I'm taking my three boys (8,10,12) to Perent Lake this June. The younger two have never been. I'm trying to think of the best tent for our us. My brother's family and Dad will be on the trip also, but they fill their tents

I currently own a Northface Trailhead 8 person (too big), an REI Taj 3 person tent and a Kelty Crestone 1 man tent.

This would be okay for this year. We physically fit and would be dry and out of the bugs. I have some concern that the youngest might get a little nervous his first time out in a tent in the BWCA without dad(I think he would be okay, but nervous). In a perfect world I'd have a tent we could all fit in, wasn't 20 lbs, kept us dry, out of the bugs and could find a place to set it.

I'd like to find a good long term solution for the four of us. The options that I see are...

1. Stick with what we have for this year. Will be cozy, but I own the gear so it will be cheap. :) In a couple years we would need another tent for the four of us and gear to fit

2. Buy another 3 man tent. Would cost around $300 for what I'm looking at. Seems like two 3 man tents is a better BWCA option than one big. Lighter portage and in case of small tent pads. Would provide plenty of space for sleeping and gear. Would be two 7lb tents

3. Buy a 6 man tent. Would cost around $400. This would put us all in 1 tent with enough room but would be heavy and require a large tent pad. Would be fun to be able to hang out together in a tent as an escape from bugs or rain. Would be one 17-20lb tent

4. Buy the CCS Lean 3. Cost is $650. This would put us all in a large lightweight shelter with enough from for us to sleep and all our gear. Would require a large tent pad. Only 4 lbs!!!

I'm very intrigued by the Lean 3. I've never seen one and get nervous about the idea of not having a sewn in floor, if we would truly stay dry and bug/critter free. From the reading I've done everyone who uses them seems to love them. I love the idea of a 4 lb shelter that fits all of us. I'm open to trying one but wow, they aren't cheap and it would make for a miserable trip if we weren't dry and bug free.

Are there other, better options that I'm not considering? Other Suggestions?

Buy another 3 or 4 man tent

I would rather have two smaller tents than one big tent for the boundary waters. I think you would have an easier time finding a place for two smaller tents than one big tent. However, as you mentioned it might be best to keep everyone together. That is what I concluded for my upcoming trip.


I am planning to take my 9, 11 and 14 year old on a trip. I noticed at least one outfitter was renting the 4 person ALPS Mountaineering Taurus Outfitter Tent. I decided to buy one for my upcoming trip. It weights about 9 lbs.

Let the 12yo have the solo, he will love the idea. You share the 3 person with the two younger ones.

1. Save money and be cozy.
2. Save money and ask the 12 year old if he wants to sleep in the Crestone. You still have space for cards and games in the big tent.
3. Buy a second 3 man tent and spend money.

sedges: "Let the 12yo have the solo, he will love the idea. You share the 3 person with the two younger ones."

+1

I have a Taj 3 and while I think the 3 of them could fit in it I’m not sure how 3 sleeping pads would fit unless they were uniquely sized.

I carry a 6 person big Agnes tent with an 8x10 footprint that weighs under 15 lbs. The specific model has been discontinued but I’m there are comparable models available now. I’ve never had a problem finding a spot to pitch it in the BWCA. I’m sure there are sites that couldn’t accommodate it, I just haven’t found one yet.

A little on the expensive side but will last a long time and will be able to accommodate all of you as they grow up. REI has a 20% off sale right now. This one comes in at 16 lbs (a pair of 3 person tents won’t be much lighter, if they are even lighter at all)
6 person tent

I struggled with this issue for myself, wife and three kiddos. We ended up purchasing two Big Agnes Blacktail 3s for around ~$200ea. The price remains roughly the same - and they come with a footprint. The reasoning is:

We can fit onto smaller pads, or better sections of larger pads
The wife and I can split up if any kiddos feel uncomfortable at night.
Weight and price were comparable to a single larger capacity tent
The individual tents can be shared amongst the smallest kiddo packs.
While heavy at 7lb, I can use it solo.

Buy another 4 person tent, as your boys get older you can fight over which two of you are stuck with being crammed into the 3 person.

AmarilloJim: "

sedges: "Let the 12yo have the solo, he will love the idea. You share the 3 person with the two younger ones."

+1"

I was thinking the same thing. There is a good chance you can set them up so close together you can whisper to eachother. Maybe instead of telling the oldest to sleep in the solo, ask all three which one is brave enough to go in the solo and see who raises their hand? Could also switch who goes where each night.

fadersup: "Buy another 4 person tent, as your boys get older you can fight over which two of you are stuck with being crammed into the 3 person. "

I agree, getting a 3 person for three actual people (who will be growing) isn't a recipe for success. Get a 4 and have that little extra space.

And if you need a 4 person on a budget...there are new/used Timberlines all over the place.

You have one three person tent now. I would buy the second three person. Each three person tent houses two people comfortably. I agree with the thought on two smaller tents vs one giant 6 person. The big tents just don't pack well.

A two person tent does not fit two people comfortably. A three person tent does not fit three people comfortable. The tent sizing is alot like the temp rating on sleeping bag. Technically it works, but it's not comfortable.

I personally like having a 3p and a 4p tent with a group of 4. It helps to have the 4p tent to us as an indoor space to hang out and play card games at night. Outdoors is an option too but it needs to be little to no wind and little to no bugs for it to be comfortable. Being in the tent also help reflect a bit of light to help see the cards without as much light.

I love having the lean 3 for our family of 5 . You can find my review and how to stake down the sod cloth in the canoeing with kids forum.