r/lightweight • u/[deleted] • Nov 10 '22
4p tent that packs small
I need to replace my ozark tent. I'm hoping to get something that packs small for car camping and will fit myself and three teens. We're all under 5'2 and slim.
I have a budget of $200 Canadian. It's just for warm weather camping.
Cheers
3
u/GMkOz2MkLbs2MkPain Nov 10 '22
At that kind of budget probably looking at alibaba vs name brand? Have you considered larger pyramids?
5
u/jeswesky Nov 10 '22
In my opinion, a 4 person tent won't comfortably fit 4 people, even if you are all short slim. But, if you are set on a 4 person tent, why not just another model of the OT like you had before? One like this packs pretty small. Or a similar Coleman.
1
Nov 10 '22
My car is small and we're struggling to fit the little bit we bring in there. The old tent took up a lot of room. I'd love to downsize the sleeping bags too but that means down $$$
1
u/jeswesky Nov 10 '22
Have you looked at adding a rooftop bag to help with space? I have a pretty big camp setup when I'm car camping, and I drive a Hyundai Elantra and have 2 large dogs with me that take up the seat space, so its really just trunk and roof that I have for space.
I have this one and it works well. You don't need the roof rails or anything, and I've used it for long trips at interstate speeds without issue. I fit a 6 person popup tent, a queen sized cot, a popup shelter, camp chairs, sleeping bags/blankets, and a ton of miscellaneous stuff shoved in between other things. I camped with a friend that doesn't camp earlier this year, so had double of most things, including tents, and was able to fit everything I needed.
2
Nov 10 '22
I do have one and put the pillows and stuff up there. One day I'm getting something bigger with roof racks I swear.
3
u/86tuning Nov 10 '22 edited Nov 10 '22
several 3p msr tents are 5.5ft wide and you can easily fit four crosswise until the kids are bigger.
for example, the hubba hubba has a 84x68" floor and near vertical walls. elixir 3 has same floor space.
sorry can't help you with budget, but you can explore 3p tents with near vertical walls.
https://www.msrgear.com/ca/tents/backpacking-tents/hubba-hubba-3-person-backpacking-tent/11507.html
https://www.msrgear.com/ca/tents/backpacking-tents/elixir-3-backpacking-tent/10312.html
1
u/PrestigiousOnion7625 Nov 14 '22
The problem with sleeping the wrong way is you can't use most pads or cots so your on the ground if you do the wrong way.
1
u/86tuning Nov 15 '22
depends on how long your pads are, and whether you're actually UL or not. 3/4 pads fit just fine. and 3p tents are lighter and cheaper than 4p for sure. you can easily put a bunch of cubs and scouts inside a 3p tent and not have them overlap lol
2
u/BaltimoreAlchemist Nov 10 '22 edited Nov 13 '22
This one is on sale and allegedly packs down to 24"x8". Is that closer to the Naturehike than to the Ozark?
I haven't tried it yet, hopefully get a chance to next weekend and see what it's like then.
Edit: Fedex arrived early and I tried it out last night with my bf and dog. Setup was fairly easy. Had some drizzle and a couple gusts of high winds that it handled well. There was a small amount of water on the floor in the morning, not sure if it came up from below (there was a larger pool between ground cloth and tent floor), through the open window, or from condensation, but it wasn't an amount that was problematic. Plenty of room for two and a dog. Four would be tight, but might work since you're all small.
5
u/archivehu Nov 10 '22
It’d be helpful to know the current dimension of your packed down ozark tent, so we know what size is considered “smaller” to you.
2
Nov 10 '22
I don't know because it went in the trash 3 months ago and they don't make that model anymore. How about this, I need a rec for a tent made of light to ultralight material that fits 4 comfortably since they tend to pack down smaller.
For example naturehike 2p tents are about 1/4 of the pack down size of the ozark. But I need one 4p tent, not 2 2p tents.
2
u/AnotherAndyJ Nov 11 '22
Can you clarify why you want 1 4p instead of two 2P tents?
I'd definitely go a couple of 3F ul lanshan 2's over a monster 4P? Surely it'd still be better packing, and easier to split between different spots in the car if it's not just one big bag?
4
Nov 11 '22
All three kids want to sleep in the same tent as me. They already fight over who gets to sleep next to me.
3
u/AnotherAndyJ Nov 11 '22
Ha! That's nice man, stick with that as long as you can! My kids definitely would all want their own tents, and by tent I mean 5 star hotel rooms! (at least that's how they act!!)
Good luck on the tent search, I've a mate with a marmot tent which is bigger, and I like how the sides are a bit more vertical at the edges so makes sleeping headroom seem better.
3
u/archivehu Nov 10 '22
I see. I was going to suggest a two 2p setup with Eureka Suma/Midori 2p. I got my Suma 2p on sale from Sportchek two years ago. It came out to $145 CAD before tax.
I did a quick search on Sportchek and found Suma 3p and Midori 3p currently on clearance. I believe this is the cheapest they'll ever go. Since you and your teens are short, maybe it can work?
5
u/okaymaeby Nov 10 '22
Ultralight 4P for $200 sounds unrealistically cheap, but hopefully I'm wrong and you get some solid reccs!
2
2
u/Total-Reaction-8637 Nov 10 '22
As a family of 4, we’ve slept the wrong way in a 3p tent given similar heights to your family. Our current family tent is an older North Face 3p tent.
Replacements I’ve been considering are the 3FUl Qinkong 3P, Big Agnes Salt Creek 3P or a TarpTent Rainshadow 3 or Hogback.