Features
- Four-person tent with lightweight construction for hikes, cycling trips, and other camping occasions
- Lightweight, shock-corded fiberglass frame with pin and ring connection for quick setup and break down
- Weather-armor polyester fabric with polyurethane coating is tough and reliable
- Dutch D-style doors; removable divider curtain for 2-room orientation; 4 mesh roof vents
- Sonic-sealed, welded floors; measures 10 feet long x 8 feet wide; 10-year limited warranty
Price: $79.99
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
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Amazon.com
Great for hiking and biking trips, the Ponderosa two-room tent is lightweight enough at 10.8 pounds to carry on a backpack or saddle bags yet spacious enough to sleep four people at once. The tent base measures 10 feet by 8 feet, with a height in the center of 60 inches--more than enough space for an informal game of cards at midnight. The removable divider curtain, meanwhile, adds a bit of privacy in crowded conditions. Construction details range from a shock-corded fiberglass frame with a pin and ring connection to a weather-armor polyester fabric with a polyurethane coating. The frame is designed for quick and easy setup--a far cry from the clunky frames of yesteryear--while the coated fabric is reliable and sturdy regardless of the weather.
And should the rains come pouring down, the tent's armor-tough seams and water-repellent threads, zippers, and webbing stand ready to resist. The tent even includes sonic-sealed floors that are welded (not sewn) to eliminate stitch and needle holes, ensuring that water from rain-soaked dirt won't sneak in. Additional details include three windows (two in the front and one in the rear), Dutch D-style doors for easy entry from either side of the tent, and four mesh roof vents for circulation and moisture control. The Ponderosa is backed by a 10-year limited warranty.
Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on
