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Posted by Bill S on March 13, 2008 at 12:55:43 pm EDT
In reply to Are there any tents with good vestibule space for a dog? posted by utahhiker on March 13, 2008 at 2:13:44 am EDT

How much shelter does your lab need? Does she need a ground cloth or floor? I would assume not, since you are asking about vestibules, which are floorless in virtually all tents. My next door neighbor's lab is a wuss and needs comfy, dry shelter to rest, though she runs around enjoying the rain while active (or going through the training exercises).

You might consider using a light tarp, like the Integral Designs SilTarps. Or you might consider sharing a tent like the Black Diamond Megamid, which is a floorless pyramid that weighs about 3 pounds and has room for 4 people (there is a lighter version made of silcoat). You can carry a piece of plastic dropcloth (3 mil thickness, so very light) for you and your sleeping bag, while your lab takes the bare ground.

To get sufficient vestibule, you probably have to go to an expedition tent of 3-person size. These are designed to hold packs, provide a space to brush off the snow before entering the main tent, and have been known to act as cooking areas (forbidden in the manufacturer's instruction sheet, of course). But these are expensive and very heavy (typically 12 pounds or more). There are a few 2-person expedition tents that might have a large enough vestibule. But 3-season and backpacking tents in general have minimal vestibules, maybe enough to store your boots. I have a Sierra Designs Meteor Light that has a vestibule large enough in floor (ground?) area, but it has a sloping roof (the fly), so I doubt your lab could stand up in it to turn around. That's pretty typical for 2-person, 3-season tents.

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