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A place to chat about gear and the philosphy of ultralight. Ultralight bushwalking or backpacking focuses on carrying the lightest and simplest kit. There is still a good focus on safety and skill.

Forum rules

Ultralight Bushwalking/backpacking is about more than just gear lists. Ultralight walkers carefully consider gear based on the environment they are entering, the weather forecast, their own skill, other people in the group. Gear and systems are tested and tweaked.
If you are new to this area then welcome - Please remember that although the same ultralight philosophy can be used in all environments that the specific gear and skill required will vary greatly. It is very dangerous to assume that you can just copy someone else's gear list, but you are encouraged to ask questions, learn and start reducing the pack weight and enjoying the freedom that comes.

Common words
Base pack backpacking the mass of the backpack and the gear inside - not including consumables such as food, water and fuel
light backpacking base weight less than 9.1kg
ultralight backpacking base weight less than 4.5kg
super-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 2.3kg
extreme-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 1.4kg
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tents for family hiking

Sat 17 May, 2014 5:37 pm

Hello, first time on the forum. I am confused by so many tent options. I want 2 tents to use for hiking for myself, wife and two kids (8 & 12). 1 child would sleep with 1 adult . I would like the tents for backpacking type overnight hiking, and also for car camping. Both adults are tall 6 foot. Can't afford top range stuff, so somewhere sub $300 per tent if possible. Any help to filter some of the choices down would be great. Thanks, Tim.

Re: tents for family hiking

Sun 18 May, 2014 11:18 pm

The Tarptent range sounds like they'd suit your needs and possibly budget (maybe stretch it a little bit for 2p models)

Re: tents for family hiking

Mon 19 May, 2014 12:26 am

I recently bought a Eureka Taron 3 tent mainly for car camping but would use it for hikes as well if I had to. So far I am very happy with it. Rated to 3 season use, very roomy and seems very well made.

It is on sale at the moment at Mountain Designs for under $190 so would be well within your budget.

I spent 5 nights in it with my wife during some wet and cold weather and stayed nice and dry from rain and condensation. We were both on Exped Down mats in Long/wide version and there was still room between us, between the mats and either end of the tent and also either side of the mats and the outside of the tent so plenty of room especially if you use regular width mats.

Have you considered something like this for the wife and 2 kids to share and then perhaps get yourself a really good quality light weight tent which you could also use solo and carry solo if you need to down the track... Could end up being similar money or cheaper and you could end up with at least one top quality light weight tent.

They also do a Taron 2 version as well which was cheaper again so that may be worth looking at if you did want to have 1 adult/1 child per tent....

Anyway might be worth a look as you can see them in store set up and as I said I think they are a good value tent for the money....

Re: tents for family hiking

Tue 20 May, 2014 8:10 pm

Thanks for the replies. Will check out the tarptent and Eureka. The more you research you do the more you start to think you should spend a bit more to get a bit better quality- but where do you stop!!!

Re: tents for family hiking

Tue 20 May, 2014 8:13 pm

Tarptent aren't at the top of the pile in the quality stakes, but still very very good for the money you are paying. I absolutely love my Scarp 1 though if I needed something to sleep two people I would get a One Planet Goondie 2.

Re: tents for family hiking

Tue 20 May, 2014 9:15 pm

Our family tent is a Golite Shangri-La 5 http://www.golite.com/Shangri-La-5-Tent-2014-P46714.aspx. I bought it off a forum member. I really like it, on my last trip I carried it even though it was just for 2 of us - plenty of room.

They also have a Shangri-La 3.

Another option to look into anyway.

Re: tents for family hiking

Tue 20 May, 2014 9:42 pm

We also use a Shangra-La 5 as our family tent. 2 adults, 2 kids.

Quick, easy set up, spacious, and light enough to carry for only 2 if needed.

Also bought 2nd hand in your price range. 2nd hand is the way to go.

Re: tents for family hiking

Wed 21 May, 2014 6:54 am

Maybe a Ferrino, this ones is light and below $300.00 - http://adventurefriends.com.au/ferrino-lightent-2#

Re: tents for family hiking

Wed 21 May, 2014 8:13 am

neilmny wrote:Maybe a Ferrino, this ones is light and below $300.00 - http://adventurefriends.com.au/ferrino-lightent-2#
They must have something mixed up... a 2p tent with only one cubic metre of volume? 

Re: tents for family hiking

Wed 21 May, 2014 8:19 am

icefest wrote:
neilmny wrote:Maybe a Ferrino, this ones is light and below $300.00 - http://adventurefriends.com.au/ferrino-lightent-2#
They must have something mixed up... a 2p tent with only one cubic metre of volume? 


It doesn't take a mathematician to see thats got to be a typo. Just look at the dimensions.

Re: tents for family hiking

Wed 21 May, 2014 9:12 am

neilmny wrote:
icefest wrote:
neilmny wrote:Maybe a Ferrino, this ones is light and below $300.00 - http://adventurefriends.com.au/ferrino-lightent-2#
They must have something mixed up... a 2p tent with only one cubic metre of volume? 


It doesn't take a mathematician to see thats got to be a typo. Just look at the dimensions.

That typo originates in Italy, according to the Ferrino website..

http://www.ferrino.it/en/catalog/tents/ ... ent-2-tent

Re: tents for family hiking

Wed 21 May, 2014 9:20 pm

Try this site: http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Backpacking-Tent-Reviews

It might give you some ideas.

Re: tents for family hiking

Thu 22 May, 2014 7:18 pm

Thanks again for the replies- food for thought
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