Two Person tent for use with kids

Some further info that may help:

• Your thoughts on any specific weights as reasonable
• Price range
• Free standing vs. trekking pole (do the kids use trekking poles! are they long enough to pitch a shelter)

The norm these days seems to be 5lb for a comfortable, free standing, 2 person tent around $300.  Lots of options in that range. The Marmot Tungsten 2p seems to be on sale as low as $150. I was considering buying that in the UL version and I’m 6’2″ – seemed reasonable enough, size wise when I pitched it at REI.

If a review says something is both too heavy and too fragile, it might be best to ignore it and find another write up. Lighter is always more fragile.

Yes, Rene, some of the reviews are internally contradictory and that’s why I joined here…hoping to get feedback from people actually using the gear and not just writing about it to get clicks on the web.

Weight: I’d like to stay around 5 lbs this way if I have to carry the entire thing I’m not cranky.

Price range: I’m flexible. I say that because I’d rather buy once and get it right and be satisfied than to set a hard-stop limit and put myself into a range where the product won’t meet expectations. FWIW I have a local REI but last time I visited it had only 3 or 4 models of REI and BA tents on the wall. They don’t keep a big inventory of tents or sleeping bags and steer people to order on the web. So there’s a chance I will have to oder online sight unseen, which I’m a bit hesitant about.

Type: I’m open to guidance on this. I’ve only ever had tents that were free standing or like the Moment came with its own pole. The kids use trekking poles as do I. I’ve thought long and hard about ‘Mid or tarp but we are all bug phobic so I don’t think I can sell that at this point in time. I for one like getting inside and pulling the door shut at the end of the day.

I used the TT Rainshadow II for several years when my girls were small. I’m also tall and never had any headroom issues in it.

Although they don’t make the II anymore, the Rainshadow III looks even more impressive.

Very comfy for the weight, and can certainly sleep the three of you in a pinch.

I’ve tried literally dozens of tents with my kids. One of my favorites was an old yellow nylon (non-ripstop) “pup” tent for two. I got two of them later on and had both kids in one and my wife and I in the other. Each weighed about 2 pounds.

That said, I think I might consider the tarp tents a little more. They were not around when I had the kids, but they look pretty good. (I used an older Squall for over a year and kind-of liked it.) The Double Rainbow or MoTrail look pretty good. Anyway, with kids, weight means a LOT. The Motrail looks about the lightest at about 18oz per person for a fully enclosed shelter.

how about the Tarptent Saddle 2? It fits two people nicely. I can’t vouch for how tall a person it fits though but others here can. Or the Stratospire 2 or Stratospire Li. I have a Rainshadow 2 (and 3) as well but I find I prefer the Saddle 2 these days for the side entrances and double vestibules.

I have 12 year-old twin girls and the tent they stay in when we backpack is my SMD Lunar Duo.  You might want to consider the Lunar Duo Outfitter for $170.  It’s 57 ounces without stakes or poles, but is probably more durable than some other tents out there.  My girls hike with adjustable trekking poles so we always have plenty of them around.  It’s big enough that we could, in a pinch, fit the three of us in it, but it’s usually just the two of them.

The dual doors and big vestibules make it really easy for them to get in and out, although in practice I’ve found that they only use one of the doors.

The reviews I have read about cramped tents are usually talking about two unrelated adults; not families with kids.  I am pretty rotund and agree that one person shelters feel like coffins.  However, I haven’t had problems sharing a small 2-person backpacking tent (my solo tent) with either my wife or kids.  When we go out as a family, all four of us fit nicely in a TT Hogback.  I might consider sharing a Hogback with one other unrelated adult.  The need for personal space… and to not touch each other… really increases when your not family.

The other thing, I would reconsider a three person tent, or at least get a two person tent that you can push to three people (like the TT Stratospire-2).  My kids really prefer all being in the same tent together (at least at this age)

I use the Saddle2 and it’s a nice tent. Plenty of room for two people (I am 6’4″) and has a good amount of headroom for sitting up. Two doors. Clocks in at 37oz I think.

PS – Ben’s recommendation of the SS2 is a sound choice. If you’re kids are young they will want to be in the same tent w/ you.

Ryan

You mentioned REI and BA tents from REI, and frankly there are plenty of good options there that would meet your needs, e.g. REI Quarter Dome or BA Copper Spur. They’re not ultralight, but they are plenty big, easy to set up, two-entry, two-vestibule, and under 4 lbs. You can order online and have the tent shipped to your local REI store. Set it up in the store and get your refund if you don’t like it. In fact, you can order several, set them all up, and just keep the one you like.

I would take reviews that mention the lack of durability with a grain of salt. You’re not looking for a tent to last for generations. If you get a minor tear or snag, you can repair it in the field with some tenacious tape or needle and thread (depending on location). Your kids will be off to college before you need a new tent.

Thank you all so much. Lots of good suggestions here.

Good suggestions here, and not much to add in the way of advice. My family’s experience dealing with BA and warranty/repair issues has been fantastic. One tent was simply defective. The other was a well-used tent I picked up here that needed reproofing and new zippers, which BA did for next to nothing. Sort of gives me piece of mind.

I would look for a 3-4 person tent and all sleep together.

I have a Golite Shangrila 5 which is now the mytrialco pyramid 4.  I use it with my 2 daughters who are now 10 and 8 and we have tons of room.  I replaced the middle pole with hiking poles connected together to bring the weight down to 4.5lbs.  It fits 4 friendly people.  Right now though I wouldn’t recommend it to others as the new price of the my trailco version is far too high relative to other options and the weight has crept up significantly.

I also owned a rainshadow longer ago and it was too small for 3 adults but would have been perfect for an adult and two kids.  I wish I would have kept mine and have been looking for a used one on gear swap periodically.  The only draw back is it’s Single wall so if your kids tend to roll it may not be the best option.

The other option that I have experience with is the Tarptent Hogback.  My brother has one and we tried sleeping with 3 adults and 1 of my kids and it was wall to wall Mats with two Large Mats and 2 standard Mats.  It was a tight fit for four but is perfect for 3 with extra room for having all your gear in the tent.  At just over 4lbs would be lighter than your moment and most other two man tents.  Even on your trips with just 1 child the weights aren’t too bad and you have a lot less food weight and clothing weight so they will already feel like lighter weight trips.

if starting from scratch for 3 people whether adults or kids I would go with the Hogback.

tl;dr – get a Li Stratospire for them and a hammock for yourself

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I take my kids, one at a time. They are now 11 & 8. I started them each at 7.

I’ve been using a TarpTent Stratospire2 and like that plenty.

Qs:

how old are the kids?

how much do they move in their sleep?

would either of them need a 25″ pad? Do you?

If you must buy something now, and If you won’t need two 25″ pads, and If you can afford it: Get the new Li Stratospire!

Thoughts, in no particular order…

My daughter, who is usually not the restless sleeper in the family, did knock over one of the trekking poles the first night sleeping in the SS2. Hasn’t happened since (3x nights).

If I had unlimited gear money I’d get a Li SS2 for sure. I don’t because: My son and my husband would both take a wide pad as well as me. The purchase would be just for trips with my daughter. Getting that specific might make sense in a few years given that she’s more of a climber and goes high and fast, whereas he likes shady river valleys.

I’m very curious to see what future plans Massdrop has for Dan Durston designed XMid tents. I’m awaiting the 1P. If they offered a 2P, which sounds forthcoming in a year or so, I might go for that, depending on if I’ve blown my budget or not, or whether it’s silpoly or DCF.

I’ve been conservative/lucky with weather on kid trips. But given the potential sag of silnylon I’m pretty much done w/it for 3-season trekking pole supported shelters.

I’m generally all about the trekking-pole supported shelters, but if I really wanted a freestanding tent, I’m very curious about these. If money were no object I’d get the 2P to use for certain situations (e.g. future boating or base camp)

http://thetentlab.com/MoonLightTents/MoonLightIntro.html

Hammocks. Have you considered for yourself? Catskills is my old stopping grounds from my conventional-weight days. If I were going back I would take a hammock. To replace the Moment. Or for the kids when they are older. My son slept in a hammock for the first time (car camping/kayaking two weekends ago) and loooved it.

I’m hesitant to get 3P or 4P tents as it seems like it could be hard to find a large enough spot.

My kids use trekking poles. My kids love trekking poles. Kids should have trekking poles! (or at least the option of trekking poles). If you don’t need them to be long enough for pitching a shelter, the Black Diamond First Strikes are great.

I love TarpTent, but I rule out the designs that taper at the ends. I wonder if that’s factoring in with your height?

Katherine,

thank you for the comprehensive response. The kids are 11; twins, a boy and girl. Boy rolls around a bit, girl stays put. Both stay put relatively well in sleeping bags. We’ve tried to cram into a 2 person Mt Hardwear and it’s a bit too cramped. If I were ever inclined to haul that heavy beast I would let them use it, and use the Moment for myself. But ain’t ever hiking with the MW again!

Yes, I think the sloping design of the Moment makes it a little claustrophobic for me. I suppose I  could unclip the liner and gain some space but lose the floor and the protection the netting provides. I also think that it sags a small amount. I can pitch it taut and see it a little droopy a few hours later. I haven’t really considered it much, but I wonder if I’d get a better pitch with DCF but that’s another rabbit hole!

Your point about large enough spot is a good one. I haven’t gotten the ruler out to measure the size difference between 2 and 3 person tents yet….and then I’d have to balance that against any benefit had by all three of use being in the same shelter. I’d be interested to hear others’ experience finding spots for larger tents.

Over the years I have used several shelters for 2.5 (1 adult + 2 kids).  I think the favorite with all of us was   golite hex-3.  Reasonably light, durable, felt roomy, … especially with me in the middle and the short kids on the edges :)  the orange-yellow color made everyone smile. The current version is suppose to be re-released next spring. We also used the tarptent Rainshadow-3 which worked well for us in the sierras.  The ultralight BA tents are light weight (liked the Copper Spur, hate the Flycreek) but as noted, they are delicate. If kids aren’t careful you will have trouble.  A bit more durable and almost as light is the MSR Mutha Hubba which my family has used in the last 4? years or so.  I would generally recommend it for moderate 3 season trips.

To your point about footprint… for a while we were using an 5 person pyramid for the the whole crew, but the footprint made site selection to hard.  When we have 5 we do 3 + 2. For other thoughts https://verber.com/shelters/

–mark