I like MEC, so these were my go-to picks:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1269916659333

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1269916911074

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1269916449117

What I like about them all:

* Highly waterproof
good venting, looks like.. on the Tarn 2 especially..

* lots (50+)of positive reviews from MEC members (none of them are new kids on the block and thus untested)

* They're relatively light and inexpensive (not worth the extra $$$ for SUPER LIGHT)

* all have bug mesh (priority 1)


But if you had to pick ONE....

Which?

Is there another tent in this price range I'd be a fool not to look at??

Thanks!

PS

How important is a footprint?

If you can make a spot nice and soft (grass, leaves, pine boughs, etc), do you need the extra bulk and admittedly minuscule extra weight?

Well, between those three, I personally would rule out the Tarn first because of its lack of two entrances.

Then between the Wanderer and the Gemini, I would choose the Gemini because it is nearly a kilo and a half lighter. The Wanderer is meant to be more of a paddling tent rather than a backpacking tent; for its extra weight, it is quite a bit roomier. Also, I believe MEC makes a Wanderer that is nearly all netting, which reduces its weight and will have the best venting of the three.

Would definitely consider the MSR Hubba Hubba although $329

Tarn 2 is a good one-man tent. Too small for two people. Tarn 2 also has condensation issues. I bought it because it's a bomber tent with a lower profile, better in high winds. The smaller volume also means it warms up faster. I use it as a one-man tent.

The new MEC Camper 2 has two entrances, two vestibules, and it's only $125.00. Lighter than the Tarn 2, and it really does have room for two. Not as tough, though.

I bought the gemini last summer after much tent debate as well. It actually wasn't my first purchase. I bought a big agnes tent from mec but after using it on a trip I decided it wasn't quite what I wanted, took it back to mec and got the gemini and haven't looked back since. One neat thing about it is when inside, the mesh panels give the illusion of a much bigger tent.

I always use a footprint, why risk it? Its not that hard to pack, fits right inside the tent stuff sack.

What's the advantage of 2 doors? Escape hatch from bears? (gulp)

Yeah, a bit pricey, and I think the only advantage is it's a wee bit lighter than the rest, which isn't a HUGE deal (I say now, having never hauled a tent on a long, long hike)..

Yeah, there was a consensus there on those 2 issues, from the reviews.. Though I'd be using it more as a one person as it is, and the condensation issues were reported as minor..

Which would be a definite plus.. AND it sounds like set up is pretty easy..

Hmm.. I DO want this tent to last more than one season..

What do you like about it, over other tents you've tried? Any faults?

True.. True..

My $0.02 worth...

The second door is more useful in the winter when there is a lot more junk in the tent and it is a lot harder to climb over people and dinners and piles of clothing. And in the winter I often cook in one vestibule and use the other as a door. For 3-season use I find one door + vestibule adequate.

I try to get 3-season tents as light and cheap as possible. That way it can be used for kayaking, biking, hiking, etc. The last one I bought was the MEC Merganzer (no longer sold?).

The footprint weighs only a few ounces and the flap in front also keeps sand and mud out of the tent.

Oh, well if that's the main reasoning behind a second door, I still don't think I'll need one..

A. I won't be using it in the winter.

B. I won't be keeping much of anything inside the tent. My pack with all my food will be up in a tree outside..

C. It's a 2 person tent that 90% of the time I'll just be using for myself.. No people to climb over.

I'm reading through the reviews again for the Gemini.. Seem to be quite a bit more significant faults than the other tents I mentioned..

One thing about a second door - it allows the management of condensation better than any single door. Depending on where you trek, this may be a deciding factor.

Would both doors have to be open? ie. no bug mesh screen?

If not, then I don't get why a single door with a mesh window on either side wouldn't work just as well..

For example, the MSR Hubba Hubba. Double walled - mesh inner tent with bathtub floor and waterproof fly. You can leave the fly doors open at both ends and keep the screen doors closed and still prevent mile rain from coming in. If no rain just bugs, ditto.

If you are using a single walled shelter with one door, it would be helpful to have an opposing window backed with mesh for cross breeze. However, there are very few if any of these models current available.

Also remember that, all things being equal in terms of design, a smaller shelter will generally have a tougher time managing condensation than a larger shelter. The latter allows the condensation to disperse over a larger are, not accumulate, and not drip on you. A larger shelter also prevents you from necessarily rolling into condensed walls. Finally, a 2 person shelter always provides a minimal weight increase for a greater increase in usable space.

If you really want to push the lightweight envelope, have a look at www.tarptent.com. Two person, bug proof, waterproof shelters for 2 lbs. Single person for just over a pound.

<quote> ... My pack with all my food will be up in a tree outside.. </quote/>


Consider a bear-vault rather than trying to hang your food. I have never been able to hang a food bag that even a crippled geriatric bear could not have retrieved with the slightest effort. A bear vault weighs less than a pound, holds about one man-week of food, and is really convenient. They are also mouse-proof (an even bigger problem in my experience).

[quote]quote:Originally posted by dougz

[quote] If you buy it, set it up a few times in the house first with good lighting and lots of room. Not so easy as the Camper 2 with only two poles. The fly is a pain - You have to lock the fly tabs onto the frame in the right order or the whole thing winds up pulled askew. My first try took a good half hour for setup, readjusting and fiddling with it to get it right.

I agree about two doors being better than one, and if I was going to share the tent with someone else for more than 1% of the time, I would have bought the Camper 2 - cheaper, lighter and a better design. If nothing else, you don't have to climb over somebody in the middle of the night if you have to pee.

I'm not being fair - it's too new to have been properly tested and reviewed. It [u]looked</u> like weaker fabric in the store, and they're not as clear about the fabric weights, but I can't say it isn't strong enough. Besides, if it dies too soon, you always have the MEC guarantee.

Have to 2nd mtnview, the Hubba Hubba is a great 3 season for light weight and performance and will hold up pretty well even in a Bugaboos-style thunderstorm.