Help Ethan put a roof over his head.

[eth93]

Noooo, I’m not homeless I’m tentless.
I plan on doing quite a lot of camping this year. Mainly staying in caravan parks and peoples backyards up on the beautiful sunshine coast.

A tent is a tent to me. So I thought maybe I’d get some feedback/ suggestions from the smart folk on here.

I’m a cheap ass so I’d like to keep the price under $100

I’ll be camping on my own.
Weight really isn’t an issue.
Size really isn’t an issue. Though I would like to keep it as small as possible.

I like the look of this tent, it’s a Wild Country Haven Dome Tent. ( if that means anything to you )

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-s ... escription


As You can tell I know nothing about tents or camping in general.

So if anyone has any suggestions, shoot.

Cheers
Ethan

[CanuckChubbs]

Hey,

When it comes to tents, you get what you pay for. I bought a cheapo tent ~$120 and it leaked after a little rain. But in saying that, there are GREAT!! bargains to be picked up from Gumtree and ebay. In Australia I picked up a tent for me and my wife for $80 from ebay.com.au. I researched it and found that it retails for $329. Great tent, great bargain.

Its great that weight is no issue cause the lighter/less material you want the more you pay...

[hgfish]

True what CanuckChubbs has said - For a few days and dry weather should be good enough but if you plan extended trips you really want something waterproof and where you'd be able to stand and also store a bit of gear. Not being able to stand up especially if it's rainy is no fun and if you get one big enough to have a single mattress and be able to take cooking gear etc. so you don't have to pack the car each time you head off somewhere even better. Another option is the tent you've listed and then a tarp you can put up so that it's underneath, that way the tent will be cooler and you'll be able to be "outside" but still protected.

[Squidder]

Have you considered a swag?

[koich]

http://www.outdoorsonline.com.au/loadSh ... ctsPage.do

These guys are really good to deal with, and cheap.

[DougOut]

my 2 cents ...... for a basic camp any of the cheap dome tents are fine, provided you also have a tarp on hand.
The combined dollars will still be less then a "water proof" expensive tent, and the tarp has other benefits as well.
On hot nights and with the dome under a tarp you can leave the "fly" off the dome and have better air circulation.
It's not always necessary to erect the tarp, if it's a one night stay and the forecast is clear, just put-up the dome.
If your going to be staying longer, the weather could change so best to include the tarp (provides shade and keeps the dome and surrounds dry in most rain conditions ).
cheap-as-chips dome and a good size tarp, gives you the option of have both or just one of them erected.

[RedPhoenix]

Something a bit left-field:
I picked up a malamoo '3 second tent' a while back. 120 bucks, and can be thrown up and put away in literally seconds: No poles.

It's very light, but takes up a bit of room (maybe 5 foot circle in diameter, but only about 5cm wide).

If you're moving regularly (every day or two), might be worth considering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JnAQp-IIPo

Red.

[Davey G]

depends how often you'll be using it.

some cheap tents have dodgy seams and poles that won't withstand a light breeze. more expensive tents have better zips, better seams and poles which can withstand an artcic blast. most tents come iwth an inner (breathable) shell and outer (waterproof) shell/fly. for under $100 you'll be at the bottom end of the market

you need to consider - sleeping space, storage space (packs/food etc), ventilation, size when packed up, roof height and whether you'll always be on your own or not

As others have said, a tent which you can stand up in to get changed is great (rather than expedition style tents where you can basicvally only crawl in and out), something that's big enough for you and your gear and something that is easy to carry/store and doesnt break the bank.

[breamfish]

I bought a dome style tent a while back for $150 and it only lasted 3 trips before the poles rotted and snapped . The poles were fiberglass so just make sure the tent you buy has half decent poles.

Snapped Pole

3.jpg (71.26 KiB) Viewed 1189 times

[paulo]

Spend the money and get a decent tent. One with aluminium poles. If you will be doing a lot of beach camping then a free standing tent is also good to have.
I bought this one at Mountain Designs http://www.mountaindesigns.com/online-s ... odID=15145
but only paid $149 for it on special in October. Look around they always seem to be on sale.

Cheapos are fine overnight but if youre on a multiday trip you may be 2 days paddle from home. One decent storm and your cheapo will snap the fibreglass poles and they usually go through the fly. I also carry a hiker fly (http://www.summitgear.com.au/shop/index ... 45469b0205)and put it over the tent if rain is coming. Also good to catch the rain to drink or fill a shower bag.

[GMansfish]

As the others have said dome and tarp are good. The best thing bloke from work put me onto, is cheap shade cloth to use as a ground sheet under the tent and floor for the tarp makes camping comfortable, water goes thru and keeps every thing reasonably clean (tent and feet).

[StevenM]

Blackwoldf Stealth Mesh

use with fly if its raining, or just mesh when hot. Would call it a 4 season Qld Tent, 3 season south of the border tent.

Very Happy with mine.

http://www.downundercamping.com.au/prod ... 443&page=2

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/black ... -mesh.html

http://blackwolf.com.au/adventure1000078/stealth-mesh/

[kraley]

Something a bit left-field:
I picked up a malamoo '3 second tent' a while back. 120 bucks, and can be thrown up and put away in literally seconds: No poles.

It's very light, but takes up a bit of room (maybe 5 foot circle in diameter, but only about 5cm wide).

If you're moving regularly (every day or two), might be worth considering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JnAQp-IIPo

Red.

I like this - same concept as a beach suntent. Why not?

[TheFishinMusician]

Something a bit left-field:
I picked up a malamoo '3 second tent' a while back. 120 bucks, and can be thrown up and put away in literally seconds: No poles.

It's very light, but takes up a bit of room (maybe 5 foot circle in diameter, but only about 5cm wide).

If you're moving regularly (every day or two), might be worth considering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JnAQp-IIPo

Red.

That looks really really good!

Really

[rawprawn]

Something a bit left-field:
I picked up a malamoo '3 second tent' a while back. 120 bucks, and can be thrown up and put away in literally seconds: No poles.

It's very light, but takes up a bit of room (maybe 5 foot circle in diameter, but only about 5cm wide).

If you're moving regularly (every day or two), might be worth considering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JnAQp-IIPo

Red.

I like this idea. If you’re like me and hate spending time putting tents up or down then this would be a good option especially if you moving spots regularly. I camp out at least once a month and I have about 5 tents. Domes are great but I prefer a swag because I just roll it out on I'm done. The problem with swags is if you need to have it covering you for protection from bugs or rain they can get a bit hot in summer. This option looks to have the best of both worlds and I might have to add to my tent collection.