Hey everyone, I moved to Australia a while ago and finally got my first car to start exploring more of the area around. I am looking at buying a tent and a self-inflatable mattress but not sure what to buy. I am kind of lost in the world of super cheap options VS really expensive, lighter than light tents.
So for context, I am 6.6 feet (2 meters) tall; I am not expecting a tent where I can stand in but definitely looking for something that’s comfortable. The same applies for a mattress. It will mostly be me in the tent but my partner might be joining me every now and again so I will probably go for a 3-4 person tent. I am not hiking with the tent in my bag so I don’t need anything that’s really light but something that’s small and compact is always a win. It will mostly be used in spring or summer so there is no need to be comfortable in winter. Just nice if it keeps standing if we happen to have some wind or heavy rain…
When looking at Amazon, it keeps showing me the Coleman Sundome 4 person tent. One of my colleagues recommended the Coleman instant-up tent but I feel like that one is too big and heavy. Does anyone else have any good recommendations? Thanks!
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Ultralight equipment can be more brittle and isn’t required unless you’re trekking. Unless you use specialist cold-weather tents, tents by themselves won’t keep you warm. The primary sources of warmth are your mattress, sleeping bag, and layers such as merino base layers, fleece liner, or pajamas.
Measure the area and height you require in order to select the appropriate tent. Although it’s not necessary, standing room is good. If you can lay diagonally, a 3-person dome tent would fit, but larger 4-person tents offer more space. Start with a reasonably priced mattress from your neighborhood retailer, and if you sleep on your side, make sure it’s thick enough.
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How much do you have to spend? One of the largest tents I’ve ever stayed in was the Oztent RV5 Plus. I simply accepted that my feet would hang off the sleeping pads, and it’s still comfy.
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BIL has an rv4? it does not pack up small at all. they had trouble with room as they didnt take the trailer.
I move a lot in my sleep, unless im on a double or larger. my legs and arms will probably end up on the floor
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A hammock + tarp combination is an additional choice to think about. A tarp may be set up considerably higher than even a huge tent, and there will be plenty of room underneath it for standing and moving around. Modern camping has made them really comfy, so they’re not all tippy spreader-bar beach hammocks either [1–3]. The drawback is that they’re not as suitable for a companion; even in hammocks with two people, it’s difficult to get near, but there are choices for two people [4, 5].