Okay, so I drove the 110 miles to the nearest REI store. What a great place! To make a long story short, one of the clerks let me set up the Camp Dome 2 in the store to see how I would like it before buying it. I was surprised that even though the floor length is listed as 84" (and my height is 72"), my head and feet were still touching the sides of the tent. That won't work. I ended up leaving the store without buying anything as the store closed before I had time to check out more tents (as well as other gear). Oh well. At least I learned that I need a tent longer than 84".

I admit that I am unfamiliar with the Camp Dome 2 tent, but if the floor length is really 84", I would suggest that your test is at best inconclusive. Unless you have properly staked the tent--even tents designed to be free-standing--the fabric walls will sag and you will end up with a lot less interior space than you bargained for. Assuming you're not spending most of your time camping on boulders, pitching the tent on the floor of the store is not really a fair test of a tent's roominess. Even on rocky terrain you can get some of the benefits of staking the tent by tying the guy lines around sufficiently heavy rocks.

REI has a great return policy. I wouldn't hesitate buying a tent and pitching it in the backyard to see if it would work for you. My only hesitation on using this strategy is your distance from the store. (In general, I have used them for mail order because I am in a similar situation.)

Good luck in your search,
Mike

Thank you Mike. I'll keep what you said in mind.

(Very frustrating).

Bob

P.S. Because of my distance from REI (as much as I like the store), odds are that I will be buying a little closer to home ... maybe Gander Mountain or Dick's Sporting Goods ... or who knows.