Dilemma: Perfect Backpacking Tent

“I am trying to find a roomy 3 person backpacking tent for my wife and I, she wants space. I have been looking at the SD Clip 3 CD and Comet (3) she is kinda whining that it seems a little small for two people.

What are some other roomy 3 person tents, I am trying to find that will be a 3 season, with some winter trips. (or maybe a light 4 person?) I do not know.

Recommendations?
last edited: 12/14/04 12:35:04 PM”

“Have you taken her to a store so she can see the tents for real? The Clip 3 is plenty roomy for two. Dunno about the Comet.”

“Solution: She can have any tent SHE is willing to carry.

Win/Win LOL”

“To me it sounds more like she is looking for a reason to not go, lol...

I've shared my Clip 2 (yes, 2) with my brother, and while it was tight, it wasn't that bad. The Clip 3 is 6 feet wide for pete's sake! That's bigger than a queen size bed.”

“Too Small?

The Comet is 50 sq. ft. and there you're already gettin' up near nine pounds. I'm sure you can fit in a big 2 person tent, no way a three person would be too small.

My girlfriend and I fit easily in the Clip 2. Then of course my girlfriend's no bigger than a hobbit.
last edited: 12/14/04 12:40:36 PM”

“Yes, you'll probably need to go to a 4-5 person to stop the whine.

Or maybe she would prefer the roomy comfort of sleeping without a tent?”

“We should really stop teasing Koonsey. Well, in a minute anyway.

Is she claustrophobic or something?”

“yeah if she's claustro then get a 10by10 syltarp - weighs about a pound and gives you all sorts of room for two people”

“You can borrow my car camping party tent. Don't remember the dimensions but I think it could sleep 5-6 and has a 7" center.

Is weight an issue?”

“I've got a Base Camp 6. That thing is huge, although we did pretty much fill it up last trip with double and queen size (raised too!) inflatable mattresses.

Oh yeah, it is 10'5"x8'4" and only weighs 21lbs. Not a backpacking option I'm afraid.
last edited: 12/14/04 12:57:06 PM”

“If price and weight is not a factor, I reccomend one of these. Plenty of room and a full coverage fly.

http://www.rei.com/product/47611333.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC”

“I'd have to go with BM - go without a tent, plenty of room there, and if she complains about bugs or rain you'll have to convince her that you have to make some sacrifices to get the roominess required, or then she'll agree to settle for a decent sized tent.”

“Well, 100% DEET will keep the bugs off of her.”

“And smothering yourself in lard is good for waterproofing yourself.”

“A eighty pound backpack isn't to bad as long as the trail has no elev gain or loss. ;-)”

“Especially if 15 pounds of that is beer.”

“Bison's dating a Hobbit?

Does she have weird feet?”

“I said she's no bigger than a Hobbit, not that she was a Hobbit, but that's good because we can both fit in a small tent, less weight :)”

“Thanx for the advice, i think she can't understand the pictures, or can't picture it hehe.

Hey, that REI Half dome, the pack size is 16 x 26 inches that is huge. isn't it

Thanx guys for your help, you guys are awesome!

another question does the Sierra Designs Alpha tent fly look like that, the picture makes it looks like crap. Is it just the pic?

Anyone have it?
last edited: 12/14/04 1:26:43 PM”

“Are you sure? Have you checked her feet?”

“A cute lil Hobbit too!
Lucky basstage! ;-)”

“Don't have the tent. Why do you say it looks crappy?”

“Never seen the Alpha in person. But honestly, that tent is overdoing it for regular backpacking. It looks like more of an expedition tent to me.”

“no hobbit feet, she just haven't been backpacking. she has only gone "camping" in a cabin or just a sleeping bag.

i am looking for one more towards 4 season”

“lol, WK...because it looks crappy!

”

“I believe the Alpha is a 4 season tent or at least a convertible.”

“Why would a Hobbit need a tent? i thought they all had caves?”

“Koonsey, unless you're expecting a snow load, you don't need 4-season.”

“I think it looks cool!”

“Do you really want to carry all that weight though Koonsey? No reason to have a 4 season tent if you're not haulin' it up a big mountain.”

“mostly i am going 3 season, but i am going in the winter every once in a while...

a three season is fine then?”

“I am really back between the SD Clip 3 CD and the Comet

any info on the MSR tents? like the fusion 3”

“Yes, unless you're expecting a lot of snow. A 4-season tent won't keep you any warmer, it is just stronger so it won't collapse under the weight of snow.”

“"My girlfriend and I fit easily in the Clip 2. Then of course my girlfriend's no bigger than a hobbit.
last edited: 12/14/04 12:40:36 PM”
Bison
12:39:38 PM
12/14/04

Bison Baggins ??

Three-season can be OK in snow.
Ya just have to wake up now and then and smack the snow off the top......from inside.
last edited: 12/14/04 1:37:05 PM”

“Yes

Try one of these.

http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpdesign.html”

“One thing if you're gonna be out in the snow I'd go with the freestanding option so the Clip 3 would be out. Don't know about MSR tents, I'd look into some Mountain Hardware tents if I were you, We saw a Hammerhead 2 set up at HTO this weekend, supposedly it's only 34 sq. ft. but it looked huge.”

“I use mine for car camping nowadays due to weight. But I seriously can stand up in mine if I'm bent over. Good for puttin on pants and slathering on sunscreen. It's like a palace. Plus having two doors is awesome, especially if claustraphobia is her issue.”

“tarp is great but i do want to be able to use it more for everything rain and some snow and stuff

so 4 season is mainly just so "it won't collapse under the weight of snow"?

BISON, why is the clip out?
last edited: 12/14/04 1:39:26 PM”

“pixie, if you are bent over you are not "standing".

>8^P”

“Due to weight pixie? I was lookin' into gettin' one of those, seems it wasn't all that heavy for two people.”

“Oh, wind too. That's what the internal guys are mostly for.”

“I'm a pretty open minded kind of guy but I think I must draw the line with hobbits.

”

“The clip 3 cd doesn't seem to have much of a vestibule...


[url]http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=1440[url]


[url]
http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=1438[url]




?????What is the "fastpack" weight with sierra design??????



BISON you said the clip was out Why?
last edited: 12/14/04 1:46:10 PM”

“You think that's bad? You should see hobbit breasts!”

“TMI TMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Although all you might need is a bit of electrolysis.”

“Vestibules on backpacking tents are overrated, IMO. If there's enough room for my boots, it's enough. I hang my pack outside on a tree and put my packcover on it. Bottom line is, if you're backpacking in the rain, you're gonna get wet regardless of how big the vestibule is.

I don't generally backpack in the rain, but if I think it will rain, I have an 8x10 silnylon tarp I bring along, which I can set up as a cooking/eating fly if I need to.”

“Koonsey, the clip is not freestanding, which is a pain to begin with (although not a big pain) and becomes a real pain in the snow.

The fastpack weight is the fly, groundcloth and poles, no tent.
last edited: 12/14/04 1:51:06 PM”

“you guys agree, with bitpusher, i figure you could throw your packbacks or whatever....

i thought the clip was freestanding huh....
last edited: 12/14/04 1:52:38 PM”

“Yeah, all I expect from a vestibule is somewhere to put my boots.

Quick hint - any tent that has poles that don't cross isn't freestanding.
last edited: 12/14/04 1:54:28 PM”

“I am not a hobbit - never was, never will be. I do not have hobbit feet or breasts. K? K.”