Best Tent for Family Camping

[GeoRoss]

If you have kids, this door is the only way to go. The tent is heavy, and it takes up about 12"X12"X36" stored, and it is difficult to find a semi flat surface for a 10'X12' tent. In the end, I could not be happier with this tent. If you have a family and don't mind transporting a large tent, I would recommend you buy this.

When my wife and I first had our first baby we started looking into getting something bigger to replace our backpacking tent, a SD Meteor Light. However, we never got around to it and found the three of us could fit in there.

When we had our second baby we came back to the original plan to get a larger tent. However, nothing out there really struck a chord and we would end up just taking my field tent (4 season TNF). My wife would bunk with the baby in one tent and I would bunk with the older daughter. This worked very well for us.

Now that the girls are older they have their tent and we have ours. Because of size it is easier to find level spots and the girls don't track in dirt into the "grown-up's" tent. Plus we have a certain element of privacy at night.

Now that we have a new baby, we bunk with the baby in our tent and the older girls still have their tent. I guess I'll be forced in the end to get a larger "kid's" tent, but I am pretty sure we will keep it small to have more options on tent pitching.

The one thing that does blow is setting up/breaking down two tents. The older kids will eventually get old enough to pitch their own tent.

I do still sometimes think about getting a tent like yours though as it does have other benefits. Thanks for the review.

 

[bigndn]

I bought a Springbar last year
http://www.springbar.com/
Ended up with the Traveler 5 for myself and 2 small kids (wife won't camp!)
I have slept in everything from poncho's to modular marquee's (and still prefer 5 Star hotels if someone else is paying!)....if you don't have to carry it on your back...the Springbar is an excellent option I think. Made in the USA as well. There is nothing wrong with Asian stuff .. some great lightweight tents....but Springbar has quality and your money gets to stay at home.

x500. I used to work for the company. I just can't say enough. Made in Salt Lake City, Utah, for over 40 years. The Family Camper should suit your needs well. Not cheap, but we all know the best stuff isn't cheap.

The above Cabel's/REI?etc. are okay, but the Springbars are phenomenal. They used on on Everest as a base camp tent (the Family Camper)

Since you guys like the Springbars, have you ever heard of these tents?? They look pretty nice to me.

http://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/detail.aspx?ID=859

 

[Mace]

Just a word about REI BTW, They donate heavily to the sierra club.

I won't purchase anything from them any more..

 

[AJP]

Since you guys like the Springbars, have you ever heard of these tents?? They look pretty nice to me.

http://www.competitiveedgeproducts.c...il.aspx?ID=859

made by "Bright Path Enterprises"... Don't know anything about them ... it would be nice to hear some real user experience vs SpringBar.

Personally I like my SpringBar. BUT I have not looked at this other tent. Maybe it's as good or better.

I will tell you that the folks I dealt with at SpringBar answered lots of questions for me AND they shipped my tent to a hotel in Colorado I was staying at (very promptly) so I could bring it back to Canada as checked (and declared) baggage rather than paying a pretty hefty cross border courier fee.

I haven't experienced any better service (or politeness) than what I received from the SpringBar factory folks (just as good as CDan - which is saying something!)

Anyway - I like the idea of my money staying in North America and keeping US/Canadians employed if at all possible. In this case the quality and value were there in my opinion. So it wasn't a tough decision.

If we could buy a North American built equivalent to the 80 ... I would buy that too -- imagine a lot of others would too if the cost were even in the same ballpark!

Like a lot of you probably .. I have spent a lot of time under canvas (occasionally even for fun) ... I like to stand-up and have lots of space ... I also like the durability of canvas - if I don't have to carry it. The only downside to canvas for some folks is if you can't dry it properly before storing it. For some apartment/condo dwellers this can make the selection of nylon etc synthetics a better choice.

For me the best choice has been the SpringBar ... I also like how the smell of canvas reminds me of when I was a kid camping with my folks!

 

[GREENPEA]

my vote goes to the
North Face "Trailhead 8" lifetime warranty (anything from REI) has aluminum poles, and is very roomy and weather tite.

I went with the Trailhead 6, the Trailhead 8 was just too big for us(like 17 feet long IIR), but the 6 is just right for a 2yr old, the wife, myself and a Great Dane.

REI will let you set up the tent in the showroom and see if it going to work for you. They let me set up 3 before I laid down the cash.

 

[fiberboy]

We just bought a Wenzel 12x14 four room tent, going to use it for the first itme next weekend. Set it up in the backyard last weekend. Went up fast and easy enough. I don't like the thin floor. Going to get a floor protector this weekend.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

anyone have any experience with this?? I like this alot better because you have a big room in the front that is dry but doesn't have a floor so you can set your kitchen ETC. up under there but still have it dry and warm.I love other eureka tent they are made of awsome quality and are very durable http://www.gear-up.com/cart_showproduct.php?pid=2443

 

[Happy Trails]

Just returned from a great weekend in the Central High Sierras. First time we
got to use our new Hobitat 4 by REI. Great tent! Four can sleep comfortabley,
just my girl and I had more than enough room, plus it is very tall, I'm 6' and
noticed several inches left before my head woud hit the ceiling. Great ventilation. My 2cents.

 

[shrek]

http://www.tipitent.com/index.htm

I picket up one of these at the local outdoor show. Lots of room and easy to set up a kitchen and get out of the elements

 

[gavman]

http://www.tipitent.com/index.htm

I picket up one of these at the local outdoor show. Lots of room and easy to set up a kitchen and get out of the elements

I've had one of these for a year now and would not recommend them at-all.
Mine has been prone to leaking at the seams right from day one, at this point two of the tie-down straps on the bottom have pulled out (Broken stitches).
The pole got bent really badly in a wind storm (I know i didn't have the 40 plus guy-ropes tied down).
Just don't like it at-all.
Yesterday i set up a new Springbar in the garden and what a pleasure, Even hosed it down like they recommend and not a drop of moisture inside.
Will be taking it on a ten day trip soon and will give a full report when done.

I don't mean to s*** on your Tipi tent purchase but i would not recommend them to anyone.