I'm looking for a two person tent for my son and I. I've narrowed down my search to these three tents. Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2, Tarptent Squall 2 and the Tarptent Double Rainbow. I'm leaning towards the Squall 2 since the price is good and it's lighter than the others. I will be doing 3 season camping mainly in the Rockies with occasional trips to Southern Utah desert. I don't have any experience with tarps so am not inclined to try one out yet. Plus the bugs are pretty bad in many of the areas I camp so I would prefer a tent. Since most of you have a lot more experience than I do please give me some input on what you guys think is the best tent out of the above three. If I have overlooked some better options let me know that as well.

Thanks.

How large is your son? The FC UL2 is quite small for 2 adults. You may want to consider the 3 person version?

Personally, I would go with the TT Double Rainbow. Nothing better than two doors and two vestibules for two people.

Jeff,

I loved my Double Rainbow when I had it. Tarptent has the new StratoSpire 2 that is being released soon. It is a double wall which is the only thing that I didn't like about my DR. Just thought that I would throw that one into the mix as well

Edited by heathpitts on 11/28/2011 10:33:40 MST.

David - My son is 14 years old and small for his age at just 5'3".

Heath - The StratoSphire 2 would be a good one to look at. Since it was a new design I wasn't sure if I should include that one or not.

Okay, well the FC2 has had great reviews but it would be best to climb in one with your son. I am not a fan of front entry tents, however.

Yes! on the SS2 - looks amazing.

I have the Double Rainbow, which I also would recommend. Other excellent 2-person options would include the Six Moons Designs Lunar Duo, the Zpacks Hexamid Twin, and the Mountain Laura Designs Trailstar Shelter (a tarp) combined with the Bearpaw Pyranet 2 (netting).

While I'll be in the minority here, for kids, exspecially if they go into scouts, I'd want a more conventional free-standing double wall tent.

You may want to think about the BA Copper Spur 2 or 3. 2 doors, plenty of gear storage out of the elements, and a great warranty. Kids like to tear up guylines. Don't ask me how I know this.

I'll take the weight penalty for comfort when it comes to kids so they want to go out with me again...

My kids loved my tarp when I switched to it. It feels more adventurous than a fully enclosed tent to a boy that age (and to me for that matter). I have a Spinn Twinn from Gossamer Gear. It covers a huge area. Its so much bigger than my TT Squall at a fraction of the weight. Something to think about anyway.

Edited by alexdrewreed on 11/28/2011 11:38:52 MST.

If you're thinking about Tarptent, give the Scarp 2 some consideration. Fully enclosed (a must in the Rockies in the summer), two doors, and lots of room. MontBell Thunderdome is a great tent but only one door.

"My son is 14 years old and small for his age at just 5'3". "

Believe a mother of three boys and grandmother of four, that status will not last long! A year at most!

The Tarptent Squall 2 is plenty big enough for two adults, even large ones. I really like it for two people. It is big enough with enough ventilation that it has hardly any condensation issues. On the other hand, the Double Rainbow has two doors, which is really convenient.

Edited by hikinggranny on 11/28/2011 13:10:12 MST.

Agree with trying out the FC UL2 first - my wife and I use it and I wouldn't want to share one with someone I wasn't intimate with. Also agree that he won't stay small long.

I just ordered a Stratospire2 as my first ultralight tent.

For me, 1kg of tent is all I want to carry when alone but I fall into the "I hike to camp" rather than "camp to hike" category so I wanted something that will still be a nice base camp for 2 people.

Will report when it gets here. Literally just ordered today.

A more spacious tent is really nice in the winter when all those hours of darkness mean more hours in the tent.

I really like my Fly Creek UL 1 but if I was going to add a person (even small) I'd look at the Fly Creek UL3 instead of a UL2. The low ceiling in these tents means the slope of the walls is fairly steep, so although the footprint of the tent is generous the overhead space is not.

I would still pick a double wall over a single wall tent for younger kids because they will generally be less aware of damp walls than an adult.

The vestibule in the Fly Creek is small, so if you have a lot of extra gear to store you may want to pass on that design. I rarely (if ever) have gear in my vestibule, so a large vestibule is just extra weight for me. Something to consider, especially when deciding on a double vs single entry shelter. A single door/vestibule will save some weight. In most cases with a young child, you will be getting up when they do anyway, so a double door really isn't necessary IMO.

Edited by skopeo on 11/29/2011 01:19:12 MST.

Thanks for the input everyone. I was leaning towards a Tarptent but I am a little worried about using a single wall tent. I'm just beginning to get into lightweight backpacking. The tent I have used in the past is the REI Half Dome 2. Great tent but heavy. I've never used a single wall design like the Tarptent.

Hi Jeff,

the Tarptent Stratosphire 1 & 2, the Scarp 1 & 2, the Hogback, and the Notch are all fully double walled shelters.

David - Thanks for pointing that out. I thought they where all single wall tents. That info will help in my decision making.

I'm not familiar with backpacking in the Rockies. Is it easy to find spots on the ground to fit your tent?

I've camped with the Tarptent Scarp (older version) in the Sierra, and I've found that the nice width/length/roominess of that shelter can actually be a liability when trying to find sites above timberline. The rockier it is, and/or the more crowded it is, the harder it is to find a site for a somewhat bigger tent footprint versus a smaller one.

Yet you do want it wide enough to comfortably accommodate you and a GROWING son.

I think the solution in that situation is to pick a mildly narrow to mid-width tent with very steep walls and little slope. Those steep walls will make the tent seem MUCH bigger.

- Elizabeth

I agree with Elizabeth. Unless you sleep only in campgrounds the footprint of a tent is a bigger issue than you may think. It is certainly a balancing act. Too small is a coffin and will get you wet with condensation. Too big is an issue also due to the difficulty squeezing into those non-traditional tent sites that you are sometimes forced into as dusk is quickly approaching.

If I'm hiking with someone I always prefer two single person tents to a larger 2-person. I'll carry the extra weight rather than share a tent.

Another option is the Six Moon Designs Haven. Vertical sidewalls, 2 doors and an inner nettent that you set up under the tarp (the inner stays dry) or leave at home when bugs won't be around.

Edit: on sale right now, too!

Edited by saparisor on 12/01/2011 10:42:45 MST.