How much do you really need to spend on a tent?
In a recent article for Outside, writer Joe Jackson wondered if splurging $600 for a tent when there are $100 models available is worth it. The verdict: Absolutely…except when it isn’t.
Jackson’s rationale:
A tent with a higher price tag often comes with more features and better construction, but that could mean complicated, time-consuming setup and accessories you may have no use for.
So, to wade through the differences between budget and high-end four-person tents and determine if the extra scratch pays dividends, Jackson enlisted engineer, Ryan Pyles. Pyles pitted the Coleman Sundome Four-Person against the MSR Papa Hubba NX in a series of head-to-head tests to see how they stacked up.
The verdict: It depends on what type of adventure you’re doing.
Obviously, the higher investment delivers an objectively better tent. But, you must consider how you will use your tent. Pyle says: “It should come as no shock that $600 buys way more tent than $100 does. But I take my outdoor adventures any way I can get them, whether leaving after work to car-camp at a trailhead or just heading to a lake with friends.”
If that’s more your speed and you’re not looking to summit any Fourteeners, the $100 tent should do you just fine.
For a breakdown of how the Coleman Sundome Four-Person tent compared to the MSR Papa Hubba NX, check out Pyle’s comparison here.
