 AM

Quote :

"Second time using the under quilt. It's like a heat blanket! Almost too warm. Very comfortable without a pad in your hammock. "

But if you've got to haul in 2 quilts that doesn't really save you any space or weight. For the price of the hammock and down quilts (cause f' trying to hike in that much synthetic) it would seem you could get a nice ultralight tent that weighs less and has the same or more room. My 1person UL tent weighs less than my hammock alone.

6/19/2014 1:31:45 PM

Quote :

"But if you've got to haul in 2 quilts that doesn't really save you any space or weight. For the price of the hammock and down quilts (cause f' trying to hike in that much synthetic) it would seem you could get a nice ultralight tent that weighs less and has the same or more room. My 1person UL tent weighs less than my hammock alone."

Haul? They're tiny once compressed into a stuff sack (size of one sleeping bag). It saves me a huge amount of space and weight. My under quilt weighs 16.6 oz. and the over quilt 11.6 oz. That's less than 2 pounds. That replaces a pad AND a sleeping bag. You'd be pretty hard pressed to find a sleeping bag and pad that combined weigh under 2 pounds.

Think of the under quilt + over quilt as just the top and bottom part of one sleeping bag. It's just split in two. So by having an under quilt you're basically eliminating the need for a pad.

My hammock then weighs about 2 lbs total (hammock, rain fly, and bug net).

So my entire sleeping system is less than 4 lbs. You'd be very hard pressed to put together a tent, pad, and sleeping bag combo that is only 4 lbs unless you go with only a tarp or bivy sack.

I mean even a nice Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 weighs 2.1 pounds and I've got more room in my hammock then a 1 person tent. Not only do I get the inside of the hammock but 2-3 people can sit underneath the rain fly if it's raining. Something you're not going to want to do in a 1 person tent.

Believe me I came from an incredibly light weight tent system with pad and I've shed a couple pounds going to a hammock. Not only is it lighter but I get a much better nights sleep.

-Moving to a hammock has also allowed me to go on almost week long trips with a 36 liter pack. In fact I've done a 2 night summer trip using my 24 liter Osprey day pack.

[Edited on June 19, 2014 at 6:15 PM. Reason : s]

6/19/2014 6:06:49 PM

Ya, looks like you have a point. My Copper Spur UL1 + Lost Ranger bag + Insulated Air Core pad is almost 7 lbs apparently. Which quilts are you using? I had been considering this overquilt http://www.jacksrbetter.com/shop/sierra-stealth/ to replace my down bag during the warmer months.

I've said it before, in my experience I sleep so much better on the ground. But, I'm curious to find out if it's just sleeping in the hammock with a thermarest pad that's making it so uncomfortable. The problem is that the two times I didn't have a pad I nearly froze to death in the middle of Spring.

6/19/2014 11:32:29 PM

Yeah you have to either have an under quilt or a pad in a hammock unless it's like 80+ out.

I got my quilts from this guy:

http://www.hammockgear.com/down-quilts/

I called and talked to the owner and he's very nice and recommends exactly what you need. The craftsmanship of the quilts is amazing too. It's really quality stuff.

The thing I didn't like about using a pad in a hammock is it always takes some positioning and there's cold spots where your arms/legs don't touch the pad so it was always a struggle to stay on the pad. Plus using a sleeping bag involves getting in and out of it. With the under quilt it essentially hugs the entire hammock so it's warm all over and the over quilt is simply a blanket. So you just jump in and pull the blanket over you. So no fidgeting or rearranging anything. I'm actually a side sleeper and usually sleep on my side in the hammock. It took some getting used to but once I discovered the best way to sleep it was fantastic.

6/19/2014 11:53:35 PM

Anyone tried this stuff?

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/gear-shed/covet/Pats-Backcountry-Beer.html

My friends swear by it. Just add water. Alcohol included.

7/16/2014 11:26:03 PM

^
normally i'd prefer no beer over warm beer. but if i had cold stream water i'd try it.

7/16/2014 11:31:47 PM

Warm beer? Why would it be warm! Anywhere you're hiking/backpacking is going to have a nice cold stream / snowmelt to grab.

7/17/2014 12:58:32 AM

^
my brain still thinks it's in NC

7/17/2014 1:33:29 PM

Haha true. Although NC streams are usually cold too.

7/17/2014 1:46:53 PM

Woohoo next week!

7/18/2014 1:41:41 PM

doing some basic camping at falls lake this weekend starting in an hour.

taking it easy!

7/18/2014 3:55:03 PM

any of you backpackers carry an instrument? i'm not really interested in a harmonica and while i already have a fife (which is small and extremely light), it doesn't seem like a "wilderness" instrument, you know?

i'm considering a soprano ukulele or a zither heaven rock-it stick (similar to a mcnally strumstick, which is like a mix between mountain dulcimer and guitar, sounds something like a diatonic banjo)

the uke is about 1lb and costs $30 or less and the rock-it stick is probably 1.5lb and costs about $72

there's also a guy on BPL who makes the "bluebird", a ~12oz, 18" strumstrick that's about $75: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=93240

7/29/2014 3:34:06 PM

Well, I got a wild hair growing, and I'm looking at the possibility of an Appalachian Trail through hike starting in the spring.

Anyone done this in the last year or 3? I know a few have done it in years past.

I do 3 day camping trips with no problem, but have never done a long hike.

I would be buying all new gear, so I have a blank slate with what I will be carrying. Everything I have is way to heavy to schlep 2200 miles.

7/29/2014 4:50:09 PM

^^I brought some spoons one time.

^Come hike in Colorado. The AT is boring and humid.

7/29/2014 5:12:42 PM

Few pics from last week:



















Stuff was actually pretty good if you carbonate it right and use cold water!

7/29/2014 5:47:18 PM

Super Jealous of all the backpacking pictures...I could use some Colorado right noww....

7/30/2014 12:26:54 PM

we bought the REI tent posted above and its perfect for us, we like it a lot.

it's more than I want to deal with though for quick 1-night stays when camping by myself, anyone have a small 1-2 person pop-up they like?

7/30/2014 12:35:46 PM

I, too, have a Kingdom 4 tent. LOVE IT. Had a bout of strong wind on the beach that definitely proved how bad it is in those conditions. still an amazing tent, I just don't recommend it on the beach during a wind storm.

If you have the Kingdom 4 or 6, I recommend getting the garage add-on. It's well worth it.

7/31/2014 5:40:47 PM

are there any websites that rate and review campsites? i tend to go to the same places over and over because i'm not sure where to go when i want to explore somewhere new. usually i find a place googling, but when you are flexible on areas that can be pretty tedious.


^definitely getting the garage add-on before the next trip for the wife. i think i'm probably just going to get a cheap small 2-person tent from Dick's or Wal-mart when camping by myself, i don't think I'm going to spend the money on anything fancy.

[Edited on August 6, 2014 at 6:06 PM. Reason : .]

8/6/2014 5:43:35 PM

I want to get a nice firestarter rod. I've worked with magnesium and feel it's overhyped (I've used magnesium in the past). I hear great things about your standard Ferrocerium rods, but I feel they are overpriced for what they are. Am I being too picky? What do you guys recommend/use?

What shoes do you guys recommend for hiking?

neodata686, that's pretty badass! I love the pictures! Do you do a lot of displaced camping on your hikes?

[Edited on August 14, 2014 at 11:26 PM. Reason : .]

8/14/2014 11:24:07 PM

I use firestarter logs and long matches

8/15/2014 10:06:00 AM

dryer lint + Vaseline + magnesium is how I roll

8/15/2014 11:55:13 AM

Ever since moving to Colorado you can literally hold a lighter to a log and it catches fire. Everything is so dry compared to back east.

Quote :

"neodata686, that's pretty badass! I love the pictures! Do you do a lot of displaced camping on your hikes? "

What is displaced camping?

Quote :

"What shoes do you guys recommend for hiking?"

I just picked up some of these:

http://www.rei.com/product/772933/keen-targhee-ii-cross-training-shoes-mens

Did my last 4 day backpacking trip in them and already hiked 3 14ers in them. They're amazing. I also have really wide feet so they're perfect. Good for a bit of trail running too. Waterproof which is key as well.

8/15/2014 4:50:53 PM

Quote :

"What shoes do you guys recommend for hiking?"

i primarily hike in my VFFs or chacos unless it's winter, in which case i have some hi-tec trail shoes with eVent waterproofing...an older version of these: http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Tec-V-Lite-Infinity-eVent-Silver/dp/B003UESMNK/

if you don't care about waterproofing, Jeepin4x4 said he got these (?topic=588561&page=33#16020777): http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Tec-Mens-Figaro-Hiking-Shoe/dp/B008RIL1WI

i hate hiking in proper boots

[Edited on August 16, 2014 at 9:14 AM. Reason : another link]

8/16/2014 9:08:08 AM

Quote :

"i hate hiking in proper boots"

Yeah I've seen the light. Most of the people I hike/backpack with hike in trail running shoes. My Keen cross training shoes are great. Hiking boots now feel so heavy and cumbersome.

8/16/2014 3:27:38 PM

I still prefer full boots for some terrain, for example loose slate chip hillsides

8/16/2014 7:17:49 PM

Quote :

"What is displaced camping?"

I had to Google it and I'm pretty sure he meant something else or made up the term on the spot

8/17/2014 11:54:23 AM

Yeah certainly not:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displaced_persons_camp

8/17/2014 4:06:35 PM

Maybe i've misread, but I thought "displaced camping" is when you just camp in the wilderness (not at offical camp grounds) and move from spot to spot. Kind of like bushman living. I don't know much about it, but I've started taking interest in the whole thing so please pardon my errors. I figured neo was hiking/camping and at the end of a day's hike, you just set up where you are at. Not like you have a specific commercial camp site where perhaps provisions (toiletry, bath house, etc) are provided.

[Edited on August 17, 2014 at 8:57 PM. Reason : .]

8/17/2014 8:56:03 PM

i think of that as backcountry camping.

8/17/2014 9:36:52 PM

Dispersed camping

8/17/2014 9:38:35 PM