nickatnite
05-28-2008, 08:24 AM
Well,
Now we are coming out of a Mountain Hardware Thruhiker (it's a "2 person" backpacking tent) which is perfect for 1 person and gear.
Here is how we came to our decision.
Jules hobby background is running, backpacking and hiking.
Mine has been motorbikes, MTB riding, camping and hiking.
So this set out the criteria for what we were looking for in a tent. That I could be able to pack it and carry it if we use it backpacking instead of 2 smaller tents.
A good freestanding 3 season tent, with room for us and our gear (helmets, jacket, pants and tank bag) then a decent vestibule (for boots and Jesse's if the need to take them off). Also, decent head room (not necessarily to stand up, but head room), ease in setting up and packability. Also, the need of a bathtub type floor (spent too manynights in the rain). I wanted something that can pack decent on the bike. Price point was to try to stay under 300 bucks. So that meant that there are a lot of good tents out there.
Now that website (backcountry outlet) does sell the same BA tent in a 2 person in which the Queen mattress will fit, but that is all; plus this 3 person was only 30 bicks more.
I had narrowed it down 3 tents plus a "fourth if dire need".
1) The MSR Mutha Hubba - a 2007 model
2) The Sierra Designs Antares tent - also a 2007 model
3) The Big Agnes Muddy Slide 3 - a 2007 model
and a "maybe" tent
Cabela's Delux XPG 4 Person tent.
So why look at last years tents?
Why not...
I'm all about saving money (that way I can buy more PBR!!!) Hell, my riding gear is all the BMW Savannah II gear (that I love).
On to the tents:
MSR Mutha Hubba: (the most expensive)
Pros: Great tent, highly recommended by a lot of people on here.
Cons: 5 poles to hassle with while assembling (not a biggie tho), no bathtub floor.
Sierra Designs Antares:
Pros: Another well built tent. Good reviews (plus ground cloth included).
Cons: Not really any except i has 3 poles. 2 main ones and a "brow" pole.
Big Agnes Muddy Slide 3:
Pros: Good built tent. Could find only 1 review of THIS tent. A lot of people on here talk good about the BA tents.
Cons: Really couldn't find anyone who used this tent on here, which is odd.
Cabela's Delux XPG 4 Person tent:
Come in at a whopping 10 lbs packed and packs at 9" x 20". They don't make this tent is a 3 person, just 2 or 4. Plus you have to get the ground cloth seperate. So, I am looking at 220 for the tent and then another 20 bucks for the ground cloth.
Advantage: They have a Cabela's not 5 miles from my house.
Complimentary website pic:
http://static.backcountryoutlet.com/images/items/detail_large/BAG/BAG0087/MSSGS_D1.jpg
So here are real pics:
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308133_zja5n-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308329_5WVUX-L.jpg
Everything packed so nice and neat ( packed size was right at 23inches).
Now there wasn't any instructions on this thing, but it's not too hard to set up.
Let's set it up in the garage, shall we? BTW, the back yard is way to muddy to do this right now.
Footprint - Included with the tent!
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308673_AuQge-L.jpg
74" wide
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308819_8Us7Y-L.jpg
85" long
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308975_EUCJu-L.jpg
It only has 2 poles - made out of some good quality aluminum.
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309127_m99Uz-L.jpg
It also comes with 10 of the BA stakes - 7075 - T6 Aluminum
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309259_3kaYb-L.jpg
So enough of the jabbering and let's set it up...
Throw the tent down:
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309616_UZfGi-L.jpg
Insert the 2 poles that criss croos (they are the same length) so nothing to get wrong:
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309761_tc3Ux-L.jpg
Hook the poles into the lops and set it up and you are done, in under 5 minutes.
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309896_QzxYw-L.jpg
So dimensions when it's assembled.
87" long
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310031_6YAkk-L.jpg
Say 78" wide
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310165_M4sBL-L.jpg
How about inside:
Nice tub floor....
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310286_QbNGb-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310429_s2obp-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310842_H3fi9-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252311040_W4GQZ-L.jpg
It also comes with a cool little gear loft.
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310623_XSKDM-L.jpg
more to follow.
Now we are coming out of a Mountain Hardware Thruhiker (it's a "2 person" backpacking tent) which is perfect for 1 person and gear.
Here is how we came to our decision.
Jules hobby background is running, backpacking and hiking.
Mine has been motorbikes, MTB riding, camping and hiking.
So this set out the criteria for what we were looking for in a tent. That I could be able to pack it and carry it if we use it backpacking instead of 2 smaller tents.
A good freestanding 3 season tent, with room for us and our gear (helmets, jacket, pants and tank bag) then a decent vestibule (for boots and Jesse's if the need to take them off). Also, decent head room (not necessarily to stand up, but head room), ease in setting up and packability. Also, the need of a bathtub type floor (spent too manynights in the rain). I wanted something that can pack decent on the bike. Price point was to try to stay under 300 bucks. So that meant that there are a lot of good tents out there.
Now that website (backcountry outlet) does sell the same BA tent in a 2 person in which the Queen mattress will fit, but that is all; plus this 3 person was only 30 bicks more.
I had narrowed it down 3 tents plus a "fourth if dire need".
1) The MSR Mutha Hubba - a 2007 model
2) The Sierra Designs Antares tent - also a 2007 model
3) The Big Agnes Muddy Slide 3 - a 2007 model
and a "maybe" tent
Cabela's Delux XPG 4 Person tent.
So why look at last years tents?
Why not...
I'm all about saving money (that way I can buy more PBR!!!) Hell, my riding gear is all the BMW Savannah II gear (that I love).
On to the tents:
MSR Mutha Hubba: (the most expensive)
Pros: Great tent, highly recommended by a lot of people on here.
Cons: 5 poles to hassle with while assembling (not a biggie tho), no bathtub floor.
Sierra Designs Antares:
Pros: Another well built tent. Good reviews (plus ground cloth included).
Cons: Not really any except i has 3 poles. 2 main ones and a "brow" pole.
Big Agnes Muddy Slide 3:
Pros: Good built tent. Could find only 1 review of THIS tent. A lot of people on here talk good about the BA tents.
Cons: Really couldn't find anyone who used this tent on here, which is odd.
Cabela's Delux XPG 4 Person tent:
Come in at a whopping 10 lbs packed and packs at 9" x 20". They don't make this tent is a 3 person, just 2 or 4. Plus you have to get the ground cloth seperate. So, I am looking at 220 for the tent and then another 20 bucks for the ground cloth.
Advantage: They have a Cabela's not 5 miles from my house.
Complimentary website pic:
http://static.backcountryoutlet.com/images/items/detail_large/BAG/BAG0087/MSSGS_D1.jpg
So here are real pics:
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308133_zja5n-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308329_5WVUX-L.jpg
Everything packed so nice and neat ( packed size was right at 23inches).
Now there wasn't any instructions on this thing, but it's not too hard to set up.
Let's set it up in the garage, shall we? BTW, the back yard is way to muddy to do this right now.
Footprint - Included with the tent!
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308673_AuQge-L.jpg
74" wide
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308819_8Us7Y-L.jpg
85" long
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252308975_EUCJu-L.jpg
It only has 2 poles - made out of some good quality aluminum.
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309127_m99Uz-L.jpg
It also comes with 10 of the BA stakes - 7075 - T6 Aluminum
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309259_3kaYb-L.jpg
So enough of the jabbering and let's set it up...
Throw the tent down:
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309616_UZfGi-L.jpg
Insert the 2 poles that criss croos (they are the same length) so nothing to get wrong:
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309761_tc3Ux-L.jpg
Hook the poles into the lops and set it up and you are done, in under 5 minutes.
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252309896_QzxYw-L.jpg
So dimensions when it's assembled.
87" long
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310031_6YAkk-L.jpg
Say 78" wide
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310165_M4sBL-L.jpg
How about inside:
Nice tub floor....
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310286_QbNGb-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310429_s2obp-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310842_H3fi9-L.jpg
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252311040_W4GQZ-L.jpg
It also comes with a cool little gear loft.
http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/252310623_XSKDM-L.jpg
more to follow.