GEAR CUBE FLIP TWO CORNERS UPGRADE

The Variables: Materials, thickness, insulation levels, and inflation time and methods. It seems counter intuitive, but a thin self-inflating pad like this one will actually provide substantially more comfort than an air bed. When in doubt, orient the door parallel to the wind this avoids creating a wind shadow where mosquitos will be able to get in, but will keep rain from blowing directly into that door every time you go in and out. Doing so will help keep rain out when the door is open and increase stability and ventilation. Take the time to consult the directions before you head out, then pitch it with this in mind. Most tents are designed to work best with a certain end or corner facing into the wind. After eight years of regular use, I just passed mine along to a friend, who should get several more years of comfortable nights out of it. Despite those huge dimensions, the Wagontop is actually easier to set up than many smaller rivals thanks to a single-wall design that ditches the need for a separate rain fly. The generous vestibule will also provide a place to hang out or store gear out of the sun and weather.

GEAR CUBE FLIP TWO CORNERS UPGRADE

Upgrade Pick: Nemo Wagontop 4P ($500)Ī perfect cube measuring six-and-a-half feet in all dimensions, the Wagontop features spacious accommodations, excellent ventilation, and plenty of privacy. The dome shape is a proven solution for resisting wind and rain. It’s far from fancy, but provides spacious shelter for two, with room to stand up and change in privacy. (Photo: Kelty) Budget Option: Kelty Tallboy 4 ($150)įor around the same price as a similar Coleman, this Kelty packs smaller and lighter, and employs higher quality poles, fabric, and zippers. Big box store tents with larger capacities tend to be a nightmare to setup, and a turn into disaster zones when there’s any wind. Simple tent designs like this Kelty are both robust, and affordable.

Condensation from your breath or morning dew can trap moisture inside a tent even on a dry trip, and leaving that inside when you store it will result in mildew growth, which will degrade the tent’s fabric, and shorten its life. It’s essential that you set up your tent somewhere dry and warm once you get home from any trip so it can fully dry before you pack it up again for storage. Spending more typically increases ease of setup and takedown, reduces weight and packed size, improves resistance to extreme weather, and massively extends the life of the tent. While budget box store brands advertise extremely low prices, these may prove to be false economy if you hope to get more than a weekend or two of use out of them.

That’ll leave room to store gear inside, out of the rain, and to change or roll around. A good rule of thumb for comfort is to choose a tent twice the size of the number of people you plan to use it for-so pick a four person (or 4P) tent for a car camping trip for two. If you want room to move around, or don’t want constant contact with your tent mates, size up. It’s worth noting that those sizes account for the space an average human body takes up. You’ll find tent sizes listed by the number of adults they can sleep. The variables: Floor space, interior height, weight, packed size, weather resistance, ventilation. Here’s the information you need to buy the essentials, without breaking the bank. Planning on camping this summer? You’re going to need a few items, no matter what.

Gear cube flip two corners