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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Canoeing with kids :: New 4 Person Tent
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| paddlefamily |
The best details: 8 pounds. (includes rain-fly) Floor area: 57.5 sq feet 2 vestibules, each with 17 sq feet of space. One of my favorite features in a tent. Packs go in the "back" vestibule, creating nice front entry for shoes. Head height: 52" Price: 319.95 (very good for what your getting, you'd be hard pressed to find another tent with these features for this price.) I'd like one now, please. :) |
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| mirth |
BWPaddler - After not really considering them at first my attention's starting to be drawn by the timberline sq 4xt. Maybe its part nostalgia for Scouts but I also like the built in vestibule and wing area in the back. I think what you said about having the fly on and still being able to open a window is a very good point. It's the heaviest between the 3 at 10lb 11oz, but its also the least expensive at 242 with free shipping from sunnysports.com. |
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| BWPaddler |
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| nojobro |
Specs: Base Size: 7'6 x 8'6 Center Height: 4'4 Vestibule Depth: 35" Tent Area: 64 sq. ft. Vestibule Area: 25 sq. ft. Tent and Fly Weight: 10 lb. 1 oz. Total Weight: 10 lb. 12 oz. Packed Size: 9" x 23" Pole Diameter: 11 mm Color: Tan/Green/Tan Style: Two-pole rectangular dome Use Rating: 3 Season Sleeps: Four |
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| mogos |
thanks! i rented it from the center for outdoor adventures at the university of minnesota. they have some of the best rental prices, especially on canoes. and no requirement to be a student; they rent to the general public for the same affordable rates: COA rentals didn't you go to their sale/swap last year? it's coming up again on april 6-7: COA gear sale/swap the granite gear #4 bag i picked up there last year has performed well. this year, i'm hoping they'll have a footprint for my new tent. 'tis the season for gear deals! |
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| nojobro |
quote BWPaddler: "Did you set it up in the living room yet Nola? Pics! Sorry, no pics. And no rain fly on yet...living room was too small. |
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| paddlefamily |
quote mogos: "BW- |
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| BWPaddler |
- 8lbs 8oz + 2lbs 12oz for two vestibules - 63 sq feet in tent - plus 2 vestibules, each with 14 sq ft - head height 58" - Price less than $150 right now at Campmor (didn't search for better) for the tent with an extra $90 for two vestibules. OK, I guess the Timberline gets significantly heavier with the vestibule weight added in, and the price goes up too. I do like being able to choose - vestibule or not, one or two, etc. and I like to be able to have the fly on and still look outside with a window open. Guess you could do that with the Lynx awning open. I can guarantee 5 people fit in the T4, been doing it for years and kids are now age 12, 11, and 8. Rectangle floor is about 9' x 7', so we sleep cross ways on the 7' side and almost have 2' per person. Lynx is 86" x 96" T4 is 86" x 105" so I guess it would be a little tighter in the Lynx, but with smaller kids probably still doable easily. Do you have a birthday coming up? Good luck - it's fun to dream... |
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| mirth |
Privacy certainly isn't an issue for bw camping but I'm looking for it to serve double duty as both a backcountry tent and car/scout camping. Even in those situations the privacy issues are more my wife's concern, but I do hope to start taking the whole family camping in more popular places. Other than size, the thing that drew me to the HD was the amount of mesh on it. We're coming from a coleman 9x9 dome with just the doors, one window on the back wall, and some tiny panels in the ceiling for ventilation.... it gets stuffy in there. |
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| BWPaddler |
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| mogos |
14 pounds 130" x 110" 5'10" center height 99 square feet (tent) 29 square feet (vestibule) 1 door it is a big tent. it is not as nice as the casa 6 and it's heavier, but much less expensive. i rented one last year to field test it. it is a very tough tent with enough space to survive rainy days with my 3 young boys and their friends. i haven't tested it in the wind, but the full rainfly gives me hope for some resilience in high winds. good ventilation. and the vestibule is big enough to easily stand up to take on/off muddy boots outside the tent. i know that it might be tough to always find an ideal tent pad in the bwca, so on some trips we might still 2-tent it. but i love being all together as a family in the same tent. this is also a better option for quick overnights than my 50-pound "Polyester Palace" (Eureka Extended Stay). that tent is a marvel, but it takes some time and 2 people to set it up. and its 19' x 14' footprint (has a screen room attached) can make finding a tent pad formidable, even at the state parks! i'm glad to hear nojobro's review of the alps taurus. their tents look great, but i've never been in one. |
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| BWPaddler |
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| paddlefamily |
And like you, I prefer two vestibules. That NF Meadowland is intriguing. That's one big tent. Would be really good in crummy weather for card games. |
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| mirth |
This is the tent I've had my eye on for some time. 7 square feet of additional space on either end certainly is something to consider but does that then make it too unwieldy for your typical bwca tent pads? By my math you need almost 13' of space to pitch the tent and fly properly. I can't find pitched dimensions for the Half Dome 4 so I can't really compare. I like the high amounts of mesh of the HD4, however I know my wife would appreciate the more privacy of the Big Agnes. Both tents have the features I'm looking for - multiple entry with vestibules, full coverage fly, steep walls... |
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| BWPaddler |
quote paddlefamily: "What do you plan to do long term as the kids grow? Stick to one tent or go to two? We keep going back and forth. We're thinking of doing two ultra-light 3 person tents when they get bigger." Kind of have my eye on a Meadowland at 14+ pounds... north face meadowland as a possibility for all of us... and the BigAgnes Big House 6 has lots of good reviews if I could get used to a non-rectangle floor or wanted something taller... but in reality, we'll likely use the T4 and the T2 that we already own and improve the chances of finding a campsite that would work. The 6-person footprints are a bit large for most BW tent pads I think... maybe I'm wrong? I'd love to see them all set up. Oh, I think canoearoo uses a MH Casa 6 tent? Lighter still at under 13 lbs and just about 76 sq ft. Good specs! One vestibule though - which might be better for a BW tent pad, but worse design for me, like having gear in back and come and go in front. Also would have to see it set up, the diagram shows 5 shoulder to shoulder and a 6th person at the feet. So probably pros and cons there, but I do like my rectangle :) |
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| paddlefamily |
No, birthday already came and went. Just like to look at gear and see how companies are modifying and perfecting their products. We currently own a 5 person, Mountain Hardwear tent that weighs 12#. The only hiccup is that it doesn't fit very well in our packs. Too long. We make it work by splitting things up, but I'm always on the lookout for something for the family that is lighter and will pack horizontally. What do you plan to do long term as the kids grow? Stick to one tent or go to two? We keep going back and forth. We're thinking of doing two ultra-light 3 person tents when they get bigger. |
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| BWPaddler |
Vestibule sounds HUGE! |
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| Canoearoo |
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| paddlefamily |
quote mirth: "Paddlefamily & BWPaddler - good points on the vestibules not having to be on the tent pad. Regarding square footage, how much could one expect to be able to store in 10 sq ft of space? I certainly like how the BA's doesn't come to a point, plus the various options regarding how it can be set up." I've put our 2 GG packs, plus the empty food pack into a 7 sq ft vestibule. Being that there isn't really anything in them they can be nested together. |
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| paddlefamily |
Good comparison. They are nearly identical when you look at the specs. A few differences in the details, like you gain 4" of headroom in the Lynx 4, but in the HD you eliminate 1 lb. Otherwise, I start to look at set up. How do the poles clip on? Is the hub system a no-brainer? Are any of the materials better with one vs the other? Will it fit well into the pack? You know, split hairs. That REI Half Dome 4 is pretty nice. Especially the price. Regarding your comment about fitting on a tend pad. I only have this semi-close comparison. We've taken a Mutha Hubba HP 3 that is 96x62 with the addition of two, 7 sq ft vestibules. It's a little narrower than the Big Agnes and Half Dome, but we had no space issues setting it up with the double vestibules. I think we could have easily gone larger. If you get around to buying something please tell us what you think about it. :) Thanks for the info. |
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| BWPaddler |
As to vestibules - I can usually rig them up OUTSIDE the tent pad - the ground for the gear vestibule anyway doesn't have to be level or free of rocks and roots... only the sleeping area and to some degree the vestibule at front entrance (which I only use on the T4 if there is bad weather). I think the T4 vestibules are 14 sq ft and PLENTY big to stack empty packs, day packs, boots or muddy clothes for family of five. But I wouldn't want to cut it in half at all... paddlefamily - that meadowland is unique, large footprint but SHORT which helps (I assume) with wind and weight. Probably never buy one, but I'd still love to see one set up. |
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| mirth |
A separate add-on vestibule is out there, according to Eureka. I could only find it at Sunny Sports. The rep at Eureka did confirm that previous generation Timberline vestibules will not work, except for the awning which is compatible. Pix and whatnot to come once I get it. |
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| mirth |
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| paddlefamily |
quote mirth: "Oh, I chose the SQ XT version over the straight Timberline because I liked having mesh on the sides of the tent. It also has more pole clips on the tent body plus a spreader pole halfway down the ridgeline to pull the tent body out some, and the waterproof coating is 1000mm opposed to 800mm on the non-SQ. Glad you found a tent. I like more mesh too. Interesting detail about the ridgeline spreader. I wondered about the sides. Good choice. I could be wrong, but is this the add on vestibule your searching for? campmor |
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| mirth |
I'll know this weekend - UPS should be bringing the tent to work on Friday! |