Originally Posted by
headwind15
Beware: there is no regulation over what tent companies can claim/ as to what a tent company classifies their tent is suitable for how many people. For instance: I have a 2 meter x 2 meter (80" x 80") tent that claims to be for four people. Would you believe two short people.
Back when I was last tent shopping the better companies like REI had plan views of the tents they sold, not just the ones they made, with adult sleeping bags laid down in various arrangements. We ended up getting a big square tent for 4, to contain two people and two bikes laid down one on top of the other. At least with a dimensioned picture you can use your own judgement, even if no standards exist. Other gear was ind of sparse because the tour was sagged. My cousin, a veteran of many RAGBRAIs, used a 4-man just for herself. She also has a reading light and a little loungey chair to read in. Home away from home, when not on the bike!