Tent talk

It is sometimes hard to have all three.

It might help if you provide a little more information as to what areas/condition that you need the shelter to perform in.  Do you expect bugs?  How many people?  Snow?  High Winds?  Do you carry trekking poles?

Ha that’s a question that has as many answers as people here.

1. Quality: How you define quality…..
2. Durability: How often do you use a tent?
3. Price: What is your budget?

I’m an artist who did scientific illustration for decades, and a professional seamstress so quality to me is at very high standard. What I buy has to be better than what I can make.

Durability for me must be good within reason. I take care of my tents, I keep them as clean as possible and maintain the zippers and hardware, but nothing lasts forever. I expect a tent that costs over three hundred dollars to last at least one long thru hike like the PCT or CDT barring accidents.

Price? If someone has put a lot of honest work, time and development into a product then I don’t mind paying what that’s worth. I’ve paid for new and used, cuben and silnylon. I expect the price to reflect the quality, durability, performance and ease of use. Nothing worse than paying premium price for a tent that is a PITB to put up, or crawl into or take down or doesn’t protect me and my gear from the elements. Unfortunately with some things  experience is the only way to see if a tent is worth the price, what works for one person may not work for another. You can pay a heck of a lot for a cuben duomid, but it might not suit your style…..I love mine. Worth every penny to me. I also have a Big Agnes if I need a free standing tent, which I bought on sale. There are some things I don’t like about it but that one is a compromise, I only use it if I have to. For me personally my mids and my tarp are what I’m using the most.

“So, I’ve been wondering what’s the best tent for quality, durability and price. Look forward to the discussion and thoughts.”
If there was a simple answer, that tent would be very popular indeed.
A very well finished tent made with durable materials and sold for $200 could still be the wrong tent for me if it is:
too big
too small
too heavy
or red….

Sorry, never mind.

“Best” is relative. Where are you using it, and when? In the Sierras in the summer, a flat tarp might be ideal. If you’re climbing Denali though…

Light, Cheap, Durable? Pick two, you can’t have have all three.