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8/28/2015 9:47 am  #1


Tents

First time poster, but long time follower of both threads. I am looking for some opinions on tents from you seasoned veterans. A friend suggested I check out tent city outfitters and they seem to have very reasonable prices and its close to home. I am looking for 3 person tent, that im hoping will last quite a few years. 

I can't include the hyperlink because I am new to the site, but if you google "tent city outfitters" and go to the 3 person section you will see my options. (unless one of the following replys includes the link)

All but the MSR Mutha Hubba are in my price range. Let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Liam  

 

 

8/28/2015 10:23 am  #2


Re: Tents

Are you looking for a tent rated as a 3-person tent, or a tent that can comfortably accommodate 3 people? Because a lot of tents are a pretty tight squeeze for their full rated capacity, so people who value elbow room or room for some gear inside the tent usually pick a tent one person bigger than the number that will most often sleep in it.

The Hubba series is intended for ultralight backpacking and the higher price point reflects that. I have the solo version.

MEC currently has the Tarn 3 on clearance at a price point compatible with what you're looking at. That's what I use on most trips and it's been very good. But if you want to actually sleep 3 people with room to spare for a bag of clothes or whatever, probably go with something bigger.

 

8/28/2015 10:29 am  #3


Re: Tents

I've got a mec north field, 4 season, and camp with it weeks on end. It's also 10 years old, never leaks, but I recently had to re waterproof my floor. Now, my floor is 10000mm waterproofing, 1500mm is the most common, and I see is what they're offering at tent city. You may find that in very wet weather, an1500 mm floor may not stay dry as long as you wish. To counter act that, you can add a waterproof footprint in the inside of your tent, as well as underneath your tent. yes, that would be 2 alltogether, but they're usually really light. Or, ofcourse, any other type of waterproof sheeting you can get your hands on and cut to size yourself works too. The other thing you've got to be careful with is that the fly is made so it can breath, if you were to waterproof that with available spray on waterproofing (
Many outfitters carry it, specific for nylon tents,so does Canadian tire) you will loose your breathability and tent may condensate heavily on the inside , so better use a tarp in that case.
I've found a lArge vestibule a fantastic invention, as I can get in and out without immediately getting everything damp/dirty inside tent. My Waterproof footprint(homemade) extentends into the vestibule,so clothing etc stays nice and clean when going in on knees, and footwear can be put back on without me getting soaked first in case of rain.
Have a look at mec website, they offer a used gear site, tents is one of them, and maybe a slightly used high end used one becomes more affordable for you.
One other thing, I had one tent that had the main inside tent door as an round shape, the bottom of the shape several inches of the floor. This turned out to be a deal breaker,as I tripped one to many times in the middle of the night getting out of the tent.

Hope it helps,
Wanda S

 

8/28/2015 10:57 am  #4


Re: Tents

I had an old MEC Northwind tent with the crazy waterproof rating as well and it was bomb proof.  I've since purchased the MEC Monadnock (4 season tent with similar waterproof ratings but a bit larger) and it too is amazingly built.  When not hammocking, I will use that tent and it has stood up to every type of weather you can imagine (wind, pouring rain, snow, hail, etc).  It is no where near as breathable as other tents with the mesh inner's, but I'll trade that for a guaranteed dry nights sleep any time (that's just my opinion

I can't believe I've never heard of Tent City Outfitters before lol...thanks for giving me somethign to look at while I'm working

 

8/28/2015 11:44 am  #5


Re: Tents

I'm pretty sure our larger tent is a MEC Northwind.   One thing about it that we intensely dislike is that the doors only have a single zipper that runs around the arch shaped part of the door.  You can't get in or out of the tent without opening a huge area of the door which really sucks when you have a zillion mosquitos waiting outside.  If you have a zipper that runs along the bottom of the door and a second zipper that runs around part of the arched section of the door, you can open a much smaller area of the door to get in or out.

Last edited by yellowcanoe (8/28/2015 11:45 am)

 

8/28/2015 12:21 pm  #6


Re: Tents

yellowcanoe, my northwind inside tent zipper is a double zipper, i can zip  the door from both sides, or anywhere along the zipper, thereby making the opening to the outside as large or small as i need?
wandaS

 

8/28/2015 1:16 pm  #7


Re: Tents

Hey liamc

I think Dan gave you the first key piece of advice. Most tents run small for the capacity they state. I use a 3 man for just me and the wife etc.  There are exceptions though.

The other key consideration for me is weight. What will you be doing with this tent. Canoe camping only? Do you do a lot long portaging ? Any backpacking at all. ? Do you always double carry anyway so weight isn't a very big deal for you.?

Generally though the tent is one of the top 3 or so areas you really have the opportunity to cut down on your total weight. I personally place a lot of importance on it. Others I know it is way down their list.

I have never heard a person say" boy I really wish my load were heavier" though.

As far as tent city goes. I have made a number of purchases from them. They have very good prices and service.

Last edited by ShawnD (8/28/2015 1:22 pm)


We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it.
 - George Washington Sears
 

8/28/2015 5:35 pm  #8


Re: Tents

Some great advice on understanding you actual needs, 3 person tent or tent for 3 people etc.

So I'm just going to say I love my Eureka El Capitan 4

It was a compromise as my wife, and both kids and I can sleep in it, but I'll use it in the spring in bad weather as a large 2 man + gear tent, if the portages arent' extreme.

not an ultralight, but the 4P is still around 10-11 lbs, so the 3 is likely a respectable 7-8

 

8/28/2015 6:31 pm  #9


Re: Tents

It is time to leave the world of the ground behind. Sleep comfortably and worry not about ground runoff flooding you out. Hammock my friend I'm 51 and can't beleive I slept on the ground for 45+years


Hank Scorpio: Hammocks? My goodness, what an idea. Why didn't I think of that? Hammocks! Homer, there's four places. There's the Hammock Hut, that's on third
.Homer: Uh-huh.
Hank Scorpio: There's Hammocks-R-Us, that's on third too. You got Put-Your-Butt-There
.Homer: Mm-Hmm.
Hank Scorpio: That's on third. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot... Matter of fact, they're all in the same complex; it's the hammock complex on third.
Homer: Oh, the hammock district!


A mans gotta do, what a man's gotta do.
 

8/28/2015 7:46 pm  #10


Re: Tents

I agree with Was Hardcore....Hammocks are soooo comfy and you never have to worry about uneven ground, water getting underneath you, etc....

 

8/29/2015 8:02 am  #11


Re: Tents

...but the sites at Algonquin were made expressly for tents. Lots of them are big open sites with glorious views. Sometimes i have to look at four sites before i find a site where I can hang my hammock (with tarp) properly without cutting bushes etc. (which i wouldn't do in a park, but might on Crown Land), so I carry a second tarp for living under. Getting to be weighty. Bought a bivy recently for this reason.

Back to the discussion at hand. Check out Gear up for Outdoors, too. Their prices are usually competitive with Tent City, and sometimes they carry different lines of goods. Online only though, unlesss you live near Thunder Bay.  Check out ScoutTech in Mississauga too.

 

8/29/2015 8:30 am  #12


Re: Tents

Wanda, glad to hear they redesigned the doors on the Northwind.  I just checked, and our tent is definitely a Northwind model which is I would guess around 7 years old.

 

8/29/2015 8:34 am  #13


Re: Tents

Thank you for the feedback everyone. I am looking for a 3 person tent to sleep 2 people comfortably and have a little space for bags. As of right now I would say we try to 1.5 carry portages, but are working to get it down to single carries and that the tent would be used pretty exclusively for canoe camping.

I would love a hammock, but normally I bring my girlfriend or a buddy who are less equipped and expect me to provide the shelter lol. Thanks for the gear up outdoors and scoutec options and I will have a look at the mec used too, but worry a little about used tents and whether they maintain their waterproofness

thanks again!

Last edited by liamc (8/29/2015 8:39 am)

     Thread Starter
 

8/29/2015 10:36 am  #14


Re: Tents


We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it.
 - George Washington Sears
 

8/29/2015 12:19 pm  #15


Re: Tents

Hey Shawnd,
Appreciate the help! I have a couple of questions now. Do you know how fast gear up ships? IM headed up for the long weekend and would love to have the new tent by then. Second does the pound or so less weight of the first two make a large difference? 3rd the glo tent is cool, but am I sacrificing a worse tent for a nifty feature? And finally If I were to buy the MSr elixir would you get a footprint included for $284 or will I be fine without it at $234.

     Thread Starter
 

8/29/2015 12:53 pm  #16


Re: Tents

Sorry can't speak to gear up shipping. I would just call.

Can't go wrong with msr quality and the elixir gets good reviews. Good price at sail too.

I use footprints on most of my tents but $50 more is kind of steep.

I would just grab it at sail at that price and you can always add a footprint after.

My 2 cent.

Have a great trip!!!


We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it.
 - George Washington Sears
 

8/29/2015 3:00 pm  #17


Re: Tents

Liam, ny daughter bought a nearly new north face tent through mec used gear website. It was exactly as described, she did research regarding the tent and after much emailing with seller, went ahead and bought the tent. Tent has been going strong for 4 years. Just know to ask the questions that are important to you about the tent on offer. But, reading through all the responses , have you thought of what would be important to your girlfriend when talking about tents? As a female I know that sometimes their ideas are totally different then men's? Might be a good conversation to have!
WandaS

 

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