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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Tent and sleeping pad
 
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kenpark23
11/24/2022 11:32AM
 
Sleeping pads are largely a subjective thing. One person's comfort may not be yours. Having said that, I will never go back to a "skinny" pad. I upgraded to a 25 inch pad and hate that I did not do it sooner. The extra 4-5-6 inches has a hugely positive impact on how well I sleep.
 
wyopaddler
11/24/2022 07:09PM
 
Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 or 4 is a winner. Highest recommendation. Definitely get a tent with two doors and vestibules. You won't regret it. Have fun camping!

 
lindylair
11/25/2022 08:19AM
 
Agree with the recommendation of a 4 person tent and also 2 doors and vestibules if possible. You can easily spend 3,4 or $500 plus dollars on a name brand quality 4 person tent. If you are looking for something a little more affordable here are a couple possibilities:



Marmot Limestone 4


This tent is solid and high quality but it is heavy, coming in at around 10 lbs. If you are going to use it for car camping too and don't mind the extra weight for an occasional BWCA trip if could be a good option. Take the poles out and put them in a different pack to spread the weight out a bit. Great deal right now on this site.



Mountainsmith Evo 4



Another solid tent with a good amount of room. About half the weight of the Marmot and a good deal. I have the 2 person version of this tent and am very pleased with it.



Good Luck
 
StLouisPaddler
11/25/2022 05:27PM
 
+1 on the BA Copper Spur. I would go with the 4 person tent for your group size. We use the insulated Klymit Static V pads.
 
CanoeViking
11/25/2022 07:57PM
 
For sleeping pad try it out at the store. If it sounds like a chip bag don’t buy it. It makes a huge difference when your sleeping with others.
 
NMJim
12/08/2022 07:11PM
 
Kids come all sizes, so more info there would be helpful per recommendations.


But even without that, I can still steer you IMHO to the best in class, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Classic. BA CS tents are the most stable, easy to pitch tent offering the best weight /space [cost/benefit] ratio. Got a bigger kid? Move up to the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4 Classic.


A heavier, and heavier duty option, would be the MSR MuthaHubba, & the really large MSR PapaHubba.


The classic version does NOT taper toward one end, and as a symmetrical tent avoids a number of issues inherent to a tapered model.


These tents can be very pricey, but with so many out there in use, the used market offers affordibilty. Check GearTrade, or figure out how to post & search Facebook MarketPlace, Craigslist & Ebay.


One cautionary note: get into larger tents means searching out larger tent pitching pads. Consider the space availability that you have used for pitching what I assume are smaller 2P tents previously.


Good luck, and do feel free to reach out with any questions. I love tents, and know a bit about them.
 
straighthairedcurly
12/08/2022 08:24PM
 
NMJim: "Hey straighthairedcurly- you might alleviate the night egress problems by using a 32 oz. Nalgene for a pee bottle. No more in and out of the tent!
"

Much harder for a woman to do...I am unwilling to risk a possible miss.
 
NMJim
12/08/2022 07:26PM
 
Hey straighthairedcurly- you might alleviate the night egress problems by using a 32 oz. Nalgene for a pee bottle. No more in and out of the tent!

 
midwesterner
11/23/2022 11:09AM
 
In the past we have used hammocks, but we are switching to a tent this year. Any recommendations on a tent for two adults and a child?

Also looking for input on sleeping pads. I appreciate any input!

 
bombinbrian
12/04/2022 05:18PM
 
As for tents we always go one size up… as a couple we use a 3 person tent. We’ve used Kelty tents for years. They’ve held up well and as fairly cost efficient.


As for mats we started with the 1” self inflating and are now using Sea to Summit 3-3 1/2 “ pads. There is a big difference in comfort.
 
OCDave
11/23/2022 10:20PM
 
I have been a hammock camper almost exclusively since 2012. Prior to that, the "backpacking" tent I carried was a cozy 6+ pound Quest Preying Mantis, (cool design but small and heavy). When I needed to add a backpacking tents for a family trip to Isle Royale, I went with the Tarptent Stratospire 2 .


I bought because it weighed less than 2 lbs, could sleep 3 and had vestibules on each side to keep packs dry. I like it but not enough to leave my hammock.
 
straighthairedcurly
11/23/2022 06:45PM
 
Tent prices can vary a LOT, so it is good to think about your budget. For 2 adults and a child, I would look at 4-person tents. I don't have a specific recommendation except that I was not happy with our last 4-person tent, REI brand. The elastic holding the poles went bad after only using the tent 1-2 times a year for 3 years and REI's response was to direct me to their website for a DIY video to replace the elastic.


I have been hunting for months for a 3-person tent and finally settled on a Sea-to-Summit Telos 3P. Hope we like it. But they don't make a 4 person. We looked at the Big Agnes tents and I liked a lot of the features, but didn't think I would like having to manage 2 zippers when getting out to pee in the middle of the night with bugs trying to attack.


For sleeping pads, we have had a number of them over the years, but now I am a huge fan of Nemo Tensor pads...relatively light, holding up well to lots of trips, easy inflation/deflation, comes in multiple sizes, and comes in an insulated version that is still small and light.
 
unshavenman
11/24/2022 10:32AM
 
I agree with getting a 4-person tent for your situation, and personally I would look at the Big Agnes lineup. I was very happy with the weight and build quality of my Copper Spur UL4 prior to switching to hanging about five years ago. As far as pads go, I was quite satisfied with Big Agnes and Exped.
 
bobbernumber3
11/23/2022 09:24PM
 
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RT
12/06/2022 08:41AM
 
I agree with everyone saying go up to a 4-person. Kid + tent = you will want the extra space. LOL. Tent wise, check out the REI brand tents. I have been using them for years and I have loved every one I have owned. If stored properly (ie not wet) you will easily get well over 100 days use out of them. Pad wise, I am very happy with Exped mats. Expensive, but so so comfy.
 
EddyTurn
12/06/2022 01:10PM
 
@straighthairedcurly: "I have been hunting for months for a 3-person tent and finally settled on a Sea-to-Summit Telos 3P. Hope we like it. But they don't make a 4 person. We looked at the Big Agnes tents and I liked a lot of the features, but didn't think I would like having to manage 2 zippers when getting out to pee in the middle of the night with bugs trying to attack."
Big Agnes makes Manzanares HV SL 4 mtnGLO , if you can find it - one zipper per door, very durable (i.e. could withstand a toddler attack) and pretty light for the size.
I have no advise for the OP since they didn't specify no criteria, even kid's age.