Looking for a tent.

Im looking to buy a good 3 person tent. Spending no more than $200. And that has a full vestibule. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you

Maybe something like this-
http://store.eurekatent.com/products/364783/Mountain_Pass_3XTE_Tent

Check on Campmor's website and look through our sponsors (see list on the left).

Thanks for the suggestion I like this one. Do you have one like this?

No. I have an old EMS two person winter tent. Eureka has a good reputation for low cost tents. They won't be cutting edge design or manufacturing, but should last a long time and be reliable. $200 is a hard price point to match.

I would stay away from anything from Wal-Mart or any other "big box" store. The tents you find there are cheaply made, inferior designs that are made for car camping. I've seen far too many complaints about them posted on websites from owners looking for parts to replace broken poles, etc.

FYI, most tents these days, including some high end ones are made in China. That alone is not a determining factor as to whether or not they are good tents, but almost all cheap tents come from China or SE Asia. Two things I would add-stay away from any tent with fiberglass poles (they break and can't really be fixed in the field) and ignore "minimum weight" as that is misleading. Add about a pound to what you will actually be carrying.

I agree with Tom - Eureka offers an excellent balance between quality and cost. Parts can be had if you break poles - our Boy Scout troop deals with this situation all the time.

A followup to the comment about most tents being made in Asia - many of the high-end tents have had their production shifted from the US to Asia, without any reduction in price - the companies are pocketing the savings. Not saying they are not good tents, but you are paying more than you should be for what you are getting.

Walmart and similar tents are essentially disposables - use a few times and toss when something breaks or tears, which is fine if the price is right and you are only planning on using it a few times.

Minor point: as far as companies pocketing the savings, this is true. But, I doubt that much of this flowed to the bottom line of the (implied) "greedy manufacturers." Given the increases that were occurring in manufacturing costs in general, the pocketing of the savings may have been more a matter of maintaining existing profit margins while avoiding (or at least minimizing) price increases to the market (i.e.: you and me.)

I don't have any data to back this up, but my own anecdotal evidence indicates that there hasn't been much, if any, increase in prices except where there's been some innovation (such as carbon fiber tent poles.) I think my Pocket Rocket and Titan kettle cost about the same now as when I bought them four or five years ago; likewise, the Hubba tent I have isn't more than $10 or $15 more now than when I bought it.

Fritz, I'm not trying to dispute your comment that we pay more than we should for what we get. I've made several purchases this year that made me gulp hard a couple of times before shelling out the money. I'm also not trying to start any arguments about what constitutes a reasonable profit, or the motives of the larger companies in this industry. But, working with my own small owner-operated business clients (I'm a CPA), I've found that most of the cost-saving efforts they make are aimed more at avoiding price increases than at a quick-and-easy grab for more profits; in fact most are making just about the same profit (which, for an owner, equals his salary) now that they did 5 years ago.

Again, I think you make a good point, but as with most things, there are also some good points on the other side - and I'm not sure where exactly the truth lies. It would be interesting to hear from someone like Henry Shires, who has a foot in both camps (being a very successful owner-operator), has not had huge price increases, and who has not, yet, moved his manufacturing operation overseas. (Franco doesn't count as an overseas "operation." )

I'd be really interested to find out if my impressions are backed up by the data, if anyone has any. As my wife will readily tell you, I've been wrong before.

I'd argue for a Timberline 4 - similar weight (8lbs), 3.5 season, and enough space for 3 people + gear. Costs less to; can usually get one for about 170-180, less if you can get it on sale, or a factory second. However, Timberlines don't come with vesibules, and are 4 person tents.

As a way to further your search, suggest starting here:

http://www.campmor.com/gear/tents.shtml

Campmor specializes in discount gear. I like REI's comparison features better, but if you get a Campmor paper catalog your search will be made much easier...

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There is a "slightly soiled" Timberline 4 on the Campmor site now for $140 - I recently spent my tent money, or I'd snag it out from under you.
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I won't get into the economics behind the movement of manufacturing overseas; suggest you read "Naked Economics" to get into that topic. No, it is not salacious, despite the title.
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Steadman

I'd agree with the Eureka recommendations. They make good, solid tents (I used a Timberline 2 for much of the 80's and early 90's with no problems); their low price is probably due to the fact that there's been essentially no change in the design or materials in this tent in the last 20 years. (Did they maybe replace the large-diameter aluminum poles with the smaller, lighter Easton-style poles? I haven't looked at one lately.) They aren't light, by today's standards, but they are well-made.

I'm not going to try to get further into the manufacturing movement either; my only reason for mentioning it was to keep things in perspective, and show that it's not a simplistic issue. (In fact, my history degree leads me to somewhat view this progression as the next step in the westward movement of manufacturing: manufacturing moved from Europe to the US in the early 1900s because - big surprise - it was cheaper to make here and import back; US wages were very low then. Lo and behold, US wages grew and, now, manufacturing is moving to Asia because - wait for it - it's cheaper to make there and import here. The next step, already beginning, is for wages to rise and labor movements to begin in China. Interesting to watch. And, even with the mass movement, I heard the other day that the US is still the largest manufacturer in the world.)

I don't intend to take the position of blindly supporting big companies and claiming that their motives are pure; just sort of playing devil's advocate, I guess.

Yep, with wages rising in China, the next frontier is Vietnam. I work for a large, multi-national company that is doing just what I described - manufacturing in China and pocketing the (higher) profits. The thrust of what I said is that you should look for manufacturers who compete on price rather than brand name, and you will get the best value.

I completely agree, with the caveat that you have to factor quality into the equation (and brand name is not always an automatic guarantee of quality.)

My Rotary Club is trying to sponsor water pojects in Zimbabwe and Senegal. Chinese sweat shops would be an economic boom for them.

If you aren't looking for a "lightweight" tent then Alps Mountaineering has pretty decent stuff. Their Extreme 3 is pretty decent. Though it pushes past your $200 limit a bit. Got them for scouts to use and they seem to be pretty decent.

John

Thanks for all the suggestions. I decided to spend a little more if that means I can get a better one. But Ive been looking at the marmot limelight 3. It looks like a good one an has good reviews. Has anyone experienced having one of these?

You'll have to think about what "better" means for you.

Exactly.

I own and am happy with tents from Tarptent, Six Moon Designs, and Black Diamond. (I don't use them for the same stuff