1 - You should be able to find cheaper 2 or 3 man tents at Target or Walmart, though maybe there's nothing near you? If not, you can check Amazon; there's tents like the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2. It's listed at 6lbs, which is a bit heavy for a 2P tent, but to get much lighter you need to spend a lot more.
Since you're only going 1/2 mile, you can get away with a cheaper $100 tent... you can leave the heavier family tent in the car in case something happens, you could always walk and get the backup tent. But don't go too cheap since they're more prone to failure and that's just wasting money.
2 - Do you have a compression bag? They're stuff sacks with straps; you sit on the bag and compress it as much as possible and then cinch up the straps, does save some room. You could get a lighter weight bag, but again use a compression bag to make it as small as possible. To get really compressible you need to move up to a down-filled bag, but those tend to cost a lot more.
3 - If you're not hiking too far, then I don't think it's worth the money to upgrade, the blue tarp works great, just a little heavy. If you're putting on a lot of miles then I wouldn't want to carry the weight of a blue tarp... but also not really inclined to carry the nylon tarp either. It's certainly nicer to have, but if money's tight, it's probably better to put it towards a nicer pack.
4 - 40L is a bit small to carry a synthetic bag and a family tent. If you can compress your bag (or get a new one), get a smaller 2p/3P tent, then you might not need to upgrade the bag at all. If you're not hiking that far you can still strap things to the outside of the bag and not worry about losing it (since it's not too far to walk back and pick up).
Good luck!
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B008J4AZSQ/
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2 Person Tent
Das haben meine Freundin und ich damals geholt um mit dem Rad rumzureisen. Hat gut geklappt. Unsere Sachen haben auch alle rein gepasst. Wir haben aber nur knapp 100 Euro gezahlt
Thoughts on this one? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008J4AZSQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I should have noted that we don't really do like backpacking or wilderness camping. Mostly just looking for something decent for campgrounds. Thanks.
So I think I posted in the wrong sub. Weight really isn't much of a problem. We don't do like serious backpacking/camping, just go to campgrounds and stuff like that. Maybe ideally something off the beaten track, but that's not the norm. I went ahead and already purchased this ALPS Mountaineering tent from Amazon :https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008J4AZSQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Any thoughts on it? I looked around r/camping and it seemed to be a decent option for this price range. Nothing special but decent value. I could always return it for the Kelty if you think it'd be that much better. Thanks!
I'll help. That's an Alps Mountaineering tent, probably a Meramac model. I have the two person version of this and really like it. As a 6'3" guy who seems to enjoy camping in the rain, this tent has served me very well for 2 years so far. Edit - like someone posted earlier this seems to be the Lynx
I've taken this one out for two years and it's suited me just fine. I roll a tarp around it all to use as a groundcloth and it all fits into the storage bag. I also try to bring as much in on my back as possible (also coming in from the east coast) and this takes up one side of the outside of my camping bag with my sleeping pad taking up the other.
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-2-Person-Tent/dp/B008J4AZSQ
Just a note: Put the rain fly on (tuck one side under if you want), stake it down as low to the ground as possible. Do not EVER open the vents and keep the fly closed unless you're actively getting in / out of the tent. Do not suffer the same fate as me, sleeping through my first dust storm and waking up with like a quarter inch of playa in my ear
>Im going to be spending two nights in the southern part of sequoia forest preserve, then another two nights in yosemite, probably a bit west of Yosemite valley.
Nice, have an awesome time!
>I was eyeballing the first tent you linked, it seems pretty much like what i need.
In case you didn't notice, the first tent I linked to was a solo tent. The ALPS Lynx does come in a 2-person tent, it's a bit more expensive, bulkier and heavier, but it's still relatively inexpensive and the weight isn't bad for the price. Two vestibules (don't have to climb over each other to get out), aluminum poles (stronger and lighter than fiberglass).
https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-2-Person-Tent/dp/B008J4AZSQ
If you spend more money, you can get a bigger/nicer/lighter tent, but this gives you a decent starting point. [And I'm linking to Amazon so you can see what I'm talking about; you can sometimes find the item cheaper elsewhere, and as always, it's good to support your local shop when you can. ]
>but having a barrier around myself from bugs, wind, and surprise weather
Yes, that's why I was asking, CA has some diverse terrain and some are great for open sky nights, while others I'd rather be protected from the bugs and critters.
I live in Georgia and hike sections of the AT at least once a year. I have an Alps Lynx2 that I got for $150 and love. They also make a 3 person version if you want it to be a little roomier. They’re very nice tents, and aren’t a problem at all if you split the stuff between two people when backpacking, but are a little heavier than my other backpacking tents. I only use that one when I’ve got a hiking partner though, so it’s not really an issue for me.
My buddy has a Mountainsmith Morrison that’s really nice. It’s a little bit narrower than mine but is about a pound lighter. Moosejaw has them for $200 right now with a 10% off coupon for signing up for their emails.
My brother just bought a 2 person Slumberjack tent from Dick’s for around that price that seems like it’s really nice for what he paid for it. I think it’s the Nightfall 2?
I’ve never used any of them, but a lot of people also recommend the REI brand tents, the 3FUL Lanshan, and the north face storm break.
http://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-2-Person-Tent/dp/B008J4AZSQ
it's kind of heavy but was cheap/on sale when i got it and is bomber in rain/wind.
What's your budget?
Take a quick look through REI's Choosing a backpacking tent article. There's some good info there, and it links to tents available at REI.
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-tent.html
Outdoor Gear Labs (OGL) rates a number of tents and is considered pretty reliable.
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-backpacking-tent
And their budget tent list.
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-budget-backpacking-tent
Section Hiker has a similar budget list.
https://sectionhiker.com/sectionhiker-gear-guide/10-best-budget-backpacking-tents-250/
Of course there are a lot of cheaper tents listed on Amazon but the quality of many of them are unknown.
One budget tent that's often recommended is the ALPS Lynx 2. It's got a full coverage fly, two vestibules, aluminum poles, as opposed to some cheaper tents like the Coleman Sundome which has none of them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008J4AZSQ
Hope that gives you some ideas depending on your budget!
I have the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2 person tent. It is great, it has doors on both sides, it’s easy to set up and it has a nice rain fly.
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Tent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008J4AZSQ?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf