Kelty Gunnison 3.1
 

REI Outlet has the Gunnison 3.1 on closeout: http://www.rei.com/product/801426. Fot $145, I am thinking of getting it. It would be my first backpacking (non car camping) tent.

I was looking at:

Nemo Losi: http://www.rei.com/product/797211

and

Marmot Limelight: http://www.rei.com/product/779020

However, at $145 the Gunnison is looking like a heck of a deal. I know the 2.1 is popular, so I assume the 3.1 must be good, also.

If you are serious about a backpacking tent, then this note from REI about the Gunnison 3.1 is important:

"Average packaged weight 6 lbs. 8 oz. "

If you will be sharing the load so two or three people carry this tent, then for backpacking it will be fine. But if you plan to use it only for yourself (backpacking), this is awfully heavy.

I have the Gunnison 2 tent and like it. I do not recommend it for warm/hot and humid/wet weather because when the rain fly is installed there is little ventilation. For cooler climates with rain it works very well.

I have actually never been backpacking before, but Sierra Club has some overnight trips coming up that I was thinking about. Plus. maybe a 3-5 day tour this summer. I am 5'7 180, not sure how heavy I could carry.

If you plan on doing rare and short backpacking trips, you could get away with this heavy tent. It would be OK if you were sharing.

Why do you need such a large tent?

As little as possible.

I had the same ventilation problem with a Kelty tent and ended up selling it on CL. I do a lot of back country hiking/camping trips. I would reccomend this, especially if it is just you....or some other bivy style tent. The less weight you carry the better on your back....

http://www.rei.com/product/779406

I am a bit claustrophobic is the reason for a bigger tent. I can't even slee in those style sleeping bags. Right now it would be solo, but I am not planning on that being the case forever. :) And I don't want to have to buy another tent in 6 months. So, even though just me right now, I want something comfortable enough for two, but not to heavy for me to carry since I am not 6 foot plus NFL linebacker. Plus, a good size vestibule area would be nice and definitely two doors.

I think many people have to learn how to sleep in mummy bags. (Some people might never learn.) The advantage of the mummy style is more warmth for less weight (and bulk).

Sleeping in tents (small ones) is also something that people might need to learn how to do.

While it's nice to be able to buy one piece of equipment that will serve all purposes, in practice, you end up suffering with compromises. I'd guess that people who backpack frequently would have more than one tent (a solo one and a double one).

7lbs for one person is a lot. (My 3.5 lb solo tent is probably too heavy.)

You are going to end up finding a balance that works for you (hopefully). That balance might not be what other people would choose.

It's very common for people to start out "large" and go much smaller with more experience.

If you are traveling alone, the Gunnison 2 is roomy (has 37 square feet of floor space). When I used it I was able to stow all my gear (4 panniers) and me inside, plus had room to move about, change clothes, etc.

Since you are willing to spend $200+ (given the tents you linked), I recommend finding the lightest weight 2-person tent (or large solo tent) you can find. The weight of that 3-person tent will be a frustrating later when backpacking; it may even be an issue on your bike.

Here are a few 2-person tents with 30+ square feet of flooring and weight less than 5 pounds (I recommend you target these):

http://www.rei.com/product/747994 (another Kelty tent)
http://www.rei.com/product/764475
http://www.rei.com/product/779217
http://www.rei.com/product/787394
http://www.rei.com/product/779219
http://www.rei.com/product/764475

Some with less than 30 square feet of flooring and also sub 5 pounds:

http://www.rei.com/product/797144
http://www.rei.com/product/779215
http://www.rei.com/product/796087
http://www.rei.com/product/734065
http://www.rei.com/product/761893