I'd like to buy a quality 4 person camping tent, designed for camping, not for backpacking or alpine use etc. So weight is not an issues for car camping. BUT, when I look at camping tent reviews on the net, even the better brands of camping specific tents (North Face etc.) all seem to have leaks in rain. I used to car camp when I was younger, and I never had a tent that didn't leak, so I'm a little sensitive to leaky tents. Even expensive heavy duty mountaineering base camp tents sometimes leak in heavy rain based on internet reviews and comments. But those tents aren't designed for rain specifically, because they're typically used where all the water is in the form of ice and snow.

However, I started researching canvas tents, and the modern versions made today SEEM to be more water tight than high-end synthetic camping tents (polyester, nylong, silicone/PU coatings etc). I would also like the ability to close up netting vents for windy winter conditions.

Do you guys have any recommendations for a "4 person" rated camping tent that can handle heavy rain, assuming a suitable site that drains properly and is pitched tight ? I'm not that worried about wind, but handling wind would be a bonus.

When you say "4-person" tent is that because four people will be in it or so there is enough room for two people?

If it is for you, wife, and two other adults (or kids), you should be considering a 6-person (or small condominium) size tent.

If you need a tent able to keep you dry in heavy rain, I envision a sided tent (think 2-3 foot high sides) with a storm fly.

I have several Coleman dome tents. 2 poles, up in 5 minutes. From 6x8 for Me and a kid for scout camp outs to 12x12 for family of 4. We do 3 season camping here trying to avoid storms on the radar but sometimes it happens. The Coleman’s all have a tarp floor and I use a heavier tarp as a ground cloth. Rain fly properly installed is good for all but a real downpour. Not a fan of multi room tents. Just too much hassle and almost need 3 adults to assemble. Can get a cheap Coleman at big box store for 40-50$ and last many seasons. My wife and I have used one for several nights a year for about 20 years. The zipper finally broke so I just trashed it and bought the new version of same size. Just get proper sleeping pads and bags and you will be fine

Big Agnes.

Mad House 8

This looks like the “Flying Diamond 8” that I’ve had for eight years; used for three. For four people you’ll want an 8-person tent. For sure. Always divide tent person ratings by two to really know the capacity!

I love my Flying Diamond 8.

I've had a Cabelas Alaskan Guide Tent that has served me well for not quite 20 years.

It has been through several pretty good storms. I water proofed the fly and the floor of the tent when it was new and rain has never been a problem.

Rated at four people: https://eurekacamping.johnsono...fitter-4-person-tent

Best and most durable tents tent I've ever camped in. My Timberline survived summer storms for close to 25 years that destroyed countless dome tents with fiberglass poles and cabin/wall tents.

I think I replaced one bent pole in that time period, and even then I could have saved it had I really wanted to straighten the bent sections.

I have a kodiak canvas tent and it’s been awesome. The only thing you have to remember with canvas tents is that they have to be 100% dry when you put them up or they will mold/mildew. I’ve had a wet wall tent rolled up for 3 days that got nasty.

https://www.kodiakcanvas.com/1...-date-oct-20th-2020/

If there are 4 people camping, you will need atleast a 6 person tent. If it is 4 adults camping, even a 6 person tent.

We did weekend camping with 2 kids (2 adults and 2 children)for about 5 years in a Coleman 6 person dome tent. I don't remember the exact model, but it was easy to set up (took about 10 minutes) and we never had a problem with leaks or tears.

You mentioned possibly camping in the winter so let me offer the Shiftpod...not cheap but very interesting...

https://shiftpod.com/shiftpod/shelter/shiftpod-v20

I really wanted a Kodiak Canvas tent and searched everywhere for one, but they were all out. I needed one for my past hunting trip so I ended up spending about $400 on Amazon for a glamcamp canvas tent. It did the job okay and it has a high center ceiling, but we were only able to fit three cots inside with all our gear, which was okay since it was just me, my son and my friend who is 6'2" tall.

It took me about an hour to set it up the first time in the school playground behind my house. My 10 year-old son for scale...




If it were people in sleeping bags, we could have easily fit four people in this tent, but since we all had cots, it was just big enough for three with mine being a jumbo cot. Since I was on a tall cot, my face was maybe 12" from the sloping roof. If we were on blow-up mattresses or just sleeping bags on the ground, there would be much more room. This tent has facilities for a stove with a chimney.

Here it is being used on our hunting trip this weekend. I'd say it took us about 20 minutes to put up the second time and out on the field. The guy lines have reflective material woven within them, so the straps glow at night when a flashlight is shone upon them.



Apparently, it's ideal if you get this tent wet once at home and let it dry out as it seals the canvas as it shrinks.

This tent weighs 80 pounds.

Tony.

I have this Marmot Limestone 6P and it's the best all-around tent I have used.

https://www.backcountry.com/ma...on-tent#product_info

It's 76" tall on the inside, so just tall enough that I can actually stand all the way up inside when getting dressed. It has a full rain fly that goes all the way to the ground so it's kept me dry even in heavy thunderstorms. Many tie down points all around so it stayed secured to the ground. Aluminum poles so it was rock solid in the heavy wind. The vestibule is great for sitting on a small stool to take muddy boots on/off before getting in the tent.

It's a large enough footprint to sleep 2 with full sized cots lots of gear and room to spare, or 4 in sleeping bags comfortably.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
You mentioned possibly camping in the winter so let me offer the Shiftpod...not cheap but very interesting...

https://shiftpod.com/shiftpod/shelter/shiftpod-v20

If I was younger, I would definitely invest in one of these, I hated rainy nights with a passion!!

Here's the brand and series that the US Forest Service Wildland Fire Fighters use. This model is the larger version and it is the one I have used with my kids over many years and many different types of weather. And it sets up in about 60 seconds too.

Catoma SpeeDome:

https://catoma.com/product/mer...le-speedome-shelter/

Amazon and The Supply Cache seem to have the best prices:

https://www.amazon.com/CATOMA-...e-Tent/dp/B077Y88CF1

https://www.supplycache.com/pr...ma%20%7C%20%24422.95



.

REI Kingdom they make it in a 4, 6, and 8 person.

They go on sale a few times a year with REI's big sales. Always 20% off.

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
Big Agnes.

Mad House 8

This looks like the “Flying Diamond 8” that I’ve had for eight years; used for three.

I agree and Camp in all seasons, also a Flying Diamond 8 owner which is our family tent. In all I own 4 different double wall BA tents. I’ve had them up in every type of precipitation imaginable, including heavy wind and rain. Part the problem with reviews is that you have to understand how to properly set up and guy out a tent. The reality is a lot of people don’t, or they buy a single wall fast/light mountaineering tent and then complain when they take it out in inappropriate sub-alpine terrain and conditions. Really though a good single wall will perform adequately in rain if you rig the wind and leeward sides correctly and know how to configure the vents.

I had my Copper Spur HV 2 up on the boulder field of Long’s Peak in CO last month- 20-30mph wind with higher gusts, absolute monster downpours and fits of hail and then freezing sleet. I didn’t sleep much and made a couple adjustments in the night, but stayed bone dry. BA tents are bulletproof.

Every time I went camping as a scout it rained...I soon learned to set up my tent I the rain.....and to bring a blue trap...run a high line and drape the tarp over it...when we moved to the mountains in NC I went camping in January, it snowed.

We are pretty much primitive campers. That means we choose mostly state and national forest campgrounds that don't have electricity or water systems. Depending on if we can drive to the site and how long we will be there, we own different tents for different purposes. For car camping when we will be staying multiple nights and weight is not a consideration, we have an REI Hobbitat 4 which is considered a 4 person tent. We chose it for durability, ease of set up, resistance to wind and that we can stand up inside it. The downside is that this model is discontinued. My wife really like the height of both the side walls and that either of us can stand up inside the tent. We purchased the matching footprint which is a groundcloth to protect the floor from under the tent.

We own tents from REI, Wetzl, Cabelas and Nemo. The one thing I do not like about our Nemo tent is that the screen sides come down to far and rain coming off the fly can splash inside. So I would suggest looking for a tent with solid nylon side that go up at least 16",

DSCN2743 by Brad Benzing, on Flickr

quote:

even the better brands of camping specific tents (North Face etc.) all seem to have leaks in rain.

I always seal the seams of a new tent. The REI tent I’ve used for years has gone through several major thunderstorms.
Recall we were ata dig in Wyoming when a couple arrived. Theyed stopped at Walmart and bought a tent. That night we had storm warnings and everybody hindered down.

Next morning I was nice and dry. The couple were soaked. They made the long drive back to get seam sealer.

Look at Springbar tents. They have US made models too.




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/3jzAbGsUsKo

Link to website: https://springbar.com/?gclid=C...tHo5Y0UaAnkxEALw_wcB