Luker357
Chicago
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Joined: 07/09/2008
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Hi, I'm eighteen years old, taking my first backpacking/ camping trip in Japan for a month. I've never done this before, and was looking for advice on a solid two person tent for this purpose.
All I know about tents is that it's not an area to go cheap on.
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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Joined: 02/28/2005
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if two people are going to sleep in it get a 3 person tent so you have some storage room for your stuff the smaller tents can be short on storage room for packs and things.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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I agree with tom kat. I have a two-person Sierra Designs ultralight tent which I love but it's not big enough to share. Except maybe with a small dog. Mine has a vestibule, which, when the rain fly is up, provides a nice roomy and protected place to put stuff. In my opinion, a 'footprint' is a waste of money when you can cut a piece of sturdy plastic sheeting the size of your tent floor (or just a little smaller, so rain won't flow underneath). It's lighter, too.
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Turbo Diesel Dude
Green Mountain, NC
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Don't think you'll be finding too many places to camp in Japan. JMHO. Three bagger would be best.
charles weidman
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JCRV
Alexandria, VA
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Joined: 04/24/2008
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Yes, I've discovered that a two-person tent generally means that two sleeping people will exactly cover ALL the floorspace. Really take those diagrams literally. I just spent two nights alone in a four-person tent, and in my opinion that's about minimum (I'm 6'1"), unless there's someone sharing the same sleeping bag. So it seems to me you should size the tent one or two people larger than are actually using it - but of course carrying it all on your back may make scrunchy sleeping more appealing. How you get that crick in your back is your call!
Have fun - sounds like a great trip!
Jeff
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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If you are actually in Chicago, try one of the REI stores in IL. Helpful people and you can set them up and see how it fits.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
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Hiker3
Florida
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PopBeavers wrote:If you are actually in Chicago, try one of the REI stores in IL. Helpful people and you can set them up and see how it fits.
Good advice!
Hey, Luker357...be sure to ask about the Columbia line of clothing -- it is a bit expensive, but for backpacking you do not want cotton clothes. Get the quick dry stuff. And GOOD socks (not cotton).
Spent 5 years learning all the tricks of backpacking -- and having soggy clothes on during the hike is gross 
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
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ErikRuud
Northeast Illinois
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Turbo Diesel Dude wrote:Don't think you'll be finding too many places to camp in Japan. JMHO. Three bagger would be best.
There are probably more than you think. http://gojapan.about.com/cs/sports/a/camping.htm
http://www.ease.com/~randyj/rjjapan7.htm#jcamp
* This post was
edited 07/10/08 06:16am by ErikRuud *
1965(Birth)-74 tent camper, 1974-79 25' StarCraft TT, 1979-83 25' Champion MH, 1984-Present tent camper
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huachuca
Tarboro, NC
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Eureka'a's Pinnacle Pass 3XTA has been a good choice for my wife and I when backpacking. Its a relatively inexpensive, light, three season tent. We've used it in the snow in Big Bend and on the NC OBX with temps over 100 with no problems. If it will be just you, they offer the two person 2XTA model which should work. Good luck and enjoy your trip.
Al
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retiredtraveler
Woodstock Il --- GO HIKING!!!!
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Best place for advice is Backpacker magazine. Get yourself to a library (remember those) and find the editions, from the beginning of the year, that do gear ratings. There are also all kinds of 'how to' articles that will tell you the basics of backpacking. It's not simply the tent, the pack is a major item (you're carrying it around all day) along with tips on how to cut weight.
It's more important for you to understand ALL the issues of packing to make intelligent gear decisions rather than simply take advice from people on the forum on their favorite tent.
Someone mentioned REI --- store generally has good gear, but at premium prices. IF you don't want to do the research, and have the money, you could go there and purchase and would probably end up with decent gear.
I'm one of those 'anal' people who has to understand what I'm buying and make my own, intelligent, decision.
Pup: 2007 Jayco 1206 w/slide-out + shower
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25 years tent camping, 4000+ miles of hiking, lots of biking
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