It’s 6x5 but appears to have more room then bivys and you can even sit up in them. Feels light also. Has anyone used one and are they good for the trail?
Cateye
Walmart $15 child's tent... good for the AT?
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#2
Cateye. I think your topic liner says it all. Walmart $15 child’s tent… good for the AT? I would guess the old saying,‘You get what you pay for.’ applies here. However, I don’t want to jump to conclusions. Is the tent for just a few nights on the trail? Is it going to be used by children for a short weekend? My guess is you are going to have problems with this tent with the material, poles, zippers, etc. However, if $15 is too good to pass up, try it out in the back yard a few times, or in the basement. I would hesitate before taking it on any trail.
Bilko
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#4
Cateye–I have to agree w/ Bilko. I hiked the Grand Canyon with my Brother in Law and his son about in late Oct 2000, they had one of those Walmart tents and learned the hard way. It rained most of ur first day and night out, not a down pour but a steady rain. The next morning my bro-in-law and his son were not happy campers, they had a 1" puddle of water in the corner of the tent that soaked everything they owned. Obviously this was a bad time to learn that your shelter it not up to par. Go speand a little money, you will be happy you did.
TK
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#5
the tent is junk… save your money and time and put it towards a good tent…
as for the leaking corner as per above… even a good tent will leak if setup in a poor location or improperly
freighttrain
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#6
Good tent for playing in the yard. Bad idea for real world. There was one of those junk Ozark Trails tents abandoned along the AT in Georgia in March. Anybody else see it? Looked like a four man version. It was all just chucked, tent, poles, monsterous canvas carry bag, instruction booklet. I nearly set it up and climbed in so I wouldn’t have to pitch my own, but didn’t trust it!
Wally World
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#7
I bought it this morning. Got the tent and a sealer and going to seem seal the tent. I set it up, I’m 6’1 and I have to sleep dia-angle in it. Weighs about 3 pounds including fly. I can sit up in it. Waiting for harsh rain storm and then going to test it out.
I bet this would also be a laughing stock along the trail.
Cateye
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#10
So why not? I like to buck the trend that you have to invest a mint with an overpriced outfitter. If it don’t work, my Eureka solo is great and light, just looking for something a little bit bigger.
Cateye
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#11
Did you really?? Even after we talked about that damn thing? haha…what happened to your hammock??
Leki-Less
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#12
I saw a guy on the trail this year with that tent 4lbs or something. Good choice. He had it in a hella down poor and was dry. It is however not for tall people. He had also hiked the trail a few times.
Magictouch
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#13
i still use it and plan on my next attempt to use it. when it stormed coming out of erwin this year, folks were as surprised as last year that i hammocked in winter. but as usual it was toasty warm for me…much better than a open face sandwich shelter.
and cat…you’ll see loads of folks who buck the system, cause there really is no died in the wool thing for everyone. try what you like or at worst what you can live with. folks wear cotton, blue jeans, no shoes, sandles, homemade gear, carry hatchets, this year a guy carried a professional break-down-able bicycle…now that is what thinking outta the box is. so don’t worry, yer already crazy if you leave yer life behind for 6 months or so to hike the AT…so a walleyworld tent is no biggy to most of us. accept the insanity and enjoy it while it lasts!
burn
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#14
Me and my buddy hiked from GA to VA in 2001. We started off with a questionable 2 man tent, it was pretty cramped. I suggested that he buy a new one while we were in Hiawassee so he did, from Riteaid for $15. On it’s first night of use, which happened to be in the Smokies, it rained on us hard. I heard the feint calling of my buddy at 3 a.m asking if he could come into my tent. The tent was a single wall but joined to the groundsheet. Rain entered the tent via the single wall and pooled like a kids paddling pool on the inside. Got to admit that it makes us cry with laughter to think of it now but at the time it was horrific. Everything he had was soaked through. I took a look at the tent at first light and found a 2" deep puddle, how he endured it for so long was beyond me. When we reached Hot springs the tent was ceremonialy lacerated and torn to shreds by him.
So, taking a kids indoor tent may be fun for a few nights but in the end you’ll want to kill it, and probably will.
Cheers
Cheers
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#15
I started out with this tent, called a “Junior Dome.” It weighs 3 lbs. After seam-sealing it and spraying it with silicone it has served me well. Several nice features: it’s free-standing; the whole side/front is a mesh door; and it’s one piece (except for the little fly over the roof vent.) That means it holds warmth very well in the winter; no cold air leaks.
One caveat: In a downpour it helps to stay away from the walls, and for someone who’s over 6 feet, that would be difficult. You might pitch a small tarp over the tent for insurance.
Do things your own way! Who cares what anyone else thinks.
Deb
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#16
Depending on how you plan to hike. I say go for it. Use it, test it out. There are many shelters on the AT, plan out how to use them. Think of it like this…
Most average, both male and female of the human species dedicate thier lives to ensure thier survival. Some make the decision that a 4x4 will take care of the wifes flowerbed at the end of the drive way in case of and an emergency ( 30 minutes late for work.) Others, well I’ll let you do the math.
I wish I had the time of day to prove to everyone here I could do it with such a tent. But then again, how dare I even suggest that one could last a week with nothing more than the clothes on his back and a 10 dollar bill.
Stranger
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#17
Guys, I used one of these as a test this past weekend on the AT. It worked great. Its a little short for tall people, but no problems. Its super lightweight, and you can pitch it in minutes. I didnt even stake it down.
The one I have is the Timber Creek one. It was cold enough to start the freezing process in some of our water bottles on Hawk Mtn that night, but I was nice and toasty in the tent in a 25 degree mummy bag. Even had my pack in there, with my shoes. Im 6’3" so I had to lay diagonally across tent floor, but I wasnt cramped and could fully stretch out.
The tent durability was fine. No problems there. Camping on top of Hawk Mtn, and even pitching and SLEEPING in it in the gravel parking lot at the base of springer in 15mph winds.
I dont think I would take it on a thru-hike, but for those short week long section hikes, you probably wouldnt have any problems.
One thing I really liked is the free standing style. I watched my friend struggle with his stake down tent trying to pound stakes for 15 min, while I had mine up in 3 min and was starting dinner.
I havent tried it in the rain yet, but thats the next test. I live in Florida, so testing that shouldnt be a problem.
bryan