Thread: Tent camping help...

Ok, so the wife and I take vacation a couple times a year to the Corpus Christi, TX area and tent camp on the beach. Been doing this for several years and we are wanting to get a tent that will last more than a 2-3 trips. Heck, last one from Academy almost didnt make it thru one trip.

The problem is the Gulf's constant 20 mph +/- and gusting winds. I've come up with three tents in our price range ($350) and would like some opinions from some who may do some tent camping. I'm looking at the following tents:
Coleman Weathermaster 10
Eureka! Copper Canyon
Columbia Cougar Flats II

Any assistance would greatly be appreciated...

I get down there quite often and have to say my Kelty's have never let me down for quality. They last in frozen high winds of the mountains of colorado and the high wind on the beach. I have to say the three you have listed will not last on the beach. Tough environments don't tolerate thin gear.

There is a company in Colorado that specializes in adventure equipment GoLIte.com. It is highly recommended and used by the folk up here in mile high country. Or there is always REIoutlet.com for some pretty good stuff.

While I am a member of REI, they are not cheap in price. Here is a link to campmor.com that should have what you need for size and durability. The gunnison 3.1 or 4.1, the salida or teton should do what ever you need. I have pushed these into 4 season service in the mountains and they function flawlessly.

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.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Ok, so the wife and I take vacation a couple times a year to the Corpus Christi, TX area and tent camp on the beach. Been doing this for several years and we are wanting to get a tent that will last more than a 2-3 trips. Heck, last one from Academy almost didnt make it thru one trip.

The problem is the Gulf's constant 20 mph +/- and gusting winds. I've come up with three tents in our price range ($350) and would like some opinions from some who may do some tent camping. I'm looking at the following tents:
Coleman Weathermaster 10
Eureka! Copper Canyon
Columbia Cougar Flats II

Any assistance would greatly be appreciated...

The best tent I ever owned was a Cabela's Alaskan Guide® Model Tent will hold up to any wind and i do mean any wind, and lasted me almost 4 years of heavy every other weekend camping. I would check out the tent on their site.

As Glen mentioned, it takes three or so "tent" people to actually equal one real person, which is why I am looking at a 8-10 person tent. Those GSD's take up more room than we do in our cots...then there's our gear. The larger the tent, the more wind it catches. I'm actually thinking about making a wind deflector out of schedule 40 pvc and a disposable blue tarp...I can break it down at the end of the trip. For a tent to stay set up for a week to 10 days under the buffeting of that constant wind, sand, salt, and sun really takes it out of a tent. I have a duffle bag FULL of large plastic stakes, by large I mean over a foot long. Standing up is a must. Secondly, I've been camping in the same area for 6, going on 7 years at twice a year for 7-10 days...just hoping to see if someone knows of a better tent or has experience with any of the tents that I mentioned.

I've been reading a lot of reviews and it seems as though the Columbia Cougar Flats II and Eureka Copper Canyon 1312 or 1512 edge out the Coleman...but they are much more expensive.

What to do, what to do...

Gotta "do" by the end of the week so we can ensure it's sealed and we are proficient at setting it up under controlled conditions in the back yard...