| Campo del Oso |
| REI Taj 3 |
Gear Review:
Tents
Tents
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REI Taj 3 Tent
When it comes to finding the right tent, quality is the most important thing to look for. A cheap tent from Mal-Wart
will provide you with exactly what you pay for. It might last for an outing or two, but if you are serious about
camping out then it is best to get a quality tent. I have found the REI brand of tents to be of exceptional quality
and workmanship. They are well made and are intended for a lifetime of use. I have had my Taj 3 for about six
years and it has never let me down. It sets up in about three minutes and holds up very well to rough weather.
While camping on the lakeshore out at Brownwood State Park, I was caught in a pretty vicious thunderstorm. There
were 60+ mph winds and hail that was just slightly smaller than golf balls. The Taj 3 went through without any
problems at all, even though all the other tents in the campground were flattened and one camper trailer was
destroyed by a falling tree limb.
The Taj 3 is a bit heavy, especially for a solo tent, which is how I normally use it. But its spacious interior is great
for 1-2 people, and that extra comfort more than makes up for the extra weight in my book. I find it (like all other
tents) kind of small for the rated three persons. But in a pinch I have sat around in mine with three other people
playing cards, who abandoned their light-weight solo bivy shelters, when we were pinned down for a couple of days,
due to weather, on a backpacking trip. When we set out they made fun of me for carrying so much tent, but when it
was needed they sure seemed to appreciate it.
When it comes to finding the right tent, quality is the most important thing to look for. A cheap tent from Mal-Wart
will provide you with exactly what you pay for. It might last for an outing or two, but if you are serious about
camping out then it is best to get a quality tent. I have found the REI brand of tents to be of exceptional quality
and workmanship. They are well made and are intended for a lifetime of use. I have had my Taj 3 for about six
years and it has never let me down. It sets up in about three minutes and holds up very well to rough weather.
While camping on the lakeshore out at Brownwood State Park, I was caught in a pretty vicious thunderstorm. There
were 60+ mph winds and hail that was just slightly smaller than golf balls. The Taj 3 went through without any
problems at all, even though all the other tents in the campground were flattened and one camper trailer was
destroyed by a falling tree limb.
The Taj 3 is a bit heavy, especially for a solo tent, which is how I normally use it. But its spacious interior is great
for 1-2 people, and that extra comfort more than makes up for the extra weight in my book. I find it (like all other
tents) kind of small for the rated three persons. But in a pinch I have sat around in mine with three other people
playing cards, who abandoned their light-weight solo bivy shelters, when we were pinned down for a couple of days,
due to weather, on a backpacking trip. When we set out they made fun of me for carrying so much tent, but when it
was needed they sure seemed to appreciate it.
- Offering luxurious living quarters, our top-selling Taj 3 is a three-season, three-person backpacking tent that
won't weigh you down. - Doors are now easier to enter and exit, and enlarged vestibules offer a bit more space for gear storage
- New Combi-pole design offers more interior space for better livability while inside tent
- Three-pole clip design is sturdy, and combined with the no-see-um mesh doors, window and ceiling panels
provide excellent ventilation and visibility - Insider floor seams are engineered to create a nice, clean taut pitch and maximize floor space; factory
seam-taping ensures a waterproof seal - Polyester rainfly stays taut even when wet and features two built-in vestibules, an upper vent and a clear
film window for viewing outside conditions - New, leak-proof rainfly construction ensures that water won't sneak through susceptible areas such as guy-
out points and zippers in wet conditions - Tent stays organized with the attic (included) and three interior pockets
- Attention to detail shows with the reflective zipper pulls and guylines, ladder-loc tie-downs on rainfly and
pole wraps that secure rainfly to tent - Footprint (sold separately) extends the life of your tent by protecting it from abrasive wear and tear
- Save weight by creating a minimalist shelter using rainfly, poles and footprint only
- Comes with guylines and tighteners, stakes, pole repair tube, pole and stake bags and tapered, easy-to-stuff
compression stuff sack - Average minimum weight based on tent, rainfly and poles only
Specification
Sleeping capacity 3
Average minimum weight 7 lbs.
Average packaged weight 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Floor dimensions 99 x 95 inches
Floor area 50 square feet
Vestibule area 5 + 5 square feet
Peak height 48 inches
Doors 2
Canopy fabric Nylon ripstop
Floor fabric Coated nylon taffeta
Rainfly fabric Coated polyester taffeta
Number of poles 3
Pole material Aluminum DAC Featherlite
Pole diameter 8.84/9.8 millimeters
Packed size 8 x 25 inches
Cost $264 w/footprint
Sleeping capacity 3
Average minimum weight 7 lbs.
Average packaged weight 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Floor dimensions 99 x 95 inches
Floor area 50 square feet
Vestibule area 5 + 5 square feet
Peak height 48 inches
Doors 2
Canopy fabric Nylon ripstop
Floor fabric Coated nylon taffeta
Rainfly fabric Coated polyester taffeta
Number of poles 3
Pole material Aluminum DAC Featherlite
Pole diameter 8.84/9.8 millimeters
Packed size 8 x 25 inches
Cost $264 w/footprint
Pros: excellent quality, reasonable price, dependable, tough
Cons: bit small for three people and a little heavy for one on a backpack trip
Cons: bit small for three people and a little heavy for one on a backpack trip
specs from REI.com
