Looking for opinions on quality free-standing dome tents

[big bog bobby]

For years I’ve been a very satisfied user of several different staked tent designs. My tents have to be roomy enough to accept two full size cots, with enough space and headroom to stand up in without brushing the roof and walls.

The past few years I find myself often pitching my current 8’x 8’ Spike Camp pyramidal tent (no poles or frames) on bare rock, or on wooden platforms, or on gravel platforms that do not readily accept the five stakes minimum I must use to set up this tent.

So I’m looking for a second free-standing tent design that I might use instead, when I’m planning to camp at these specific campsites.

I’ve developed some definite prejudices over the years, and I wonder if they are still justified…

I much prefer the more expensive metal (aluminum or even steel) poles and frames to fiberglas framing. Years ago, fiberglas poles and frames were undependable and would deform, sag, break just when you needed them the most… Is this still true?

I am most comfortable with a square floor, but I’m willing to look at a hexagonal floor, if other features are present. I believe my current 8’x 8’ tent is a bit small, and would prefer a 9’x 9’ floor, or even larger, in order to get 6+ feet of headroom.

Here’s a list of specific free-standing dome designs I think look good on paper... All have aluminum frames. If you have experience with any of them, I’d appreciate your opinions. Also, please -- tell me what other models I should be considering…

1. Kelty Trail Dome 6 (10’x10’square floor x 6’ high)

2. Eureka Twister 6 (10’4”x 12’ hex floor x 6’ high)

3. Eureka Equinox 6 (10’x 11’8” hex floor x 6’7” high) but SO expensive!

Here are some similar dome designs, with fiberglas frames. Will these frames stand up to severe weather and normal camp abuse?

1. 2006 Eureka Sunrise 9 (9’x 9’ square floor x 6’ high) w/ 11mm dia fiberglas poles

2. 2006 Eureka Tetragon 9 (9’x 9’ square floor x 6’ high) w/ 11 mm dia fiberglas poles

Thank you, in advance, for any information you care to give me.

bbb

[Powerstroke]

Personal expreience speaking, Even aluminum frames will have problems even if the tent isn't properly guyed out. MOst family style tents (the type you're looking at) aren't rated for more than 20-30mph winds. Only a backpacking tent is test to 50mph or higher.

That being said, I love our two tents with the aluminum frames. Both of ours are REI brand. I went there and they also sell the Kelty tents. They compare very nicely. The only thing I don't like about them is the kelty tent's rainfly doens't go all the way to the ground. The creates an area for wind to pull on the tent and for rain to be driven into the roof vents.

Of the ones you suggested and a few more I researched on my own for your needs, I think that for the price the Eureka Twister 6 is the best one. It is only $300, has alum poles and has a full coverage rainfly (the only one). I think this would be your best bet.

[IFallsRon]

We have an Equinox 4 and really like it but I wish we had gone with the 6. Two adults and two kids are pretty snug in the 4 but there's not much room for anything extra.

[big bog bobby]

I also like the Twister 6, and its more expensive Equinox 6 cousin… dimensions appear to be almost identical, except for headroom. If you remove the full coverage rainfly, the Twister 6 is essentially a hexagonal screenhouse with 3 doors and 3 wall-size screened openings that cannot be closed. At least that’s the way I read the description… Great ventilation in warm weather, but not the best design when the nights get cold… like my last six overnight outings this past June…

The Kelty Trail Dome 6 tent has two screened side vents -- even though they appear to be fully protected by the rainfly -- and two roof peak vents -- located back under the rainfly hoods over each of the two doors. This design may also be difficult to heat on colder nights…

I’ve used my present tent 14 times so far this year, and 12 times I’ve had to get up around 2 am, close all the window openings (but not the roof vents), and punch the igniter on the catalytic tent heater. Only twice in late May did the outside temperatures remain comfortable throughout the entire night…

So the Twister 6 and the Trail Dome 6 may be great tents from the 4th of July through Labor Day, but maybe not so great earlier or later in the season? Anybody have any comments in this area?

The online tent site at Campmor.com has detailed spec sheets on the tents I’m interested in… Surprisingly, the square Kelty Trail Dome 6 (100 sq.ft. floor area) offers substantially more usable floor space than the apparently larger hexagonal Twister 6 (90 sq.ft. floor area) and Equinox 6 (87 sq.ft. floor area). And the square design appears to be much faster to set up than the hexagonal designs, although probably not as sturdy in high winds. I’m not certain how important that will be… Will additional DIY guylines help, when you can see the squall coming?

Powerstroke,

I looked at current REI tent models… the ‘Hobitant 6’ has the type of abbreviated rainfly you describe, and I can see where it might be a problem in a squall with high winds. But both Campmor and Kelty describe the rainfly for the Trail Dome 6 as “full coverage”, and it does fully protect the two side vents. Are you saying that, even with the door windows closed, rain can blow under the hoods over the two doors and get into the roof peak vents at the very top of the tent? You must have been in one hell of a storm!

In such circumstances, would it be possible to remove the frame pieces that set up the hoods over the doors, then snug the rainfly down over these areas, so that rain couldn’t be driven into these roof peak vents?

The reason I’m leaning a bit towards the Kelty design is that Campmor is currently selling the Trail Dome 6 at a clearance price of $190… quite a bit less than the $300 price tag on the Twister 6, and the $350 price tag on the Equinox 6…

IFalls Ron,

I’ve owned Eureka canvas tents in the distant past, and they were of the highest quality and workmanship (except the one with a fiberglas frame)...

If I could only have one tent (and I had enough money) I think I’d get an Equinox model. With that extra-strong umbrella frame, it looks like it would stand up to a Rainy Lake squall, or an early season snowstorm… and with those vertical walls and all that headroom, you and your wife should investigate a pair of cots (Let the kids sleep on the floor!)

Thank you both for responding to my questions, and for your good info…

bbb

[Powerstroke]

I hope I don't talk your ear off here.....

I agree with you that fiberglass frames are not that great, especially with a lot of use. They splinter easily at the ends and can split anywhere on the pole.

Both of my REI tents are backpacking tents for thier size and weight. I chose the full-coverage fly after several different "hooded" style flys ended with water in the roof vents during rain and t-storms. I also like the vestibules for added dry storage.Its just too easy for winds to get under the fly and create an umbrulla effect. This happened many times.

I have been in severe thunderstorms with both of my tents. My bigger 4-person family tent faced unimaginable winds on the prairie of the So. Dak border. Even with the alum poles our tent collapsed in in one corner under the pressure of the wind. I went out and added an extra guyline and it survived the rest of the storm without bowing again. Properly guyed it survived 60+mph winds.

Our 2-man backpacking tent faced 2 different severe stormsin the same week in the BWCA last summer. One had 40-50mph winds with hail and the second was 40+ mph winds with torrential rains. All 3 storms had preceeding Warnings from the NWS, but we were camping and didn't know. I never got wet inside the tent and the tent was never damaged.

On second thought, the Twister is not a full coverage fly. Those little hooks are all it is. They don't seal to the sides of the tent. None of the tents you chose are full coverage, not even the Kelty.

If you live near the cities, you can go into REI and set up any of the tents you're interested in. Maybe a smaller floor would be okay for you in the right tent. I do'nt car eif you buy from them, they just have a full selection of tents and you can actually set them up. Hard to do at most places. The reason I own REI tents is my bro worked there and he got a great discount.

I cannot believe that you are getting cold and using a heater in the tent. I winter camp and am never cold even though my tent is 90% screen from 1' off the floor up. Even in high winds ints not windy in the tent if the fly is tied to the ground. Open sides won't make you cold. You should use a foam pad in your cot. Maybe get a better sleeping bag and consider proper clothing for the weather. I'm not trying to preach, but cold in the tent is not the result of good ventilation. Cot users are very suprised to learn how much heat they lose through their backside when they have no pad. A cot provides no insulation. The ground may be colder, but the air will steal your heat away even faster. I don't even use a heater while winter camping.

[IFallsRon]

We still have the tent but now camp with a tentcamper. We're outgrowing it and looking at hardsides.

[big bog bobby]

Quote from Powerstroke's most recent posting:

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None of the tents you chose are full coverage, not even the Kelty...

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Maybe a smaller floor would be okay for you in the right tent...

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...you can go into REI and set up any of the tents you're interested in.

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Thanks to your comments in this discussion, I've thought a lot about it... I've decided I prefer the two door design on the Kelty Trail Dome model, even if it might allow some water in on rare occasions.

And my recent research has confirmed my earlier opinions on not looking at anything smaller.

I've looked closesly at REI's current models, and I don't see anything I'm interested in... I looked at a smaller Kelty Trail Dome model at Cabelas.

Quote:

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I cannot believe that you are getting cold and using a heater in the tent. I'm not trying to preach, but cold in the tent is not the result of good ventilation.

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Powerstroke, I've read many of your posts on winter camping, and I believe you know what you're talking about. In about 30 years, you may be in the same boat I'm in today...

I have some minor medical problems, but my camping companion has severe medical problems. A small amount of heat in the middle of a cold night makes a lot of difference...

Since last fall the Coleman tent heater head has been thrown into the tote box, along with an extra pair of propane cylinders. Since I use a single burner stove head that screws onto a propane cylinder, and also carry along a mini-gas lantern head that also screws onto a propane cylinder, the gas heater head poses no inconvenience.

I ordered the Kelty Trail Dome 6 2 Door model this morning. Hope to have it here early next week, maybe in time for a trial over the 4th of July. Maybe I'll write an update on this thread in a few months...

Thanks to both responders for your good information.

bbb

[Powerstroke]

BBB, I hope my post didn't seem to condescneding or anything. I was just trying to make an observation about your coldness comment. I hope in 30 yrs I'm able to camp as often as you have recently. My wife and I love to camp and I hope my retirement involves as much outdoors time as yours.

By REI, I ment you could see any of the brands they carry. I'm actually looking into a free-standing 4-season tent to further my winter camping adventures.

I would be very interested in your opinions of the Kelty tent. It is one brand of tent that I ahven't used, but the other couple we camp with mostly uses a Kelty tent that they like alot. I hope I helped a little. I try to stick to what I know and hopefully I wasn't too abrasive.

[big bog bobby]

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I would be very interested in your opinions of the Kelty tent. It is one brand of tent that I ahven't used, but the other couple we camp with mostly uses a Kelty tent that they like alot.

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I purchased the Kelty Trail Dome 6 two door tent in late June, and used it about 10 times during this past summer…

The 10’ x 10’ floor size is large enough for two cots and a doggie pad, and there’s still room to move around. When I’m out fishing, I can easily stack all of my Rubbermaid storage tubs inside the tent.

Kelty is incorrect, when they specify the internal height as 6’; the ceiling of my tent is 6’5” from the floor. I’m 6’2” tall, and I can move around without my head brushing the ceiling. Wonderful!

I especially like the light-colored interior. When I zip up for the evening, I can easily find all of the mosquitoes inside the tent, and kill them before I retire. My previous tent had a dark green interior, and there were always a few mosquitoes that I didn’t find, until they droned around my head as I was just about asleep…

Quality construction throughout, and the gold anodized shockcorded aluminum poles are unbelievably long and exquisitely constructed. Don’t ever force anything… the color-coded connections are very helpful. If it’s a nice day, with no gusting winds, one person can set up this tent, if she’s familiar with the procedure. It’s much easier with two people, of course… And this free-standing design can easily be dragged around the campsite, to maximize ventilation or shade…

The entire tent weighs less than 15 pounds. You need to carefully fold up the tent around the collapsed poles and stakes, in order to fit everything in the 10” diameter x 30” long pack bag.

I’m going to use it next week on a grouse hunting trip to northern Minnesota. I want to see if my Coleman Tent heater will cut the chill in the early morning hours. If not, I’ll use my older Spike Camp tent during the fall and early winter…

But this Kelty dome tent is a perfect tent for summer car or boat camping, maybe even for canoe camping.

bbb

[Powerstroke]

Glad to hear your shining reveiews. I don't know that I could drag that heavy of a tent along for canoe camping, but it definately sounds like a winner in the base camp dept.