Our 4-man Eureka tent finally had it on our Algonquin fishing trip in May after 15 years of great service. I've been looking at the newer Eureka and MEC tents for something lighter and smaller for our next Algonquin trip in July.

Can anyone recommend a good 4-person (actually 2 adults and 2 small kids) 3-season tent? I'm willing to pay extra $ for less weight and smaller pack size. When you have to carry all the kids stuff as well as your own its worth the extra dollars.

Thanks.

Hi Tee,

The great tent debate - many options available. Depending on how big your kids are (e.g. under 6?), what you plan to store in your tent (any packs?) you may be able to get away with a 3 man tent for the 4 of you. I was looking at this tent (Mutha Hubba by MSR) at Bushtukah, and Mt Coop carries it as well: - http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618564&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302702837&bmUID=1213818590470.
Lots of tents on sale at Bushtukah at the moment, including some very nice 3 and 4 man Big Agnes 3 season models.

I like the ventilation and weight of the Mutha Hubba, and it packs extremmely small. Best advice is to go in, set the tents up that meet your requirements and lie down in each with your 'possy' (wife/kids if possible). Can you live with a low roof height? Can you live with a norrowing at the feet? Can you live with ultralight construction (sacrifice in strength and durability)?

In the end I didn't purchase the Mutha Hubba. It looks like a great tent with ample room but it turns out me and the kids can sleep in my 3 season 2 man NFace tent (10 years old) for the 8 nite trip along Tim River. It's a tight fit, but we can all lie somewhat comfortably - the last year I can get away with it. Next year I'll be buying something bigger (such as the Mutha Hubba or equivalent 3 seasoner). I have a 20 year old 4 man MEC 4 season tent (too heavy and not ventilated enough for this Summer trip), 3 year old 6 man Sierra Bedouin (WAY too big for this trip) and a couple of NFace Goretex Bivy sacks and 1 hammock.

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Both our kids are under 6 but I don't want to go down to a 3-person tent. And we'd prefer a good sized vestibule for all our stuff.

Tee,

I'd recommend looking at MEC Wanderer Four. We've used one for twelve years now.
It's not the lightest tent for sure, but it is spacious and well made for the price.
The spacious interior is nice for when the kids are young and spending more time in the tent during
bad weather or just in the evenings reading with them.

And of course, the kids will grow! And the extra space will be used up in the future.

My two cents worth anyway.

Stainless

Stainless,

Your MEC Wanderer 4 tent came with one vestibule did it not? Did you buy the second vestibule as well and has it ever leaked or sucked up the water under say a thermarest or other mattress? I've considered looking at this tent as well since it goes for a decent price (need to replace our Eureka Equinox soon).

Thanks!

Harry

Harry,

We have the one vestibule it came with. (There wasn't an extra vestibule option back when we bought it.)
We haven't added another one because we don't need it and it would just add weight.

The fly has never leaked. But when the floor had some seepage starting a couple of years ago we bought and use the footprint ground sheet and that solved the problem.

BTW, we purchased the tent in 1996 for $380-. It now has a price of $264-. I think that's due to the Canadian dollar being stronger now.
There are many items at MEC that cost a lot less now than I paid for them several years ago.

Stainless