thought I would post a few pics of my tent that I will be using this year
going into the store I was planning on buying the wanderer but went with this one instead

Is that a Tarn 2 or 3?

They are good summer tents.
Camping with my girl Joan in the spring and fall, we use her tent, a "wanderer"...solid wall...better suited for damp and cool weather.
I also picked up a Nemo Morpho AR tent last year, a pricey tent from the U.S.
I must say that they don't know much about making tent pegs. Broke three of them setting it up the first time. Think they were made out of Pewter or something!
Overall, MEC tents are a good deal, the prices are pretty good, and the quality is there too, you just have to chose what design suits your needs.
Here's my Tarn 3 drying off(The next morning)on Erables Lake last year after a rainstorm during the night before;




Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

did it leak?

oh sorry its a tarn 3

Nice addition!

I thought it was the Wanderer until the image with the fly...tough choices!

burkg

I bought the Tarn 2 back in January. I still haven't used it, but it seems like it will be a perfect solo tent for the summer time.



Gordie

http://www.solotripping.com/

http://www.abrweb.ca/

Hi Edge,

No it didn't that time, although it was a bit damp around the corners.
The underside was wet, I had the sides very well built-up with mounds of pine needles.
I've had times where the rain coming down is un-believable and I'd sit there wide-eyed, checking every corner, every seem, and didn't have a leak.
Other times I've had somewhat heavy rain, and I'd get rivers running under the tent and water coming in the corner seams.
Sometimes you win, sometimes the water does, having a prolite4 sleeping pad helps. I had soaking wet floor(Not my tent...ha ha) and me and my sleeping bag were high and dry.



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

i gots a tarn two tent. as far as i am concerned it is bullet proof. great choice.

Hi Just curious is that a 3 or 4 season tent. Looks like it would work good for winter camping.


Another question, I always waterproof my tents when I purchase. Does anyone else do the same ???

Too many times I've gone tripping only to find all the seams leaking, The newest tent to our collection came with seam sealer and needed it. This stuff works great.

MEC Sells the Tarn 2 and 3 as a "3 Season" Tent.
See all the screens along the sides and top...lots of places for cold air to flow in.
Joan's tent, the "wanderer", is solid wall all around, no screen, the doors can be un-zipped to produce a screen wall, but you can seal it up nice..no cold air flowing in. Something the tarn 2 or 3 is not. No of course condensation wolud be an issue, but in bad weather, i.e. cold snap, high winds, the wanderer tent would be a blessing and the the tarn would be a curse, else you'd have to go out an fill the gap where your fly reaches the ground, with pine needles.





Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

Living here in the States, I may not be giving helpful advice when it comes to shopping for gear given exchange rates. I just compared the MEC choices for tents with those of REI, and it seems that there are better choices on the REI sight. My ideal summer tent for two persons is a "three person" tent that weighs under five lbs. (about 2 1/4 kg) with fly, two doors, and vestibules big enough for two packs. The best tents are expensive, but I don't mind that if I can get at least five years out of one, which leaves me a few years to go before the next purchase, but check out the Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 on www.rei.com. Very useful specs and reviews.

care to answer his second question Markus,
should we seal a tent even when it is brand new?
I ask this question when I bought the tent and they said no, that I would be able to wait till next season

Why wait until you experience problems?

We also do seam sealing immediately after purchase,
while the tent is still clean.

The salesperson is just that...a salesperson, making a sale.


Seam sealing is cheap and easy to do.




Barbara

ok thanks, when sealing do you do both the inside and outside of the fly?

Edge, our tent is a different make/model than yours, so your mileage may vary:

--the inside (underside) of the fly was seam sealed, the length of each seam.

--the inside of the tent was seam sealed at the corners, wherever it wasn't taped (as far as we remember). Mostly, treatment was applied to seal up stitching holes. This was done primarily at the floor, and not on the nylon walls, as they are covered by the fly.

If a tent comes with seam sealer, that's a "subtle" hint from the manufacturer.

We also use a groundsheet, between the tent and the ground, to protect the floor. And there have been times when the groundsheet has taken a hit and there's been no mark at all on the tent floor.



Barbara

Edge,

I'm not tent expert(There are many here, who are), but I've always done what Barbara suggests. Even when it's brand new take the time and do it.
Like any new tent, you are going to set it up in your backyard anyways when you first get the tent. So while familiarizing yourself with your new tent's setup, and inspecting it for defects, it certainly would add to your benefit to seal all seams.
I don't know about inside or outside...I do both, just to be sure.
I also do this at the beginning and sometimes the end of the season too, as I don't have the luxury of having space to have my tent unfurled during the winter months.
I also buy scotch-guard for my fly and spray this on at the beginning of the year. Do this outside or if you have a garage, make sure you have plenty of ventilation, else do it outside, on a day when there is no wind. Then let the sun dry it off. Then I dismantle the tent before evening(Dew), and hang both the tent and fly for a day or two in the garage. Then pack it away and it's good for the season. Plan on buying two cans of scotchguard for your tent fly, you'll use more than one can, about a can and a half. I use the green can..there are many different brands of scotchguard. You can find it at Crappie tire in the cleaning agents isle.






Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

I always do my tents up before I use them, lol thought it was just me.

Exactly like Barbara said " why wait for something to happen"
And ground sheets are a definite must have. We use those cheap blue tarps and carry extra's if we're stuck in a spot that has lots of pokeys then we can use a larger one and double it up.

I use the same stuff Markus, I found that you don't have that heavy smell like you get from the other waterproofing. I also do my tents every 2 years, just call me a worry wart LOL.

I'm in the Barbara, Markus, MikeL camp too.

Always, and I do mean always, seam seal your tent. Best piece of advice I can give, at the moment.

Pick up some mineral spirits and clear silicone, mix them together in a soup can to make a slurry. Pick up a small foam brush (dollar store) and apply a thin coat to seams. Do this in a well ventilated area. Let it dry overnight and then pack it up.

I do not use any spray products on my fly. I simply seam seal it.

Just my .02

Cheers
Shawn

I've never seam sealed any of my tents and have never had any problems. Of course I've always bought higher quality tents and I take very good care of them.