My experience with tents is that in most cases a tarp or two
is a much better way to camp.In cold weather a very small tent has some advantages over tarps.Tents are also better when bugs
are a problem.But after spending 6-8 months a year for 5 years
sleeping outdoors I'll stick with tarps.Standard auto store tarps will do.

The best, most reliable, well built reasonably priced tents are made by Eureka. Don't even touch Coleman, and I took an Eddie Bauer "off my neighbors hands", and it leaks. We had a Eureka 9x9, tub-bottom boat, and woke up sitting in 5" of water outside, not a drop in our tent.

We used to spray our tent every year with a spray bought at place that makes canvas awnings. It is a waxy sort of stuff we put in a air compressor sprayer. Left the tent open to air out for a week afterward and then the stitching stayed good and was leak free. Still need a tarp for raining down pours. Pick a really rainy day and drive through a campground, you will see 80% of the tents have a tarp thrown over them.

I want to reiterate that Eureka makes the best tents! Don't bother with other brands unless you want them to tear and leak. Also, a tarp is a must!

-Jim

Eureka! offers some decent quality tents, the Tetragon series is a decent value. Sadly, they mix in a lot of junk with their quality tents and you need to be very careful when choosing one. If you do a little research, you can purchase a tent from brands like Marmot, Sierra Designs, Big Agnes, Mountain HardWear, REI and EMS and not have to risk being fooled. BTW, NEVER spray your synthetic fabric tent with anything. Polyester and Nylon ripstop fly material is waterproof, and only the threads need annual seam sealing with a small paintbrush. Sprays invite de-laminating, and while the little snowstorm can be pretty, the tent quickly becomes an eyesore once it picks up a little dust. Those sprays are for boots and raincoats...

I have a Coleman Exponent Vagabond 9'X 9' dome tent that has proved to be very excellent (for a nylon tent). The advantage of nylon is that it's light weight - but if you can handle the weight, those old timey canvas tents are the thing!

What are your plans ... mostly car camping(?)

Depends on what you are looking for.
The "Best" by far is a North Face VE25, will hold up to anything, 50+ mph winds or several feet of snow on top of it.
Will cost you about $620 though.
This is the tent that 90% of everyone climbing Everest will be packing with them.

A "nice" tent that will suffice for most average camping is an REI brand tent, the "Base Camp 4" is decent and on sale can be had for about $250.
That would be your "best deal" in a tent.
Not to mention REI's outstanding return policy.

I've had great luck with Coleman. I won't say they are the best but the ones I own have served me well for a number of years now.

I used to camp in Coleman tents (or basically any comparable tents you can get for less than $50 at Target) but found that after a few years of light use they would tear or the poles would break. I've got to vouch for the current tent I'm using: the REI Quarter Dome T3 tent. It's incredibly lightweight, easy to set up, and made of quality materials.

Here is a link that might be useful: REI Quarter Dome T3 tent review

I can't tell if that sleeping bag would be a good one because for some reason that link is working for me. However, if you want a really good and reliable tents, I would recommend get one by Mountainsmith. I really like the Mountainsmith Genessee 4. It is a free standing tent and it has bathtub flooring. Its a 4 man so you will have plenty of room for your friends and its pretty lightweight so its not to much of a burden to carry.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tents

A friend of mine just got this 7' X 10' canvas "Springbar" tent that is made out in Utah. Of course this tent certainly will not do for back packing .... maybe if your planning to have pack horses along it might work! Obviously it is meant for car camping and do believe I could get it to work with one of our large canoes.

Since I was brought up with my Dad having a wall tent, this canvas tent sure stirs up old memories. But I was impressed with the quality. My buddy so far has only pitched it in the yard, however, as soon as this weather gets a little better for some fishing we are going to put it to the test.

http://www.kirkhams.com/deluxe-tents/campsite-3-springbar-tent/

While twice the weight of a similar polyester tent and needing a bit of extra care due to its canvas construction, a Springbar is the top-line level of it's grouping. Where weight is not a consideration and you like single-wall canvas tents, this is "The Kind"!

I tent camp on the average about 20-25 nights a tear and have experience with a few types and brands of tents.

Good quality car-camping 3 season tent:
Eureka Timberline 3 and 4 man tents are incredibly solid and long lasting and parts can be obtained if needed. Most BWCA outfitters and scout troops own these. About $200, but roughly 10-12 lb weight, not good for long distance carrying. Available at on line stores like campmor.

Basic backpacking tent: Eureka Apex 2XT series, with twin doors, twin vestibules, and pay extra for the aluminum poles. The cheaper fiberglass versions will break. A good summer, late spring, early fall tent, roughly 7 lbs. about $149 at on line stores like campmor. Fiberglass version goes for $89 on line at times.

Lighter weight backpacking tents: I have a Big Agnes Sunnyside 2 sold by REI that is still going strong after about 100 nights of camping. A pity they don't make my model anymore, because it was great. Zipper may be near the end though when a Cub Scout tore into one night in a panic. 6 lbs. summer, late spring, early fall tent.

GoLite brand has been the choice for several I know as they upgraded. Not cheap, at $300, but at just barely 3 lbs it makes a HUGE difference for old hikers like myself on 50 mile 6 day trips. Summer, late spring, early fall tent.

If price is no object, I agree with some of the other brand selections above. If you are on a tight budget, have some time before you need it, and have a friend in scouting, there are some great tent deals they can get at ScoutDirect that the rest of the public does not have access to.

Get out there and have fun!

Laundryvet

I can recommend the eureka sunrise without reservation. I've had the "11" for seven years without a single incident in all kinds of inclement weather. Purchased an "8" as well when the kids wanted their own. Also own a Teragon 7. Good, but not quite the same.

Enjoy the great outdoors. Wish I went as often as I used to, but I still get to go a few times a year.

Be well,
elliot

from my experience, don't bring tent that is too big. You'll get trouble build it and carrying it around. You can check the north face, eiger, or nor wand. Don't forget to bring lamps! it is very dark inside the tent..

hope it helps!