I had my Big Sky Evolution 2P (used maybe 5 times) and my Golite Shangri-La 3P with Nest and floor (never used, still in the bags with tags attached) stolen from my car this week (in a city parking garage), along with a bunch of other backpacking gear. Financially, it will be hard to replace those tents. I really loved the Big Sky tent and would buy it again, but it was a nightmare to actually obtain(many months of delay, terrible customer service, zero communication from Big Sky). Looking for recommendations for a roomy 2P or 3P double-walled 3 season tent for two adults + large dog in Western Washington State. What I loved about the Evolution 2P were the two doors and two vestibules (and a color other than yellow; the deep blue/grey was a nice change). I'm looking at Big Agnes UL3, but jeez, it's expensive. Ideas?

Ouch, sorry to hear that, Jen!

Out of curiosity, I clicked over to the BS site -- I recall back in May, they actually had some Evolution 2P tents on hand. But alas, looks like right now, they are out of EVERYTHING.

Curious, when did you buy yours -- when you experienced delays and all? Was it a few years ago? I ask because I was told that BS' delivery problems have been ironed out. Looking for some verification here.

Answering your question... Big Agnes also comes to my mind for lightweight double wall tents. Henry Shires also makes some double wall tarptents as well -- and well worth looking into. None is cheap, unfortunately.

You could try either of these Sierra Designs tents:

Lightning XT 2 or LT Strike 2

Both are 15% off at backcountry.com

Not sure how they compare in size or cost to Big Sky products, but both have 2 doors, 2 vestibules and come in a darker color.

Edit: Lighting XP also comes in a 3-person.

Edited by saparisor on 06/27/2010 19:13:31 MDT.

Benjamin - I ordered the tent September 2005 and received it May 2006, minus the poles. Another few weeks for the poles to arrive. My local dealer for Big Sky is Feathered Friends in Seattle. I asked if I could order another from them, but they said they stopped carrying Big Sky because of chronic supply problems. I contacted Big Sky to see if their posted current delivery date of "July" is in fact true; no response. I contacted them again on a dedicated email address to see which dealers near me (or anywhere) have the tent in stock; no reply. Such a shame - I love the tent.

Steven - Thanks. I'll look into those two SD tents.

Also wondering about the MSR Carbon Reflex 2 & 3 - also mighty expensive!

So sorry to hear your tents were stolen! What a bummer!

The Tarptent Scarp 2 comes to mind as meeting your criteria. It has the advantage of being able to set up the fly first and put up the inner tent under cover when it's raining to keep it dry. The Tarptent Double Rainbow is a single-wall tent, but you can get a canopy for it that blocks most condensation drip--and it also has two doors and two vestibules. Of course almost all the Tarptent models are in back-order status, too, but you can get an honest answer out of Henry Shires.

I've read (no experience, though) that you should order BS tents through a dealer rather than the maker. That's assuming, of course, that the dealer has some in stock, but you can verify that before placing the order.

Edited by hikinggranny on 06/27/2010 19:31:14 MDT.

Mary - Thank you for the suggestion; I'll take a closer look. I've heard such good things about Henry for as long as I've been reading the forums on here. I'd so much rather deal with honest folks!

Jen

Jen:

I have no idea whatsoever about the accuracy of BS's "July availability forecast". However, IF you are in no hurry at all and if you love your BS tent as much as you say you do -- then it won't hurt to place an order. The difference now is that BS won't charge your card until they have the tent on hand and are ready to ship. So there may still be the date unpredictability -- but at least no financial risk.

I have a BS Mirage 2P which I love.

I just returned from a trip to the Oregon Coast with plenty of expensive or hard to find older gear. I tend to be paranoid about theft having grown up in Chicago but I also know that thieves are pretty adept.We had everything under a cover that hides the cargo portion of a 2010 Hyundai Touring wagon and use an alarm and wheel lock . I am wondering how visible your stuff was in a parking garage for how long etc. And I am very sorry for your loss of such hard to find gear. Over 20 years ago we lost favorite camera, jacket , etc. after driving back to Wisconsin from Glacier almost passed out , but shoulds have unloaded that night in Madison. Thanks, John

The tents were not visible inside a very old, very beat up Gregory Z pack which was itself on the back seat behind tinted windows of a 10-year-old car. The car was parked in a downtown pay garage for only 1 1/2 hours. I had just put the gear in the car that morning and was taking it out that afternoon. There's no way the person knew what he would find in the pack when he chose to break the window.

Thanks for all the advice.

Check out the nemo espri tents. They come in both 2 and 3 person models and have pretty respectable weights and prices. I have heard good things about this tent and company.

About 2 years ago my brother had a flat tire. It was at night out in the country on a gravel road so he pulled over to change the tire. All his camping gear was in the trunk so he had to pull it out and set it on the shoulder to access the spare. He changed the tire and it was dark out and he was tired so he totally forgot about his camping gear that he had set on the shoulder. He drove about 10 minutes down the road and realized his mistake but it was too late. Everything was gone...

If you're looking for cheap gear, it's hard to beat the REI Quarterdome tents. The 2 person retails for $269 but you can get it 20% with your members coupon and usually for a lot less than that on eBay. I bought one new on eBay for $155 and that seems to be about what they normally go for. It's not the lightest at 3.8 lbs (more for the 3 person) but it is cheap and has a fairly wide floor. The length isn't good for people over 6' unless you buy the long version.

Edited by dandydan on 06/27/2010 20:28:36 MDT.

Do you have theft insurance on the car? Your deductible would apply but it may be worth a look.

Don't know for sure, but can theft claims increase one's premiums? For a few hundreds of dollars (a lot for gear but not a lot in the overall scheme of things) -- it may not be worth claiming. Maybe ask around first before actually submitting anything -- or even giving out one's policy number...

For most auto insurance companies that I am aware of, if tents are stolen out of your vehicle, they tell you that it is only covered by your homeowner's policy. Then, if you try to claim that on your homeowner's policy, they will often pay your claim, and then your premium rate will go up for the next several years. The rate increase for those several years is more than what the stolen items were worth in many instances. So, ask some questions of your insurance companies and then think it over.

One friend did not ask questions and demanded that the claim should be paid. So, they paid it and then jacked up the premium significantly for three years.

I know it doesn't seem fair.

--B.G.--

Customer service update for those keeping score -

Big Sky - Bob Molen has tracked down an Evolution 2P for me, but unlike my original tent, it has a porch. What are people's thought on the Big Sky "porches?" Worth the additional weight, complexity, and extra poles? Not sure if I should take that tent or replace with one of the ones discussed earlier in this thread. (Plus they no longer make it in that gorgeous deep plum/blue that I had; now it's olive. Minor detail, but it was an unusual and lovely color to wake up in.)

Golite - I asked and they immediately and cheerfully agreed to sell me a new tent at cost, which is 50%. So replacing my stolen Shangri-La 3 with the nest and floor would cost me $237. This was a brand new tent that I had never used. It would have been for two adults and a dog, and the occasional third person (and, of course, the dog). Anyone have praise/criticism for the Shangri-La for 3 season PNW backpacking?

Thanks everyone for your input and support.

The Porch option only adds ~3oz, and gives some nice volume to the vestibule. Better rain protection in/out, etc. Only adds one pole, essentially no complexity. Go for it! You're still right around a 3# double-wall, 2-door, relatively roomy tent.

The SL3 is great for 2 people & dog. 3 people & dog would make me quite grumpy, unless you could eliminate the center pole. I have an SL3 & like it a fair bit; I will say that I've found it necessary to use the guy-out points between staking points, or the fly sags too much for my tastes. But overall a great space:weight.