ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 Tent Review

Product Review: ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 Tent

Company: Amazon

Price Range: $100 - $150

Consumer Feedback: Read Amazon Consumer Reviews on the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 Tent

Who Would Buy This: Those shopping for a sturdy, spacious 3 season tent for up to 4 people.

Pros: 

The Lynx 4 Tent uses a simple two pole design with a pole clip assembly that attaches the material to the poles, which means it couldn’t be easier to pitch. Total setup time takes only about 3-4 minutes.

This tent uses some very nice materials which contribute to its high durability and ability to withstand the elements. The floor is made from 75D taffeta with 2000 mm urethane coating. The fly is made from 75D polyester with 1500 mm urethane coating.

Featuring two doors and four half-mesh walls, the Lynx 2 Tent gives both campers easy access for convenient entry and exit while ensuring the interior is nicely ventilated and condensation is reduced.

A high quality fly is included which buckles onto the tent to provide added protection against rainy weather. The fly features adjustable vents which provide you extra ventilation while still keeping you dry plus windows to give you views of your surroundings. This is a really cool feature.

The 7 ft 6" x 8 ft 6" sized floor gives you 64 sq ft of floor space which accommodates four people just nicely. Two vestibules take care of gear storage to give you a convenient place to keep your camping gear dry. While the vestibules are quite small they provide enough space to store gear such as boots.

The included gear loft provides a great place for storing a light or fan to keep you cool. Pocket located on either side of the wall give you storage space for small items.

Cons: 

With a trail weight of 7 lb 9 oz, this tent weighs a fair bit so it isn’t one of the lightest backpacking tents out there. However, those prepared to carry its weight will appreciate its quality.

At 4 ft 4" high, it isn’t very high so we wouldn’t recommend this tent to very tall people or to those who wish to stand up and get changed inside the tent.

Guarantee: 1-year warranty.

Summary

The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 Tent is a fine looking freestanding tent which impressed us with both its size and build quality particularly when considering its price.

If you’re looking for a well ventilated, medium sized tent for the whole family and you’re not into winter camping then this is a great one to go for.

Alpinismo 4 Season Tent with Aluminum Poles Review

Product Review: Alpinismo 4 Season Tent with Aluminum Poles

Company: Amazon

Price Range: $100 - $150

Consumer Feedback: Read Amazon Consumer Reviews on the Alpinismo 4 Season Tent

Who Would Buy This: Those shopping for an affordable, lightweight, four season tent which can accommodate up to two people.

Pros:

The Alpinismo 4 Season Tent, known as the Hyper Lite Extreme weighs a mere 6.5 lbs making it one of the lightest 4 season tents in the market. Its compact size makes it suitable for backpackers.

This tent has been designed for very quick setup, taking under 3 minutes to pitch. It uses two lightweight aluminium poles which are shock corded for easy assembly. The seams simply clip onto the poles.

The build quality of this tent is impressive. With its robust aluminium poles it can withstand light snow loads in winter months without problem. The main tent materials are made from 100% polyester, while the floor is 2000 mm hydrostatic with sealed seams to ensure the interior stays watertight. The included 1000 mm rain fly ensures you stay dry in adverse weather. The side walls have anchor points to ensure the tent can withstand high winds.

Size-wise, the interior of the tent is 84" L x 61" W with a centre height of 45", providing sufficient space for two adult campers. Easy entry and exit for both campers is possible due to the two doors either ends of the tent. The mesh walls and top provide good ventilation so you can breathe easier on hotter days.

Inside there are two storage pockets on either side of the tent plus a mesh hanger which attaches to the top. The mesh hanger is handy for holding an electric light. Double vestibules provide plenty of dry storage space for storing camping gear when the fly is attached over the tent.

Cons:

While this tent is suitable for winter, it doesn’t stay at a 25 degrees temp inside when the temperature is below freezing as per the manufactures claim. Therefore, we don’t recommend it for extreme winter weather.

Not designed for heavy snow, only light snowy conditions.

The included aluminium stakes aren’t very good, so you’ll want to get some additional ones before you pitch the tent.

Guarantee: 1-year warranty.

Summary

The Alpinismo 4 Season Tent is a tent we like. It is very well made while still having a lightweight of under 7 lbs. Its versatile design ensures you stay comfortable in summer and in winter months.

The only caveat is that it lacks the warm retentive materials to keep the interior warm in sub zero temperatures. As long as you don’t intend to use it primarily as a winter tent in freezing climates then this tent should suit you just fine.

Kelty Parthenon 8 Review

Product Review: Kelty Parthenon 8

Company: Amazon

Price Range: $400 - $450

Consumer Feedback: Read Amazon Consumer Reviews on the Kelty Parthenon 8

Who Would Buy This: Those shopping for a sturdy, free standing tent which can accommodate up to 8 people. This large 3 season tent is ideal for a family of 5-6 people.

Pros:

The Kelty Parthenon 8 is quick and easy to setup in as little as 10 minutes thanks to its color-coded clip-sleeve design which uses 5 high quality DAC hybrid aluminium poles. We recommend you buy some additional stakes are the included ones aren’t very substantial.

The tent is made from lightweight, durable polyester materials. The freestanding design utilizes an ArcEdge floor made from 1800mm PU nylon taffeta which provides watertight sealing under the floor to keep you dry in wet weather.

The Parthenon 8 features two doors to give campers easy access for entering and leaving the tent. No-see-um mesh wall panels provide great ventilation to keep you cool on hot days while still giving you privacy. Additionally, the mesh roof is perfect for those summer nights when you want to lie back and relax.

The included rain fly features quiet zipper pulls, fly vents, taped seams and guyout points. This excellent fly does a great job of keeping out rain to ensure you keep dry.

The roomy interior has a footprint of 13 ft x 11 ft, giving you enough space to fit in 8 campers at a squeeze. To allow enough space for gear, we'd recommend no more than 6 people sleeping in this tent. The removable interior divider wall comes in handy when you need to get changed inside the tent and need some privacy. At the front of the tent, a 4 ft 5" sized vestibule provides a reasonable amount of dry storage for all your camping gear.

Gear loft loops allow you to hang lights from the ceiling or other gear. Organizer wall storage is provided.

Cons:

The included aluminium stakes are flimsy and poor quality so we recommend you get some sturdy steel stakes ready.

No footprint is included with the tent. You’ll want to get one to ensure that the floor is well protected.

The vestibule area is a little smaller than we’d hoped for.

Guarantee: 1-year warranty.

Specifications

• Packaged Weight: 27 lbs 3 oz
• Floor space: 143 ft2
• Vestibule space: 28.7 ft2
• Rainfly included: Yes

Summary

The Kelty Parthenon 8 is a great family tent which has the advantages of a nice roomy interior and high quality construction in addition to being easy to pitch. Its impressive height gives you plenty of room to stand up inside without feeling cramped.

We rate this tent as a fine choice if you want to take no more than 6 people camping either in dry or wet conditions.