We have a family of four.  Two adults, two children (12,14)  We would like advice on two 2/3 person lightweight, rainproof tents, for 8 days in Quetico in June.

Thanks for any tips you have.  We are new to this!  Usually a two day canoe trip is our "big canoe trip".  

Waterproof shouldn't be a problem. Free standing is a real plus as there's not always enough dirt to stick a steak in and expect it to hold. Think in terms of size, height and ease. You can go pretty light if you can put your rain gear on laying down. The ability to sit up is always nice. Keeping your bag off the walls will keep you drier condensation wise. Two doors even if only one has a vestibule is helpful on dome styles depending on where the door is.

I'll suggest buying two or three completely different tents that look good to you. Set them up in your living room and try them out. Send whatever you like least back and try two more.

A lot depends on what a tent is for and what you feel you need to do 'indoors' over 8 days. Will a tent, for you or whomever, simply be a place to sleep, or is it a refuge from whatever or a place to hang out too? What other sort of camping trips might they be used for?

good time to find some deals right now, for Memorial Day sales.

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try above link - they have a "compare" feature that lets you select any number of specific tents, and then compare features side by side.


You can do the same (i.e. "compare") at REI.com (just drill down to backpacking tents)
REI has a really good return policy - even if you use the tant and it fails, they will usually replace or refund.  Not all stores are as good, and most will not take a tent back if it has been used - I read a thread recently on a backbaking forum where someone had admitted to the store that they'd pitched the tent in thier living room to try it out - store wouldnt' take it back( forget which store it was) so, if you buy a tent, I'd do the first trial pitch in your living room to keep it clean, and just tell the store you changed your mind if you don't like it - or tell them its too small, or whatever.

also check Campmor.com and Sierra Trading Post.com for sales


there are so many quality choices available, that I'd just suggest finding something you like on sale, or at a reasonable price - but I'd stay away from the cheapest varieties - the old adage of you get what you pay for is usually right.  I could recommend the REI Quarter Dome T2 tent to you - but since its not on sale, it wouldn't be a good buy right now.

I have half a dozen or so Sierra Designs tents that I've always had real good service from - no matter what brand you choose, you can always find someone who has had a problem with that manufacturer's products -

once you've found a likely candidate/s take some time to look at online reviews - check the sites below to see if your tent has been reviewed (take any reviews with a grain of salt, but you can often see a pattern emerging )

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REI has reviews posted for most of thier products as well - I mostly pay attention to the negatives - i.e. too small, it leaked, was too hard to pitch - stuff like that.

Depending on what you are really looking for and how much you'll use them otherwise, a 3 person tent is really about 2 1/2 peole's worth -
If you want the luxuray of a lot of room, go for a 3 man tent , at least for you, and then a two man for the kids.  Also, you get less issues with condensation in double wall tents (i.e. tent with fly) than you do with single wall.  Kind of a critical sizing issue is the width - typical width of a sleeping pad is 20" so a tent that is 42" wide is likely to mean your sleeping bag will brush the sides, which may get it a bit damp from condensation.  Some of the modern tents have roof vents - that helps to increase airflow, which helps reduce condensation.

To start out with, I'd probably skip buying tent footprints, which can run $30 or more, and just go to home depot and buy a piece of plastic sheeting, and cut to size (3" smaller in all dimensions than your tent floor) and use that savings towards buying better tents - but that also depends on your budget.



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this Marmot tent, on sale at REI is an example of what you can find on sale - looks fine to me.  For a typical two-man 3-season backpacking tent, figure 6lbs as carry weight.  If you are going to be doing a lot of backpacking, or want to save a bit of weight, filter your choices by ultralight tents - they wil be smaller in size, and a bit lighter, and generally a fair amount more expensive (lighter materials cost more)

when comparing tent weights, keep in mind that they are optimistic (i.e. they usually weigh more), that the minimum weight is just the tent and fly and poles -which does not inlcude the stakes and stuff sacks. I use the packed weight or shipping weight as a more reliable number.

taking a look at that Marmot tent I put the rei link to  - it looks like its floor is rectangular - width is 66" - that would be 22" per person for 3 people, which is tight, or a nicer 33" for two people.  Height can be an issue if its too low to sit up and get dressed in - sit on the floor agianst the wall and have someine hold thier hand at your head height - add 2 or 3 inches for your bag and pad, and you can find a minimum height that works for you.  Vestibules are nice to store wet boots and some stuff in, and two doors are nice - but neither is essential, especially if you get a tent with one door that is on an end instead of the side - that's the kind of stuff I look at when I'm buying a tent (though I'll admit to looking for the lightest tent that fits my needs, rather than the one with the best price)

happy hunting!

Another couple of "random thoughts" to consider:

I'd go with aluminum poles rather than fiberglass or some other composite.

I prefer a 2-door (2-vestibule) model because if provides additional flexibility in set-up (and entry/exit).  This can be useful when the tent pad is partially obstructed.

If you decide to make your own ground cloth to put under your tent, make sure you cut it SMALLER than the bottom of the tent.  You don't' want water that drips off the tent to drop on the cloth and run UNDER your tent.

Some tent models (e.g., the Marmot series illustrated by Mad-Max's last link) have a design feature that goes by various names.  I'll call it it "quick pitch" option.  With this option, you use the rain fly and ground cloth as your shelter.  Probably not an overnight option when conditions are "buggy" but under other conditions, you can actually leave the actual tent behind and travel lighter.  For a Quetico trip, it could serve as a quick storm shelter.  In any case, you will WANT the footprint because it serves as the base to your shelter.  BTW:  I've never seen a tent with this option that wasn't free standing.

Gear loft.  Many modern tents have them.  Make sure the are set high enough to be out of your way when you are sitting up (and I'd highly recommend a tent with enough height that you CAN set up).  They can be very convenient to hold small items, but I don't find them to be overly effective as a "drying rack" since condensation from your breath tends to rise.

You might want to consider tent Sand Anchors.  Yes, true enough you are not likely to be on a sandy tent pad, but they hold rocks quite well also.  With this approach, you are not tempted to prop rocks at the edge of your tent (on your aluminum tent poles) or attempting to tie rocks with a line.  (I've also used them to hold rocks that were then lowered over a ledge to get correct tension on a corner point.

I'd highly recommend you seam seal even a new tent.

dd

With tents you get what you pay for, you can go to Walmart and buy a Stansport and if you have wet weather you will be floating, however if you go with trusted names, like Eureka, Marmot, Seirra Designs, ectt.. you should be fine.  2-3 man tent is actually a 2 man tent.  Ground cloths are optional but will really extend the life of the bottom of the tent.  Price, just get ready to shell out some moderate dolars for a good tent.  It is not a matter of if a tent will leak but when, remember your talking about a waterproof piece of fabric seperating you from the outside, you still need to take the precautions and seal the seams at least annually,  set it up in the front yard and turn on the sprinkler make notes of where it was leaking at and repair it.  If you take care of your tent it will take care of you.  Also use some common sense when pitching your tent, especially not to close to the fire, one ember can really ruin a trip.  If you want an added barrier between you adn the elements you may also want to consider hanging a tarp over the tent.  I use a Eureka USMC combat tent, if it is good enough for our men and women in Iraq and Afghanastan, it is good enough for me.  They are a little heavy but very durable.  Hope this helps and good luckin finding the one that is perfect for you. I really took my time when searching for a tent, it can be difference between a great trip or a horrible one if you draw a bad weather card.