Dome Family Tents, Brand Names Discounted.
Thinking about buying a Dome Family Tent but I don’t know all that much about them. I have been using the old pole tent that I have had for years but it is getting old and a little painful in getting the tent up and down in a hurry. I have read a little about the Dome Family Tents and like the concept that I can get it set up in 15 minutes which is something that first attracted me to it, what do you think, is it worth the money?
In a word, Yes.
The older-style tents are certainly still adequate, but the domes are much easier to handle, if only because of the weight. It is also nice to have the frame outside rather than inside with you.
Yes, it is possible to reset an older-style tent from inside in the middle of the night after someone rolls over and knocks a pole out of place, but it is not fun, especially in rain.
The dome tents are much better because they give you more room to move around. Plus you can store your gear in there easier. Setup is easy too.
Well they’re heavier and take longer to setup, but I think they’re fine for stationary camping. For tripping I would reccomend a newer tent.
depends what you’re doing.
The newer tents _are_ better. They’re lighter, they go up quicker, dry out faster.
But an old tent could be fine — just check to be sure it hasn’t gotten moldy ( a nasty thing to discover when you’re miles away )– old canvas tents, sitting in an attic can get nasty.
for mild summer camping, there’s no real reason for a new tent. For hardcore winter camping, though, newer, better equipment really is better.
I prefer pole tents because the rectangular floor is much more conducive to human bodies lying side by side. The rounded floors of dome tents are an overall inefficient use of space, unless you happen to sleep in the shape of a crescent.
Dome tents usually have more room.
dome tents are much quicker and easier to assemble.
The newer tents are better and you can get ones that are not round. I have a really big rectangular eddie bauer I bought last year and it is great… I also have a rounded dome that I like very well too.. and as for the guy who said its hard to sleep in… I use the rounded corners to store my clothes or other gear.. I remember the old style tents, my father used to have one when we went camping, nothing wrong they are just bulkier and do tend to get that musty mildew smell after time…. Best of Luck! Have Fun!
I’ve had both. Pole tents take too long to put up, weigh too much (omg they are like a thousand pounds wet). Depending on your tent, the frame takes up floor space too.
Dome tents are so much lighter, and take only minutes to set up.
I’d scrap your old tent. Give it to a salvation army.
The thing I’d be worried about is the waterproofness (it’s really a word). An older "A" frame tent, even if nylon, but especially if it’s canvas won’t be seam sealed, and the material will have degraded, making it weaker and much less waterproof, if it retains any waterproofness (again) at all. At least you could set it up and spray it gently with a hose to test it before hitting the road.
my old canvas pup tent is used in snow. I pile up snow around it to about the halfway point. In summer, /fall I use a dome tent to keep biting critters at bay.
I prefer dome tents since I only camp in Florida now – and if you are in Florida it never gets that cold – only lots of rain. And since I am very short I have found it is easier to put up a dome tent alone (if necessary). Also you must be careful of mold in older tents.