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Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Target Greatland Dome > Owner Review by Erich Roetz

GREATLAND BACKPACKING DOME TENT
BY ERICH ROETZ
OWNER REVIEW
October 27, 2007

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Erich Roetz
EMAIL: eroetz93@yahoo.com
AGE: 39
LOCATION: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
WEIGHT: 170 lb (77.10 kg)

Backpacking Background: I started backpacking when I was Boy Scout over 27 years ago. I do mostly medium weight backpacking but I am doing more lightweight backpacking now that my son is a Scout. We camp one weekend a month all year round in temperatures from very hot (Virginia summers of 100 F/38 C) to very cold (Pennsylvania winters - below freezing) from sea level to about 2000 ft (610 meters) elevations.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Greatland
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: www.target.com
Listed weight: 8.5 lb (3.9 kg)
Measured Weight: 6 lb 10.1 oz (3.01 kg)
Tent Weight: 3 lb 5.5 oz (1.52 kg)
Fly Weight: 14.5 oz (0.41 kg)
Weight of Poles: 1 lb 15.9 oz (0.9 kg)
Weight of Stakes: 6.2 oz (0.18 kg)
MSRP: $27.99

Dome Tent
Picture courtesy of Target.com


Description: Two person backpacking tent. 9' L x 7' W x 48" H at center (2.7m L x 2.1m W x 1.2m H). Inverted U-shaped door with double zipper. The door has a zip-up window about half the size of the door. An inverted U-shaped window with a double zipper is located on the panel opposite door. The four other panels are mesh vents that can be covered by the rain fly. The tent is supported by three fiberglass shock corded poles, seven 2 ft (0.61m) sections that expand to 14 ft (4.27 m). The rain fly is secured with bungee corded hooks that are hooked to the base of the poles and reinforced with Velcro tabs that wrap around the poles. The tent is secured to the ground with six steel stakes.

FIELD USE

I have used this tent on five camping trips over the past seven months. I bought it because my son just started in Scouting and I did not know how well he would like it. Luckily for me, he loves it and I am able to do some real backpacking and camping with him. We have been to Moorefield, Virginia, Goochland, Virginia, Ft. Story, Virginia, and Little Creek, Virginia. We camped mostly in a pine scrub environment, with the exception of Moorefield where we set up in a grassy field.

Each trip, I set up the tent and stayed in it solo, but it is roomy enough for two adults or for three children. It is very easy to set up, it only takes about 10 minutes to set and take down. As for comfort, it is okay for me and my gear with a little room to spare. I can kneel in the tent and have no problems getting around. The tent comes with a mesh shelf and a hook to hang a lantern. I have seen that some tents with these hooks are anchored to the support poles. Without this support, I am hesitant to hang anything heavier than a flashlight.

On my first trip with this tent, I put it up at night in a grassy field. With three poles and a fly, it was very easy to put up at night. It only took about 10 minutes. I am glad that it wasn't raining, as the tent has mesh vents along four of the six panels. This tent's flooring is a little thin, so I put down a ground tarp. On the second night, we received about 2 in (5cm) of rain and about 22 mph (36 km/h) of wind with no leakage. I kept warm inside with temp of 40 F (4 C).

My second trip was during the summer in Goochland, VA. By removing the fly, I was able to keep cool in the 80 F (44 C) nights.

The next two trips with the tent were similar to the second: hot and humid. I sealed the seams after the second trip. I didn't notice any leaks, but the owners' manual recommended it and I was negligent in not doing it earlier. It was easy to apply and adhered to the nylon well. I do recommend doing this in a well ventilated area because of the sealer. The stakes included are standard steel stakes, but they are a little flimsy and tend to bend in the clay surface of the Virginia clay.

SUMMARY

A little heavy for a true backpacking tent, but it would be a comfortable weight if split up between two people. As the flooring is a bit thin, I think it does require a ground tarp. It is a good price for someone just introduced to backpacking. It is a good tent for the heavy weight camper or beginning backpackers.

THINGS I LIKE

Inexpensive
Weather Resistant

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

Flimsy stakes
Heavy for backpacking

What I would add:
Support for hang hook

SIGNATURE

Erich Roetz
eroetz93@yahoo.com

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

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