Warm Weather Tents

Reviewed by Curtis Dyreson

Noall tents were sold under the Gregory label when I purchased this tent in 1990 (?). I was living in Tucson, Arizona, at the time. Tucson is in a hot desert and I wanted a 2-3 person tent to use for desert camping. So I looked for a tent that was essentially a free-standing mosquito net with a fly. Fortunately for me Bob's Bargain Barn had a tent sale on their last Gregory Tranquility Base (which I believe is Noall's Tranquility Mega-Dome in 2001 tent-lingo). I bought the tent at half-price for $200 and have since used it hundreds of times in all kinds of weather; I even lived in it for six months during one great vacation traveling round Australia.

Read more: Noall Tranquility Mega Dome review (1)

Featured review by Ron Bell

I purchased the Kelty Screenhouse two years ago and have used it about 2 dozen times. Set-up of this unit is a little tricky, but, once mastered it is no big deal. I can set up the tent solo in about 10 minutes, a little faster when I have help. Once set up the tent is taut and can be easily transported to the site of your choosing. The medium Screenhouse is able to fit over a large campground picnic table, but space to the sides is limited. We have had eight people dining at one time in the screen house, entry and exit is handled by using both doors on each side of the screen house.

Read more: Kelty Screenhouse reviews (3)

Featured review by BrianF

This is a great family tent. Plenty of room inside, feels more like a cabin than a tent. You can stand up and stretch out inside; makes changing clothes easy. The rain fly extends about 8 feet beyond the door making a great front porch/dry area to leave wet gear outside the tent. It takes us about 10-12 minutes to set up (a few more minutes if you put up the fly too) which is great when you'd rather spend more time camping than setting up camp. My favorite part is the fan door. With kids going in and out of the tent, the door was never left open, just lift open and gravity closes it behind you.

Read more: Eureka! Pine Lodge reviews (3)

Featured review by Joewalp

Note: This tent has been discontinued by the manufacturer.Despite that the manufacturer categorized this as a three-season tent and despite that I use it as a three-season tent, I categorize it most formally as a warm-weather tent. Conceptually, it's a freestanding rain fly with mesh walls suspended beneath. The walls lead to a bathtub floor. Near the peak, the mesh walls adjoin a section of fabric featuring mesh pockets. The fabric (rather than mesh) at the peak isolates occupants from condensation droplets in cool, still weather.The pole configuration is unconventional but easy to work with.

Read more: Mountain Hardwear Tri-Light 2 reviews (2)

Reviewed by Elizabeth Richey

I recently bought a new Cedar Brook from a coworker. My grandchildren and I went camping on the Memorial Day Weekend. I sat the tent up alone with no problem. The tent is compact enought that it fits in the trunk of my Honda Del Sol which is a small two seat vehicle along with other camping gear, folding chairs and fishing gear.The first night the winds were gusting from 10-15mph. I was very comfortable and snug in my tent. I enjoyed having the exit doors on each end as well as the front.

Read more: Wenzel Cedar Brook review (1)

Featured review by Michael Peterson

I bought this tent a few weeks ago at Costco for about $150. I've set it up three times. The first time was just a quick "rehearsal" in my yard to get a feel for it before going camping. The second was at the camp site. Within an hour after set up, we were informed by a Park Ranger that we were under a Tornado Warning until later that evening. Shortly afterwards, the wind picked up and it began to rain. We went into the tent and started to settle in for the night. The rain got very heavy and the wind got so strong that water was blowing under the rain fly just above the door.

Read more: Coleman Weathermaster Screened Tent reviews (2)

Featured review by Bad DNA

Large enough for a family of four and dog.

We bought this solely for car camping. Very roomy and with two interior zippered divider, privacy in three sections. Easy enough to set up single-handed within 15 minutes or less. Color coded poles help. Not great are the fiberglass poles when they age and fray. Few things more frustrating than trying to find and extract fiberglass splinters. If I could redesign the X, I would use carbon fiber poles.

Read more: Coleman Dakota reviews (3)

Reviewed by Hikeron

Mountain Hardwear is comming out with a new line of free standing ultralights. The Tri-Light series will give any ultras a run but will be a little pricey, as is usual with top quality. The Tri-Lights will be available in 1, 2 and 3 man models. I pre-ordered the Tri-Light 1 blind. It's 27" at the feet with 37" at the upper end. At 91" long it should fit my tall frame great. Being a happy "Room With a View" owner I have no qualms in ordering sight unseen from MtnHardware. Update: February 6, 2001 This is a pre-use opinion.

Read more: Mountain Hardwear Tri-Light 1 review (1)