- Location
- West Bountiful, UT
One of my buddies has that Coleman, or a Coleman very similar. It definitely sets up faster than my Springbar - which takes me a good 10 minutes to do.
- DAA
- DAA
Coleman instant tent as an alternative to RTT
- Thread starter TRD270
- Start date
Spork
Tin Foil Hat Equipped
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
My sister and her husband use one, I have thought about getting one. They go up fast my sister gets hers up alone faster than I can get a 2 pole dome up with help. I think she has had hers about 3 years. She did break a hub in Moab during a big wind storm a year ago, however the $300 REI backpacking tent next to hers broke also. I believe she bought another one because they liked it so much.
- Location
- West Bountiful, UT
I used to use a hammock under a tarp for backpacking back in the day. Thought it was the schizz. And it was. With my back now though, I wouldn't be able to walk the next day after spending however many hours of misery and pain in the hammock the night before.
Everyone has their own needs, likes and dislikes with all this stuff. My own have changed dramatically over the years. For me, right now, the ground isn't where I usually want to be (there are exceptions...). For car camping I like a cot with a plush pad. I own five or six cots, and at least that many pads. For typical one night stands in my smaller Springbar or 3 man Mountain Hardwear tent, a simple folding cot from Walmart with a nice Cabelas 3" foam pad that cost twice as much as the cot (and has outlasted two folding cots already) serves me nicely. It's super easy and nice for nights I don't feel like dicking around with a tent at all, too.
Tents... Ehhh... Too many choices, too much personal preference. I own, uhhhh, actually not really sure how many tents, five that get used at least once a year each, several others mostly gathering dust now. I say, first decide how much room you need inside and whether that includes being able to setup cots or not. Then decide how important weight and packed size are. Then get the most expensive one you can stand to pay for that fits those parameters. This assumes you'll be using it a lot, perhaps for decades.
My "new" Springbar is 15 years old now, and I have easily, conservatively, over 400 nights in it. My "old" Springbar, which is much larger so doesn't get used as often, is 20 years old and has about 150 nights of use. They were both almost kind of stupid expensive when I bought them, but I feel ike I got my moneys worth out of them now.
My biggest "backpacking" tent, has actually never been backpacking and never will, as it weighs about 8 pounds, a "3 man" Mountain Hardwear, really nice tent, just barely fits my cot for solo camping in places without enough dirt to setup a Springbar solidly. Or, my Son and I can both fit in there pretty well sleeping on thick pads on the floor (on the ground). Next biggest is a "2 man" Big Agnes Copper Spur, it has been on a few backpacking trips and will undoubtedly see a lot more. At about 3.5 pounds, it's pretty heavy for backpacking, but is just big enough for my Son and I, and not really too heavy for a two person shelter. Super nice, very high quality tent, with lots of thoughtful features - I really like it. I think for someone looking for a really small and light (ground sleeping), but high quality, solo car camping tent, this would be a really good choice - I may use it like that sometime instead of the Mountain Hardwear one. Then my smallest backpacking tent is too small to even bother considering for car camping, in my opinion. It's a true solo tent from Six Moons Design and weighs less than 2 pounds including stakes and poles.
Point of this rambling, simply to illustrate that no one tent can fit even my needs. Like I said, decide first what you really need, then add what you really want, then get the very best specimen you can afford that fits that description.
- DAA
Everyone has their own needs, likes and dislikes with all this stuff. My own have changed dramatically over the years. For me, right now, the ground isn't where I usually want to be (there are exceptions...). For car camping I like a cot with a plush pad. I own five or six cots, and at least that many pads. For typical one night stands in my smaller Springbar or 3 man Mountain Hardwear tent, a simple folding cot from Walmart with a nice Cabelas 3" foam pad that cost twice as much as the cot (and has outlasted two folding cots already) serves me nicely. It's super easy and nice for nights I don't feel like dicking around with a tent at all, too.
Tents... Ehhh... Too many choices, too much personal preference. I own, uhhhh, actually not really sure how many tents, five that get used at least once a year each, several others mostly gathering dust now. I say, first decide how much room you need inside and whether that includes being able to setup cots or not. Then decide how important weight and packed size are. Then get the most expensive one you can stand to pay for that fits those parameters. This assumes you'll be using it a lot, perhaps for decades.
My "new" Springbar is 15 years old now, and I have easily, conservatively, over 400 nights in it. My "old" Springbar, which is much larger so doesn't get used as often, is 20 years old and has about 150 nights of use. They were both almost kind of stupid expensive when I bought them, but I feel ike I got my moneys worth out of them now.
My biggest "backpacking" tent, has actually never been backpacking and never will, as it weighs about 8 pounds, a "3 man" Mountain Hardwear, really nice tent, just barely fits my cot for solo camping in places without enough dirt to setup a Springbar solidly. Or, my Son and I can both fit in there pretty well sleeping on thick pads on the floor (on the ground). Next biggest is a "2 man" Big Agnes Copper Spur, it has been on a few backpacking trips and will undoubtedly see a lot more. At about 3.5 pounds, it's pretty heavy for backpacking, but is just big enough for my Son and I, and not really too heavy for a two person shelter. Super nice, very high quality tent, with lots of thoughtful features - I really like it. I think for someone looking for a really small and light (ground sleeping), but high quality, solo car camping tent, this would be a really good choice - I may use it like that sometime instead of the Mountain Hardwear one. Then my smallest backpacking tent is too small to even bother considering for car camping, in my opinion. It's a true solo tent from Six Moons Design and weighs less than 2 pounds including stakes and poles.
Point of this rambling, simply to illustrate that no one tent can fit even my needs. Like I said, decide first what you really need, then add what you really want, then get the very best specimen you can afford that fits that description.
- DAA
- Location
- Draper, UT
We have the big Coleman Instant tent. http://www.coleman.com/product/coleman-8-person-instant-tent/2000010195?contextCategory=11020 Set up is super simple. We haven't used it much due to health issues for my wife and I. We are hoping it will warm up soon so she can enjoy a weekend out soon. But with my back injury 2 years ago (almost), I'm not sure the air mattress will be the ticket anymore. The big Coleman is fine for the 2 of us, and for keeping all our stuff inside. It does not have a rainfly or any sort of awning with it though, but we don't intend to be out in bad weather. Last time I had it out, I had it open and secured in less than 5 minutes. Takes closer to 10 to close it and put it in its bag again by yourself. At least the bag is plenty big. I can't say if the poles and locking mechanisms will last 10 or 20 years, as we've only had it less than 5. And even then, haven't had it out that many times. I'm 6'3" and can stand easily in it. Yes, its big for 2 people and doesn't fit in some campgrounds "pits". But we don't feel confined in it either.
Our screen room is nearly as big as the tent, and maybe a little taller...
We do have one of the SUV type tents we bought off someone here a few years back, it takes a lot more time to set up though... I think we've used it three times(?) so far. I do have an older tent trailer I am slowly working on to get us off the ground. Might be easier on my back. But not as easy to find a spot for as a tent...
Our screen room is nearly as big as the tent, and maybe a little taller...
We do have one of the SUV type tents we bought off someone here a few years back, it takes a lot more time to set up though... I think we've used it three times(?) so far. I do have an older tent trailer I am slowly working on to get us off the ground. Might be easier on my back. But not as easy to find a spot for as a tent...
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- Location
- Never Far From Nowhere
Since everyone is throwing in their .02¢, I guess I will. I want an ARB Skydome swag bag. That truely is the ground replacement for an RTT.
- Location
- Draper, UT
I'm looking at a new Kodiak 9x8 but would definitely be interested in a used one or a used 8x7 Springbar if anyone has one they want to sell.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
what about this one? The setup video shows just how easy it is to set up.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-16-x-16-Cabin-Dome-Tent-Sleeps-12/20531614?_mm=
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-16-x-16-Cabin-Dome-Tent-Sleeps-12/20531614?_mm=
How many expo points is the hat holder worth? Thats a nice looking tent, if it were about a foot taller I could dig it.
That thing is HUGE, I don't think I would survive a stiff breeze
If you get a used Kodiak make sure you get one with poles like a springbar. Mine is an early gen and the pole suck, the later ones (not sure when) have the nice locking poles like a springbar
JL Rockies
Binders Fulla Expo
- Location
- Draper
Skydome... don't even get me started or its about to get all Chuck Norris up in here.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
If you do get the skydome, you need to get the ARB BootSwag too. 
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- Location
- West Bountiful, UT
I'm as gear stupid as anyone. So no room to talk. But a separate little tent for your boots?
- DAA
- DAA
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Hey man, so my feet stink. Get off my back.
TurboMinivan
Still plays with cars
- Location
- Lehi, UT
You looked quite cozy in it.
I'm not a cot guy, so forgive me if this is a dumb question to ask. I presume a "backpacking cot" is shorter (read: closer to the ground) than a regular cot, and it sounds like that's what you need. What makes it less comfortable than a regular cot? Is it the frame design, or something else?
Coleman tents are hands down the best... just ask my wife
My wife and I got in a fight because her parents knew I liked camping and bought us a Coleman 100$ tent as a wedding present. I wanted to return it and use the money for a better tent. My wife would have no part in returning the tent and insisted we keep and use it as our family tent. The said tent made one trip to Moab, only lasting 2 of the 3 days we were there before the poles snapped in the wind and the rocks rubbed holes in the fabric.
My wife and I got in a fight because her parents knew I liked camping and bought us a Coleman 100$ tent as a wedding present. I wanted to return it and use the money for a better tent. My wife would have no part in returning the tent and insisted we keep and use it as our family tent. The said tent made one trip to Moab, only lasting 2 of the 3 days we were there before the poles snapped in the wind and the rocks rubbed holes in the fabric.
JL Rockies
Binders Fulla Expo
- Location
- Draper
The ability to purchase ARB gear at reasonable prices is reason #11 the Taliban hates us.
- Location
- Sandy, Ut
JL Rockies
Binders Fulla Expo
- Location
- Draper
Chuck Norris turned down that Thunderdome movie because producers wouldn't change it to Skydome which is more hardcore.
- Location
- Sandy, Ut