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Posted: 5/3/2017 11:27:56 PM EDT
I'm planning on doing a lot of camping this summer. Some of the camping will be of the typical campground style but one particular campout
will be way out in the remote Nevada desert where dust storms and very powerful winds are common.  And one of the campouts will be in a watery, wet landscape.

I will be living out of a rucksack the entire time. No vehicle, so it needs to be packable with a reasonable amount of weight. I'm not hiking far, I will
be flying, or getting a ride to my destination. But once dropped off, I will be hoofing it for maybe 500 meters. So weight isn't crucial.

I would like it to be roomy to be able to fit atleast 3 people comfortably. It needs to be durable ofcourse, and most importantly, be sealed enough to be able to keep out the fine talcum powder sand, which will be unavoidable certainly. Given the wetness of one of my locations, I will need a durable floor. I'd rather not have to pack a separate ground tarp. With this criteria, there will be some weight gain, but I am willing to take some extra weight given that this won't be a long march to my campsite. Once there, it will remain there until I leave.

I'm experienced at typical camping and whatnot, so setting up a tent isn't a problem, especially with prior rehearsal.

I would ideally want to not spend a fortune on this tent. No more than $500, but I know quality comes with price.  Buy once, cry once as they say.

Any advice from any experienced people here?
Link Posted: 5/4/2017 1:42:54 AM EDT
[#1]
I have the Nemo Galaxi 2P and Marmot Tunsgsten 3P (but they make a 2P version). If you're by yourself with your gear, my first suggestion is the Nemo Galaxi 2P. I really like its earth color and it's made from ripstop material. Older product photos show a gray tent under a brown rainfly but the production versions are all brown. The poles are also cut in shorter sections compared to most tents of this type/size so it packs a little shorter in its stuff sack. I also really like my Marmot Tungsten 3p. The Tungsten has prebent poles that bring out the lower area of the tent a fair bit though which makes it feel slightly roomier and my brother and I have plenty of room in it with all of our gear. Obviously a 1P tent will pack smaller and weigh less but I like the ability to put all of my gear inside the tent and the possibility to have room for a second person.

NEMO Galaxi 2P Tent and Footprint


https://www.amazon.com/Nemo-Galaxi-Backpacking-Footprint-Birch/dp/B00IOZV728?tag=vglnk-c102-20



https://www.amazon.com/Marmot-Tungsten-Backpacking-Tent-2-Person-Blaze/dp/B01IO5WR30?tag=vglnk-c102-20




REI also makes a great tent with the half dome 2 plus and it's very popular.

https://www.rei.com/product/878520/rei-co-op-half-dome-2-plus-tent


Here's a few more to consider that are also great. These all have nearly the same type of design and are very popular. Kelty's TN2 is interesting as it packs into a rectangular form factor.:
https://www.amazon.com/MSR-Elixir-Backpacking-Tent-Red/dp/B00GP12H04?tag=vglnk-c102-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G6KURDI?tag=vglnk-c102-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012FCFTTW?tag=vglnk-c102-20

The Outdoor Gear Review guy on Youtube swears by this one below though I have no experience with it (I like the design of dome tents more though I've never used a pyramid tent).

https://mytrailco.com/collections/tents/products/pyramid-3-shelter


Snugpak makes some good 4 season tents (will be a little warmer in the summer months though) like the Scorpion 2.

https://www.amazon.com/Snugpak-92875-Scorpion-Tactical-Shelter/dp/B00ICRGOOE?tag=vglnk-c102-20
Link Posted: 5/5/2017 12:06:57 PM EDT
[#2]
Are you planning on going to Burning Man?
Link Posted: 5/6/2017 6:10:07 AM EDT
[#3]
I live and camp in the desert. "Fine talcum powder sand" shouldn't be a problem unless your camping on a dry lake. In that case, no tent will keep out the dust if there happens to be a sand storm (which isn't as often as most people think).

On second thought, where are you camping that you think there is going to be "fine talcum powder sand"?? Also, you do know that some parts of Nevada in the summer are above 115 in the day and high 90's at 4am? Even with the rain fly off, a tent will be hot unless your up at higher altitudes.

3 people comfortably? Sounds like you need a 4P tent. 

I would go with the MSR Elixir 4 tent. The off white rain fly will be a little cooler in the sun than a darker color tent. It is similar to their Hubba tents but made with heavier weight ripstop material. Most importantly, the floor is twice as heavy (30D vs 70D). If your hiking and just want to get out of the rain/sun to take a break, you can set up just the rainfly only (w/ footprint) and sit under it. Good tent for the money.

The elixir comes with the footprint. It also has a full rain fly, doors/vestibules/vents on both sides.  

Link to Elixir 4 tent for $399








Link Posted: 5/8/2017 12:19:48 AM EDT
[#4]
Given that weight/bulk are not especially worrisome, and the need to accommodate three people, I'd look at the Eureka Timberline-4 (Outfitter -- heavy-duty version).  It has an effective high-wind guy-out system, and is designed for durability, rather than feather-weight, although "optimistically", probably fraudulently "rated" as a 4-person tent. I use my "4 man" T-4 as a solo tent, with a Roll-A-Cot/Thermarest pad, with lots of extra room.
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