Best Family Camping Tents "Swiss Gear Valais 14 by 11 Foot Family Dome Tent" 8.8 out of 10. based on 155 ratings
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66 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
Much better than previous review.
By Randy Browning
The other lady S. Haley obviously started having problems when the poles were missing, so from then on out she wanted something to complain about. The openings are there for a reason and are closable.
The double arch makes it one of the largest area tents in its class, and it is waterproof unlike all others in its class. The overhangs on all sides allow for the largest opening of the screen system I have ever seen, especially during adverse weather. At 28 lbs it is not intended to be a backpack tent, but could be humped in for a short distance. The tent is of very high quality, unlike the Coleman options in class. The Wenger products offer sealed floors and seams, polyester taffeta fabric with two coats of polyurethane coating, the windows are massive for great air flow, an electrical port for supporting electrical devices (generator or for backyard camping), a mud mat, a gear loft for storing the lighter stuff that is always in the way, shoe pockets, and a removable
rain fly for an open air experience during those clear sky camping outings.
If you want to save money and get 1/3rd the tent, buy a Coleman, if you want something that lasts and is well built get a Wenger Swissgear.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Outstanding tent for my Motorcycle ride
By FC1SWPAPPYS
The tent, packed up, is small enough to fit on my motorcycle sideways, about 26", which is narrow than the bike. The weight I think packed up was 26 lbs. but I believe it was less than that. I can stand up and put my clothes on, has enough windows to keep cool inside while sleeping in it during the day just not in the direct sunlight of course. I used a queen size inflatable mattress which I carried on my bike behind the sissy bar with the tent. In front of the sissy bar I had my HD 2008 Anniversary T-Bag which I leaned against while riding.
Oh, my ride, it was from Florida to Sturgis South Dakota on a 2008 HD Anniversary Edition Heritage Softail in 2010!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Large and durable, good for a summer/occasional tent
By Jeremy D.
I have used this tent for about four years with two trips per summer. I've got bad luck, so I've sat through about three rainstorms in this tent and it's performed well--the waterproofing didn't last forever so on the next weekend camping trip, I will be spraying the rain cover with waterproofing spray. (Even the fanciest tents will need to be re-treated) I have had some water pool and would have liked a higher ground seam (the tarp material makes up the floor, future designs should consider putting the waterproof tarp material at least 6" up the side as some water and wear has gotten to the lower side walls--plus it would be easier to clean and hose-off if the poly material went up to where mud would splash onto the tent instead of the thinner nylon). I have gotten a few small holes in the material from campfire sparks--the material extinguises as its supposed to. (too bad--no repair kit) The seams are amazingly strong--I've staked this thing out pretty tight and haven't
seen a sign of any rips or seperation.
All-in-all, the setup requires about two people and takes about 15 minutes in the daylight--at least 30 in the dark. When I purchased it, there were no color indicators on the shock poles but they are a different diameter, so you can tell them apart. The two thick shockpoles make up the perimeter of the floor, the remaining three large ones make an "H" design to erect the roof, and the smaller two create the awnings over the side windows. It includes a mix of plastic and steel stakes for the tent and rain cover. The details and colors are quite nice (the rain cover has a Swiss Cross design in it--nice touch) and more than what I expected from a rather unknown brand.
I got an incredible deal on this tent when I purchased it in 2008, so for the size and uses of it I am quite pleased with the value. The duffel it comes in is quite substantial--made of very thick material and it's held up to a lot of abuse--I still can
get the whole tent in there, but end keeping the rain cover seperate. I'd reccomend this tent for a group or family camping trip--it can easily hold six people with gear and a person up to 6' can stand in the center.