Trying to Decide between 2 cheapee tents

[Noctis]

My budget is under $150 and need a 4 person tent. After 14 hours of reading guides, forums, and scanning the internet; I came across these 2.

1.

2.

The first one is the same brand used by this guy, though is of course smaller and lacks aluminum poles. It seems to be sold mainly at army related stores, so it might be a good buy. Total cost $100 http://www.ohtony.com/non-rv-shelter-op ... rning-man/

I found this second one new for $130 on craigslist. It is unused but doesn't have the box (so i need to buy one to store it). It has aluminum rods which is a plus, but the shape is A and not a dome which i heard is not as good. People said they used it before at burning man. http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic. ... 3&t=290849

Anyone have experience with either of these two tents of could make a third recommendation?

[Lonesomebri]

If this tent is for 4 people, you need at least a 6 person tent. The 4 person tent you listed has 2 feet 2 inches per person wide, if you divide the 8ft 9 width. I don't have experience with either tent, but I sleep in cheapass tents every year. I'd imagine the dome would shed the wind better than the A-frame. My tents are usually the large 8 person domes, just the right size for one/two person. Not much help here, good luck.

[BBadger]

Interesting choice of two tents. You listed two tents, one of which is twice the price of the other.

I'm getting one of these this year. It's only $130. Seems they're out of stock now, but there are similar tents.

I'm not really that worried about the tent though. All I was looking for was a spacious (for a single person) tent that was decent for blocking out blowing-in dust when I'm not around via the rain seal. In a previous year I had slept in some borrowed 4-person tent, and in some other year I brought a single person tent. Both performed fine.

The important thing is not so much the tent, but the shade structure in addition to my tent. Do you have one? If you don't, it won't matter what tent you bring, you'll feel overheated and it will suck. I would find any well-rated 3-4 season tent on Amazon that fits your needs, or something on Craigslist or whatever you might decide to use camping elsewhere. If there are too many vents, you can always put some cloth over the vents to prevent your tent from getting too dusy -- or just cover your stuff up with bags (I usually just stuff my pillow under the sleeping bag). Then I would spend more energy on building some sort of shade structure to put over your tent, and maybe some cooling like a swamp cooler.

[Noctis]

The tent would be just for me, and maybe one other. Going to have a queen size air mattress. That Slumberjack has so much mesh!

[shroom]

I would pick the dome shape. Also make a shade over it for more comfort, lots of shade tips in other posts.

[MyDearFriend]

Dome is better, "bathtub" bottom so you can sweep it out every morning. Also LONG stakes, 12 inch minimum to hit solid ground. Steel nails or rebar. I use fleece blankets over my mesh for dust abatement. Good luck!

[Noctis]

Okay dokay. I went with the dome one. Friends also said its usually the tent material attached the the poles that rips over the poles (so the dome has 4 points on each side of contract, while the tent only has 3).

[louisacrystal]

I'd go with the dome. But I would keep looking for something bigger.

[Noctis]

welp, the seller said they actually didn't have that tent. Laaame. Guess i will look elsewhere.