help on choosing tent

[esmundo]

I'm looking for a small 3 season tent and am considering the Eureka Zeus or the Timberline. It seems to be cheaper compare to others that I've looked at. Is their products reliable? Also does anyone have expereince with MEC tent? I am thinking of the Wanderer 2. Thanks.

[Trinityalps]

There are plenty of Eureka fans out there, but I try to comment on only that equipment I have actually used in the woods so I will let them tell you what they think . I have a number of tents (way too many). One of my first purchases was an LL Bean Microlight. It weighs about 5 pounds and it is a good three-season tent. The other good thing is that LL Bean is real easy to work with. I think the cost was about $110.00. I have used mine for a number of years and it has now become my loaner tent for friends without one. Hard to go wrong for the price.

[JohnK]

I'm looking for a small 3 season tent and am considering the Eureka Zeus or the Timberline. It seems to be cheaper compare to others that I've looked at. Is their products reliable? Also does anyone have expereince with MEC tent? I am thinking of the Wanderer 2. Thanks.

Check out the Sierra Design line of tents - they make quality/innovative tents for the most part. MEC seems to have a rela following around the world outside of the US - have heard positive things about them.

[KeithEA]

I'll second John on the Sieria Designs tents. I have several and have always been dry even in the nastiest of weather. Rain and snow. The seams all all sealed and taped for waterproofness, plus the best material is used. Never had a guy out pull out or material fail even in NWS 70 mph wind. Keith

[EdK]

I'd have to agree on the Sierra Designs. I used a Clip Flashight 2 as well as the solo version, (I forget the name at the moment), and have never had a problem with quality or function. Ed.

[KeithEA]

Good to hear from you Ed. Keith

[EdK]

Hey Keith, ditto! I missed the trip to Ak. with the rest of the Ga. boys this year due to not having enough vacation time stored up, but I don't think that'll happen next time around. So, how you been? Still getting out to Shining rock, etc...? Ever run into Bill C.? Ed.

[GreatDivide14]

Speaking of said Alaska trip, where's the trip report we were promised? Me want pictures.

I suppose we're supposed to be discussing tents here. As for reliability, that's what the Timberline has going for it. Most people don't like A-frames because they're relatively heavy and don't have a lot of head space, but they shed rain better than anything else out there, and their thick, straight poles make them very sturdy in a strong wind (although they do look like sails and can act like them, so use the guylines-- the optional vestibule makes it a whole lot more aerodynamic, too). For the reasons mentioned above, I don't care for them, but very few tents have remained marketable as long as the Timberline. There has to be a good reason; they're not nearly cheap enough to survive on economy alone. I've seen the Zeus but haven't used it; I think I've heard positive things. How useful. I've also heard great things about MEC tents; I think they test them for wind tolerance by setting them up on a trailer and towing it down an old airplane runway at 80 miles an hour (about 125 kph, for modern humans), and they definitely give you a whole lot for the money. As for SD, they're just as good as everyone else has said, and the Clip Flashlight is ubiquitous enough that you should be able to find one on sale with one web search. You can't go wrong with it.

I'm surprised no one has made a pitch for pyramid-type things. The 3-person GoLite Hex has a following here, and the Black Diamond Betamid is a well-liked 2-person model, at a cheap $98 (an extra sixty bucks knocks off a little over a pound). That's for rain protection only (sometimes adequate, if bugs aren't an issue and you have good taste in tent sites); a mesh inner with a waterproof floor is an extra $120, for total protection. The virtue here is adaptability. If you don't need bugproofing, leave the inner. If you want a floor, use a cheap tarp. For warmth, pitch it to the ground; for ventilation, jack it up six inches. Lacking a built-in floor, you're free to spill things, unless they attract bears.

Sorry to waste so much bandwidth on a useless post. Hope there was something helpful in there.

[KeithEA]

I haven't been much of any where for the last 2 years. They have been working my ass off. I had a meeting with management where I threatened to use my profile (set on my ass and answer the phone) till I retire. They gave me two days off together and with that I will get two more 3 day weekends a year. Yahoo. I should now be able to get out in the woods more. I am about to go crazy. My hiking partner (my wife) will retire this month so look out high country. No power hikers here (as you well know) but there will be a lot of stop and smell the roses. Me and the bears will be in the berry parches. How are you doing and how is the job doing. I want some pictures of the Alaska trip too. WHERE ARE THE PICS WAYN-O? Good responce to the tent question Jed. I can handle the bugs etc. but I am scared to death of snakes. So no thanks to the TP's. Solo I use a North Face, huh I can't remember the name now. Comes in at 2 lb 6 oz but cost 269! I have posted pictures of it in the past. Keith

[wayne-o]

okay...okay i'll get some up, i need to get brian to post sonme as well. within 2 days at he most i promise

Wayne

[afterpy]

Has anybody ever heard of Drift Creek as the name of a tent manufacturer. My buddy has a tent I can have for free it's almost new and looks decent, about 6lbs,rain fly, waterproof...I just can't find anything on it. He bought it as a last minute purchase when he left his tent in another vehicle by mistake. The price is right...lol

[Jordie]

I use a tarp when solo, but when share a tent I have the Black Diamond Firstlight Tent for certain conditions (single wall- less ventillation) and old Walrus Arch Rival (similar to Sierra Clip Flashlight) for when more ventillation is needed.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/tentdetail.cfm/SD1020


http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47783168&parent_category_rn=4500457