I've been following your blog for a while and enjoying your posts. We have a similar kind of situation with you - 5 family members, only that the kids are a little younger than yours (ours are approximately 2, 5 and 7). The tent selection is very difficult to us. The Shangri-la 6 is no longer available, and as you have mentioned, there are some problems with it. What would you choose if you now had to buy a tent for your family? I would prefer us all to be sharing one tent, but is it more practical to have two tents (and some kind of a tarp connecting them)?
I appreciate any thoughts on this subject. I've even been thinking of some kind of do-it-yourself projects! And thanks for keeping up an inspiring blog!
Hi there Maria! My hubby works at REI so I usually get GIO (gear-info-overload), and in this case it could come in handy!
Are you wanting to backpack and stay in one tent, or do more car camping style?
For car camping, the REI Kindgom or the Hobbitat are both really nice, easy, roomy tents. The Hobbitat is really tall which is nice for standing up and helping little ones dress. I've heard good things about the Kelty Palisade, too.
The biggest backpacking tents are four person - which might work if you have three little people, but not forever! The REI Half Dome and Marmot Hideaway are both 4 person backpacking tents, but you'd probably have to add another one eventually!
Backpacking tents are definitely a tricky thing for 5 people. As Kait points out, there are quite a few options if you are just looking for car camping tents, but backpacking ones are another story. I am actually in the process of reviewing several family-sized backpcking tents for BackpackingLight but those article won't be released until the spring.
If you are willing to go floorless you have quite a few very light-weight options: Oware, Titanium Goat, Kifaru, and Seek Outside come to mind. One option to consider is to use light weight bivy sacks for bug protection with a floorless shelter, but this isn't always economical or practical for small children.
If you are looking for a floor and full bug protection, then the options are significantly fewer. The only light-weight five man tent with full bug protection that I know of is the Stephenson Warmlite 5R.
Another creative option to consider is to get a four man tent with a big vestibule and have one of the adults sleep in a bivy in the vestibule. The Hilleberg Nallo 4GT is a good candidate for this, as may be some other brands/models.
Good luck with your search, and please come back and let us know what you decide to do.
We actually have a five person car camping tent already, so we are looking for a backpacking tent with much the same criteria as Damien has mentioned in an earlier post. It seems that there really are not many options available. We do have a two person backpacking tent, so one option would be to buy a lightweight three person tent to complement it. But that is not quite the same. The idea of Nallo 4 GT Damien mentioned is also worth considering!
I have, in fact, pondered upon getting a Warmlite 2C for 1 - 2 person use. Their family version does look nice, but the reviews say that these tents need to be handled with more care than most other tents, so I wonder how the tent would survive in the hands of the little helpers?
This might end up in two tents (2 + 3) or in a make-your-own-shelter project! Thanks again for your input!
Have you looked into TarpTents? The Hogback we have is huge and definitely designed as an ultra-light backpacking tent. It fits my husband (6 foot 4), me, my son and our large dog (German Shepard mix) easily. We can also fit in all our gear, shoes, and still have more space. We are touchy about our son helping set it up (he just turned 6 less than a week ago) because the silicone nylon is thin. It could withstand a bit of manhandling (as I said our dog sleeps inside with us) but it would never be one we allow him to set up himself. He has his own tent which is a High Sierra clip flashlight which he sets up himself and we are planning on him sleeping by himself when he is like 8. Separate tents could get expensive with all your kiddo's though.
Comments
Looks like fun! I've been
Looks like fun!
I've been following your blog for a while and enjoying your posts. We have a similar kind of situation with you - 5 family members, only that the kids are a little younger than yours (ours are approximately 2, 5 and 7). The tent selection is very difficult to us. The Shangri-la 6 is no longer available, and as you have mentioned, there are some problems with it. What would you choose if you now had to buy a tent for your family? I would prefer us all to be sharing one tent, but is it more practical to have two tents (and some kind of a tarp connecting them)?
I appreciate any thoughts on this subject. I've even been thinking of some kind of do-it-yourself projects! And thanks for keeping up an inspiring blog!
Family Tents
Hi there Maria! My hubby works at REI so I usually get GIO (gear-info-overload), and in this case it could come in handy!
Are you wanting to backpack and stay in one tent, or do more car camping style?
For car camping, the REI Kindgom or the Hobbitat are both really nice, easy, roomy tents. The Hobbitat is really tall which is nice for standing up and helping little ones dress. I've heard good things about the Kelty Palisade, too.
The biggest backpacking tents are four person - which might work if you have three little people, but not forever! The REI Half Dome and Marmot Hideaway are both 4 person backpacking tents, but you'd probably have to add another one eventually!
Hope that helps!
Hello -maria-, Backpacking
Hello -maria-,
Backpacking tents are definitely a tricky thing for 5 people. As Kait points out, there are quite a few options if you are just looking for car camping tents, but backpacking ones are another story. I am actually in the process of reviewing several family-sized backpcking tents for BackpackingLight but those article won't be released until the spring.
If you are willing to go floorless you have quite a few very light-weight options: Oware, Titanium Goat, Kifaru, and Seek Outside come to mind. One option to consider is to use light weight bivy sacks for bug protection with a floorless shelter, but this isn't always economical or practical for small children.
If you are looking for a floor and full bug protection, then the options are significantly fewer. The only light-weight five man tent with full bug protection that I know of is the Stephenson Warmlite 5R.
Another creative option to consider is to get a four man tent with a big vestibule and have one of the adults sleep in a bivy in the vestibule. The Hilleberg Nallo 4GT is a good candidate for this, as may be some other brands/models.
Good luck with your search, and please come back and let us know what you decide to do.
that does look like fun!
that does look like fun!
Thanks, Kait and Damien, for
Thanks, Kait and Damien, for your answers!
We actually have a five person car camping tent already, so we are looking for a backpacking tent with much the same criteria as Damien has mentioned in an earlier post. It seems that there really are not many options available. We do have a two person backpacking tent, so one option would be to buy a lightweight three person tent to complement it. But that is not quite the same. The idea of Nallo 4 GT Damien mentioned is also worth considering!
I have, in fact, pondered upon getting a Warmlite 2C for 1 - 2 person use. Their family version does look nice, but the reviews say that these tents need to be handled with more care than most other tents, so I wonder how the tent would survive in the hands of the little helpers?
This might end up in two tents (2 + 3) or in a make-your-own-shelter project! Thanks again for your input!
HogBack
Have you looked into TarpTents? The Hogback we have is huge and definitely designed as an ultra-light backpacking tent. It fits my husband (6 foot 4), me, my son and our large dog (German Shepard mix) easily. We can also fit in all our gear, shoes, and still have more space. We are touchy about our son helping set it up (he just turned 6 less than a week ago) because the silicone nylon is thin. It could withstand a bit of manhandling (as I said our dog sleeps inside with us) but it would never be one we allow him to set up himself. He has his own tent which is a High Sierra clip flashlight which he sets up himself and we are planning on him sleeping by himself when he is like 8. Separate tents could get expensive with all your kiddo's though.