REI Co-op - Flash 2

My kids first slept alone in my old backpacking tent. It’s an REI clip flashlight 3-D, which I bought in 2001 and is still nearly perfect after a ton of use. I can’t remember exactly how old they were when I let them be in a tent alone, I would say five or six? But my older daughter was always the most independent child on earth so she was eager to do things like that. We always camp in places where two tents would be right next to each other. So she is just two pieces of nylon away from me and I could hear of her zipper opened and she could easily get my attention if she needed to get out and pee at night. She’s a junior in high school now and still loves camping so I feel like we did it right!

I have an REI three-person backpacking tent. Most of the tents that REI carries have a separate rainfly. Without the rainfly, the roof and walls of the tent are just mosquito netting. I camp in the desert where nighttime temperatures can get ridiculous sometimes, but the mosquito netting lets a breeze flow through. Insects don't buzz by my ears, and I can also look at the stars at night from inside the tent. And that's heavenly.

My personal tent is a Big Agnes Copper spur 3 person that I got on sales at the end of the season. I use that for Scout events and backpacking. Our family tent is a Coleman 6 person we got at Costco. Sometimes I bring my old 2 person REI dome tent and stick one of the kids in that when we do family camping. The Cots fit in the Coleman. It's hard to set up the larger tent by myself, with a little help it is pretty easy especially not that my son is taller than me.

Yep that’s the backpacking tent I have as well. Love REI gear. The footprint is a no brainer if you want to stay dry for sure! 

Yes! My 2 person REI backpacking tent is awesome. Just enough room, easy to set up and breakdown, affordable, and has lasted a decade already with no problems. I strongly recommend to new tent to users to make the investment of buying the “footprint” if theres one that corresponds with your exact tent, or throwing a tarp underneath your tent. And be sure to lay it out in the sun to dry before packing up if possible, or do so once you get home. Just don’t pack up a wet tent for weeks or months.

Two people in a two person REI Backpacking in a four person Coleman with a blanket on the top of the two person. The four person had ice on it , but we were cosy warm inside. Some gear inside the 2 person. Some gear between the 2 and the 4 person and some gear in the vestibule.

We are mid 70s and recently bought OneTigris cots, chairs and small table. We also have their CozShack hot tent and their 2 person Cosmitto tent. We used to backpack with an R.E.I two person backpacking tent. It is now 25 years old. Still in great shape, except the tent pole cord disintegrated. We still use our 25 year old Thermarest sleeping pads. On the cots when camping, on the ground when backpacking. When car camping, we bring pillows from home. And a good size power pack to charge phone, lights. Take a look at the Fire Maple Saturn X camping stove. With a stove or campfire and pans, you can cook what you like. We use USB rechargeable lanterns, Flashlight, booklight. Take a tarp in case it rains. They are really lightweight now. Enjoy, relax and have fun!

I used the REI Coop one recently. Super easy to set up, but is kind of bulky and traps air whenever I tried packing up. Withheld 45+ mph winds, and with the rain cover on it was pretty warm, outside temp was probably only ever 30F or 40F. Definitely spacious enough to fit all my gear and probably another person. Hit me up if tou have any other questions. Honestly IMO it was just too big to fit into my backpack.