Tents for 4

Hi guys,

I have started backpacking after a break due to small children. We now are 4 and Dear Wife wants us all in the same tent. I bought a Kelty 6 person tent that is plenty big enough, but the darn thing weighs over 13 lbs. Does anyone know what is the lightest tent that will fit 4 people? My wife and I are about 6' and the two boys are 11 and 9.

Thanks for your help,
John

Take a look at REI or Campmor's websites; they both have a number of 4 person tents. If you can afford it, stay away from the "big box" store tents; they rarely are the bargains they seem at first. However, I looked at REI's website and didn't see anything that weighed less than 10 lbs. There may be some, but as usual, it's probably going to be "cheap or light, take your choice."

When we started backpacking with our son we bought the REI Half Dome 4 HC (http://www.trailspace.com/gear/rei/half-dome-4-hc/) -- which has one of the best ratios of square footage per pound among 4-person tents, with 57 sq. ft. of space at 8 lbs 3 oz. Other contenders were the very-similar Kelty Gunnison 4 (http://www.trailspace.com/gear/kelty/gunnison-4/) and the Eureka! Timberline 4XT (http://www.trailspace.com/gear/eureka/timberline-4xt/).

If you're going to be backpacking a lot you might also consider some of the lighter (if somewhat smaller) single-wall options, including the Black Diamond Megamid and TarpTent Rainshadow 2.

The lightest options I can think of would be the Kifaru and Titaniumgoat tipis. The Kifaru 8-man plus liner, which I own, would do and a 12-man would be better, as the kids grow to probably exceed Mom and Dad is height!

These are NOT "cheap", but, with the optional wood stoves, etc., they will work in about any weather you may encounter.

Go to:

www.kifaru.net

www.Titaniumgoat.com

For anywhere that you have the space for it's "footprint", a tipi is just great as you can stand erect in it. For really SEVERE weather, I prefer my Hilleberg Saivo and/or Soulu, but, that is probably not your major concern.

Have a look at www.msrcorp.com for the Mutha Hubba. It should fit your family well (esp with the younger children). It has two doors, two vestibules, is double walled for excellent ventilation and only weighs around 6 pounds.

I have been backpacking for a while now and I have learned that while you need to cut weight anywhere you can, going with the lightest tent you can find often proves to be a mistake if you are ever caught in bad weather, and I have been on numerous occasions. I prefer a good double wall tent, and just suck it up on the extra couple pounds.

I currently own a mountain hardware tent and it was money well spent! Mutha Hubba is a good tent. I also like the Kelty Gunnison 4 which you can pick up at a discount on Campmor.com
You just have to shop around, Tom D. is right on, stay away from the cheap stuff it's a waste of money.
Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for the information guys. Great site.

John