Thread: Tent camping help...

I used to love my tent camping as well as rough camping, but the wife won't go since we've had a child; "15 F is too cold for a baby"

Nag, nag, nag...
Don't tell her I said that.

I used to love my Kelty as well, great tent. Then one day I found out that there is a custom tent maker near e. They made a lot of the set for "Dances with Wolves"
I had two made before I realized that I wasn't made of money. They were quite expensive, but will last for generations. Anyway the company is Yakima Tent and Awning. I don't know if they have a website, but they are nice.

I guess I need to back step a bit and mention that I am also looking for one that is large enough for our two cots and two grown German Shepherds...it's amazing how much room they can take up! Especially when wet and sandy! We normally use 8-10 person tents.

I have considered the canvas type tents...it's just that my pockets aren't very deep at this time and if I were to have to spend in the $1500 range I will just go and get a small bumper pull camper.

Somethings I have learned about tent camping, pretty much exclusively hunting in the Colorado High country, 20 mph winds ain't jack up there.
Dome style, Locker tent, 3 "tent" people per 1 "actual" person is a comfort ratio, full length rain/snow fly... Take the time to set it up, way before you need to use it, and apply "Camp Dry" or another water proof spray on the fly and seams at the very least, while it is set up and let it dry for at least 24 hrs... Then do it again..
Make sure you set up with cots and equipment to figure out the real layout inside the tent, this is where a locker style really shines, as your empty packs, containers, equipment, store under cover and dry in the end lockers...
Make sure whichever you get that you can stand up inside, if at all possible, the ultimate in tent camping comfort is to be able to get dressed without having to lay down or hunch over Multiple tie down points and good metal tent pegs are a must have feature or addition...

One thing I have also learned is that sometimes you really are paying for a name when it comes to camping equipment, really look at the specs of each tent... Oh and make sure it has a floor

www.sportsmansguide.com very often can score you a very good buy on name brand or just good solid equipment at reduced prices....

Shooter-I have an attic full of cheap tents; more than one campout has been ruined by their leaking/being blown about during our notorious summer storms-we do much of our camping near the Smokies.

In anticipation of one of our long road trips out West this summer, my wife talked me into spending the money to get a REALLY good tent. After careful research, we got the Big Agnes Big House 6 here: Amazon.com: Big Agnes Big House - 6 Person Tent: Sports & Outdoors

Though it's not the voluminous 8-10 person tent you describe (most of which make great, scary wind-sails, not good on the beach), it slept 5 comfortably for most of a month. In environments ranging from arid desert to high mountains, it never admitted a drop during the Southwest's monsoon/storm season, and with multiple secure guy-out points, was very stable and secure. It's not an ultralight tent by any means, but if you're car camping, it doesn't matter. It also has a bathtub floor, lots of mesh storage pouches, and excellent factory seam-sealing. We spent considerably more to add the footprint (good for the desert, good for beach-sand too!) and extra vestibule.

And back home, it has also survived storms in the smokies while keeping us snug and dry-may be the last tent we ever need! It seems to be in your price range, too.

In any event, let us know what you get, and maybe post a review. Enjoy your vacation.