I've learned the hard way that big tents don't work well in Utah.
x2, unless they're built like a tank like a Kodiak or Springbar.
Tents are REALLY personal and everyone likes something different. Here's what I've learned in my 25+ years of camping (forgive the rant, I've been thinking about this a lot lately). None of this is directed towards you, I'm just rambling here:
Personally, I prefer smaller tents. A lot of my friends who are new to camping (I know you're not) try to buy the biggest, cheapest tent they can for the money. They get excited to hear it's an 8-man for under $80. Well, an 8-12 man tent sounds awesome on paper, who doesn't want all that room? But I'm convinced that a lot of people in life hate camping because they were never properly introduced to it. Setting up an 8-12 man ten is an ORDEAL. it's not easy, fun, or convenient. And once it's up, it blows around like crazy in the wind. And cheap tents usually have horrible rain flies that don't actually keep out wind or rain. I've had a few friends wake up with soaked mattress pads, and collapsed tents, then struggle to clean up all the mess in the morning. No wonder so many people don't like camping, that doesn't sound like fun to me either.
This isn't directed towards you Josh, I'm just rambling here. Like Kevin said, bigger is not always better, especially in cold climates. I guess everyone camps differently and expects different things from their tent. I came from a backpacking background and I expect a tent to keep me and my things dry and warm in all weather conditions, without the need for a head source. I use my tent for sleeping, not so much for lounging (although my wife is the exact opposite). I like to hang out by the fire as long as I can, and just use my tent for sleeping. So I don't need room for 6 people, or to be able to do my calesthenics in the morning.
I much prefer the design of "backpacking" tents, even over a good RTT. They're light weight, small in size when packed up, they offer extreme protection from the elements, and they're built to be very sturdy. I keep hoping there will be a cheap alternative and that the big camping names have made a breakthrough in technology and cost, but then I realize the backpacking guys have been doing this for ages, in the most extreme environments. I don't predict I'll find a <$200 solution that meets my needs better than a backpacking tent anytime soon. Tents that set themselevs up, or just take one button to set up are usually compromising in places I don't want to comprimise: weight, strength, size, durability, cost, or a combination of all of the above.
It snowed overnight on our Hole in the Rock trip this March. The tents that stayed the driest were the REI backpacking tents. Not a drop of wetness inside. I can't say the same for my ARB, or for Brandon's Coleman. Also, the backpacking tents have a lot more useful features and design thought into them. They've really come a long way in the past 3-5 years. I like the look and feel of my RTT, and I like being up off the ground, but the inside of the ARB feels like a springbar from 30 years ago. Which isn't bad per se, but the newer backpacking tents have MUCH better designed pockets, door openings, windows, vents, retention, air flow, etc. I wish ARB would hire me (or even better, Sierra Designs) to redesign the interior of their tents, I have some good ideas.
Anyway, take that for what it's worth. I think a good sturdy backpacking tent for $200-300 at REI (or wherever you shop for good camping gear) would really fit the bill. I can see myself without a RTT someday, but I can never see myself without a good ground tent that can be carried on a backpack. I'm trying to learn more about the minimalist setups, but I'm pretty hard on gear and I don't truly backpack enough to justify a lot of the cost.
Oh, and two more things to add: a nice pad and sleeping bag make all the difference in the world. I cannot stress how much of a difference a good $250+ bag makes. I've had $120 0* bags before, and while I thought I would be warm at 0*, it was absolutely nothing like my current bag. If weight, cost, and space aren't a concern, I HIGHLY recommend the thermarest dreamtime pads. They're more comfortable than my bed at home, and I don't need a battery-operated machine to inflate it.
