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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: 6-8 person tent in BWCA?
 
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bwcadan
01/15/2020 12:41PM
 
The bigger the tent, the more people likely to be going in or out in the evening or overnight. Mosquitoes have been known to take advantage of an open tent flap and thus have a feast if not taken out. I prefer taking a tent for each and a cot for the uneven ground/rocks/roots. You stay above the discomfort and have all the privacy you want and none of the problems associated with the one large tent. I suppose having to portage all the tents could be considered a problem for some groups, but for me this is a non issue because of all the plusses of each person having a tent. Do not expect to have all tents lined up in formation. One or more may end up out of view from the main pad areas.
 
CampSR
01/15/2020 01:46PM
 
bwcadan: "The bigger the tent, the more people likely to be going in or out in the evening or overnight. Mosquitoes have been known to take advantage of an open tent flap and thus have a feast if not taken out. I prefer taking a tent for each and a cot for the uneven ground/rocks/roots. You stay above the discomfort and have all the privacy you want and none of the problems associated with the one large tent. I suppose having to portage all the tents could be considered a problem for some groups, but for me this is a non issue because of all the plusses of each person having a tent. Do not expect to have all tents lined up in formation. One or more may end up out of view from the main pad areas."


I would agree here. We typically only have 3-4 people in our group and each have our own tent. This year we will have 6 and still plan to each have an individual tent. We are already planning for the possibility to split between two campsites if tent space is limited. Then we will have one main campsite to cook, eat, gather, etc. and the second site basically being to sleep. Split if we have to, but individual tents with 6 separate dudes is the only way to go IMO.
 
ManAndDog
01/14/2020 10:19AM
 
Our group of guys has been talking about getting one big tent for all of us instead of two smaller tents. My opinion is that we can make it work and it might limit us to certain campsites with larger tent pads. The Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6/8 is what I am considering.

Has anyone tried a a tent of this size in the BW?
 
awbrown
01/14/2020 03:00PM
 
butthead: "No I have not as I prefer solo travel, but see no reason not to. Even split between 4 partners the weight is 5lb each. Far as room, I have seen more where a large tent can be fit in easily than not. I've seen Flying Diamond 6 and 8 persons standing up to quite high winds and rain.
I would not hesitate to take my REI KIngdome 6 if I traveled in a group.



butthead"



Love my Kingdome 6 as well, but it would require a dedicated portager just for it. Of course its bag is a backpack.
 
Savage Voyageur
01/16/2020 01:01PM
 
I’ve never been in the large tent group. We bring large groups of 6-9 people some trips. We get a campsite that can handle 3-4 tents and a few hammocks. People tend to want their privacy and a large tent does not afford that. People snore, and keep you up all night tossing and turning, un zippering the tent in the middle of the night to go to the thunder box. Not sure how to handle opposite sex dynamics in the same tent. Personally I switched to a hammock out in the woods for my area to sleep. So much less hassle than to be kept awake all night.
 
Jackfish
01/14/2020 11:36AM
 
Wayyyyyyy back in the day when we were a group of four, we brought a 9 x 12 tent that slept all four of us quite comfortably. It was perfect for what we needed at the time, but it was heavy and bulky... just not very conducive to canoe camping, let alone, portaging.


Ungreen brings up some excellent points about multiple smaller tents, smaller tent pads being easier to find, and then having a good tarp for gathering. And they're easier to split up to pack and carry. That's what we do with our group of six (and sometimes eight).
 
bombinbrian
01/14/2020 03:43PM
 
So my first trip with the family to the BWCA, my now ex-wife refused to let us get a tent that would be much more suited. We took one of those 3 room cabin tents. IT SUCKED. They are heavy. They require their own pack and all of the pack. They are simply not worth it in my opinion.


The next year I had an 8x8 that I had some custom work done to. It was still more than enough room and was so much better.




 
MikeinMpls
01/15/2020 10:51AM
 
bombinbrian: " "
Man, that's a big tent!

Mike
 
soundguy0918
01/15/2020 01:39PM
 
25+ years ago, 6 of us shared one tent. It was not particularly fun but the worst part was finding a "clean" tent pad that size. Invariably we had to endure tree roots or rocks because that's all there was. I would suggest (2) x 4-man instead and sleep 3 in each.
 
mutz
01/16/2020 09:26AM
 
CampSR: "I would agree here. We typically only have 3-4 people in our group and each have our own tent. This year we will have six and still plan to each have an individual tent. We are already planning for the possibility to split between two campsites if tent space is limited. Then we will have one main campsite to cook, eat, gather, etc. and the second site basically being to sleep. Split if we have to, but individual tents with six separate dudes is the only way to go IMO."
The problem with this is two campsites means two permits and distance between camp sites could be a problem.
 
Northwoodsman
01/14/2020 09:39PM
 
In 2018 I brought my CCS Lean3 which has a foot print of 10' x 11.5'. It was a challenge finding a LEVEL spot for a shelter that large. You can find a pad large enough, but someone my be a little uncomfortable.
 
mutz
01/14/2020 09:47PM
 
We always have either four or six on our trips. We always have two guys in a good size four man tent, plenty of room to sleep and room to stand up and get dressed in the rain. I think a lot easier to find sites big enough for two or three four man tents than a ten or twelve person tent.
 
CampSR
01/16/2020 12:07PM
 
mirth: "mutz: "CampSR: "I would agree here. We typically only have 3-4 people in our group and each have our own tent. This year we will have six and still plan to each have an individual tent. We are already planning for the possibility to split between two campsites if tent space is limited. Then we will have one main campsite to cook, eat, gather, etc. and the second site basically being to sleep. Split if we have to, but individual tents with six separate dudes is the only way to go IMO."
The problem with this is two campsites means two permits"




Yep, this. You'll have better luck if some of your people are hammockers."



I understand the concern there, but not worried about the permits and are targeting a single site, if it is taken we have a back up plan for two sites close together. Then it just depends on whether or not the sites are taken, which is out of our control, but will have to adjust if needed. It's all in the planning and understanding that we may need to adjust on the fly, but that's part of the fun also.


Unfortunately no hammockers...
 
mirth
01/16/2020 11:33AM
 
mutz: "CampSR: "I would agree here. We typically only have 3-4 people in our group and each have our own tent. This year we will have six and still plan to each have an individual tent. We are already planning for the possibility to split between two campsites if tent space is limited. Then we will have one main campsite to cook, eat, gather, etc. and the second site basically being to sleep. Split if we have to, but individual tents with six separate dudes is the only way to go IMO."
The problem with this is two campsites means two permits"



Yep, this. You'll have better luck if some of your people are hammockers.
 
old_salt
01/14/2020 11:59PM
 
Bring a big tarp or a screen house for gatherings.
 
bobbernumber3
01/15/2020 07:13AM
 
old_salt: "Bring a big tarp or a screen house for gatherings."


Old_salt is exactly right!
 
bobbernumber3
01/15/2020 07:13AM
 
old_salt: "Bring a big tarp or a screen house for gatherings."

I'll bid 500, Alex.
 
butthead
01/14/2020 12:52PM
 
No I have not as I prefer solo travel, but see no reason not to. Even split between 4 partners the weight is 5lb each. Far as room, I have seen more where a large tent can be fit in easily than not. I've seen Flying Diamond 6 and 8 persons standing up to quite high winds and rain.
I would not hesitate to take my REI KIngdome 6 if I traveled in a group.


butthead
 
Reke0402
01/14/2020 06:05PM
 
Our group had 6 in one large 2 and 2 guys brought solo tents, most of the guys in the big tent said they would never do it again, to many guys snoring and breathing in each others faces in one tent along with the smells....
 
ZaraSp00k
01/15/2020 07:47AM
 
imo, even a 4 person tent is one too many
 
johndku
01/16/2020 12:46PM
 
Smaller tents and a large tarp.


Who spends time in a tent other than sleeping at night? If it's raining, gather, cook and eat under the tarp. No reason to have a huge tent when it's empty 75% of the time.
 
Ungreen
01/14/2020 10:37AM
 
In my opinion, several small tents for sleeping along with a large tarp or gathering shelter is a better option. It is easier to find suitable tents pads for small tents. Small tents tend to weather storms better and small tents offer more privacy for better sleep. Gather together at the common area and retreat to your tents when desired. Some people will stay up later than others.