Mountain Hardwear Habitat 5 Camp 3 Season Tent
Retail price: $425
Specs per manufacturer: This spacious, two door design fits people, dogs and gear a multi-sport trip…with room to spare. Side storage nooks stash bags and extra gear, and the tall interior height allows standing up while changing clothes. Opaque side walls offer privacy, but with enough mesh for flow-through venting. Color coded poles and grommet tabs and reflective starter points make even late night set up quick and easy. Guaranteed watertight construction.
Packaged weight: 13.84 pounds. Floor area: 70 sq. ft. Vestibule area: 13.28 sq. ft. Packed dimensions: 9″x27″
Findings: Many tents designed for 5 or more people are not true 3 season tents. The flies frequently do not go all the way down all around and don’t withstand the wind. If you are camping with your family in your backyard, I suppose it really doesn’t matter. But if you are getting out there with the kids along, you need a true 3 season tent that can stand up to the elements. The Habitat 5 does a nice job. We’ve brought it out in the rain and wind and stayed nice and dry all night long. It is easy to put up–the kids can almost do it alone. We actually fit 6 of us in this tent with all of our gear for a 4 day trip. It was tight, but very doable. At almost 14 lbs, it is too heavy for backpacking, but for base camping or car camping, it is ideal. Check out the slide show for more information.