hunting for a tent

[CaptHook]

This Question mayhave been asked before .been a long time since I tent camped so Iam looking for a good tent .not a peice of crap.bought one swiss tent first time I closed the zipper.well you guessed it came apart (Oct windy night ) yep we froze me an my grandson .I am looking for one big enough for 4 people or 5 .any Idea's would help . the last tent I had (1960's)was canvas & greencan't remember who made it but it lasted for years .Thank you Capt Hook

[hoot owl]

I recommend the Eureka Timberline 4XT Tent or the Eureka Outfitter 6 Tent.  These are well proven tents and been around for years. Happy camping!  If you are unfamiliar with these tents a good write up about them and other tents can be found at www.campsite190.com.

[campman]

If you are looking for a great tent without breaking the bank, Kmart carries great tents under the Northwest Territory brand name.  I own a couple and am very pleased with the quality (keeps us dry in the rain, easy to set up, etc.)  They have large dome tents that would easily fit 4-5 people and even larger cabin tents, which I personally like because you are not bending over to get in the thing.

[frank6160]

I have had decent service out of my Coleman tents of recent years. Won't break the bank but have served me well with a little care.  Seam seal them well!!

[CaptHook]

Hoot owl Thanks I just may go with the Timberline  4xt outfitter .what is a good mat for this ?.............Hook

[cfar]

Does anyone know of a great tent that can fit two air mattress in it??  We need to have a little more room!!  We are looking for one that you do not have to stake down, and only requires tent poles to put up?  We cannot seem to find one we like.  Any suggestions?   

[hoot owl]

Hook,

I'm not sure which you are asking about - a good ground cover or a good air mattress - so let's talk about both.  The cheapest and best ground cover that I have come across is the heavy builder's plastic found at most hardware stores.  I always cut mine a little less than the perimeter of the tent floor so none of the plastic is sticking out to catch moisture.  When I am car camping my personal preference is the thickest and cheapest Thermarest on the market.  (The less they weigh the more expensive they are - backpackers love them.)  I know alot of people want a camping mattress that resembles the one they have at home but i haven't found a good one - they all lose air, make noise when I move, and stick to me when I'm hot.  The trick to the Thermarest is that you sleep in it, not on it - adjust the air to fit you.  I place a Thremarest RidgeRest under my air mattress for added comfort.  I also have the chair sleeve on my Thermarest air mattress - dual purpose - and the chair is ultra comfortable in the tent when the weather isn't cooperative.