Recommend me a tent!

[ViviTheMage]

go to rei outlet.

 

[herm0016]

rei outlet.

i spent about 150 on my 1 person tent. a serria designs clip flashlight. sierra designs makes excellent tents. the tent was lived in for 2 months on the AT.

i would spent a minimum of 100 on a good tent that will last you years.

http://www.rei.com/outlet/search?ca...7;28Ascending)&seq=41&hist=cat,22000022:Tents

 

[Zenmervolt]

rei outlet.

i spent about 150 on my 1 person tent. a serria designs clip flashlight. sierra designs makes excellent tents. the tent was lived in for 2 months on the AT.

i would spent a minimum of 100 on a good tent that will last you years.

http://www.rei.com/outlet/search?ca...ce+(Ascending)&seq=41&hist=cat,22000022:Tents

I second this suggestion. They have a good price ($135.93) on a Kelty Trail Dome 4 tent, which should have ridiculous amounts of space. Doesn't have a full rainfly, but the design it does have is better than the ALPS you were looking at earlier.

If you wanted to go the full rainfly with vestibules route, there's a Big Agnes Fairview 2 for $129.93. Not nearly as big as the Kelty, but it has a couple vestibules for stowing gear and the full rainfly is something I like.

Also, REI Outlet has a 20% off coupon at the moment.

Since it's getting down to the wire and you have Amazon Prime though, you might look at the same Kelty tent from Amazon. It's even cheaper than from REI outlet and you can get Prime shipping.

ZV

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I don't really see the point in buying an expensive backpacking tent for car camping. You are paying a big premium for it to be small and light, neither of which are important to you. Personally, I think you'll be fine with a cheap Coleman tent from Walmart. I'd spend more of the budget on a good sleeping bag and pad/air mattress. That will make much more of a difference in your comfort.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Only one person mentioned REALLY important thing:
All tents I've used came with SHITTY spikes. Get some good steel spikes in hardware store!

Also, NOBODY mentioned this: on the tent floor, put several yoga mats so it's soft-ish to sleep in.

 

[herm0016]

the best spikes i have used have a Y shaped cross section. also, large gutter nails work pretty well.

 

[jlee]

Maybe I could pick up decent spikes from EMS...or go the cheap route and get huge nails?

 

[Redfraggle]

2-3 person (for two people, but I don't want a small 2 person tent). Not too expensive is good, but I don't want a POS either. Other than browsing Amazon and looking for 2-3 person tents with 4+ star reviews, what should I look for?

I don't expect to use it a whole lot, but I'm camping at the track (Summit Raceway) this weekend and I'm going camping with friends the weekend after...and I may start to be more outdoorsy and actually start using it after this month, too.

Edit: I ordered a Eureka Sunrise 8 Adventure. Thanks dougp (and everyone else, too)!

Make sure you set it up at home before you leave on a trip. Then you know how, and you know all the parts are there.

Happy Camping!!

 

[Redfraggle]

Only one person mentioned REALLY important thing:
All tents I've used came with SHITTY spikes. Get some good steel spikes in hardware store!

Also, NOBODY mentioned this: on the tent floor, put several yoga mats so it's soft-ish to sleep in.

Sleeping pads are actually much better, and suited to this purpose. If you are really cheap, Walmart sells cheap ones for like $10 each. Yoga mats are thinner and cost more.

 

[Fayd]

Sleeping pads are actually much better, and suited to this purpose. If you are really cheap, Walmart sells cheap ones for like $10 each. Yoga mats are thinner and cost more.

having camped a lot, army style cots are going to be MUCH more comfortable than sleeping pads. if you get a tent of sufficient size, and you're car camping, it's definitely a good move to go with cots.

 

[onza]

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/322_Tents.html (high quality brands inside)

Enter code: ALVJUNE1
20% off any order (expires 6/16)

Blammo! But you won't see it till next week

Best spikes i've used are the MSR ground hog stake

 

[Bignate603]

Sleeping pads are actually much better, and suited to this purpose. If you are really cheap, Walmart sells cheap ones for like $10 each. Yoga mats are thinner and cost more.

Also, those cheap yoga mats tend to to get chewed up more if they rub up against anything rough. The mats intended for camping are a bit more durable.

having camped a lot, army style cots are going to be MUCH more comfortable than sleeping pads. if you get a tent of sufficient size, and you're car camping, it's definitely a good move to go with cots.

The OP is looking for a 2 or 3 man tent, and can't spend that much money on it. Cots won't fit in the tent and aren't going to be in the budget.