Tents for Scouts BSA and beyond

[Armymutt 191]

As we prepare our Webelos to move on down the line, I'm looking at tents.  I still have my trusty L.L. Bean Geodesic tent from the late 80s.  I believe it is technically a 3-person tent, but being in England, we kept our packs/bags inside with us, so it was a 2-person.  What are Scouts using these days?  I saw what looked more like single tents at the campsite we visited a couple week ago.  I was thinking of getting him a 3-person.  

[DuctTape 1183]

Johnson Outdoors, the makers of Eureka Tents is exiting the tent manufacturing. Their Eureka Timberline tents have been mainstays for Scouts for decades. There might br some good deals to be found as they sell off their remaining inventory.

[T2Eagle 878]

For good deals on a bunch of equipment, go to Hiker direct.com and sign up for their scout discount.  They sell their equipment at about 40% off retail to scouts. 

My personal recommendation is their Taurus Outfitter Tents.  They're sturdy, good quality, and have full vestibules front and back.  They'll stand up to really bad weather and twelve year old youth abuse.  These are not backpacking tents, but, they're not too heavy to split between two or three scouts if you're only hiking a couple miles in to a camp site.  They also have backpacking tents if the troop you join are serious backpackers,

Edited November 19 by T2Eagle

[Eagle_Chris 14]

I’d also recommend going to an REI store if you have one in your area.  They have knowledgeable staff that can give you advice.  I’ve found that they are a great resource for camping and hiking equipment.

They also have an online store.

[Armymutt 191]

I'm liking the idea of the Eureka tents.  I've found the tents for $138 and vestibules for $50.  I typically lean toward Big Agnes, but I also remember that young Scouts aren't the most careful of kids.  My only concern is that Eureka doesn't seem to make a footprint for those tents.  Their 2 person foot print is shorter and narrower than the floor dimensions of the Timberline 2.  Guess the kids will have to do what their dad did and use a plastic sheet and tarp.  

[InquisitiveScouter 1487]

2 hours ago, Armymutt said:

I'm liking the idea of the Eureka tents.  I've found the tents for $138 and vestibules for $50.  I typically lean toward Big Agnes, but I also remember that young Scouts aren't the most careful of kids.  My only concern is that Eureka doesn't seem to make a footprint for those tents.  Their 2 person foot print is shorter and narrower than the floor dimensions of the Timberline 2.  Guess the kids will have to do what their dad did and use a plastic sheet and tarp.  

We invested in North Face Stormbreak II tents...

Great for local camping and some shorter backpacking trips.  But, has some drawbacks...

- Footprints are extra cost (probably the same with most tents)

- Vestibules are a bit small and make getting into the tent a bit of a yoga exercise

- Scouts must be trained well on correct set up (this is an ongoing issue).  However, once set up correctly, these can endure really bad weather and keep you dry.

- Tent bag isn't big enough (nylon tents needn't be folded... just stuff them into the sack, as the fabric has no "memory"  this also saves lots of time and heartache.  The bags that come with the tents aren't really suited to other than near-perfect folding (a pain), and certainly not stuffing.  Scouts have ripped them up in no time.  After market bags (add to the expense) work great.

Overall, we will not be purchasing this type of tent again.

I am holding out hope for a Hilleberg one day 😜 https://hilleberg.com/eng/

[DuctTape 1183]

Footprints are a waste of $ IMO. Easier and cheaper to cut a piece of heavy duty plastic sheeting to size.

[Armymutt 191]

I like the footprint for BA tents with the fast fly capability.  Lets me set up the fly in a rain storm and build the tent underneath it.  That way I get less water intrusion through the mesh walls.  They also are lighter than plastic and fold better.  

[Double Eagle 123]

Determine whether you need a 4 season tent or the conditions they will camp overnight.  If a 4 season scout unit, lean towards a good rainfly that reaches to the ground, skip the footprint and get 10mil plastic, a vestibule is good for keeping muddy boots out of the tent.  If they are a 3-season unit, the Coleman Sundowner is pretty popular.  My personal tent is a Eureka timberline 2 with vestibule.  Used on at Philmont in the 80s and liked it.  Been in one for more than 20years and own 3 right now.  Best buy was getting one at a yard sale for $10.  

[DuctTape 1183]

16 hours ago, Armymutt said:

I like the footprint for BA tents with the fast fly capability.  Lets me set up the fly in a rain storm and build the tent underneath it.  That way I get less water intrusion through the mesh walls.  They also are lighter than plastic and fold better.  

A BA tent is an ultra-light backpacking tent, so weight will be always on the mind. Even still, it can be set-up rain fly first w/o a footprint, and a cheaper and even lighter than the footprint plastic groundcloth can be found using polycryo plastic (sold as window insulation). Get the giant size and cut it.  The stuff is way stronger than it appears. I am veering off from the needs of scouts and into the ultralight backpacking territory.

[qwazse 4302]

Tarps at tractor supply are quite reasonably priced.
I was just explaining to a fella who hadn’t been camping in a while that vestibules were for people who forget to leave their boots out sole side up.

[mrjohns2 537]

Alps tents through hikerdirect. Many many troops in our use the Taurus Outfitter models. Our troop uses 4 person ones. Full tarp to the ground, vestibules on both sides, not a ton of mesh (hotter in the summer, but true 4 season), ticker floor, tougher zippers, and very inexpensive. They have held up for 5 years for us and are like new camping each month. The boy troop have used them for 10+ and they are holding up well. Much better headspace than the A frame Timberlines we used as a kid. No "magic flute" to lose either. For adults, we use the 5 person. On the big side, but totally can stand up. The boy troop backpacks with the 4 person ones. They are heavy, but they already have them. I wasn't sure when I was first told about hiker direct, I was like "yeah, other websites have discounted tents". Hiker direct really is a charity type of move for Scouts.