Will my cheap three season tent work?

[DapperD]

I or I should say we leave in less than thirty days march 5th I think I have a dome tent that I like it is a quest or something like that I can't remember right now. The rain fly does not go all the way to the ground. I have a ground sheet for it and am planning on bringing another tarp to string up above it to add extra protection from blowing wind and rain which I am not even sure if I will need anybody think that will work or should I just go ahead and buy a better tent which I really don't want to pay for our bags are rated for 20 degrees and we have bag liners that add 10 degrees If i do pick up a tent I am really considering the kelty grand messa. Oh ya by the way I don't think we are going to be staying in shelters much if at all privacy issues as in we are a new couple and I really don't want mice chewing up all my stuff

It will work. Will it work well? Only you know that, or will find out in due time

[Wise Old Owl]

Guess we have much of this covered, kudos to spraying the tent with a hose in the back yard!

FYI cheap tents won't last three seasons. I took a manufacture dome tent and pitched it as a fort for Austin in the backyard. Even though it was three months under deep tall trees, it had UV holes all over the place.

[bailey]

Have a 9x7 dome tent from Sears, do you think would be ok for a 7day hike in the Virginia AT ? It will be myself and my son. Any and all information will be great, this will be our first time tere.

[Wise Old Owl]

read above posts - seam seal

stuff ok

[Appalachian Tater]

If your tent won't stand up to wind and keep you dry then get another shelter.

[SunnyWalker]

Yeah, the biggest issue is weight of the total tent set-up. When you are on the trail it will end up as THE issue. It will possibly cause you to buy a new one tho the one you have works fine. it's a mental battle you will find real hard to beat and keep going up the trail.

[weary]

I or I should say we leave in less than thirty days march 5th I think I have a dome tent that I like it is a quest or something like that I can't remember right now. The rain fly does not go all the way to the ground. I have a ground sheet for it and am planning on bringing another tarp to string up above it to add extra protection from blowing wind and rain which I am not even sure if I will need anybody think that will work or should I just go ahead and buy a better tent which I really don't want to pay for our bags are rated for 20 degrees and we have bag liners that add 10 degrees If i do pick up a tent I am really considering the kelty grand messa. Oh ya by the way I don't think we are going to be staying in shelters much if at all privacy issues as in we are a new couple and I really don't want mice chewing up all my stuff

Your tent will probably work if it doesn't leak. But with an added tarp, it probably is a couple of pounds heavier than a number of $150 possible replacements. If I had the money, I'd buy something that is new and weighs less than 4.5 pounds.

A 2 pound ultralight would be great on a thru hike. But okay $100-$150 four pound tents is what I would purchase if I were on a tight budget.