el cheapo tent?

[luvelkhunt]

so should I drop the cash on a good backpacking type tent, or can I go cheap on the tent if I have a good bag and pad? going to be spiking for 2 to 3 nights at a clip from 9500' to 11000'.

[Screaming_btf]

The problem with many cheap tents I have looked at is they weight allot, vent poorly, and take up more room in your pack. Many cheap tents also don't do very good in very heavy wind in the open country. If you don't mind those drawbacks then you can certainly get away with a cheap one imo for 2-3 days at a time. You could also look at using a Tarp/Bivy combo

[ST52V]

Give me a ring PA brother. 1-412-336-4728

[ST52V]

Cell 1-412-974-8304

[jmez]

You can go cheap if you want. I've been using an Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 for the last four years. I bought it on ebay for $65. I keep thinking I should replace it but then can't really justify it for as well as its worked. It has seen rain, snow, heavy wind and there are no condensation issues. It's been a great tent.

Packed weight with the ground sheet is right at 5lbs. Not horrible but for the price I'll carry a few extra pounds. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on a tent.

[Navesgane]

$150+/- can get you a decent backpacking tent. Checkout Sierra trading post

[husky390]

I'm going to buy the Mountainsmith shelter lt to keep with me in case I decide to bivy. I've heard reports of them going on sale for $83 and from what I've read, they're a palace for one guy.

[WapitiTalk1]

There is a huge delta between cheap and the upper crust backpacking tents. Within this delta, there are some very good tents that will do everything you need them to do. A $49.99 brand X (insert large department store name here) tent will not hold up to anything, will eventually leak, is not sealed/stitched well, and, will not breath well, and, you'll sweat your ears off in it. You'll end up replacing brand X tents every few years if not yearly There are many tents that one can find that will do the trick, particularly if you're using them for a handful of days bivy hunts each elk season. With super duper quality comes the inevitable price tag. Quality and to some degree more so, "lightweight" costs. Take a look at the tent sales at REI. Their tents are pretty darn good and the warranty is very good.

[Indian Summer]

A tent is somewhat of a life support system. Therefore don't buy the down & dirty cheapest Wally World one you can find. I totally agree with Phantom. You don't need a Cadillac but a rusty Cavalier is a money pit because you'll replace it next week. Find a mid range model. It will likely be a it heavier than a top of the line one but at least it will serve it's purpose and last longer.

Also... run some paracord between two trees and put a tarp over it, staked down tight, and it will go a long way toward a better camp in mountain weather.

[twinkieman]

I prefer a bivy and a tarp for 3 or 4 days packed in. I use a Sierra Designs tent for longer trips into the backcountry. I agree with those that say no to "el cheapo", but you don't need the most expensive either. You should spend enough to get poles made out of aluminum. Several years ago, while packed in, we were hit with heavy snow during the night. The two tents with fiberglass poles collapsed under the weight. We were able to wrap the splits in the poles with duct tape and keep them operational for the duration of the hunt.

[RichM]

I use an el cheapo Wenzel 3 man I picked up decades ago... and every time I get back from a camping trip I spend a half hour standing in the local camping store drooling over a lighter system (the current tent weights about 6.5-7 lbs). I'm even thinking about talking with the local archery shop about making my own carbon fiber poles out of old arrow shafts to replace the old fiberglass ones.

Don't be like me! Find something mid-grade from a quality manufacture and be done and content.

[Blackhorn]

Luvelkhunt, if you have the money go with a good REI or such tent. However, if you don't I will suggest the wenzel Lone Tree tent for about 40-50 bucks. I bought one four seasons ago because I was short on cash. Suprisingly, the tent has not failed me yet. The thing weighs just over 4 lbs (by my own scale) which is not to bad for an el cheapo[SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]. It has held up to some nasty rains and some pretty good wind. But, I can't tell you if it would hold up to very high wind or heavy snow. Good luck too ya!

[Lefty]

Ive gone with an el-cheap-o Set up maybe 200 nights , my kids camping in the back yard etc. 39.00 tent that never made it to the market. The tent had some intricate parts, that failed and the zippers were a problem after 10 years and kid abuse
I thought since that had gone well I bought an on sale/clearance 3 man Pacific crest a year ago last spring. listed for 169. So I figured it should be a decent tent. After about 20 nights; In high wind the tent was worthless, weak poles, some poles are now splitting, and the bottom zipper needs to be made wet to zip shut.
And when the zippers close on cheap tents make sure to not get the fly stuck
We bought a cheap family tent 12 years ago,.. 25 nights in 5 years and it was trash.

I bought a tent at Deseret Industries( like salvation Army) for $.5.00 for the bug screen. I opened it up when I brought it home. everything seems to be there. That one is going to be put on Craigslist

If you go cheap make sure and set it up, some tents the rain fly doesnt cover the screen. some tents have poor bug screen

[easeup]

cheapo?.......here is my experience.....years back I was asked to help with a Boyscout weekend camp fishing merit badge deal. I took notice as to what the parents provided their sons for he experience in this subject. there must have been 30 backpack type tents set up that night in the Texas hill country. It was a great night but along bout 1am a thunderhead blew in and let me say in rained and squalled and pounded that area for about 1/2 hr. When it was over I unzipped to go make the rounds and see the damage. Every cheapo tent of every make was flat on the ground standing in water. There were 4 name brand tents on the trip and they were all standing and their owners were still dry.
Again the San Juans several years back on a July backpacking fishing fiasco. 4 tents that night right below timberline; 3 were name brand, one was a $39 walmart special. Of course a big storm blew in. When it was over the two guys in the cheapo were trying to start a fire to dry their sleeping bags. The rest of use slept the rest of the night in comfort.

just the facts.

[luvelkhunt]

mid range sounds like a good plan. sounds like a couple had success with a cheapo, but not enough to feel good about going that route. thank you for all the input and suggestions.

[Lefty]

Over all cheapos work in good weather,
When you need to count on them , high winds and moisture they dont work.
I have tented in terrible weather in cheapos. I put a blue tarp( oh the pain) over the top and tied off everything.for extra support

I was telling my wife about this thread as we layed in our $5.00 tent Friday night. She had a two man ( mid 70's) cheaper Wentzel back packing tent that got destroyed in a storm.
The next weekend her dad gave her a new higher end tent and a .25 pistol

Check Craigslist always seems to be some of the top end gear for sale around her

[nrocchio]

I just went through the tent buying process a few months ago. I was looking for a smaller backpacking tent as well. I went to a lot of different stores to check out tents in person, read a thousand reviews and researched it to death. Anyway, I settled on the Marmot Limelight tent. If you keep an eye out for sales you can get a decent quality tent for under $200 and have the piece of mind that it will hold up if you get caught in a storm. I like to try and get my gear as cheap as possible, but IMO a tent, sleeping bag, and boots are something I know are worth a little extra. Not going cheap on these items makes a world of difference when you're out there using them.

[husky390]

Shameless plug for a Kifaru Paratarp I have for sale.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4678

[Lefty]

$5.00 tent in 35 mph winds

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$39.00 tent after 200 nights

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Last years $69.00 tent

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[Lefty]

Having the height is really helpful
However in very high winds the tent was noisy( 65mph plus) the tent poles howled but the tent stayed upright . The 69.00 layed right down on me and was even more noisy from the flapping material

$550 springbar

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