NorthPole 7- by 6-Foot Two to Three-Person Dome Tent

List Price: $69.99
Category: Sports
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Equipment Details

• Square-shaped, dome-style tent for two to three sleepers; measures 7 by 6 feet
• Fly covers the entire tent; front fly door converts into canopy with included support poles
• Large ventilated sides with window flaps integrated into fly
• 8.8-pound packing weight
• Includes large, highly durable polyester carrying bag with two nylon handles

Description of NorthPole 7- by 6-Foot Two to Three-Person Dome Tent

It's quite easy to set up, and we put it together along with the included clip-on fly in under five minutes. The two shock-corded fiberglass poles connect to pin-ring bases, which can be a little tricky to navigate but offer a solid connection. It also features fluorescent yellow guy ropes on all four corners of the fly for added stability. It measures 7 by 6 feet and has a 48-inch maximum height at the center. The inner tent has a closed back, a large, wide-bottomed door (with meshing) at the front, and two sides that are made up of about two-thirds mesh for maximum ventilation.

The fly covers the entire tent, providing excellent protection during our "rain" test (i.e., using a sprinkler for an extended period in our backyard). The integrated, zipped doorway can also act as a small canopy, which is erected using the two rubber-tipped, shock-corded poles and secured with guy ropes connected to the heavy-duty stakes. When closed, this door is very secure with a combination of zippered and Velcro closures. Additionally, the two sides of the fly include small windows to help with ventilation. These window flaps have stiff foam bottom frames that can be easily rolled up and tied, or the flaps can be zippered down during inclement weather.

Overall, this tent is nicely sized for three sleepers, securely protected from the elements, and extremely well ventilated. Plus, it offers the bonus of a small canopy for lounging in the shade after a heavy day of hitting the trails. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

What's in the Box?
Tent, rain fly, metal stakes (with bag), four fiberglass shock-corded poles (with bag; two for canopy and not essential to structural integrity), heavy-duty nylon carrying bag (with handles), printed instructions

Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.

Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.

For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.

Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.

Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.

Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.

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