9/04/2011

Wenzel Solitude 12- by 7-Foot Sport Dome Tent Review

Wenzel Solitude 12- by 7-Foot Sport Dome Tent
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've had this tent over a year and used it enough to let you know that for this price, there's probably not a better tent out there unless you need something designed for cold weather. I've camped out in this tent down to about 38 degrees with a decent sleeping bag and felt no ill effects.
The tent is a pretty basic dome tent that takes about 15 minutes to get up using the included poles and stakes. A nice feature on this tent is the two "legs" that extend from the basic dome. They have easy access from the outside and they're great for storing gear that would otherwise take up valuable floor space.
The tent is made from a lightweight nylon with a heavier, tub style bottom to keep the moisture out. The tent itself has open windows/vents on top but when covered with the supplied fly it does feel like an enclosed tent. I've camped in this through a night of rain and we remained dry inside with our gear. The zippers on the doors and windows worked normally without any complaints and did there job as well.
While this tent is listed as being able to sleep 4 people, it would be a very tight squeeze. I fit a queen size air mattress in it with not much room to spare except for the "legs". To me, this is more of a 2 or maybe 3 person tent but I think you would be hard pressed to fit 4 people in.
The tent comes with all the necessary poles and stakes and stores in the included storage bag. The assembly instructions are actually sewn onto the storage bag so there always there if you need them.
I would have given this tent 5 stars but, it shouldn't be listed as a 4 person tent. However, for a 2/3 person tent that isn't going to be used for extreme conditions, this tent is a great buy.

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The Solitude Sport Dome Tent is roomy, lightweight and easy-to-pack-and-carry - ideal for backpacking and trekking. It comfortably sleeps up to four people in a 59 square foot area. Made of Wenzel's tough and durable Weather Armor polyester fabric, the tent features polyethylene flooring designed to resist water and protect against abrasion and damage. Mesh windows and roof vents provide ventilation and visibility, and a durable rain fly adds an extra barrier against the elements. The tent is also reinforced throughout with double-stitched seams and water-repellent threads, zippers, and webbing to ensure maximum durability and protection. The sturdy shock-corded fiberglass frame allows for quick and easy assembly.
Feature Detail:
Sleeps up to four people in 59 square foot area
Walls and fly made of rugged UV-resistant Weather Armor polyester fabric
Durable polyethylene flooring designed to protect against moisture and damage
Shock-corded fiberglass frame allows quick and easy assembly
Reinforced with double-stitched seams and water-repellent threads, zippers, and webbing

What's in the Box? Tent, poles, stakes, carry bag, assembly instructions

Manufacturer Warranty 10 years
Amazon.com Tent Guide Selecting a Tent Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.


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