lopez.holly•2mo agoOG Member

I thought a cheap tent was fine for car camping, but a storm in Flagstaff changed my mind

I always grabbed a $50 dome tent from a big box store, thinking it was fine since my car was right there. Last month, a surprise thunderstorm rolled through our site at 7,000 feet and the wind absolutely shredded the poles. I ended up sleeping in my SUV. Just bought a Kelty Rumpus 6 and the difference in build quality is insane. Anyone have a favorite sturdy car camping tent that can handle real weather?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthewperry2mo ago

My buddy's Coleman tent collapsed in a downpour at Joshua Tree, the poles just snapped like twigs. He spent the whole night mopping up water with camp towels. That was the last time any of us bought a tent from a grocery store parking lot sale.

the_amy2mo ago

Remember the time my cousin tried to save money on a ski trip sleeping bag. Woke up looking like a human popsicle because the filling was basically old t-shirts. Some things are just worth paying for upfront.

hugo_jones21mo ago

But honestly... I've had my cheap Walmart tent for like eight years now. That thing has seen some serious rain and wind up in the Adirondacks and it's still fine. You just have to know how to set it up right and pick a good spot, maybe use extra guy lines. @the_amy's cousin probably just got a total dud, but most budget gear is totally fine for the average summer trip. People get too caught up in brand names and tech specs for just sitting by a car.