I am new to the forum. So first a littel about myself. I normally backpack with my mother and my 10 year old daughter and our dogs. Sometimes my husband comes, and sometimes we do group trips. Most of the time it is just the three of us. And most of the time we just do two nights.

So I am slowly building up my gear. I really need to choose a tent. I am currently using a cheap tent from Wal-Mart. The only real good thing about it is that it weighs just under 3 pounds. It is supposed to be a 5 x 6, but it is not quite that large. I am 5'6" and either my feet or head hits the edge. Not the most comfortable way to spend the night. It also has atiny flap that serves s a rain fly. I know it would not protect me if we got any rain that was not a light shower. And on top of that I can feel every breeze. The fly barely covers the netting, so it does not protect from wind.

My budget is tight. It want it to be under 200.00. I want one that is hopefully under 5 pounds. I would prefer a freestanding tent. I hike in Arkansas and there are many places you are not getting a tent stake in the ground. I also want to be fully enclosed. Arkansas also has too many snakes and bugs for me to sleep will with openings. It should be a three season tent. Of course I want to stay dry in it, but we try to plan around weather. Obviously that is not always successful, but we probably will never be out in major weather. I have looked a lot, and the brand I keep coming back to is the Alps Mountaineering. I was actually looking at the lynx model. They seem to be a little heavier than others, but cost a lot less. The problem I have is I cannot find many reviews or opinions on them. Anyone here have thoughts on the subject? Any opinions on what tent I should look at? Any other brands that might fit my needs? Or any specific models? I do not care about color or if it is the current model, so closeouts are good for me. I just want it to do the job and not be too heavy.

Big Agnes Seedhouse 3 - 5lbs 13oz (packed weight)

Have seen a couple vendors with these under $200.
Probably the lightest 3 person tent you are going to find.
The tent you listed was 8.

Saw a Mountain Hardwear Drifter (6lbs) and Lightpath (not free-standing) 5lb 8oz.

I gave a lot of details, but left out one very impoortant one. It will only be my duaghter and I sleeping in the tent. My mother has her own. And when my husband comes we have a larger tent we split between the two of us. Thanks for the reply. Sorry I left that out. I have looked at the Big Agnes. That is my problem I keep looking and having a hard time deciding. There are so many pros and cons to look at. Any sites to recomend shopping on? I have looked at rei, campmor, sierratradingpost, and one other that escapes my memory at the moment. Thanks again.

I usually hit the shopping button on google, but just recently someone posted a link to 'thefind.com'.
Seems like it scours for coupons at every site it lists as well.

You can also check out the gear deals and gear swap sections on this site.

I did search for mostly 3 person tents, verifying the weights. You should be able to do a lot better than 8 lbs for 2 people at under $200. Hopefully there are still some end of season tents out there. Last month was a great month for shopping!

If you can expand your budget a bit take a look at the Tarptent Double Rainbow. 2 1/2 pounds.

Tarptent Double Rainbow

It's outside your stated budget range, but I would seriously consider a Tarptent Hogback. It's a four person tent and just a little over 4 lbs. This would fit all of you and have some extra room for the dogs or your mother.

The Alps Zephyr or Zenith 2 or 3 version weigh about 5 lbs and run from a low of $59.00 for the Zenith 2 at Sierra trading Post with free shipping if you sign up for email coupons. I The Alps Zephyr 3 shows up on Steep and Cheap for about 90 plus 9 shipping (at least to me}. Both are free standing , have twin doors and vestibules that will hold a full size pack and are good weather resistant designs. While heavy by BPL standards they are bargains for their construction and attention to detail. The dimensions are ok for two people .

I have used google for years, and I have never noticed the shopping button. Wow. This is pretty neat. And Steap and Cheap could be dangerous.

The tarptents are very intriguing. They are above my budget for now, but I could wait if I want to go that direction I guess. That is a new idea for me to get used to.

A lot to consider. I know if I buy cheaper now I will probably want to upgrade later. But when friends go with us they normally don't have gear, so extra gear in the future is not a big deal.

If you can get your hands on an older REI halfdome 2 tent, that would be a good match. Its under 200 dollars, around 4 lbs, good for 2 people. They redesigned it this year, and unfortunately all the ratings say it was a redesign for the worse, so you're better off trying to pick up one used. In lieu of the half-dome, theres also the kelty gunnison 2.1
http://www.moabsports.com/web-pid-40861002-Kelty-Gunnison-21-2-Person-Tent-item.htm
Edit* hmm out of stock. But I've seen em elsewhere similarly priced

Fits your criteria, as its under 5lbs, under 200, and very very spacious, even for 2.

But I agree with others, that if you can expand your budget a lil, I would get a Tarptent double rainbow. Saves you from having to upgrade later. You can probably find one cheaper if you watch/post in the gear swap. Good luck!

Edited by Konrad1013 on 03/14/2010 16:58:27 MDT.

+1 for the Alps Zephyr 3

2 doors
2 vestibules
lotsa headroom
fully taped
-6 lbs
$150 retail

I think this is one of the better overall values in tents.
I sell lots of them at work and have never had one come back. (obviously, stuff happens...) But I bet we've sold 200 of them without a problem.

If you find it cheaper online its that much better...

The Find is a very good shopping search engine . If you are about to buy something you really should try Bing Cashback. It takes a few months to get your money, but it can be deposited right to Paypal. Ebay bucks is similar . I get both . Campmor for example yields 5-7% back on many items. I've received 20% back on automotive stuff like floor mats. And try for coupons at places like retailmenot. Fatwallet can be good, and they think Bing Cashback stole their model.

"but I would seriously consider a Tarptent Hogback. It's a four person tent and just a little over 4 lbs"

+1

Here is another site to look for deals.

http://www.wearbap.com/home.php?cat=398

Way too heavy but the Lynx is on steepandcheap for 87 right now.

It is heavier than some more expensive options, but at its price it seems to be pretty good. It is 5 pounds 2 ounces total weight with 37 sq/ft of tent space plus 20 ft. for the vestibule. It seems to be pretty good. There also seems to be some good deals at the werabap.com site. But I must have missed the steep and cheap deal because I cannot find that one.

$82.46 at Sierra trading post. I'm probably going to buy one. Need a little more room with the wife. Was looking at a Lunar Duo, Big Agnes Seedhouse and some REI models...but how can I go wrong at that price! Plus with our humidity and bugs we do better with double walled tents.

yes 5lbs 3 oz is impossibly heavy for most here, but we rarely do more than two or three nights and this tent is also used for canoe trips, etc.

Silverado Dutchman

google "timberline tents"

For starters I endorse Dutch's advice - get an inexpensive tent that meets your needs. STP has many great brands at real discounts. If you get bitten by the backpacking bug, then go looking for lighter weight, more particular (and expensive) gear. The important thing now is to get you outside.

+1 on this (Zephyr actually) or the Hogback

I bought this tent at STP last year for about $90 dollars and haven't looked back. It actually came in below specs - I think it was 4lb. 12 oz. for Tent + Fly + Poles...Not bad for 3 Person full coverage w/ Poly fly, 2 doors, 2 vestibules.

Edited by biointegra on 03/15/2010 11:10:07 MDT.

after seeing several nights of camping in them in all conditions buy guys way taller than you are i can
pretty easily recommend the kelty teton 2 tent

it comes in under your budget range and you will fit in it fine i think they weigh just a tad over 4 lbs and are freestanding with aluminum poles
you can read several reviews at backcountry.com or sunnysports.com pretty good tent for the price

divr6347