Need a new tent

I've had my MSR Fusion 2 for 23 years and it's been flawless. Great ventilation. Great 4 season capability.

I pulled it out today to check it out for a weekend camping trip and the poles kept cracking. No problem. No complaints. It's old.

I did try a MSR Elixir 3 tent (wanted to try something with more room) last year for the MOA National in Springfield, MO (hot as hell if you remember) but the poor ventilation had me returning it. The doors were only ventilated on the top portion.

So I'm looking for a 3 season, 3 person tent with fully screened, ventilated doors.

Thanks very much for any recommendations.

RPGR90s said:

I've had my MSR Fusion 2 for 23 years and it's been flawless. Great ventilation. Great 4 season capability.

I pulled it out today to check it out for a weekend camping trip and the poles kept cracking. No problem. No complaints. It's old.

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You may be able to get new poles from this outfit.
https://tentpoletechnologies.com/

Lee said:

You may be able to get new poles from this outfit.
https://tentpoletechnologies.com/

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Thanks Lee, That's a really good option. I'll contact them.

Big Agnes

While sleeping on the ground is in my past, I last used a Big Agnes Big House 4-person tent because you could stand up in it. But it's a tad bike for bike touring (although I did do it).

Check out this 3-person Big Agnes Salt 3 Tent... looks to be the berries as far as ventilation.

I’ve had excellent results with my two Marmot tents. They have a variety of 3-person designs with different degrees of mesh and ventilation. I’ve found their tents to be dry, sturdy even in stormy weather, and easy to erect.

https://www.marmot.com/equipment/tents/3-person/

The REI Half Dome is also popular in my riding group. Here in the southwest, some avoid the nearly all mesh tents as dust and sand tend to blow in under the fly. A fabric lower section helps a lot in minimizing or preventing the problem.

https://www.rei.com/product/185633/rei-co-op-half-dome-sl-3-tent-with-footprint

Best,
DeVern

I love my MSR Hubba Hubba. The 2 vestibules and double side doors is worth a lot to me. I loved My old Mtn Hardware Night View but I got sick of the tiny vestibule and the one door at your feet.

Splurged for my Bibler Full open both sides and no need for the fly, a true mountain tent but rated for 2. Never a need to seam seal or spray.

Thank You all for the great recommendations. For now, I went with Lee's advice and contacted these folks, https://tentpoletechnologies.com/ for a set of replacement poles. They're made in the USA so hopefully I get to use my MSR a few years more, since the tent itself is in great shape.

Have you seen these? Looks like they might be a bit large/heavy to carry, but I'm intrigued.

https://www.tangkula.com/products/t...erproof-external-cover?variant=42285450854633

RPGR90s said:

Thank You all for the great recommendations. For now, I went with Lee's advice and contacted these folks, https://tentpoletechnologies.com/ for a set of replacement poles. They're made in the USA so hopefully I get to use my MSR a few years more, since the tent itself is in great shape.

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Did you contact MSR? I'm not sure of their warranty, but Big Anges has repaired/replaced a pole for me in the past. I just had to pay shipping.

I'm really enjoying Big Agnes's bikepacking tents - the poles pack down really well in most saddlebags: https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/bikepacking-tents

drneo66 said:

Did you contact MSR? I'm not sure of their warranty, but Big Anges has repaired/replaced a pole for me in the past. I just had to pay shipping.

I'm really enjoying Big Agnes's bikepacking tents - the poles pack down really well in most saddlebags: https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/bikepacking-tents

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I did contact them about ten years ago, as one of the poles cracked and they sent me a complete set. But they said they don't make that model anymore and therefore wouldn't have any new poles to send me.

Instead, I went with Lee's recommendation and contacted Tentpole technologies https://tentpoletechnologies.com/.

After talking with them (and learning quite a bit about poles), they were able to send me a completely new set, and apparently have better resistance to fatigue.

Received them the other day and they fit perfect.

Thanks again Lee!

RPGR90s said:

I

Received them the other day and they fit perfect.

Thanks again Lee!

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Good to hear it worked out for you.

https://motocampnerd.com/ Is a BMW MOA supporter and offers us a discount code. I’d recommend giving them a call. It’s a small husband and wife shop in NC and they personally test everything they sell and it’s “motocamping approved” you have pretty much a kit for every budget. I’ve met them at a few rallies and I rode with the man a few times at random and we chatted during lunch for a while before I knew who he was. Very friendly and knowledgeable and started it after realizing there wasn’t a curated site for motorcycle camping.

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Me personally, I have tried Redverz…way too large (I’ll sell mine to anyone who wants it, one tent hole grommet has failed but a sewing machine can fix it) and I’ve used Mountain Hardwear, REI brand and Big Agnes. Big Agnes is the best for surviving tough climates. My 3 and 4 season big Agnes tents have been in a field of 75 tents in a camp ground in Labrador and been the only tents that have survived a storm with 50 mile an hour winds. Cape Breton, Quebec, the beach of northern Maine near Fundy. From 25 degrees camping up to 90 degrees with literally a river of water flowing under my tent and my 2 big Agnes tents have never leaked or broken.

I’m going to keep buying big Agnes tents personally as they really do hold up to the abuse. If you’re in KOA campgrounds / rallies in summer months with only occasional rain, pretty much any tent over $250 that fits in your pannier will do the job.