Loading…
23
Unpopular opinion: that $300 tent you all swear by is overkill for 90% of campers
I was at a state park near Bend last weekend and the guy in the site next to me spent 20 minutes showing me his tent setup. Three poles that click together like puzzle pieces, a footprint that cost almost as much as my whole setup, the works. Total damage was around $340. Then it rained, just a normal Oregon drizzle, and he was out there at 6am wiping down every panel while I was still in my bag drinking coffee.
Here is my thing. I have used the same $65 two person dome from a big box store for four seasons now. It has been through rain in the Cascades, wind at Crater Lake, and one surprise hailstorm in Idaho. Dry every time. Maybe if you are doing alpine stuff above treeline or camping in January, sure, spend the money. But most people I see at campgrounds are car camping two nights in July. You do not need a tent that costs more than your cooler, your chairs, and your stove combined.
I get that better gear is nice. I am not saying cheap is always fine. But there is this weird pressure online to drop real cash before you even know if you like sleeping outside. Rent one first. Borrow one. Then upgrade the one part that actually bothers you.
What broke first on your cheap tent, if you went that route? I want to know if I am just lucky or if the price gap is mostly marketing.
0 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In0 Comments
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this discussion.