Two people and a dog - light tent suggestions?

[LIhikers]

......... I was hoping to hear from people who actually backpack with dogs, because we have a lot to learn.....

My wife and I hike with our 90 pound Shepherd. We use a Tarptent Rainshadow II and it works great for 2 people and a large dog. The foot end of the tent is mostly screen and our dog loves to lay side to side there to look out and get fresh air. Even with her sprawled across the foot end of the tent there's plenty of room for us and a lot of our gear. We've been using it for years, our dog's nails have never cut the floor.
Only you can decide if it's light enough or cheap enough for your needs.

[Damn Yankee]

I have a Nemo Meta 2P which I use when hiking with my dog. It would easily fit 2 people and a dog and it has good head room. Normally when it is just my dog and I, I will put my Z pack down which helps protect the floor some and also use a footprint. You use too trekking poles which are outside the tent so you don't have to worry about poles being knocked down also has very large vestibules on either side with two doors. It is only a single wall tent so need to worry about inside condensation in cooler weather. Total pack weight with stakes and footprint is 3 lbs. 9oz.

[Dacian]

So, Spirit Walker, I'm interested in what you determined. Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Explorer at 41 oz? Tarptent Double Rainbow at 41 ounces? Tarptent Strato Spire 2 at 46 oz? Big Agnes Seedhouse SL? Or did you throw caution to the wind (literally) and come up with something wild and crazy, such as a solution involving a Sea to Summit Escapist Inner 2P Bug Tent and some dual purpose poncho tarps for a roof? I'm thinking that you went with the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL because you were worried about fido's claws, and the little bit of extra weight didn't bother you. Oh, but which Seedhouse: SL2 or SL3? That SL2 is about 3 lb. 2 oz. Nice weight for a conventional tent, but at 52x84x42, it is too crowded for you two and fido, eh? That SL3 is about 4 lb. 4 oz. . . another 1 lb. and 2 ounces is quite a bit of additional weight, but at a true 70x90 with no foot narrowing, it gives fido lots of room and allows you and your significant other space (and perhaps even some space for fido to bring fido's significant other). So, you looked at the SL3, I'm assuming. And, if so, you probably thought: maybe leave behind a little fuel? Leave behind a book? Perhaps see about testing out the skin-so-soft leaves in the local area and leave behind that second roll of Mr. Whipple's finest? Decisions, decisions. What was yours?

[Wayne hall 5155]

I use the Lightheart gear duo and love it. Its a two person tent but lots of room. My wife and I with our 60# dog have plenty of room in this tent. I have used it for two years and just finished a Appalachian thru hike with it and it's still in good shape. Only weights two pounds.

[budman5]

Take a look at ----CCS Sewing lean 2 plus

[Sarcasm the elf]

What kind of tent (and foot print if applicable) are you using?

While not having to deal with a dog, I recently had to setup my Kelty tent on gravel with two young boys inside... but because of the toughness of the tent and foot print, I didn't worry much about it.

By contrast, I recently purchased a Big Agnes Copper Spur for solo use... and I find that I'm spending more time setting this tent up because I feel like I've got to make sure I'm getting all the things out from under the footprint that might puncture the material... and in some cases, I've had seed pods (with some sharp edges) that have left an indentation in my footprint. So I can't imagine what things would be like if I had a large dog (Lab or German Shepard) on top of that material.

Sorry I missed this the forst time around.

My time hiking with dogs has been split between a Eureka tent made of more traditional, but fairly lightweight materials and a tarptent double rainbow, no footprint/groundcloth used with either. I was pleasantly surprised by how tough the floor of the tarptent was, especially considering that it is so lightweight for its size.

I have to say that I was not impressed with the thin floors in the UL Big Agnes tents, I borrowed a Fly Creek UL1 from a friend on several occasions and when I used it I was always worried that the thing would suffer a puncture or an abrasion if I set it up on the wrong surface.

[Wise Old Owl]

Here is something that has not been suggested that may be dog freindly... I say this in reserve as you did not say 3or 4 season or if mosquito's are present. If you are carrying z pads this works. (the old kind not self inflating) so $62 + ship clearly ships and relatively dog proof. I took an old tent and razor bladed the base pad out rolled it up and stick that under the dog.

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Something else to discover - some dogs away from the house get quirky at night - sleep in the back yard a few times then down the street once or twice, on a strap retractor that cannot be chewed.

[GalHikingTheGap]

I was about to post almost this identical question.

We are registering (wedding in June) for a tent since our new puppy is a leaner and our MSR Missing Link tarp-tent, while ample in space, is not stable enough for the three of us given the way it's set up with trekking poles.

Would love ideas on a free-standing tent that meets OP's requirements. We like the dog not being able to see out because it keeps her calmer overnight, we were thinking a tarp with a bug net but now it seems like that's not a great option. Help!

Baby D

[Connie]

The Lil' Bug Out has a large "vestibule" that may be arranged with 2-open doors or zipped closed. It is floorless. If you have a ground cover for your area, or, use bivi's the dog will not tear up.

http://store.seekoutside.com/lil-bug...e1420269929134

This shelter can be carried in two pieces, sharing the load. It is not heavy.

[Franco]

You can share the weight of any shelter ever made...

[kayak karl]

it's been 8 months. Spirit walker, did you choose the tent you need?

[AliciaG]

The Big Agnes Fairview 2 is really light - under 4 lbs. You can save on it if you can find an older make - the 2013 ones are on sale now at REI outlet for $170. There is a coupon out now: http://bc25.com/coupon/rei-3-brand-sale/