Touring - Tent for a giant and his wife?

I'm 6'8" tall, she's over a foot shorter.
I'm having a hard time finding a tent that would allow myself and my wife to fit comfortably.
Another thing needed is a decent vestibule.

Also, the tent will be used during the winter, summer, and everything in between.

There's a good chance of needing to stealth camp, which rules out funky colors.

Max budget is 500 dollars, less would be great.

The Stephenson 2R four season tent that I have used since 1991 should meet your long requirements.
It is also quite light. under 3#. Price between 500 and 600.
http://www.warmlite.com/tents_In.htm

I'm 6'4". I like a tent that has a floor that's 8 feet long. I've done okay with a 7'6" tent, but felt a little cramped when I stretched out. I have an LL Bean Microlight 2 and I love it. However, I don't think it's big enough for 2 - I couldn't stretch out like I want. I have an REI Taj 3 that I'm planning on taking if my wife every comes with me. It's long and wide. It's also heavy, but if she takes the poles and the fly, we should be okay.

I'd look for a good quality 3 or 4 person tent with a long floor. There are a few out there. Good luck.

The Stephenson 2R four season tent that I have used since 1991 should meet your long requirements.
It is also quite light. under 3#. Price between 500 and 600.
http://www.warmlite.com/tents_In.htm


If you are interested in a Stephenson Warmlite tent I've just posted a mini review of my 3R on this CGOAB thread. (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=3Tzut&thread_id=120430&v=7&page=1&nested=0)

porter: I just read your review which is a fair depiction of the Stephenson. I have only used the 2R version with side windows option. The amount of useable room is amazing.

One feature that I have found quite useful but invisible to the user is the aluminized fabric of the inner portion of the double wall sections. This really reflects heat back to the user inside the tent and yet reflects external heat from the sun away. I found that I could use a much lighter sleeping bag or quilt because of this heat retention of the material.

Because all surfaces are coated material the tent does not absorb moisture and become a much heavier object to carry. And due to the integration of the inner and outer walls the tent there is no separate fly to install. Set up takes three stakes-2 in front and 1 in back. With practice setup or take down is very fast and easy. The two poles are easily installed and very durable- lasting me some 18 years of extended kayak and bike touring and some backpacking across N.& S. America.

On a month long kayak tour of Glacier Bay NP Alaska I setup the 2R on a promontory near the Hopkins Glacier in order to see the glacier calving one half mile away. A veteran visitor to Glacier Bay warned me that my tent would not hold up to the down glacier winds at night and the winds caused by the calving. He setup his NF dome behind large boulders and weighted each of his 15 stakes with large rocks to keep it from blowing away.

He came to my 2R in the morning in surprise to still find me there comfortably warm in the 2R held up nicely by three stakes. He was so impressed that he ordered one for his PCT hike which he completed without a hitch in some difficult weather.

Jack Stephenson and now his son have made the 2R, 3R and 5R tents in basically the same design since the 1950's with material upgrades as they became available. I have been pleased to support a small family cottage industry making unusual products that outperform most of their competitors products. Not inexpensive except in the long run where this tent has cost me about $20 per year for exceptional performance in all conditions at very low weight. They are worth your careful consideration.

I can't offer any advice in regard to tents, but I do have a completely off-topic question. Being 6'8", what size and type of bike do you ride? Any pics?

porter: I just read your review which is a fair depiction of the Stephenson. I have only used the 2R version with side windows option. The amount of useable room is amazing.

One feature that I have found quite useful but invisible to the user is the aluminized fabric of the inner portion of the double wall sections. This really reflects heat back to the user inside the tent and yet reflects external heat from the sun away. I found that I could use a much lighter sleeping bag or quilt because of this heat retention of the material.

Because all surfaces are coated material the tent does not absorb moisture and become a much heavier object to carry. And due to the integration of the inner and outer walls the tent there is no separate fly to install. Set up takes three stakes-2 in front and 1 in back. With practice setup or take down is very fast and easy. The two poles are easily installed and very durable- lasting me some 18 years of extended kayak and bike touring and some backpacking across N.& S. America.

On a month long kayak tour of Glacier Bay NP Alaska I setup the 2R on a promontory near the Hopkins Glacier in order to see the glacier calving one half mile away. A veteran visitor to Glacier Bay warned me that my tent would not hold up to the down glacier winds at night and the winds caused by the calving. He setup his NF dome behind large boulders and weighted each of his 15 stakes with large rocks to keep it from blowing away.

He came to my 2R in the morning in surprise to still find me there comfortably warm in the 2R held up nicely by three stakes. He was so impressed that he ordered one for his PCT hike which he completed without a hitch in some difficult weather.

Jack Stephenson and now his son have made the 2R, 3R and 5R tents in basically the same design since the 1950's with material upgrades as they became available. I have been pleased to support a small family cottage industry making unusual products that outperform most of their competitors products. Not inexpensive except in the long run where this tent has cost me about $20 per year for exceptional performance in all conditions at very low weight. They are worth your careful consideration.



All that, plus the nudist catalogue :thumb: :roflmao2:

I'm 6'8" tall, she's over a foot shorter.
I'm having a hard time finding a tent that would allow myself and my wife to fit comfortably.
Another thing needed is a decent vestibule.

Also, the tent will be used during the winter, summer, and everything in between.

There's a good chance of needing to stealth camp, which rules out funky colors.

Max budget is 500 dollars, less would be great.

My SO is 6'8. We fit nicely in the REI half-dome I bought a couple years ago. It looks like it's now called the Half-Dome HC---90 inches long and two vestibules. It's currently $169. I use it when I am solo touring.

There's also the REI Quarter Dome T3 which got an award in 2008. It's only 84 inches long, just barely enough, but is 68" wide, looks like it has 2 vestibules, and is about the same weight as the Half Dome HC. This tent is currently $299.

If you become a member, you get a percentage of your non-sale purchase back as a dividend, for cash or buying more gear.

Looks like the Warmlight will be on the top of my list.

I'll swing by REI next time I'm in St. Louis and give it a test fit, thanks Flower

Brock, I recently purchased a Rodriguez Adventurer custom. They did an amazing job, even customized the frame to fit 210mm cranks. It's not built for very wide tires, 32C+fenders fit just fine, 35c+ fenders might. They said bending the stays wouldn't be a problem, but longer chainstays where more important for me since I pull a trailer and wheelies are a PITA.
No pictures yet, their website has a couple pics though. They're damn sexy, even have a bottle opener brazed on.

If anyone else has a recommendation it would be appriciated.

I'm 6'10" and I am quite comfortable in the Eureka 2- and 4-person Timberline tents. There is an optional vestibule and they do a pretty good job in winter camping. And they are priced about 1/2 or less of your budget.