ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 4 Tent - Special Buy

Comments about ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 4 Tent - Special Buy:

I bought this exact tent last summer, but when I saw it listed again I felt compelled to review it. I needed a tent for a last-minute (car) camping trip and was pumped for what a great price I found this for. Well, you know the saying "you get what you pay for!" For what I paid (< $100) I got to wake up to a puddle of water on the floor and wet pillow/sleeping-bag (thank goodness I was sleeping on an air mattress). We were camping in the Shenandoah Mountains and experienced a mild storm during our last night. Let me be clear, I've been camping since I was a kid (now 27) and this is the first time I have seen so much water come into a tent, not to mention my friends' two Coleman tents had no leakage. Besides the leaking, then tent seemed fine, with the exception of a thin floor (if you dare to buy, buy the footprint too); setup was super quick and easy … could use better venting and a better fly though. I'd also note that I was by myself in this tent with a twin air mattress, so I had plenty of room for my gear and dressing. I can't imagine 4 people in the tent, 2 adults max if you care anything about comfort. Bottom-line is, I returned this tent to REI in a matter of days. Thank you REI for having such great customer service! And folks, if you're not a member already you really should be!

Comments about ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 4 Tent - Special Buy:

We've used this on several one or two night camping trips. Even with the footprint and fly, the whole thing can be setup in about 10 minutes. It seems to breathe well, no condensation built up overnight. The zippers work well, they don't catch or snag on any flaps or material. It's roomy enough (it's a 4 person tent) for 2 or 3 people to play cards even with a a couple of packs thrown inside. It doesn't feel claustrophobic at all. For the price, it can't be beat. I recommend this for car camping but as others have said, you can't backpack with this.

Comments about ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 4 Tent - Special Buy:

As with all reviews you have to consider use. I am an avid backpacker and hiker but would never consider this tent for backpacking. I have purchased at least 15 of these tents over the last several years for use with our Boy Scout Troop and aside from some damage due to misuse they hold up well, are easy to put up and are relatively cheap to replace when needed. Over the years we've had 1 or 2 where the zipper broke and one pole broke and we have some that are 5 years old and still in use. And I bet the zipper and pole didn't break by themselves. We do have to patch holes from time to time but if you throw your gear in your tent, set it up on rocks or fail to clear a spot, have fights in them, maybe whittle, throw up and who knows what else in there – you might want to get this tent.

One BIG plus is that Meramac has been making these tents for a long time and we can cannibalize when needed since the only thing that changes are the poles, from fiber-glass to aluminum, and tent color.

Yes, it could be better but not for this price…

Comments about ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 4 Tent - Special Buy:

I didn't mean to insult anyone …Someone loves Lexus… but for me it's just overprized Toyota approach. The same with this tent… simple tent made fancy and pricy but not practical. Very light fabric combined with heavy duty poles… doesn't make sense. Poles not flexible on the wind … hooks which holds all tent on the polls, inner diameter exactly with diameter of the polls but not sliding over metal connection… that mean you must be very precise when you hooking-up otherwise you will spend time to unhooking and hooking-up again and again to install simple two polls… beside you need someone to help you to hold construction…..Under pad for tent, it is different story… if you in the mountain area and you can use anchors take a guess what going to happened with your installation… Bottom of the tent the same thin fabric not durable for use with out under pad…. To make long list short… I would say, for backpacking to heavy and bulky … for car traveling not durable and with "little stones in shoe" …..I am using simple rule … installation and packing of the tent must be easily done by one person without any help from others; otherwise it is not practical… the same like Lexus on off road 4x4 trails :-)

Comments about ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 4 Tent - Special Buy:

Great tent! I could setup this tent without much help in about 5 minutes. Simple 2 pole design. Breathes well without rainfly, but you have to adjust to breathe with the fly on. We've used it on trips to Cape Lookout and Table Rock in NC. It did leak a little bit during the night at Cape Lookout during a spring rain, but it did rain for about 6 hours with a strong west wind so I'd be more than happy with the result (not more than a small towel could handle). Get one for car camping or camping with a shorter hike in as this guy is big and a little heavier that I'd take for a multi-day hike, great as a base camp tent since we had 4 guys and a few packs in it without getting cramped. I have no regret in this purchase, and would do it again. Great Tent!!!