REI Half-Dome 4 Person Tent Review

I promised an updated review of the REI Half-dome 4-person tent we choose for our family backpacking needs. Although I mentioned in the previous post that we would be going to Shenandoah National Park, that trip did not happen. Put simply, we were blessed with a baby who suffered from extreme colic for 4 months. She cried everyday for 4 months straight! So, we definitely did not feel comfortable enough to take her on a big trip like that. However, we did manage to try out car camping a few times!

The first car camping trip we tried was at Lake Jericho. This is a peaceful campground about 20 minutes from downtown Louisville, KY for reasonable rates. The big drawback to this campground is that it shares space with what appears to be permanent RVers. However, the tent camping area is located right by the lake away from the big rigs.

We set up camp fairly quickly - and the REI half-dome 4 person tent went up in a breeze. In some ways it was easier to set up than our old 2-person tent! The only thing we had trouble figuring out was the rainfly, but this was a nonissue since it was so clear that night. We were there about 2 hours, when we tried to get our daughter asleep unsuccessfully. The location by the lake meant we were quickly engulfed in humidity (even though it was the end of September, Louisville suffered from record breaking heat well into October this past yr!) - this made it hard for her to settle, and we were concerned her excessive crying would disturb the other campers. So, we packed out. Rob was able to tear down and pack up camp in less than 30 minutes in the dark! By then, everything was soaked from the humidity - not fun! I sat and waited in the air conditioned car with our baby who was finally able to fall asleep. We were glad we choose such a close location for our first camping attempt though, and at least we got to try out the tent for a little while!

A couple weeks later, we decided to try again. This time, we choose to camp at Jefferson Memorial Forest. This campground was much more secluded and more "camping" like - plenty of trees and no RVers. It was probably one of the best spots we've ever car camped in! Luckily, someone left a nice stash of firewood, so we were even able to have a nice campfire going. The tent went up without a hitch once again, and we loved how much room it had! It felt like we were camping in a mansion - we could fit everything inside and still had room to spare. It actually might be a bit too large for just backpacking, but for car camping it's perfect. We all slept well that night - but at 4am that changed. Apparently, Jefferson Memorial Forest is extremely close the airport! From about 4am to 6:30am the air noise kept us up as we listened to one plane takeoff after another. Thankfully, our daughter didn't seem to notice and she slept soundly! It did get rather chilly though, and we ended up putting her in between us in our sleeping bags to keep her warm rather than having her sleep in her own travel bed.

So, despite challenging circumstances - record heat and a colicky baby - we were able to get out 2 times in the fall, which I consider a success! This spring, we hope to take several trips and put our tent to some more use. But so far, I am very impressed with our purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone with children. It's perfect for car camping, but I think it will also work well for backpacking, especially once more children come along!

Backpacking with Baby

Our daughter just turned 7 months old, and come spring, she will be more than ready for us to take her on her first backpacking trip! We are so excited and can't wait to share the great outdoors with her, fostering a love of nature. She's a bit on the small side, so we haven't had a chance to use a child backpack with her yet. I still carry her in the sling for errands and housework and the front carrier for short hikes in the park. However, we'll definitely need a new backpack for her to ride in for our first backpacking trip! So, we've started the process of reviewing different child carriers. The ones we are looking at currently include:

• Deuter Kid Comfort II


• Deuter Kid Comfort III


• Tough Traveler Stallion (mainly because we can get this one used at a great price)


• Sherpani Rumba Superlight


• Kelty TC 3.0 (for dayhikes)


• Deuter KangaKid (dayhikes)

So far, we really like the Deuter Kid Comfort III, but the price is steep. We tried on the Kid Comfort II, but since we'll be taking it out on extended hikes, we were concerned it wouldn't be large enough for comfort. Plus, we really would like a sunroof, and love that the III has a built-in roof. Our goal also is to save money on whatever we choose to buy, so its likely we'll end up buying used.

I'll be doing another post to update on what model we choose to buy and whether we bought new or used!

My Review of REI Halo +10 Sleeping Bag - Women's Regular

Originally submitted at REI

The women's REI Halo +10 goose down bag offers the perfect of balance low weight, high-quality materials and top performance—great for backpacking in cool weather.

REI Halo +10 Sleeping Bag - Women's Regular

Quality at an Affordable Price

By SugarLoaf from Kentucky on 9/24/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Warm, Adjustable Hood, Lightweight, Packs Small, Comfortable, Roomy

Cons: Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses: Backpacking, Car Camping, 3 Season Camping

Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

I bought this REI down-filled sleeping bag for backpacking. I needed something that would pack small and tight but still wanted the comfort and the warmth that comes with bulkier bags. This bag does not disappoint! Best for 3-season backpacking (although a bit warm for summer) car camping and any other pursuit that has you sleeping outdoors. My husband bought the matching men's REI bag and we were able to zip them together to create a roomy 2-person sleeping bag during mild weather. The only downside to this bag is that the zipper gets snagged rather easily. You have to be careful so you don't rip the material. Also, since it is a warm bag, I would wear cotton at night to avoid feeling like you're sleeping on nylon. Other than that, it has been a great, reliable product. I would definitely order again!

(legalese)

Family Tent for Backpacking and Car Camping

Since our daughter was born, our lives have undergone numerous changes. One of these includes saying goodbye to the tiny 2-person tent my husband and I have enjoyed for the past 2 years. Although we will keep the tent for the occasional 2 person outing, we have now graduated to a 4 person tent!

Why the bigger tent? We plan on taking all our kids camping with us. Before we bought the REI-Half Dome 4-person tent, I did quite a bit of research on larger backpacking tents. This one had the best reviews, and it is something that we can grow into. I love that is is lightweight enough to backpack with, but big enough to car camp in. The price can't be beat either!

If you are considering a lightweight 4-person backpacking tent, I highly recommend this one. We will be taking it on our first camping and hiking trip next weekend to Shenandoah National Park. I will update with a review on the park and some the hiking trails as well as a review on how the tent worked out.

Organize Your Camping Supplies

Going camping shouldn't be a stressful endeavor. With the proper planning and organization in place, camping is easy and enjoyable again! Keep camping simple, the way it should be, by following these helpful family camping tips.

Camping Menus

Camping food and backpacking food can be quite different. When you're backpacking, you want to pack light and nonperishable food. However, camping with a cooler allows one to bring perishables like dairy and meat and without a concern for weight.

For advice on how to plan a camping menu, a sample menu and essential camp kitchen equipment, read the below article.

Planning a Camping Trip: Camp Menus

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

This past weekend, we camped and hiked at the Big South Fork NRRA in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was only a 3 1/2 hour drive from Louisville, KY, which makes it a great weekend getaway for those seeking an outdoors or wilderness experience.


The first two nights we camped at Bandy Creek Campground ($19 a night), which is very well-kept but lacks the charm of Koomer Ridge in RRG. Since we were one of the very few tent campers, however, it wasn't much of a problem during our stay. I wouldn't recommend staying here on a holiday weekend when it may fill. Same goes for Blue Heron campground ($17 a night), which isn't much better.

The Alum Ford primitive campground and the Pickett State Park campground are great choices for those looking for an authentic camping experience. And as a bonus, they'll save you a bit of money (Alum Ford is $5 a night; Pickett State Rustic Park is $13 a night).

The north-west portion of the park is the best in terms of ruggedness, day hikes and backpacking trips. Many unique and challenging trails connect in this area.

We used two guidebooks on our trip, Exploring the Big South Fork and 100 Hikes in the Big South Fork. Of the two, the latter was much more informative, as it included several hikes in the outer lying areas of the BSF as well as many unheralded treks. Exploring the Big South Fork tended to disappoint in the amount of hikes it covered, but it was nice to have a comparison. We also used the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for navigation. I highly recommend carrying this map while exploring the area. The maps provided in both guides were truly inadequate, not to mention confusing.

Some tips for hikers and backpackers seeking to make the most out of a trip to the Big South Fork:

• Make sure your car has plenty of gas. There aren't many roads that travel through the park, meaning you have to drive around it in order to get from one place to another. This can be frustrating for the day hiker, so plan hikes that are near each other to limit the amount of driving.
• Bring all your supplies with you. Unless you can properly stock up on supplies at Wal-Mart, you'll need to have everything with you before you enter the park. There are no outfitters nearby. Firewood is also hard to come by, so plan accordingly. (Note: if staying at the Bandy Creek campground, firewood can be purchased for $10. Pickett State Park campground provides free firewood for campers.)
• Be prepared for seclusion. Although it was a nice weekend, we only ran into one other batch of hikers, and each night we practically had the campgrounds to ourselves.
• Bring a map and guidebook! There were several confusing trails we encountered on our trip, and had it not been for the guidebook, we would have found ourselves re-routed to another portion of the park.