What size tent?

[R.K.]

So my solo backpack trips are no longer solo, and it seems that the old tarp or the trusty 2-man isn’t going to cut it any longer.

Need to figure out what size tent I need for myself at 6’2”, my fiancé at 5’7”, a corgi, and a lab. She wants the dogs in the tent with us so they don’t run off.

Any chance a 3-person would work? Or will I really need to carry in a 4-person? If so- any suggestions?

 

[Potsie]

Do a 3 man, but with a huge vestibule.

 

[ashersdad]

Do a 3 man, but with a huge vestibule.

This is what I do with my wife and our mini Australian shepherd. It works great for us, but a lab is quite a bit bigger. As long as you all like to cuddle, you should be fine.

 

[BellarHunt]

As was said, it depends on how cozy you want to be. There are some solid 4 mans that have a low pack profile and reasonably light weight that might fit the bill if you want a little more room.

 

[WVmike]

Have a seek outside cimmaron and it has plenty of room. I've had my 7 year old daughter, 10 year old son and my golden retriever in there all at once and we had enough room to sleep. If you were storing gear, so on and so forth it would be a stretch. Also if you use the stove with it, technically the tent turns into a two man tent.

 

[R.K.]

Have a seek outside cimmaron and it has plenty of room. I've had my 7 year old daughter, 10 year old son and my golden retriever in there all at once and we had enough room to sleep. If you were storing gear, so on and so forth it would be a stretch. Also if you use the stove with it, technically the tent turns into a two man tent.

Using a stove inside a backpacking tent is a very bad idea. Especially in grizzly country.

I’ll look into that tent. Might fit the bill.

Edit- misunderstood the type of tent and type of stove. Probably not going to be out and about with her and the dogs when a wood stove is required.

 

[WIbiggame]

I would highly recommend looking into the seek outside Redcliff. It's a "teepee" but has more a rectangle shape is a 6p tent. With the carbon pole and stakes weight 5lb 3oz. It will pack into the stone glacier access bag 900ci. Or does come with its own stuff sack. Tons of room in it. Can add a stove when/if you go in the winter.

 

[rogerthat]

Save some coin, argali absaroka. Gives you some late season capabilities too for you and and a buddy if you want. Nothing will cut down the stench and dirtiness of that lab however. Says one lab owner to another.

 

[texwest44]

30 sq. ft. per person and 1 dog. 2 people and 2 dogs is minimum 60 sq. ft. This is provided you're not going to have a lot of other stuff in your tent.

Me and my 80 year old dad camp in a 10x12 tent, and we load it full of stuff. He can't go a day without TV, so we put a card table and a couple of chairs in there so he can watch a laptop loaded with TV shows and movies. Two beds or cots, and enough there's enough room to walk around and get in and out comfortably. That particular tent is advertised as an 8-person tent or something.

I don't know who does the sizing of tents in the tent industry, but they must be from a place where people only get 4 feet tall and like to sleep packed together like kippers with no gear stored inside.

 

[rogerthat]

30 sq. ft. per person and 1 dog. 2 people and 2 dogs is minimum 60 sq. ft. This is provided you're not going to have a lot of other stuff in your tent.

Me and my 80 year old dad camp in a 10x12 tent, and we load it full of stuff. He can't go a day without TV, so we put a card table and a couple of chairs in there so he can watch a laptop loaded with TV shows and movies. Two beds or cots, and enough there's enough room to walk around and get in and out comfortably. That particular tent is advertised as an 8-person tent or something.

I don't know who does the sizing of tents in the tent industry, but they must be from a place where people only get 4 feet tall and like to sleep packed together like kippers with no gear stored inside.

I’m definitely not trying to be a jerk at all but this is under back pack tents I thought

 

[texwest44]

I’m definitely not trying to be a jerk at all but this is under back pack tents I thought

Well I'm not suggesting OP gets a 10x12 tent necessarily, that's just an anecdote - I'm just pointing out that the square footage could quite well be larger than what one might initially think is adequate.

And that whoever sets tent sizes comes from the land of Munchkins.

 

[R.K.]

I mean, I have a 10’ Kodiak canvas flex bow and cots. But there’s no way I’m carrying that more than 50 feet of I can avoid it. Hammock is single person, tarp won’t dissuade mosquitoes or the bumps in the night. I’m fine with those, but that’s me.

This thread is for a tent to keep mosquitoes away and a newbie backpacker’s fearful mind at bay. So full enclosure, mesh, dogs in the tent so they don’t “run off”.

 

[cgasner1]

I’d definitely want 2 door and would probably be looking at a big Agnes’s or a Nemo if it was me

 

[texwest44]

I mean, I have a 10’ Kodiak canvas flex bow and cots. But there’s no way I’m carrying that more than 50 feet of I can avoid it. Hammock is single person, tarp won’t dissuade mosquitoes or the bumps in the night. I’m fine with those, but that’s me.

This thread is for a tent to keep mosquitoes away and a newbie backpacker’s fearful mind at bay. So full enclosure, mesh, dogs in the tent so they don’t “run off”.

Well my original post was more about being mindful of adequate sq footage for two people, dogs, and sundries; I wasn't really suggesting lugging around cots and TVs through the backcountry (though if you could do it, more power to ya!), that was just an example of how it takes an "8 person" tent to comfortably shelter two people.

Something along these lines is probably the smallest I would consider if I was going to have to shelter another person and two dogs. It's not quite 60 sq ft, but its close. And it says it only weighs 3.6 kilos, which seems pretty negotiable.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Depends. Backpacking? A bigger two person (rei half dome 2) worked well for me/wife/60lb dog. Hunting? Where each person has a weapon, more gear, and more stuff to stay warm/dry - you'll probably need more space. Nothing wrong with a tarp or hanging your gear though.

If you wanna try the half dome 2 - feel free to borrow it.

 

[Moserkr]

I have a 13' diameter 6-man tipi that weighs 4.5 lbs with a CF center pole. Can sleep 3 with a stove plus some gear. That size would fit the bill for your situation when not solo. When solo, its heavy and overkill. But the 7.5' headroom is nice, and also dogs won't get the floor dirty or poke holes in it with their paws.

I also have a small solo tipi for when its just me. But Id really like to try the argali 4p absoroka for both solo and with a +1. No clue if it would work for you though.

 

[R.K.]

Depends. Backpacking? A bigger two person (rei half dome 2) worked well for me/wife/60lb dog. Hunting? Where each person has a weapon, more gear, and more stuff to stay warm/dry - you'll probably need more space. Nothing wrong with a tarp or hanging your gear though.

If you wanna try the half dome 2 - feel free to borrow it.

Appreciate the offer! Oddly enough, that has been my primary tent since 2005- was my only tent for at least a decade. Have taken two trips with my fiancé in it, and that’s the smallest I want to go for the two of us, even without dogs. Hence the search for a new tent.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Appreciate the offer! Oddly enough, that has been my primary tent since 2005- was my only tent for at least a decade. Have taken two trips with my fiancé in it, and that’s the smallest I want to go for the two of us, even without dogs. Hence the search for a new tent.

I "upgraded" to a 3 person with a single door and vestibule. Do not do that...

 

[TomK]

So my solo backpack trips are no longer solo, and it seems that the old tarp or the trusty 2-man isn’t going to cut it any longer.

Need to figure out what size tent I need for myself at 6’2”, my fiancé at 5’7”, a corgi, and a lab. She wants the dogs in the tent with us so they don’t run off.

Any chance a 3-person would work? Or will I really need to carry in a 4-person? If so- any suggestions?

I’ve used a 4 person with 3 dogs and wife for backpacking before. It’s heavier but had just enough room for everything and I didn’t have to deal with the dogs laying right on top of me. I’d say do the 4

 

[rjthehunter]

I'll second the Argali Absaroka. Should give you plenty of room, and still weighs under 2lbs.