bennison@turtle.DEC (03/09/84)
-----------
I just got a rain check for a tent that is on sale at Bradlees.
The problem is I have no idea what to look for in a tent, other
then approximate size (8X10 or 9X12). The tent in question is made
by Coleman which makes other reliable camping equipment such as the
Coleman Lantern and Coleman Stove. The price for the 8X10 is about $95
and for the 9X12 is about $120 which includes a factory rebate.
I haven't been able to find any reviews on tents. Does anyone have any
experience with or stories about Coleman tents? Any other hints or
suggestions?
Vick Bennison
...decvax!decwrl!rhea!turtle!bennison
(603) 881-2165allyn@sdcsvax.UUCP (03/11/84)
In general, I tend toward the dome style tents with the long poles
that go all the way through. (Very hard to describe -- I hope y'all
can figure out what kind I mean; there are really only two kinds of
tents). My reasoning behind this is relatively simple -> they are easy to
put up, and they CAN'T FALL DOWN in the middle of the night. This is because
they don't rely on the stakes to hold them up at all. You don't even need
stakes, except to keep your tent from blowing away!
I don't know anything about Coleman tents, not even if they make dome style
tents. Coleman usually makes very good products that last forever.
Dome style tents do have drawbacks: They are not usually as sturdy as
regular tents. In a strong breeze, you may need to take your tent down;
they act as giant sails, and don't have the support of large standard tents.
They are usually not as large as standard tents. Standard tents can be
arbitrarily sized; dome tents must be circular on the bottom.
If you plan to do any serious camping, and no backpacking, I would recommend
getting as large a tent as you can afford, and one that you can stand up in.
Standing up in the morning to put your clothes on is much more convenient.
--
From the virtual mind of Allyn Fratkin
UCSD Pascal Project
U.C. San Diegotopher@cyb-eng.UUCP (Topher Eliot) (03/13/84)
> In general, I tend toward the dome style tents with the long poles > that go all the way through. (Very hard to describe -- I hope y'all > can figure out what kind I mean; there are really only two kinds of > tents). My reasoning behind this is relatively simple -> they are easy to > put up, and they CAN'T FALL DOWN in the middle of the night. This is because > they don't rely on the stakes to hold them up at all. You don't even need > stakes, except to keep your tent from blowing away! "Can't fall down"? Hoo-hah, you haven't been in some of the breezes I've been in. The whole thing just sort of goes squoosh down on top of you. And when it blows away, it BLOWS AWAY. As in you might not find it again, even though it had your sleeping bag, backpack, food, clothes . . . > They are usually not as large as standard tents. Standard tents can be > arbitrarily sized; dome tents must be circular on the bottom. I have a catalog at home with the weirdest-shaped "dome" tents you've ever seen. If anybody wants, I will mail the address if I can find it. I've witnessed a rectangular "dome" with only two poles (diagonally from corner to corner), it squooshed under the pressure of a sideways glance. I own a dome and am very happy with it.