Backpacking tents

[919]

Guys FWIW:

Don't store your tent rolled and packed up in it's intended storage package/stuff bag yup
It's best to air them out, dry well and store LOOSELY wadded up in a large enough cardboard box or breathable fabric bag, something like that. nope, didn't do that
You don't want to squeeze, compress, or fold the tent while it's in storage. yup, definitely did that

Keep it in your house in a cool dry place, not in the garage or attic or basement.  that too,  

Lesson learned via hard way.......  

[Strog]

If you can't find a Dick's nearby, they have the Kelty Zenith 2 on sale online for $69.99.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12248744

They just (6 weeks ago) opened a Dick's down the road from my house but I doubt they have any closeouts yet.



I don't know why I keep reading these tent threads when I've only done a couple overnights in my Eureka Apex2XT in the last couple years. It should be good for a while.  Hoping to get a few times this year.  

[ConPilot1]

If you can't find a Dick's nearby, they have the Kelty Zenith 2 on sale online for $69.99.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12248744

That's a steal. Good tent for the price. Simple, small, easy set up, decent quality.
I'd buy that over any Wally World tent anyday. That looks like the same one Mr. Black posted
a photo of.

[Mr.Black]

I have the Zenith 2.

They lied. It's a one person +stuff tent. Great for the road for a decent price.

[ConPilot1]

I have the Zenith 2.

They lied. It's a one person +stuff tent. Great for the road for a decent price.

Any two man tent on the market is a lie for capacity if you've got gear to store.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I have the Zenith 2.

They lied. It's a one person +stuff tent. Great for the road for a decent price.

They didn't lie it will fit 2 people  but the floor space is gonna be limited.  My experience with tents is always go +1 than the number of people you actually want to sleep in it.  I get a two person tent to have room for me and my stuff.  I'd get a 3 person tent if I wanted space for me and another and a little bit of gear.

[stromgal]

If you can't find a Dick's nearby, they have the Kelty Zenith 2 on sale online for $69.99.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12248744

I don't know why I keep reading these tent threads when I've only done a couple overnights in my Eureka Apex2XT in the last couple years. It should be good for a while.  Hoping to get a few times this year.  

Thanks for the info, good price! I think I'm gonna stick with buying the Grand Mesa 2, hopefully I'll be using it for a long time and thus can justify the extra bucks.  

My Apex 3XT has been great, just don't need that much space.  Suppose I'll be listing it here and Craigs come spring.

[jeepinbanditrider]

From looking around at the various backpacking forums it looks like the Kelty Zenith was a Target (the store) only tent for a while and they don't even list them on the Kelty website so I guess they got discontinued.  

I was on Kelty's website yesterday looking at some freestanders to replace my MSR Skinny2 and they now make the Kelty Acadia in 2, 4, and 6 person setups and it looks like a newer differnt color version of the Zenith with the huge mesh panels and a dual sided vestibule when you put the rainfly on.  And the 2 person model is only a 100 dollars.  I'm thinking of buying it and selling off my MSR now  

[Mastros2]

The Grand Mesa 2 packs lighter than the Zenith but is $40 more (on amazon).  

We have the Grand Mesa 4 and really love it.  I am considering the Grand Mesa 2 for solo trips.  

[jeepinbanditrider]

I'm thinking of selling my MSR Skinny 2 and picking up that Acadia.  I've got some other Kelty gear and love it.

[sleazy rider]

The saga of the Ebay tent continues.  It finally arrived today after being assured it shipped not once, but twice.  I eagerly open the box and pull out a tent that absolutely reeks of dryrot.  I roll it out on the floor, carefully inventorying  the contents.  Fly's in decent shape, all the stakes are here and the poles look new.  I then flip the tent out to see about footprint and see a 6x6 gash in the side.     Needless to say, i contacted the seller and opened a dispute with ebay.  I then packed the scrap material up and shipped it back to his sorry ass.

[Mastros2]

The saga of the Ebay tent continues.  It finally arrived today after being assured it shipped not once, but twice.  I eagerly open the box and pull out a tent that absolutely reeks of dryrot.  I roll it out on the floor, carefully inventorying  the contents.  Fly's in decent shape, all the stakes are here and the poles look new.  I then flip the tent out to see about footprint and see a 6x6 gash in the side.     Needless to say, i contacted the seller and opened a dispute with ebay.  I then packed the scrap material up and shipped it back to his sorry ass.

Wow. That sucks.  

[jeepinbanditrider]

Speaking of pack weights I was looking at the Acadia 2 and it has a minimum weight of 6.5 lbs    The Gunnison 2.1 which is the one I'm looking at now has a pack weight of 4 lbs and some change IIRC.  Not a big deal on the bike but I also use this stuff as backpacking gear and 2 lbs is alot of weight.

[sleazy rider]

Great news!  Full refund, including my return shipping on the POS used eBay tent.  I just got off Amazon (a much more reliable source of NEW gear) and picked up an Alps Mountaineering Equinox 3 backpacking tent.  I think that's a screaming deal for just $107.98.  It'll be here in about a week and I'll post up a review when I get to play with it.

http://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Equinox-3-Person-3-Season/dp/B00506YM44

Product Features
Material: [fly] 75D 185T polyester; [floor] 75D 185T polyester taffeta
Freestanding: yes
Doors: 2
Number of Vestibules: 2
Poles:
Pole Material: 7000-series aluminum
Pole Attachment: clips
Floor Space: 48 sq ft
Floor Dimensions: 6.75 x 7.583 ft
Interior Height: 50 in
Vestibule Space: 36 sq ft
Packed Size: 7.5 x 19 in
Seams: sealed
Ventilation: zippered mesh windows, mesh roof vents
Fast-pitch Option: no
Trail Weight: 7.375 lb
Recommended Use: camping
Manufacturer Warranty: lifetime

[919]

Went to a local store and picked up a Eureka Tetragon 5 for $80.  Climbed in it in the store and there should be enough room for me, my Teiz Lombard, and helmet.  At 6' 3" I can sit up comfortably.  For that price, with the amount I'm going to be able to use it, I was sold.

Packed up it is 24" long, plenty short enough to fit in my dry bag strapped to the back seat.  Not a great backpacking tent but for moto camping it should do just fine.

website of the store I bought it from:
http://www.gleasoncamping.com/eurekatetragon5.aspx

[ConPilot1]

The saga of the Ebay tent continues.  It finally arrived today after being assured it shipped not once, but twice.  I eagerly open the box and pull out a tent that absolutely reeks of dryrot.  I roll it out on the floor, carefully inventorying  the contents.  Fly's in decent shape, all the stakes are here and the poles look new.  I then flip the tent out to see about footprint and see a 6x6 gash in the side.     Needless to say, i contacted the seller and opened a dispute with ebay.  I then packed the scrap material up and shipped it back to his sorry ass.

Well that just sucks. I'd probably never buy a used tent anyway.

Here's a photo of my REI Mountain ll which is a true 4 season tent, this thing is bombproof and would probably stand up to 2ft of snow if ya did get dumped on.
This is a mountaineering grade piece of tentwork. I paid a good buck for it but it's been awesome in colder weather.
Shown with one of my "toys" I used to take camping with me a couple years ago. Ms. Funbags here loved to camp.

[Mr.Black]

Went to a local store and picked up a Eureka Tetragon 5 for $80.  Climbed in it in the store and there should be enough room for me, my Teiz Lombard, and helmet.  At 6' 3" I can sit up comfortably.  For that price, with the amount I'm going to be able to use it, I was sold.

Packed up it is 24" long, plenty short enough to fit in my dry bag strapped to the back seat.  Not a great backpacking tent but for moto camping it should do just fine.

website of the store I bought it from:
http://www.gleasoncamping.com/eurekatetragon5.aspx

How'd you find that place?

Shown with one of my "toys" I used to take camping with me a couple years ago. Ms. Funbags here loved to camp.

It's amazing you have so many exes.

[919]

How'd you find that place?

Some guy told me about it.  Pretty good camping store and I like giving my money to a local business owner, and I got a great deal IMO.  Thanks for the info.

[Mr.Black]

Some guy told me about it.  Pretty good camping store and I like giving my money to a local business owner, and I got a great deal IMO.  Thanks for the info.

They have everything all crammed up in there sometimes. Good sales too.

[sammyseaman]

Ms. Funbags here loved to camp.