BWCA Add a tent? Up-size my existing tent? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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newguy
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02/04/2019 05:26PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Simple question, just curious how people handle this.

I have a Marmot Limelight 3P, my first and only tent so far. I like it, wife says it could be a little bigger (like the 4P). I've used it for my last four trips which have all been just me and one other person. My future trips will 1) still have two adults, or 2) be 1-2 adults and 1-2 kids [total = 3-4], or 3) be 3-4 adults if I take strangers along.

Would you get a large tent that accommodates 4 people, or would you just get a second 3-person or 4-person tent that accommodates 2? How do people with similar trip sizes handle the tent situation? Assume anyone I take has no camping gear and so I provide the tent.

Edit: and feel free to recommend a tent you like more than the Marmot Limelight 3P/4P.
 
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Tomcat
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02/04/2019 05:33PM  
 
MidwestFirecraft
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02/04/2019 06:18PM  
I own the Big Agnes Copper Spur 4UL and one of my tripping partners owns a Marmot Limelight 4. They are both excellent tents. With either adults or children I have found I need 1 higher tent rating than actual people, weather children or adults, just to fit sleeping pads. I prefer two tents, but my wife doesn't like camping and my girls are to scared to sleep in a tent without me, even if they have each other.
 
02/04/2019 06:56PM  
Add a second tent. I prefer to a tent with lots of room, the two of us use a 4P Timberline outfitter, great headroom and I like the classic shape.
 
02/04/2019 08:35PM  
Agree on adding a second tent. I’m a fan of MSR and Nemo tents, but I also have the Timberline 4, it’s also a great tent.
 
mutz
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02/04/2019 09:34PM  
I have never understood how the tent makers size tents. Our group has four guys, we take two, four man tents, anything smaller would be a bit cozy unless I’m with my wife. In my opinion the only way a four person tent would be comfortable for four people would be if one was pregnant with twins.
 
02/05/2019 05:32AM  
Last trip we had one adult, (me), and two teenagers.

We usually hang but also bring a 4 person tent. Due to a lack of trees in a burn area, we had to sleep in the tent 2 nights.

I'd hate to sleep 4 people in a 4 person tent, it's just too tight. I'd also hate to spend any significant time in them during the day.

IMHO, I'd opt for 2 tents.
 
bwcasolo
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02/05/2019 05:38AM  
take 2 tents, more comfy for all all around.
 
ozarkpaddler
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02/05/2019 06:22AM  
mutz: "I have never understood how the tent makers size tents. Our group has four guys, we take two, four man tents, anything smaller would be a bit cozy unless I’m with my wife. In my opinion the only way a four person tent would be comfortable for four people would be if one was pregnant with twins."


Seems like in the '70's "Two man tent" actually meant two average men? Not certain where they get these "Men" to measure the new tents, with? Grade school?

We "Upsized" to a Nemo 4 person tent and I will never go back to crawling in and out of small tents again.

 
carmike
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02/05/2019 06:36AM  
I like taking multiple tents instead of one (or two) big ones because it's often easier to find two small tent pads than one good big one.

Plus, there's less snoring, less getting up and out of the tent for midnight potty breaks, less smell, less mess, less frequent crack splitters on chili night, etc.
 
newguy
distinguished member (321)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/05/2019 07:59AM  
ozarkpaddler, is that the Nemo Wagontop? If so it says it's 80" tall which is great, but also says it's 19 pounds!
 
02/05/2019 08:06AM  
ozarkpaddler: "
mutz: "I have never understood how the tent makers size tents. Our group has four guys, we take two, four man tents, anything smaller would be a bit cozy unless I’m with my wife. In my opinion the only way a four person tent would be comfortable for four people would be if one was pregnant with twins."



Seems like in the '70's "Two man tent" actually meant two average men? Not certain where they get these "Men" to measure the new tents, with? Grade school?
"


More like the boy scouts.

I agree with having a second tent as well. The one thing I would add is that you probably want to have one tent big enough to sit 4 so you can play cards out of the wind and rain. It is also nice for when you have people like your wife that would like a little bit more room. The thing about seating 4 is the head room, so you need a tent with steep walls, a high ceiling, and/or an extra pole to lift the walls. I'm not sure if a 3 person tent would allow that, they might if you pay attention to steep walls and head room, but I haven't done the research myself to find out.
 
BobDobbs
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02/05/2019 08:10AM  
mutz: "I have never understood how the tent makers size tents. ...."


the same way sleeping bag makers assign temperature ratings - the absolute minimum that will get you by without dying!
 
tarnkt
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02/05/2019 09:25AM  
One big tent is nice for the family, or if you want to be able to stand up inside.

I have a “6 person” big Agnes tent. 4 non family members would be a little too cozy in there but it is great for 3. At 15 lbs the weight isn’t too bad per person. Haven’t had an issue finding a tent pad for the 8x10 footprint but I’m sure there are some sites out there that wouldn’t work.

Two 4 person tents is probably optimal for 4 adults.
 
Tomcat
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02/05/2019 09:54AM  
 
02/05/2019 10:29AM  
Although I only use it for drive to camping situations the North Face Wawona 6 is a great family tent. It comes in at 19 pounds, but it is easy to put up, and lots of room.
 
GaryMan
  
02/05/2019 11:29AM  
I use the big Agnes sized for 3 people, sleeps 2 comfortably, Have used it all over
the BWCA and mountain hiking in the Carpathian and Rockies. However, I am
seriously looking at sleeping Hammocks. My nephew uses one and when it rains
thunders and lightnings, instead of looking at the wall of the tent you can watch '
the show, and no worry about a river under the tent.
 
seamusknives
member (47)member
  
02/05/2019 12:28PM  
Like Ozarkpaddler, I'm going for square footage and height this go-around. I just ordered an on-sale REI Kingdom 4. Yes, it weighs an awful lot, almost 4x my Big Agnes, 3 person tent but "Oh well". It will just be my wife and I in Sept and I didn't want to have the crawling- in- the- door issues for either of us. I'm looking at it as a base camp tent not one that I'd go with on a trip with lots of portages. My only concern is the good/bad height in strong winds. I'll make sure to work out a good guying system before I take it.
 
straighthairedcurly
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02/05/2019 01:31PM  
If your wife camps with you and says she wants more space, get a bigger tent.
 
ozarkpaddler
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02/05/2019 02:50PM  
newguy: "ozarkpaddler, is that the Nemo Wagontop? If so it says it's 80" tall which is great, but also says it's 19 pounds!"


Yup, it's the Wagontop. Weight sucks but I've not had to portage it very far so.... Push come to shove, though, I'd scrimp on food if I had too because it is so nice and comfortable and "Airy."
 
Obe
member (22)member
  
02/05/2019 06:54PM  
I think our paddling group is in the minority here. We count the number of guys, make sure we have tents that match up (3 man tent for 3, 2-3 man tents for 6, etc) and we go. We usually plan river trips, so we really could pack more but it never crossed our mind. Last year 3 of our group went on a trip with 4 others. When we start setting up camp they were all amazed we only brought one 3 person tent! The group consisted of our 3 man tent and 4 solo tents (actually 3-2 man tents used solo and one solo tent). We also camp where all day rain isn't going to happen though, so the chance of spending more time in the tent other than just when sleeping is low.

With that mindset I have a family of 5 with a three man tent. I'm currently looking for a 2 man tent to add to it to get us covered for camping trips. I will have less space, less weight, and more vestibule storage that way as compared to one 5 or 6 person tent. Maybe a few trips this summer will change my mind...
 
printing
member (49)member
  
02/05/2019 07:21PM  
I am with the add a tent crowd. Plus if you want to go out with less than four you can take the two or three person tent and save some space and weight, or even lend one of your tents out to friend and still have one to use if you want.
 
mutz
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02/05/2019 08:23PM  
Obe: "I think our paddling group is in the minority here. We count the number of guys, make sure we have tents that match up (3 man tent for 3, 2-3 man tents for 6, etc) and we go. We usually plan river trips, so we really could pack more but it never crossed our mind. Last year 3 of our group went on a trip with 4 others. When we start setting up camp they were all amazed we only brought one 3 person tent! The group consisted of our 3 man tent and 4 solo tents (actually 3-2 man tents used solo and one solo tent). We also camp where all day rain isn't going to happen though, so the chance of spending more time in the tent other than just when sleeping is low.


With that mindset I have a family of 5 with a three man tent. I'm currently looking for a 2 man tent to add to it to get us covered for camping trips. I will have less space, less weight, and more vestibule storage that way as compared to one 5 or 6 person tent. Maybe a few trips this summer will change my mind..."



I will happily spoon with my wife, but not the guys I trip with.
 
newguy
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02/15/2019 08:56AM  
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I'm going to look into adding a second 3P/4P tent. I may try to find something in the "more vertical room" category without being a 20# tent. I'm in the Twin Cities so I'll try to get my wife to some outdoor stores to see tents in person.
 
WHendrix
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02/15/2019 07:40PM  
The Marmot Limestone 4/P is a nice tent with plenty of vertical space. As I recall it weighs just under 12 lb.
 
montanapaddler
member (33)member
  
02/19/2019 01:30PM  
I'd add a tent, although my friends and I are kind of on the extreme end of things as far as shelters in that none of us share shelters. Smaller tents are easier to find tent pads for as well, I've stayed at a lot of sites that would not accommodate a 6-man tent but we can easily sneak in all four of our 1-2 man tents.
 
newguy
distinguished member (321)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/27/2019 10:47AM  
In the end, I was able to get a Marmot Limelight 3P new for $150 shipped. Set it up in the living room and wife agrees the vertical walls make it much more spacious than the previous Marmot Limelight 3P which has a traditional shape.

Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
Campfire
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
02/27/2019 01:22PM  
WHendrix: "The Marmot Limestone 4/P is a nice tent with plenty of vertical space. As I recall it weighs just under 12 lb."


2x nice tent with plenty of head room. A good rule of thumb is 20 sqft per person for sizing a tent.
 
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