Looking for a good inexpensive tent

“Hey guys, I'm looking for a new tent. The one I have is a nice Eureka, but the fly is not very tight unless you stake it out (which can be a pain on rocky terrain) and it's a 4 season, so it's pretty heavy.

I want to stay under $200 if I can get a good tent for that price, though I'll consider saving up for a better one if someone can give me good reason why I should.

I was looking at the REI Half-Dome 2 for $160. Anyone have any experience with this tent? Any other suggestions?”

“I'm also looking at the half dome 2, got a footprint for one for 8 bucks at the REI attic sale on Saturday, so I'll probably get one, but still looking.”

“I love my 1/2 dome 2 tent... :-)
It's nice for 2 people-- you don't have to crawl over each other... I think if you do a search, you'll find lots of other threads about it... :-)”

“Try this link:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/34214,-1.php

Lots of info...”

“I was about to link that myself. Lots of folks raved about the halfdome. I wound up getting the Kelty Gunnison 2 and have enjoyed it as well.”

“Tents are for wimps.”

“Ya, just carry a trash bag. That's all you need.”

“You'll always get good reviews of the halfdome here. If you want a 2 person tent of reasonable weight, it's a great one. Love mine and many here have them.”

“I just got a Kelty Gunnison 2 also, for when I'm hiking and base camping with another person.
$130 from Campmor.
One of the new Henry Shires Virga's is on my 'want' list for solo use now.”

“try to find a place selling off the last fo the Kelty Zen's. It is a tight fit for two but it can be done”

“

gear slut swears this is the best tent for less money!”

“It seems like the reason for my deciding on the Kelty was that it has a 2 huge vestibules. I'm using it for basecamping when solo and for taking my son or wife when 2 go. It's huge for a 2 person tent, imo.”

“REI has the older Half Dome for, get this, $89!!!”

“Kelty Gunnison 2 tent
Campmor price on sale $129.96
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38470413&memberId=12500226

My measured weights:

2# 3.5oz tent fly
1# 15.9oz tent body
8.3oz pole
8.3oz pole
6.5oz stakes(12)
1.5oz tent bag
1.3oz guys(6)
0.7oz gear loft
0.4oz pole bag
0.3oz stake bag

Total from my scales: 5 pounds 14.7 ounces
Manufactors claimed weight: [packaged] 5 lb 11 oz, [minimum] 5 lb 3 oz

What I consider the 'carry' weight is less than the total.
Only four stakes (2.2oz) are needed for most use and only the two short guy lines (0.2oz) are needed.
Neither is the pole bag (0.4oz) or gear loft (0.7oz).
My carry weight will be: 5 & 1/2 pounds, give or take a half ounce.

One nice thing about this 2 person tent is it can be split up between two with equal carry weights, give or take a half ounce.
One person carry the fly and one pole: 2 pounds 12 ounces
The other carry tent body, one pole, 4 stakes, tent & stake bags: 2 pounds 12 ounces”

“Nigal,
I saw that. Is the only difference having one door instead of two? What about vestibules for storing gear outside?”

“I think the old ones have a single door in the end as opposed to two doors on the sides. Personally, I'd pop for one of the newer models. Dub has one and it is one good looking tent with lots of features for a good price and good weight.”

“I have the REI Quarterdome - I love it, it's only 4 lbs :)”

“I used to use the older REI halfdome for my son and I. It does have one door and no vestibule to speak of. It worked fine for us but for two adults it would be too much of a squeeze and then no room for your stuff.”

“I love my Kelty Gunnison 2. Can't beat the price from campmor either.”

“The REI Half Dome is a great tent, fairly lightweight for the size and good price. I have had mine a couple of years and I love it. It has even been subjected to several Boy Scout trips and help up just fine.”

“You can get a Meteor Light by Sierra Designs @ www.campmor.com, for $229.95, they can be found on sale for about $180.00, i've even seen them on clearance for as cheap as $140.00, just last fall. I've had mine for 15 years, replaced it with a newer version a couple of years ago, and still use it as a back up for friends. This tent has been everything I could have imagined, it has over 300 bag nights, and still going strong.”

“Go for the half dome if you want a good, cheap, sturdy tent for two. If you want a light tent for two that's not as sturdy but will suffice in most 3 season eastern conditions get the MSR Missing Link. Or maybe look at a Hennessy Hammock? I have all three and they all have their place.”

“I've got an MSR Zoid 1; Love the fact that it has a door on the side, which makes it easy to get into and out of (though it has only 1 door). Height is about 34" at its peak, but hey, you gotta save the weight somewhere. For a double-walled tent at 2 lbs, 10 oz minimum wt that retails at $179, I absolutely love mine.

Also, for $10 more, you can upgrade to the Zoid 1.5 which offers 2 side doors and a bit more floor space, for a total minimum wt of 3 lbs, 6 oz. Insane, I tell you.”

“the zoid 1.5 is what I want, although I may get the microzoid for my daughter and use it for myself when she isn't with me.”

“Hey Bison, I was at the REI attic sale. A friend of mine is gearing up and he got a Black diamond Mega light for a price too obscenely low to print here !!!”

“Damn it! I want a Megalite for an obscenely low price!”

“i read where someone said they got the microzoid for $34 from the REI Attic sale. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr”

“DOcnice I gots a NEW rei halfdome2+,2doors, never used, Also a footprint, I believe you can fast pack the fly And footprint alone.$160, guarenteed!Jerbear@backpacker.com yo bear!”

“put it this way. I'm there for the next attic sale. The tent wasnt even used and was complete with pegs, stuff and pole.”

“i HAVE A WALRUS Micro swift, one man.
with foot print. I think $50 bucks Email me”

“Hey Doc, I saw Sports authority has 30% off tents (Lowest marked down price)They had a North face "Pebble" 2 man under 5lbs. marked at $59.97 (Orig. $129.00)So it was going for 30% off that price.”

“smiley girl has a few tents forsale in the used gear sale thread. not sure if either of them are what you're looking for though.”