Quarter Dome UL

TLDR - Old nylon tent seam repair advice? Context - I recently read A Walk in the Woods and have been inspired to get back into backpacking (which lead me to this subreddit). Its been several years and I am assessing all my gear. I have the "quarter dome UL" tent from REI which I purchased back in 2006. Heavy by today's standards at over 4 pounds... but I am hesitant to get rid of it. I pitched the tent in my basement and noticed the glue on all the seams is flaking off. Has anyone on here gone through the trouble to clean and reseal an old nylon tent? How long did it take? Any tips? I am trying to decide if its worth the effort. It would still work great for car camping, and some backpacking if I can't decide on a replacement (I am experiencing analysis paralysis on my UL tent purchasing decision).

After spending some time with chatgpt, I am not too optimistic that using this tent ever again is a great idea. Apparently the PU coating on my tent has likely degraded considerably over time and it probably is going to have a hard time keeping water out even if I repair the seams... oh well.

It's gone, not worth it. I had this too, realized it was futile.

Sierra backpacker here. That's a tolerable summer loadout, and not far off from what I use on some trips. Disclaimer, I am the last person to talk to if you're interested in ultralight anything. Short rundown: The tent will be "heavy" by most standards, but they're solid tents and will perform for many years if taken care of. I have a Quarter Dome T2 and an Arete, and I have used them both for many years. I'm a big fan of a freestanding tent because around 50% of my excursions are to destinations and not thru-hikes. I want to setup my camp, and still be mobile for the daytime The bag is not the lightest, nor the warmest, but it will work okay in a lot of conditions. I've transitioned to more of a bedroll setup, as I find that's more adaptable for my particular needs. Pads, you can ask 10 people and get 11 opinions. I use a z-pad and a basic Thermarest doubled up if it's cold-cold. I think every single person here has changed their mind on a pad situation at least once, if not five times.

Where are you based? If you're in the US, REI's house brand has a couple of options - Trail Made and Trail Hut 2P tents that go for under USD $250. Sounds like your usage is pretty low, so I would also consider exploring your local FB Marketplace for 2P tents. You might get a higher end version or older models of REI tents for far cheaper. Lots of people who are new to camping go buy new gear only to find out that perhaps it's not for them. I found a used Half Dome 2 on Craigslist 5 years ago for $30. The Half Dome goes on car camping trips, or trips where it'll sit out in the sun for day. I've also had a REI Quarter Dome and a Passage before - they are decent tents. If you're buying used, just inspect the waterproofing layer for signs of wear and delamination. Good luck!

I'd recommend the Dan Durston X-Mid 1P if you can find one used, they hit most of your requirements and are a lot lighter than the Tadpole. I switched to the Quarter Dome a couple years ago and haven’t looked back. There’s a ton of good budget ultralight options popping up these days too if you shop the used market.

The REI half dome 2 (and the smaller quarter dome) for years was basically the classic PNW tent. Great in the rain and wind, good ventilation, not too heavy (5lbs or so) and large vestibules for gear storage. You can pick up lightly used models for a good deal. Another option if you are not opposed to used if buying one of the REI rental tents. The pop up in the used gear sections from time to time. Allegedly they are built slightly stronger. I also really like Big Agnes tents. Very light and their customer service is great if you have any issues.

The Quarter Dome was great for this (it’s what I use, actually, about to head out on nights 100-104 on that tent), but it’s out of production. They have a similar tent that’s a Copper Spur knockoff that seems decent.