Help with my budget 2-person tent comparison chart?

Seeking Advice
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I already posted this on another forum but thought I’d get some extra input here!

I put together a chart to compare entry-level, budget-friendly 2-person tents, with my price range under $200. I based rankings on durability and fabric quality with the help of ChatGPT (I gave it specific material details to work with).

I’m leaning towards the top two options in the chart. For those experienced with these kinds of tents, does anything seem off in my comparisons? Or is there something else I should add to make the chart more helpful?

On my other post, some folks recommended adding:

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How can a language model actually give reliable info on fabric quality?

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Whit said:
How can a language model actually give reliable info on fabric quality?

It’s frustrating. Language models are just designed to predict words, not to tell the truth.

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Flynn said:

Whit said:
How can a language model actually give reliable info on fabric quality?

It’s frustrating. Language models are just designed to predict words, not to tell the truth.

User: “Tell me about the fabric quality of this tent.”

LLM: “It’s got fantastic quality fabrics.”

User: “Wow, sounds great!”

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@Whit
Just to clarify, I didn’t blindly trust it. As a beginner, I used ChatGPT to organize material data since reading tons of reviews can be confusing. It gave me a consolidated view based on materials, and I double-checked as much as I could with real reviews. Here’s how I ranked them:

  1. Fabric Material and Thickness

    • Thicker fabrics like 68D tend to hold up better than 20D ones. Also, polyester resists stretch in rain better than nylon, which is lighter.

  2. Waterproof Coatings

    • I checked the waterproof ratings, and dual coatings score higher for water resistance.

  3. Pole Strength

    • Tents with DAC poles or unique structural designs were given better ratings.

  4. Real User Feedback

    • Consistent positive feedback helped me confirm quality rankings.

  5. Brand Reputation

    • Trusted brands with good warranties scored better in durability.

This is how I went about it, trying to get a balanced view!

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Whit said:
How can a language model actually give reliable info on fabric quality?

I provided it with specific materials and specs for each tent, so it was more helpful than just reading through specs myself.

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@Sam
Language models don’t actually know things, though.

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Whit said:
@Sam
Language models don’t actually know things, though.

I think it’s useful enough if you know how to work with it.

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Sam said:

Whit said:
@Sam
Language models don’t actually know things, though.

I think it’s useful enough if you know how to work with it.

If you say so, but that’s not really how these models work.

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For me, the most important thing is space. Can I lie down without hitting my feet or head on the tent fabric?

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Don’t forget things like setup ease, rain performance, packed size, and whether there’s a hook for hanging a light. Also, if you use a tarp, see if the tent footprint matches common sizes.

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First mistake was relying on ChatGPT instead of doing all your own digging. Just buy an REI tent and be done with it.

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Might be worth adding warranty info to the chart.

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The measurements and specs are probably accurate enough, but there’s no easy way to really know durability or quality without putting these tents through extensive testing.

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Heavy tents but affordable.

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Sidney said:
Heavy tents but affordable.

Yeah, finding a light but budget-friendly tent is a struggle!

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Sam said:

Sidney said:
Heavy tents but affordable.

Yeah, finding a light but budget-friendly tent is a struggle!

I use a Tarptent Double Rainbow; it’s a bit pricey but super light and reliable.