Big Agnes - Flying Diamond 6

My favorite outdoorgearlab site's review on [tents](https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-camping-tent) We've got a curly-haired dog, and since you've got a doodle and poodle, they're like swiffers - they'll get covered in forest duff. Bring a brush and those big rollout beach/picnic mats are handy for them to lie down on vs forest floor. Costco's got some inexpe nsive ones for sale right now.  We've got a large pop-up that goes over a picnic table at campsites that can provide shelter from the elements and bugs. Our Clam model has been rebranded, but it's based on ice-fishing popup tent tech: look for Clam, Gazelle or Vevor pop-up. We have a Flying Diamond 6, but looks like the current model from Big Agnes is the Mad House 8 which might fit your needs, though pricey. Another tip is bringing lightweight rollable carpets to line the inside to protect your tent floor from dogs' paws; Also it feels nicer for you. An inexpensive way is to use old packing blankets if you've for them; Harbor freight sells them cheap. Fresh food and drinks, as well as the capability to cook these fresh foods will take up more space, as you'll need ice, coolers, cookware, fuel, etc. But it is a lot of the fun of car camping. No cook saves you fuel and cookware. Powdered drinks, tea, instant coffee, where you just add water is more space saving than assorted drinks and their containers; Same with dehydrated or freeze-dried foods.

We use a 6 person discontinued Big Agnes model for my wife and I with our 2 kids, and have plenty of room. An 8 person would be a PITA for me to set up, and hard to fit on most tent pads. Just my $0.02.

I have a 3 person Big Agnes ultralight tent. I believe it's called ~~Tiger Wall~~ Copper Spur. With it properly staked using all guy lines it stood up to some very heavy gusts that toppled a few nearby tents and destroyed our canopy. I don't recall the tent even being deformed, it was like the wind just passed right over it. And it weighs next to nothing. Our older car camping tent is a large 6 person Big Agnes that we have used countless times and kept us dry during numerous heavy rain storms and moderate winds. We put it away for a while when we upgraded to a camper. It got brought out recently after sitting for probably 3 years and was as good as ever. I've had a North face tent disintegrate in the stuff sack in a shorter time span. Edit: It is the Copper Spur. Tiger Wall I bought initially but exchanged because I didn't like how it pitched.

Also a Minnesota camper (car camper who prefers cart-in sites). I don’t know what you consider modestly-sized, but since I started camping with 2 dogs, I have grown to love my Columbia Mammoth Creek 8-person, which has a rain fly that doesn’t cover the windows. (I also have a Big Agnes 6-person and an REI Kingdome 4, which are more modestly sized, but each of those has a full length rain fly.) Last summer I took the Columbia tent to Whitewater State Park and there were horrible storms. It rained so hard, I expected to wake up to puddles inside. Surprisingly, everything stayed dry. I really love that tent. They’re hard to find now, but the Coleman Tenaya Lake tent looks kind of similar. https://preview.redd.it/eocaiq3nmcff1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=900e81b78d8a67ba02e760e016eb7cc424849e99

Big Agnes is selling some tents at 50 to 70% off. I have seven tents, I need one for car camping, so I bought a 6 man tent for a little over $200. High quality. Relatively light weight.

I have a Big Agnes six-person tent. It’s been camping, to many, many festivals, and Burning Man several times over ten years. It also survived a brutal desert windstorm that left its shape with a bit more personality but still 100% functional. That tent is my ride or die. However, I did take the tent down during the first hour of the desert windstorm. The real hero was my friend’s 1960s metal-framed canvas tent that withstood the entire 12 hours. A Kodiak would be its modern equivalent.

Big Agnes, MSR, and Nemo are 3 of the best tent brands available. I ran the warranty desk for an outdoor gear company, and saw the least amount of warranty issues with those brands. They’re not inexpensive, but, you get what you pay for. I have a Big Agnes tent that’s at least 10 years old, we use it regularly and only have to hose the dirt off. It’s amazing. Nemo is awesome too, I know a lot of people with Nemo tents and they love them. I just got an MSR 3 person tent and absolutely love it. Definitely get a 2 person tent. The general rule is to take however many people will be sleeping in the tent, and add 1. So 1 person = 2 person tent, 2 ppl = 3 person tent and so on. A 2 person tent is more comfortable for having your gear inside the tent, changing your clothes, etc. If you don’t plan to go backpacking with it, I’d get a 3-4 person tent just for the space.

After dealing with a warranty issue with Durston I would rather deal with Big Agnes

Big Agnes warranty and customer service help is top-notch. I sent them an email earlier this week and they responded within minutes with a fix that allowed me not to send the tent in and repair it myself.

Try the REI re/supply. I got a Big Agnes tent that retails for $499 for $134. Also, REI sale is coming up in a few weeks and there will probably be a good deal on their own brand tents and others.