[Filmpros]

I am looking to purchase a good, high quality, well designed tent for two that is easy to assemble and just as easy to fold and store. I am 6'8" tall so it can't be tiny. I would also like it to fold reasonably small for storage....albeit ease of setup and folding wins out over size and all else in the end for me.

Also, have any of you used an air mattress for camping? I am thinking about using one as I heard positive reviews about the use of these mattresses. Any that work better that others in the field? I have both 110 volts AC and 12 volts DC in my truck so I can run any pump.

[Kofoed]

I've done the air mattress thing (actually at home in the middle of a funiture replacement) and can say that they are not very comfortable IF you are used to a firm mattress. I got by using air from a real air compressor and got it pumped up pretty good=fine rest.

Air Beds | Raised Air Bed | Portable Air Beds | Queen Air bed | Air Pumps | Coleman.com

[d0ubledown]

yup, i use a pair of the twin quickbeds in the kodiak tent. they're quite durable with one side being suede covered so you dont go slip-n-sliding in your sleeping bag. it rolls itself nicely into a nylon wrap for storing. and has a very good double lock air valve which works very well. we even use ours in the lake too. i also have a single intex inflatable that we mostly use for water use, but also use in the tent. very good quality. no leaks in either the intex or colemans, for the last 3 years...and we drag these things over rocks, sand, etc.

cant comment on a 2man tent since i use a large 6person tent. im sure REI or kelty has something big enough and easy enough to setup.

[Brentbba]

At your height, a tent you can stand up in will be an issue.

I've had excellent luck with INTEX air mattresses. I own a twin and a queen. Scoutmaster in our troop has gone thru 3, yes 3 coleman air mattresses in less time than I've been using the queen. They come with their own battery operated air pump. The twin one uses regular batteries and the queen came with rechargable. Both will also plug into your cig lighter.

[bigndn]

Originally Posted by d0ubledown

yup, i use a pair of the twin quickbeds in the kodiak tent. they're quite durable with one side being suede covered so you dont go slip-n-sliding in your sleeping bag. it rolls itself nicely into a nylon wrap for storing. and has a very good double lock air valve which works very well. we even use ours in the lake too. i also have a single intex inflatable that we mostly use for water use, but also use in the tent. very good quality. no leaks in either the intex or colemans, for the last 3 years...and we drag these things over rocks, sand, etc.

cant comment on a 2man tent since i use a large 6person tent. im sure REI or kelty has something big enough and easy enough to setup.

I'll second that. I have a 10X10 Kodiak and while it's not a backpacking tent, it is sweet because I can stand up in it. We also use 2 Intek airbeds in ours. Very comfy!!!! The Kodiak is fantastic. It's easy to put up, very roomy, and easy to take down.

[rusty_tlc]

Air matteresses can be cold to sleep on. I have a Big Agnes that is filled with the same stuff used in sleeping bags, it sleeps very warm compared to a regular air mat. It is kind of narrow but they are available in lengths up to 78". They also sell a kit to join two together. If you have plenty of $$$ Exped makes the Down Mat which as the name implies is down filled. I also add a space blanket under the tent which seems to make a huge difference in how warm I sleep.

I'm partial to Sierra Design tents I have the 2 man size that I use when I solo camp. For two people I'd go with the 4 man size. These tents are very stable in high winds.

We also have a cheap tent we got from WalMart for $50. It is 8' X 10' and at 6' I can just stand up in it with my neck bowed a little. The down side is it isn't very stable in the wind. This is pretty typical of small foot print tents that are tall.

As far as ease of set-up, folding and storage. Stick with the dome style and they are all fairly equal. Sierra Designs uses color coded nylon web which makes it easy to match stuff up in low light or when you are exhausted.

The external frame cabin tents are no fun to set up. Avoid them unless you plan to camp in the same location for a few days at a time. I wouldn't set one up for less than a four night stay. The up side is they are roomy and stable in high winds.

[spressomon]

Getting older has meant, at least for me, the search for a comfortable sleeping surface. After using just about every brand and type of sleeping pad (foam, air, etc.) a back packing friend gave me a Exped DAM (Down Air Mattress) to try.

I, upon returning from that back pack trip, purchased the Exped 9 DLX which is up to 3.5" thick 26" wide and 77" long. It is so comfortable I even take it when we visit my family because its far more comfortable than their old guest mattress . The extra weight and size, for a backpack trip, are easy to justify for me due to how comfortable it really is. I suppose if I could sleep all night on my back instead of side another type of pad would suffice. But my quest is over!

I just got back from an Alaskan fishing trip and slept on this same pad the 8-nights we were there...perfect sleep.

However with your height I am not aware of any that are available in a length that would suit someone 6'8". You may need to use either a piece of foam or possibly a stadium seat type pad for your foot area to bridge the gap so to speak.


Although I haven't seen one of these in person they look quite appealing from a quick to set-up/take down perspective.
http://www.apachetents.com/index.cfm

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by Brentbba

At your height, a tent you can stand up in will be an issue.

.

Circus tent maybe

[exrsa1]

My next tent will be a Oz Tent. See this link: TENT

I saw one in Moab. Woody has one. Well made, easy to set up.

Ex

[alia176]

I like those tents that have the built in tent poles and locking joints. They set up very quickly and take down just as fast. However, they're NOT tiny packages. I have an old one and it's still going strong but there are better ones out there I'm sure.

Don't air mattresses deflate slowly when it's cold outside or on a cold ground? That's the most common complaint I've heard from air mattress users. The cold air inside the mattress gets denser and you end up with a rock in your back my morning!

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by alia176

I like those tents that have the built in tent poles and locking joints. They set up very quickly and take down just as fast. However, they're NOT tiny packages. I have an old one and it's still going strong but there are better ones out there I'm sure.

Don't air mattresses deflate slowly when it's cold outside or on a cold ground? That's the most common complaint I've heard from air mattress users. The cold air inside the mattress gets denser and you end up with a rock in your back my morning!

The Apache tent Spressomon linked to seems to be the exception to the size rule. It looks fairly compact compared to the other guys.

In general an air mattress will suck the warmth out of you and don't change in volume very much, (if they go flat over night they probably have a leak). The exceptions are the type that Spressomon and I mentioned that are filled with insulation. I add a space blanket (shiny side up) under my tent which helps a lot more than I thought it would.

[Brentbba]

I'll use a thermarest on top of my air mattress to keep the cold air in the mattress from sucking warmth from ME. Works just fine.

[spressomon]

FWIW: I spoke to the owner of Apache tents about construction, country of origin, etc. And like virtually every tent on the market, from well known names to the obscure, they are sourced from China, Apache notwithstanding.

However he relayed they utilize a factory in China (he told me which one but I have long since released it from my all too short memory ) that is the best at what they do: Tent production.

In the nine years Apache has had their tents sourced at this factory they have not had one defect issue: Nada. Quite impressive I'd say.

At any rate, like Ali mentions above some of the quick to set-up tents out there namely Oz tents, which do have an excellent reputation for quality I might add, do take up an inordinate, or at least to me, amount of storage space. That being the only negative I have heard about them.

There are a couple forays I go on each year where it is impractical or impossible or stupid to pull my KK trailer. I've decided I will more than likely order one of the Apache tents and give them a go.

We'll see...but I can't find anything else on the market that offers the quick set-up and relatively small stored package.

[samsdad]

Kodiak has a 9'x8' 4 person tent that may be a little easier to deal with, size wise.

[craptabulous]

get a girl friend , easiest tent set up ever .

i blow up the mattress with the oba then sit down and drink beer while she deals with the tent . it works out well .

[raYGunn]

Originally Posted by ****tabulous

get a girl friend , easiest tent set up ever .

i blow up the mattress with the oba then sit down and drink beer while she deals with the tent . it works out well .

I'm moving to Canada!