I'm looking for another perfect tent.
May 22, 2018 6:16 PM Subscribe
I have an REI Kingdom 4 and I love it very much. However, I also want a tent that's a bit smaller. Please help me find a tent that's just as good, but takes up less floorspace at the campsite.
The Kingdom 4 is a four-person tent, and its 70 sq ft footprint is too big for some camping trips. I'm looking for a two- or three-person tent to use instead.
The tent must have these qualities:
- three-season
- great in rainstorms
- full rainfly
- sturdy floor
- durable in general
- good ventilation to deal with condensation
- freestanding and doesn't take too much room with guylines
- good headroom (better than your typical dome)
- vestibule (or at least an overhang)
- available in the US
I don't care about:
- storage pockets or gear lofts
- multiple doors
- weight (within reason)
Priorities are how well it does in a rainstorm, and how roomy it feels inside.
The Kingdom 4 is a four-person tent, and its 70 sq ft footprint is too big for some camping trips. I'm looking for a two- or three-person tent to use instead.
The tent must have these qualities:
- three-season
- great in rainstorms
- full rainfly
- sturdy floor
- durable in general
- good ventilation to deal with condensation
- freestanding and doesn't take too much room with guylines
- good headroom (better than your typical dome)
- vestibule (or at least an overhang)
- available in the US
I don't care about:
- storage pockets or gear lofts
- multiple doors
- weight (within reason)
Priorities are how well it does in a rainstorm, and how roomy it feels inside.
We tried out the half dome 3at REI this weekend, and it may be a good one to look at.
posted by rockindata at 7:38 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by rockindata at 7:38 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have had a Big Agnes Copper Spur 4 for years now, and have decided that my next tent is going to be the same model but either a 2 or a 3 (haven't decided). It's a fantastic tent—meets all your criteria, definitely including excellent weatherproofness—and is a very roomy design. Since I bought mine, they've redesigned the series slightly to have more vertical walls, which makes it even roomier.
Like your Kingdom 4, I find the Copper Spur 4 has just slightly too big a footprint for some campsites, and while it's very light for its size (although still very durable, I've lived out of it for months at a time with no problems) it's a little heavier and bulkier than I'd prefer for backpacking. Otherwise it's pretty damn flawless; I've used it extensively and really have nothing bad to say about it. I love my tent, and will be getting one of its smaller siblings probably later this year. Can't recommend highly enough.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:11 AM on May 23, 2018
Like your Kingdom 4, I find the Copper Spur 4 has just slightly too big a footprint for some campsites, and while it's very light for its size (although still very durable, I've lived out of it for months at a time with no problems) it's a little heavier and bulkier than I'd prefer for backpacking. Otherwise it's pretty damn flawless; I've used it extensively and really have nothing bad to say about it. I love my tent, and will be getting one of its smaller siblings probably later this year. Can't recommend highly enough.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:11 AM on May 23, 2018
Oh, a couple more specifics. It has fantastic ventilation (everything starting from about a foot off the ground is mesh), it does have vestibules, and even with the rainfly on you can roll up the front and back parts when the weather is good so that it doesn't become an oven inside.
I did do quite a lot of research before deciding that another Copper Spur is what I want. (I really like Outdoor Gear Lab for camping gear reviews, by the way—they've yet to steer me wrong.) I was looking at a tent primarily for backpacking so weight was more of a concern, but I also wanted roominess and comfort as I already have other systems for when lightness is paramount. It really seemed like even setting aside my personal experience, you can't really do better if you're looking for something comfy, durable, and weatherproof but also reasonably light. Big Agnes makes this line in a couple of different weight grades, but you would probably want the heaviest, which is frankly still pretty light while also being the most durable, roomiest, and also cheapest version.
Mostly I just adore this tent though. Five years on I still get a little feeling of "yay!" every time I get it out. It's just such a nice piece of gear.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:28 AM on May 23, 2018
I did do quite a lot of research before deciding that another Copper Spur is what I want. (I really like Outdoor Gear Lab for camping gear reviews, by the way—they've yet to steer me wrong.) I was looking at a tent primarily for backpacking so weight was more of a concern, but I also wanted roominess and comfort as I already have other systems for when lightness is paramount. It really seemed like even setting aside my personal experience, you can't really do better if you're looking for something comfy, durable, and weatherproof but also reasonably light. Big Agnes makes this line in a couple of different weight grades, but you would probably want the heaviest, which is frankly still pretty light while also being the most durable, roomiest, and also cheapest version.
Mostly I just adore this tent though. Five years on I still get a little feeling of "yay!" every time I get it out. It's just such a nice piece of gear.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:28 AM on May 23, 2018
I really like the MSR tents. I slept almost exclusively in an Elixir 2 on a six week motorcycle camping trip in late summer on Newfoundland. Easy up, easy down, not cramped, even though I'm 6'4", stays pretty warm, packs light, good ventilation, bathtub construction so no leaks, tolerates extreme rain and wind (oh god), the vestibules were super handy. The rainfly is a separate piece of fabric you can install or not as weather needs; you can even just erect the rainfly as a shelter with no tent underneath. Also includes a groundcloth; my tent never got torn.
The Elixir 3 is the same design but like 18 inches wider if you really need to sleep 2.
Anyway that's my experience. Would buy again.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:00 AM on May 23, 2018
The Elixir 3 is the same design but like 18 inches wider if you really need to sleep 2.
Anyway that's my experience. Would buy again.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:00 AM on May 23, 2018
We've got a REI half dome 2 plus and love it! It has been through more than a few storms with no issues, and is surprisingly roomy inside. Probably not big enough for 3 people, but it's perfect for 2 plus backpacks and/or a dog.
posted by sonmi at 5:42 AM on May 23, 2018
posted by sonmi at 5:42 AM on May 23, 2018
I have the Copper Spur 3 — it’s the tent my wife and I take camping, and we love it. Very spacious, super easy to pitch, and so far plenty durable.
It’s semi-freestanding by default (takes a few stakes). If freestanding is important, you’ll want to get the matching footprint which makes it fully freestanding.
Big Agnes makes a few different versions of the Copper Spur; you probably want the “HV” (high volume) version, which has better headroom. You probably don’t need the “Platinum” version, which is lighter but uses less durable fabrics (and is like $200 more).
posted by jacobian at 5:53 AM on May 23, 2018
It’s semi-freestanding by default (takes a few stakes). If freestanding is important, you’ll want to get the matching footprint which makes it fully freestanding.
Big Agnes makes a few different versions of the Copper Spur; you probably want the “HV” (high volume) version, which has better headroom. You probably don’t need the “Platinum” version, which is lighter but uses less durable fabrics (and is like $200 more).
posted by jacobian at 5:53 AM on May 23, 2018
Nth-ing Copper Spur!
I also have a REI Passage 2 and it is very comfortable for 2 people and hits all your requirements.
I believe both are on sale at REI right now!
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 7:35 AM on May 23, 2018
I also have a REI Passage 2 and it is very comfortable for 2 people and hits all your requirements.
I believe both are on sale at REI right now!
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 7:35 AM on May 23, 2018
Does the Copper Spur 3 really require stakes to stand up? My Copper Spur 4 definitely doesn't, although it's a bit baggier if it isn't staked out. It's fully freestanding though, and I've used it with no stakes plenty of times.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:37 AM on May 23, 2018
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:37 AM on May 23, 2018
Response by poster: Eh, stakes are fine. But one trip I do is to a crowded treeless field, so it needs to be compact in terms of support — no extended guylines.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:13 AM on May 23, 2018
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:13 AM on May 23, 2018
I have a Copper Spur and love it. It's a good balance between light and durable.
I have a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 and UL 1. I like both of those as well, but they are a bit delicate. Very light though.
I've used the Half Dome 2 and 2+ and they are workhorse tents. Great tent. REI's best selling tent for decades.
The MSR Elixer 2 or 3 are both great, and the nice thing about MSR tents is that they generally come with footprints.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:27 AM on May 23, 2018
I have a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 and UL 1. I like both of those as well, but they are a bit delicate. Very light though.
I've used the Half Dome 2 and 2+ and they are workhorse tents. Great tent. REI's best selling tent for decades.
The MSR Elixer 2 or 3 are both great, and the nice thing about MSR tents is that they generally come with footprints.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:27 AM on May 23, 2018
If you can find a good condition REI hobitat 4 used I love love love mine. They don’t make them anymore sadly.
posted by nikaspark at 9:37 PM on May 23, 2018
posted by nikaspark at 9:37 PM on May 23, 2018
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posted by achrise at 6:27 PM on May 22, 2018