I’d look for a used eureka a-frame. You should be able to find them for super cheap and they are lightweight. Just buy some nikwax spray on waterproofing for the fly to bolster it a bit (you can use it to restore your other gear’s waterproofing too).
Eureka Timberline 4 . External aluminum frame. Roll out your tent, put the frame together, , clip to frame, stake it, rain-fly . About a 5 to 10 minute process .
Second on this. I have a Eureka tent I absolutely love. Bought a North Face that was bigger, but always kept the Eureka.
Recently sold the North Face and went back to the original Eureka.
You're not dramatic.
I worked for an outfitter and we slept the listed capacity in the Eureka A-frames. When they call it a 6 person tent- they mean 6 bodies, there is space for 6 sleeping bags but thats it. When I guided trips the rule was you got your sleeping bags and a water bottle in the tent. Gear was stored outside under a tarp.
I have an LL Bean 6 person dome tent. I take it by myself. I take a cot and sometimes if its raining ill even move my chair in there.
If your campground camping. Walmart big, comforterable not hateful to setup. The poles won't bend if you look at them funny. It'll be fine. If it breaks just remember you saved $300 when you bought it and get yourself another 4 bedroom 2.5bath tent. Walk the couple isles over and get yourself a nice air mattress with all that money you saved.
Really though, Walmart is the buy it first if it doesn't work the way you want buy something nicer when it's time. You're not worried about weight, your worried about quality. REI is great when it's time to be invested into a hobby. But Walmart will get you to enjoying it.
If youre still not convinced and want to part with more of your money. Eureka makes a damn good tent for what you're trying to do. Specifically the a frame, however it doesn't have great airflow, you gotta point it towarda the wind. Read the reviews, there will be guys saying they've camped for 20 years with the first one. My dad regularly camped for 10 with his.
We have one tent, Eureka 3 season but the winner is the enclosed shelter or screen house. We spent 4 nights last winter up north with snow and the shelter kept us warm during the day. Of course we used the Buddy heater. In the tent however we were cold, sleeping bags to 15F and lots of layers we ended up covering the tent with a large tarp and it helped. I think tents are important but more so the screen room with walls.
Top Camping Tents on Reddit
1
The North Face
Wawona 6
86% positive of 132 users
Spacious vestibule, strong in storms, but rainfly tricky solo.
AskYoYoMa
