Vent: My old tent finally gave out during a storm in the Smokies

So I was camping near Gatlinburg last spring when a huge thunderstorm rolled in. My trusty old two-person tent, which I'd had for like eight years, just gave up. The pole snapped and the rain fly leaked. I was soaked. When I got home, I had to pick between getting a new three-person dome tent for around $150 or a heavier four-season one for over $300. I went with the cheaper dome tent because I mostly do summer trips. It worked great on my next trip, held up in some wind, and was way easier to set up. But now I'm wondering if I should have spent more for something tougher. Has anyone else had a tent fail and regretted their replacement pick?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_ben23d ago

Honestly, ray643 has a point about buying for the weather you'll actually see. Tbh my buddy had his fancy mountaineering tent fail on a simple weekend trip because a zipper got messed up from just normal use. He spent all that extra cash for "tough" gear and the thing that broke was something basic. He said he wished he'd just gotten a normal solid tent and saved his money. Sounds like your dome tent doing its job means you made the smart call.

ray64323d ago

How much bad weather are you actually planning to camp in? If you're mostly out in the summer, that dome tent sounds like the right call for the money. Spending more on gear you won't really use just leads to regret.

finley_smith13d ago

Buying for the weather you'll actually see" is a good way to end up in trouble when the forecast is wrong. Summer storms can get nasty fast, and a cheap dome tent might not handle a surprise downpour or strong wind. Having tougher gear you don't "need" most trips is way better than being cold, wet, and scared the one time things go bad. That extra cash buys peace of mind, which is worth a lot when you're miles from your car.

uma65923d ago

Yeah, ray's point about buying for the weather you'll actually see is spot on. I read a gear blog that said most people overbuy on tent weight and features. Your dome tent doing its job means you probably chose right.