ALPS Mountaineering - Zephyr 3-Person

Ur tent is for sleeping on a sleeping pad in a sleeping bag. All other activities are meant for outside ur tent. If you have more gear than you can fit under ur fly vestibule, ur not camping, you’re partying. 2-3p tent for 2-3 people. It’s rated that way for a reason. My partner and I camp with our 3 large dogs. We have 2x 3p tents we’ll use depending on conditions. We use a The North Face Rock 32 if we want a bit of extra space, and a 3p ALPs Mountaineering one for a slightly smaller footprint. If ur on a budget, I’d go ALPS. If you’ve got some extra dough, go with TNF. I’ve had mine for 15 years. If ur just looking for a trash tent that you’ll store in the garage for 10 years until you eventually throw it away, get a Coleman or Ozark Trail.

I originally bought the Timberline 2 for backpacking in rugged terrain during Fall/Winter seasons in northern VT and NY. The simple A-frame style is superior to most designs in high wind or snowy conditions, but most folks today demand more space and comfort. As a retiree, with creaky bones, who can no longer manage hiking, I now normally use an Alps 3-man dome tent or a Core 4 cabin-walled tent. These two are not as rugged as the Timberline, but are spacious and inexpensive. I drive an F150 with a full 8' canopy so I keep the Timberline is case of full-storm weather. The Pacific coast can have wicked winds and sheeting rain during the colder months.

And we use them for our scout troop. ( the 3 man stand alone) very tough tents. At a reasonable price.

Anything by Alps mountaineering. Really good warrantee, great quality, good pricing.

All the tents from Alps mountaineering have treated me very well in wind and rain. Colemans not so much.

I have never used an Ozark Trail tent, but I have used other store brand tents. My experience is the difference between a cheap tent and a half decent tent is waking up with a puddle in your tent. I recommend an Alps Mountaineering tent, but they will run you 100-150.

I love my Alps tent and they’re not too expensive.

Second on the Alps, and I also own a Nemo dragonfly osmo. Some people will say they aren't necessary, but I disagree 100 percent, especially in your use case. Get. a. ground cloth/footprint. Even if it's a $4 dollar general blue tarp. If somebody in the troop has access to tyvek housewrap, even better. You can run that through a wash and dry cycle and make it a lot less crinkly if you want. Unless you plan on camping on carpeting, there will inevitably be a stick, rock, piece of broken glass or debris that will scratch or puncture your floor. As far as purchasing, also keep an eye on the REI Garage Sale. I've seen some really good deals on things that were returned after a couple uses or missing an item that could be easily replaced.

No. Just get an Alps Mountaneering and save yourself a lot of aggravation.