Fast Frame 3P

Hang out here long enough and you'll see plenty of posts touting either Coleman or Ozark Trail. OT is the one I usually recommend. 3P for $29 and 4P for $39 and Walmart, and unlike other cheap import trash, it's actually a well-made tent with decent poles and rain fly. (I can't remember but it might even include stakes.) It's not a one-season tent - if you make sure you dry it fully before storing it, and don't abuse it, it'll last years. A 4P is just about right for a couple with a full-sized air mattress and a pack-n-play for the little one. I see your request about size and respect that - larger units are available. But since you're going for such a short time, and this is your first time, I'd like to at least make a case to consider something VERY budget-friendly. There are a lot of other things you'll need to get and this will conserve budget for things where spending money matters more (air mattress, cooler, kitchen setup, etc). The 4P is a bit over 8' square, not much smaller than you were asking, and a foot shorter than you were asking but let's face it, when you say 6' tall, you're not standing in it - in a budget dome tent, that 6' mark is only at the center. If you're crouching when you climb into bed at the sides anyway... Anyway, YMMV, it's a very subjective decision, but it's worth a look. If/when you want to upgrade, this particular tent is so popular that it's super easy to resell or give away. Just a thought.

Hey, thank you so much for this! I’ll definitely check out the items you listed. When people say car camping I’m thinking more like country camping, where you pack everything in the car and set up at a campsite, but definitely not sleeping in the car itself. Though I’ve done both, and they’re both fun! I want to start going more often, sometimes solo, sometimes with a friend. I really appreciate the breakdown in terms of the big three as it makes everything way easier to wrap my head around. Tents make the most sense to upgrade first, especially something that works for solo and two-person trips. The tent I had in the picture actually melted last July when I camped at Kernville, CA on a really hot day. Now I have an Ozark 4-person all-season tent, but I’ll check out those Naturehike models and some of the higher-end options to see what feels right. Sleep system is next on my list too! Comfort and warmth matter way more than I realized. Thanks again for laying it all out so clearly, it makes all the options feel way less overwhelming. Appreciate it!

I hated that tent too, lol. I used it for the first time for my first solo camping trip and it literally melted on me, like plastic pieces coming apart. I got it off Amazon and ended up returning it and they actually accepted it. I have an Ozark 3 season 2 to 4 person tent now that I’ve used a few times and it’s held up so far. I agree with the first upgrade suggestion. I camped in Yosemite National Park last December and I was cold af, so a down or synthetic throw over my bag probably would’ve made a big difference. Appreciate the tips, I’ll look into that next!

I had issues with the tent in the photo. It literally melted on me, lol. I ended up returning it to Amazon and replaced it with an Ozark brand from Walmart, which I’m still using now.

I have one of these and can confirm... super easy to set up. A single person can put the whole thing together in just a couple of minutes. Also surprisingly durable for the price. I've had mine for a couple of years now and it still looks new. Have him practice setting it up in your yard before going on the trip.

Walmart / ozark trail 3 person tent. 2 poles, easy to set up - $29 so if he breaks it ... no biggi https://preview.redd.it/b2m3wnmh9jef1.jpeg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64bc882d179e51d2aaef765ae43b900e768de0b5

I had an older version I used for 4 or 5 years, was eventually vandalized (slashed when left on an island too long). I also had kids one for over a decade. Purchased for a girlfriends kid one year. After that i used it for storing wood and other gear I wanted to keep out of the weather.

See if you have a Sierra store nearby. They are ran by the same folks that do TJ Maxx. They are basically an outdoor centric version of a TJ Maxx, with some incredible deals in the camping department. That being said, no need to go fully kitted straight out of the gate. Buy what you can, and upgrade/replace as you can or need to. I grew up camping, my wife did not. She wanted to try it, so I went out and bought a 3 person tent, a couple sleeping bags, and two chairs, all ozark trail brand, from walmart. I got a used coleman stove off of craigslist, and a few small pots and pans from a thrift store. With that, we camped for two seasons before we started replacing it with better kit.

I'll start by saying that we camp in the Catskills in a remote area with zero amenities or other campers around. My son started staying in his own tent around age 5 or 6, my aunt had given him an Ozark Trail, probably 2-3 person. His tent was reasonably close to ours, and the dogs slept with him, and I would give him the key fob to my truck, if he were scared or needed us in some way he knew how to use the "panic" button on the remote. He used that tent till the wheels fell off, until I bought him a small Kelty when he was like 17 I think. My daughter started sleeping on her own a little later, probably 7-8, but would switch between our tent and her big brother's for a couple years before that. But same for her, she got the dogs and the key fob and an inexpensive, well reviewed Amazon tent that got replaced in a year or two with a Kelty since since her first tent had gotten damaged, not by her.