Need a new tent

[pmcjuryny]

SO last summer I started taking my kids camping (son 7, daughter 8), and I used my old man tent. Its a good tent, and it has held up well, but with three of us, especially with kids that move a lot in their sleep, its just to small. I think its time to pick up a new tent, and I am thinking a 6-8 man tent.

I have always sort of figured, cut the rating in half if you want to keep your gear in the tent as well as sleep in it. Which I would rather do, especially with the kids. The only problem is I haven't shopped for a tent in a long time. I bought a hammock for my self a few years back, and when it was just me camping, that was perfect for just me, so I haven't looked at tents in forever.

It seems like coleman still gets pretty good reviews as far as tents go, but I wasn't sure if there was any other brands I should be looking at. It seems like there are a lot of reasonably priced options that got decent reviews from the store brand tents (dicks, cabelas, etc), but I don't know anyone that has used one personally, and I don't want to rely just on online reviews.

I don't want to spend a ton of money, as this won't get used all that often, 5-6 summer camp outs a year, but I also don't want garbage. Its pretty much just car camping with the kids, so weight/size isn't a big concern. My only must have with the tent, is I need it to stand up to heavy rain. I have a long history of getting rained on nearly every time I go camping, and I had dealing with wet gear.

 

[HIghlander]

You could look at this site.
Tents | Eureka!

 

[pmcjuryny]

You could look at this site.
Tents | Eureka!

I forgot about Eureka, thats what we used when I was in scouts. If they held up to us kids they are pretty durable.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

You could look at this site.
Tents | Eureka!

I used to buy from their outlet store right here in ny.

 

[Darth]

I used to buy from their outlet store right here in ny.

Yep, a dive buddy of mine was telling me about his tent from there at our camping trip 2 years ago. Said that outlet store has a section of just "irregulars" and crazy deals on them.

 

[pmcjuryny]

they have some crazy deals on the outlet site. That might be a winner.

 

[MothMan]

@pmcjuryny

I like Eureka tents also. You can get seconds or returns at the factory outlet. If you can’t get the outlet store their products are sold on the CampMor website.

Eureka Camping Tents at Campmor

 

[Acer-m14]

North Face .. your kids are worth it and you all will look cool too

from years in boy scouts back in the day .. waking up to 2 inches of water in the tent from a
heavy rain ..
thank goodness for technology ..

look for a tent with plastic material floor that goes up the side of the tent too
will save you from flooding ..

and don't forget to water proof the seams .. even on a new tent and the rain fly cover if it has one .. i get waterproofing spray cans and spray the whole thing ..


PS... don't buy anything from Camping World .. anti gun

 

[Cleck]

North Face might be a little pricey for the amount he's looking to use it, especially a 6-8 person tent. Either way, that size is gonna be pricey, but I'd probably also go with a Eureeka. Not too cheap, not too expensive. Another similarly priced brand to check would be Kelty. Coleman might be a little too cheap for this one, both in price and build quality.

 

[camper4lyfe]

I forgot about Eureka, thats what we used when I was in scouts. If they held up to us kids they are pretty durable.

Those old Timberlines are nearly bulletproof. I think every scout troop uses them.

 

[pmcjuryny]

North Face might be a little pricey for the amount he's looking to use it, especially a 6-8 person tent. Either way, that size is gonna be pricey, but I'd probably also go with a Eureeka. Not too cheap, not too expensive. Another similarly priced brand to check would be Kelty. Coleman might be a little too cheap for this one, both in price and build quality.

Is Coleman not a decent brand anymore. My current 3 man is a Coleman and for what it is I love it easy to setup and it keeps me dry. The floor of the tent is closer to a tarp then typical tent material, and that extends up a good 6-8 inches up the sides. It's been going strong for the better part of 20 years.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Bananabandit]

Is Coleman not a decent brand anymore. My current 3 man is a Coleman and for what it is I love it easy to setup and it keeps me dry. The floor of the tent is closer to a tarp then typical tent material, and that extends up a good 6-8 inches up the sides. It's been going strong for the better part of 20 years.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Like everything, quality has gone down. Not to say they arent good for recreational use. But not on par with your current tent.

 

[Cleck]

It could be the reviewers or it could just be a difference in time (from when you bought yours). They're pretty cheap now, and that doesn't inspire confidence in the materials, stitching, or general ability to hold up. You can try it, and then waterproof the hell out of it, as long as it has a bathtub floor. Depending on where you set up, you could always put a tarp shelter/roof over you to divert any rain just in case.

 

[pmcjuryny]

Those old Timberlines are nearly bulletproof. I think every scout troop uses them.

Yeah, the only issue I ever remember having is our model had a white tube, probably 4 inches long, that joined the poles together at either peak of the tent. If one of those was lost or broken you were sol

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[camper4lyfe]

Yeah, the only issue I ever remember having is our model had a white tube, probably 4 inches long, that joined the poles together at either peak of the tent. If one of those was lost or broken you were sol

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Yup, but it was very very rare for one to break. I honestly don't think I've ever seen that happen, or at least to the degree that it wasn't serviceable with some ingenuity for the remainder of the weekend until it could be replaced. For that matter, they're small and light enough, it wouldn't be awful to carry an extra.

 

[wizrd]

Eureka also used to have 'sale days' - at their facility, with some great bargains. They can also make you some 'custom' length poles there, if you have a use for them - had some made there years ago, so I could use a 20' x 30' tarp for a big rain canopy. Good products.

 

[soylentBlue]

Factory outlet store - http://www.eurekacampingctr.com

 

[Wolfspotter]

Eureka's are good tents. Bought a blemished Eureka Zeus 2 from their website a few years ago. Sold it since it held in moisture in hot weather but it was light and fast to set up. Still use my Eureka Timberlite two person tent that I bought for $15. The store pitched the tent for a couple days as a display and then put it in the basement bargain area. Also use a four person Timberline that's blue instead of green. Lady bought it back in the 1950's, set it up in the back yard, saw a spider and packed it back up. Sat in her cellar all these years and she gave it away for free.

 

[Saltwater60]

Buy a camper everyone will be happier. I love mine.

 

[cgrutt]

@pmcjuryny send my your address I think I have a 6 or 8 person Coleman. Probably 15 years old but maybe used 2 or 3 times. Belonged to a friend of mine who passed away a while back and I have just been keeping it on the shelf. Time for a new home. Haven't been on here much e-mail me at my user name @yahoo if I don't respond to pm. Tent and shipping on me.

 

[Darth]

Is Coleman not a decent brand anymore. My current 3 man is a Coleman and for what it is I love it easy to setup and it keeps me dry. The floor of the tent is closer to a tarp then typical tent material, and that extends up a good 6-8 inches up the sides. It's been going strong for the better part of 20 years.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Coleman has gone WAY down, sadly.

I used to swear by their propane lanterns.

Now they are literally laughable. As in I bought 2 (1 after returning the other) and my camping mates literally laughed at the shoddy craftsmanship.

 

[Saltwater60]

@pmcjuryny send my your address I think I have a 6 or 8 person Coleman. Probably 15 years old but maybe used 2 or 3 times. Belonged to a friend of mine who passed away a while back and I have just been keeping it on the shelf. Time for a new home. Haven't been on here much e-mail me at my user name @yahoo if I don't respond to pm. Tent and shipping on me.

Damn your a nice guy.