Tag Archives: tents

Why I Bought A Coleman Instant Tent For My Family

With their famous one minute setup claim, Coleman instant tents are rumored to combine all of the best benefits of a instant and traditional tent into one unit. The canvas is made with a special weathertec material that is sure to keep you dry, but what do customers think about the one minute setup? With it’s unique exoskeleton design, all that is required for setup is to unbag the tent and lock the legs in place. With several different tent sizes available, Coleman has made it accessible for all family sizes.

Most people are drawn to the Coleman instant tent because of it’s one minute setup time. With some users reporting a setup of just over 40 seconds, it could take you longer to unsheathe your survival knives than set up the whole base camp! With less time figuring out tent pole assembly and more time with your family, you can enjoy the hiking, canoeing, or fishing that you planned in your short says at the campsite.

Although there are plenty of upsides to the exoskeleton design of the tent, there are several coleman instant tent review sites online that outline some of the drawbacks of the design. First and foremost you’ll notice when the tent first arrives in the mail. The box and tent ships at a weight in excess of 43 pounds. Needless to say, this design is not well suited for a hiker trying to find a peaceful campsite in the middle of the forest. No, it more suited towards a large family planning to drive to their campsite. Second, many reviewers have discovered that the tent does not ship with a rain fly. Meaning, in any sort of rain, the inside of the tent is going to get extremely hot and humid. However, for those families who plan their trips in good weather, this tent is a perfect way to squeeze more fun out of a camping trip and less work.

Editor’s Note:

I used to have a tent like this, and loved it! It was an earlier model, and I do not recall if it was a Coleman brand, but the poles were “built in” to the tent like the tents mentioned here. It was great to set up, and you could even do it late at night in the dark quickly. Check out this guide for the best camping tents too.

Quality Outdoor Equipment Tested In The Toughest Terrain

Outdoors enthusiasts, campers, prospectors and adventurers need the best equipment to explore the natural environment, but the cost of this equipment can sometimes be staggering. Even family-targeted camping equipment comes at a cost and when the expense of buying your outdoor equipment goes up the temptation to sacrifice quality can be hard to resist. But what if there was a great way to buy the highest quality outdoor adventure and camping equipment and save money at the same time? At military surplus retailers and online stores you can get the quality you need at prices you can afford.

I’ve been camping and exploring for years. It started with family fishing trips when I was young and now as a father I often take my own children outdoors on the holidays for a little adventure. Like me, my children love getting outside for fishing, hiking and prospecting. It’s a family tradition enjoyed by millions of people across the world, but it can be a costly pastime. The cost of tents, clothing, equipment and hunting and fishing gear is staggering, but since I’ve discovered military surplus I’ve been able to save a lot every year when adding to and updating our equipment.

One of the best purchases I’ve made from military surplus has been sleeping bags, tents and clothing (check out considerations for the best camping tent). The range of clothing and backpacks in particular is exceptional and my kids love to dress up in camouflage and go spotlighting at night. I admit I love the look of camouflage clothing too, but I also appreciate the quality and the durability of the materials, and the fact that I’m not going to have to replace it after every trip. I also love tucking into a warm and dry sleeping bag at night to rest after chasing after the kids all day.

But it’s not just family trips that I’ve been able to enjoy more since discovering surplus. I love hunting, and while it’s not everyone’s favorite activity, for enthusiasts like me it’s important that I can carry the right knives and guns for each outing (check out what to look for in a hunting knife, too). Military surplus is a great source of knives, sheaths and netting. The quality is made for combat so it is sturdy and reliable. The range of rifles are also impressive.

Hunting equipment is a specialized necessity for sporting enthusiasts and while many military guns are not appropriate for sporting activities it’s possible to modify some combat rifles for these purposes. I recently purchased an AR-15 builder instruction manual and have been able to adapt my rifle to suit the exact purposes I’m looking for. You can also buy handguns and collectors weapons from World War I & II.

Whether you are strictly a family camping hobbyist or adventurous outdoor explorer, military surplus stores offer a great range of supplies for any expedition. Tested in harsh environments by our brave soldiers, surplus stock is a fantastic idea for building your store of outdoor gear. Compasses, portable bathrooms, sleeping bags, clothing and more. Military surplus stores stock everything you need at prices you can afford.

Tent Rentals for Smarter Camping

Camping remains a very attractive entertainment for many, yet can seem on the expensive side in order to be able to purchase most of the gear necessary. However, this does not have to be the case at all. You can find most of the gear needed right at home, and you can borrow or lease the rest. A good example of this approach is with tent rentals.

Quality outdoor supply and camping stores offer quite an array of gear that is available for rent, and this makes sense for several good reasons. For the beginner, they have the opportunity to discover if this is something that they want to pursue without investing in supplies that they may not be using in the future.

For the experienced camper, this gives them the opportunity to test out new, or different, models that they are interested in without purchasing them outright. The option to rent a tent as opposed to buying one makes even more sense when considering how many designs, sizes, and models are available.

Whether 1, 2, or 3 man tents, or even larger sizes, these numbers are relative when considering real world application. What may work for one pair of campers will not be suitable for another, and what one family considers cozy another may consider intolerable. Renting first can teach consumers these differences.

While out camping and backpacking one becomes very attached to one’s equipment, and at times they are truly a matter of survival, so getting the right gear is of vital importance. Shopping on impulse and emotion will never do in such cases. It would be wise to try before you buy, as the saying goes, and knowing what will be best for your needs.

Tent rentals can only serve to create smarter consumers. Again, this can be extremely important when out in the wilds and while on the trail. Camping is great fun, indeed, but does have an element of danger arising out of necessity. Getting the proper gear will increase both pleasure and safety.

Benefits to Owning Tent Trailers

Everybody can use a much needed vacation whether it is to get away from the routines of life or the stress of work. Unfortunately, vacations can put more stress on us because of the amount it costs to take them! For many it just isn’t reasonable to go on a vacation every month or weekend. The costs of hotels and airfare aren’t budget friendly. Owning a trailer tent can make a weekend trip much more reasonable.

Most of us live pretty close to a wilderness area of some sort whether it’s the beach or the mountains or even the desert. The possibilities are endless. On the other hand, not all of us are meant to be serious campers. We like the comforts our homes and lives offer. Tent trailers offer a nice compromise. Although they aren’t made as luxurious or as spacious as a RV they offer a nice in between.

First, they are much more affordable than a motorhome or RV. Some RV’s can be more than a home mortgage. You can get a tent trailer for a few thousand dollars or less making it much easier to fit into the budget. Ok, you might be cringing when you think about a few thousand dollars. The fact is even going on a big vacation once or twice a year can cost close to that but you will be able to enjoy this for many years to come.

Second, they are much smaller. They are designed to be compact and easy to transport. Many even are made to be stacked on their sides so you can store them easier when they are at home.
Third, they are a better option than a traditional camping tent especially if you aren’t such an outdoor enthusiast. Camping with tents is great if you love sleeping on the hard ground and waking up with condensation built up all around you. While a tent trailer is still just a tent it has a few extra perks along with it. It is raised up off the ground so you aren’t going to wake up with a rock lodged in your back. Also, because it’s up higher off the ground you don’t have to worry about accidentally pitching it where all the water runs off when it rains. You also won’t have to worry about getting a ground covering either.

Lastly, it gives you a great excuse to get away even if it is just for the weekend. Pack up a bunch of those non perishables you have in the house, grab some clothes and a few basic camping supplies and hook up the tent trailer. It is that easy. We all could use more excuses to relax and have a little fun. Enjoying the outdoors is a great way to do so.

Tent purchasing basics

Whether you are a long time experienced camper or a first time adventurer in the wilderness, you will need a good tent if you are going to maximize your camping experience. A lot of people always worry when they purchase tents because there are such a wide variety of products available. All of them seemingly appear to be decent quality since a tent’s appearance can be quite deceiving, but the true test of a tent’s real value is how it functions in the real world. With the wrong choice of tent, a camping experience can spiral into a cold and watery experience where the camper may never want to return to a campground again, but with the right tent, a camping trip can be very memorable and really fun.

When looking around for a tent you will want to think about what type of camper you are in terms of season and the weather. Three season tents will fit most of your camping adventures as long as you don’t venture out into the cold and challenging climate during the winter months. Three season tents will be absolutely perfect for the casual camper or people who are interested only in easy and light camping during the summer. A first time camper will probably want to go with a sturdy dome tent for their strong structure and the ease at which they can be set up. Dome tents are much shorter than larger cabin tents but the trade off comes from minimal effort in setup and also greater protection from the wind.

Other factors to consider are the material the tent is constructed of and how well the tent is ventilated on the sides and top. You will always want a tent that can stand up to the harsh rain with openings that close tightly, but also a tent with easily accessible openings (possibly thin mesh) for when it gets hot. Remember, a tent can be very uncomfortable if it’s cold and rainy but it can be equally as unbearable with the intense hot sun beating down on it and trapping warm air within. Overall, take into account of what type of tent you need whether it is a 4-person tent or a 6-man tent and with the proper preparation and research you will discover a good tent that will compliment your camping needs.

Boneblogger: Science and the outdoors

Exploring the natural world