My girlfriend and I are comming out to TBF for our 2nd year and need a new tent. After getting home last year from telluride one of our poles broke which we figured we could just find another one but once we looked more closely at the others…all but one of the 6 showed signs that they could break so instead of forking out more money in poles than the tent costs we thought we’d get a new tent. Can anyone give me some advice on decent tents that arent too expensive (i know those two things go against each other). We aren’t looking for anything to withstand hurricans or blizzards just average camping. I have tried looking online but I’m finding mixed reviews on every tent I look at.
I’ve been mainly looking at a coleman or a field and stream tent from dicks sporting goods because they’ve got a good sale going on. thanks for any help anyone can give and I cant wait to get back on the road to Telluride in a few weaks
Tents with aluminum poles will last you far longer than tents with fiberglass poles. The aluminum pole tents will cost more at first, but will save you money over the long run.
Ditto to that!! I’m a huge camping veteran and have gone thru literally dozens of Coleman tents… Then one day, I was given a small North Face tent by a friend… It is the BEST tent I’ve ever used!! Since then, I’ve gotten an REI Camp Dome, which is also fabulous… They both have the aluminum poles, which are FAR superior to the fiberglass poles. True, these brands are a bit more expensive, but most definitely worth the extra cash in the long run… Also, if you become an REI member ($20 lifetime membership), they will let you return it, no matter what. Seriously, if anything at all happens to your REI tent (even 5 years down the road), they will glad let you return it, no questions asked!! Their customer service is second to none!! :medal ~ They also have decent sales on a pretty regular basis…
Good luck on your tent search!! Hope I was able to help…
Sierra Trading Post is a top notch discounter of gear and other stuff. Any of the Sierra Designs, Kelty, or Marmot tents they have as of right now are worthy of consideration and would keep you out of the “assumed to be frequently replaced” side of the market.
Well, all of the coleman tents are pretty good, though most have fiberglass shock-chord poles. Dicks Sporting goods has a highly rated 3-4 person Texport Tent for $65.00.
I can’t argue the fact that aluminum-pole tents will provide more longevity, however, my coleman fiberglass shock-chord tents (a 2 man and a 6-man/2 room) fiberglass pole tents have lasted me years and are still going strong.
I called the North Face Outlet in Berkeley a few years back and scored a VE-25 expedition tent for a couple of hundred bucks. My last VE-24 lasted for 30 years and saved my life numerous times.
Over the years my wife and I got away from tent camping (we have an RV now, too big for TP, bummer). So 8 years ago we bought a Wal-mart cabin tent just for a week of Telluride. Its still going strong and we spend the 9 days in it every year in TP. This year it will get the full test starting with ABGAT. :cheers
thanks to eveyone…i ended up finding a coleman on sale at sports authority which worked out well. only a few weeks left and i cannot wait!!! see ya’ll in the mountains for some good times and good music!!!
Deb and I just got back from Santa Fe , traded in our old nonworking Hot Water on Demand for New One
at the Coleman factory outlet …picked up a new Queen Size elavated Bed , and some other odds and ends
went to Second Street Brewery, For Lunch , Good Ale along with Fried Calamari and Red Pepper Hummus
Yummmmmmm