Even though I camp with a roof top tent now, it was not always that way.
I have owned many a tent in my lifetime, and I still have two tents.
A very nice two person backpacking one from REI, and a huge eight to ten person dome one I bought back around 2000 from Costco.

There are so many designs out now it is mind boggling.
Pick up a Cabelas camping catalog and you will see what I mean, or browse their website.

I think for an extended camping trip canvas is a very good way to go if you have the room to pack one.
They take up more space than an equivalent nylon tent, but if it is a high quality canvas one, it is going to breathe better and be more waterproof at the same time.
Pretty much like my roof top tent is with its canvas.

Here is a cool one from Australia called the Oz Tent.

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Here are some of the better canvas ones:

Oz Tents
http://au.oztent.com/

Springbar Tents
http://www.springbar.com/

Kodiak tents
http://www.kodiakcanvas.com/

 

i dont have one i haven't been camping since i was 11

 

My god that thing is bulky and it looks like a big sail. I guess I'm just used to my mountain tents. I guess that thing would be great for the desert.

Up here in the PNW I'll stick with my TNF Mountain 24.

 

The 1 I have in Wa, is 1 of those self extracting tents from Pinnicle. It's just big enuff for me and my better half. I need to buy a bigger 1 for our 3 lil kids......lol

This is what it looks like open:


And folded up:

 

I had a pup tent but my dog evicted me...

 

Eureka K2 Expedition

Nice size dome backpacking/climbing tent

 

I have a 20 year old L.L. Bean backpacking dome tent that has seen lots of use but is still in pretty good shape. I did have to replace the poles a few years back, because the elastic in the shock cords was shot, but Bean provided those with no problem.

I also have a Sears Hillary tent that is a bit bigger for backyard camping with the kids. Not real fond of it, but it was inexpensive, and it does the job.

I also have a two person (ONE person) Hillary tent that I grabbed off of a clearance rack at Sears for five bucks. Not self supporting, but very easy to set up. Have only used it camping in the back yard, but it seems OK.

I am trying to decide whether I want to get a larger tent or not. I would like one with room for me and the family plus gear for longer trips. I just haven't decided yet.

 

We have a Springbar 7199K Expandable, with the 811K Canopy, and they work great!

 

Mountain Hardware Trango 2 for true 4 season weather. I like this one cuz the rainfly can be set up without the actual tent. Great for warm weather camping. Had it out in 3 feet of snow this season and it performed great. Perfect for 2 people and gear.

Walrus Rapeed V for lighter backpacking trips (3-4 Season). Great for 1 person. 2 is a little tight but manageable. Goes up quick and very durable.

 

I've been using a Sierra Designs Pappagayo http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=491
for the last few years and it's one of the better tents I've tried. It's stood up to some pretty strong winds, has never leaked and has pleanty of room for 2 people, Paco pads, and gear even if your trapped inside due to bad weather. I use this tent mostly for raft trips and car camping.
One of my other tents I really like to use when I'm by myself is another from Sierra Designs (Hyperlite AST), more than enough room for me, a Paco pad and some gear. I have other 4 season tents but they don't get much use since they are too hot to use in anything but freezing temps or where theres a good chance of high winds with blowing sand.

 

I actually use 2 different tents one for backpacking and the other for lodging. both are from Cabelas
p005884hz12.jpg
the Alaknak is great. A durable wall tent thats half the weight. I was lucky and didn't have to buy this one but it is extremely versatile and I can set it up myself in about 30min
p031780hz07.jpg
and the XPG in a 2 person configuration. Very fast to setup and roomy enough to hold all my gear and me when i am out on the trails. both are very worth the cost.

 

I have a Sierra Designs 3 man backpacking tent. It's nice, but I'm in the market for something geared more toward car camping. I like the idea of rooftop tents except for the extra drag and weight since it would pretty much stay there all the time. I'd also not rule out a trailer of some sort. Hmmm, keep the ideas coming.

 

Springbar all the way for me! I've been using it alot in the desert this winter. You can set up a table and chairs, play cards, and drink hot toddys while the wind howls and the dirt is blowing sideways outside. Downsides would be that it's big, heavy, bulky, and don't forget spendy, but worth it. I wouldn't want to use it when its really hot, but when its really hot I stay away from the desert.

 

Here's mine. Its about 20 years old but works well and I'm comfortable in it. Not too hard to setup or take down and holds me plus all my gear

 

thats funny

 

I've got one of those too. Works pretty well in cold temps with the built in heater.

Anyone have or tried a coleman? I was thinking about getting a four person tent.

 

Coleman makes a pretty descent tent. My cuz bought one last yr and while it had all the bells and whistles, it was a pain in the rear to set up. he gave up and went on his wave runner while I set it up for his prego wife lol.

 

I like all of my Columbia tents. I have a Columbia Cougar Flats II for the family. It did not leak a bit recently when we got 8 inches of rain in a 3 day period. Size 15x10 and extremely sturdy with a hybrid steel/fiberglass frame. Also have the Bugaboo dome, 9x12, awesome, sturdy and watertight. Most recent is the Columbia Hawk Ridge, haven't used it yet but it looks great and has a full coverage rainfly. I also have a Eureka Tetragon 8, and a Coleman Sleepy Owl. Both of these set up very quickly.

 

iv got a 8 or 10 person "pacific Crest" (i think thats the name) from gi joes. I think it was there houst brand or something. its not bad has 2 sheets to divide it into 3 rooms. its got to compartment that are accessible from inside and out side for muddy, sandy, wet shoes. im pretty impressed on how it has held up the last 3 years. the first year i had it we were camping at the dunes and it stayed up right during wind gust of 60-75 mph. i think i spent roughly $170ish on it. now that joes has gone under i doubt they will still be around.

 

It's heavy and there's not a lot of room, but it blends in with the surroundings pretty well...




The other one's a 10 year old Eureka I found on clearance.