Since our blog is called Our Past Tents, we figured we’d show everyone the tents we’ve owned in the past.
1999 – 2008 || Kelty Creekside 2 || Status: In Storage
This is the first tent that Bryan owned as an adult. He ordered it from Campmor while he still lived in the dorm during college.
2000 – Present || Hennessy Hammock || Status: In Use
After bending numerous tent stakes on Arkansas rocks, and getting tired of looking for level places to set up a tent, Bryan bought a pair of these hammock-tents from Hennessy Hammock.
Bryan still thinks the hammock is a wonderfully comfortable place to sleep though since getting married he’s more often than not found in my tent. Our daughter has discovered the joys of hammock camping, though, and chooses to use it fairly often if the weather is warm enough.
2003 – 2006 || Subaru WRX || Status: Sold
While the WRX was adequate for in-car sleeping, I finally decided that practicality was more important than being able to drag race teenaged boys at stoplights. It was traded to the dealership for a more appropriate grownup Subaru, which would comfortably accommodate four plastic bins.
2003 – Present || Sierra Designs Light Year || Status: In Storage
Early in the Single Mommy Days, it became clear that Mandy and I needed a decent tent. We were camping a lot and backpacking a little. My brother perma-loaned me his SD tent and I gratefully accepted.
2003 – Present || 2003 Nissan Frontier || Status: Sold
This truck has served Bryan well over the years and the only complaint about it today is it really only holds two people. When purchased, the idea that Bryan would need room for three wasn’t even considered. The camper shell holds plastic bins full of gear and sleeping on an air mattress is a luxury.
Update (Fall 2022): After more than 240k miles, the black truck has been sold to Bryan’s brother who had the time and know how to fix some engine troubles the vehicle had developed.
2008 – Present || MSR Missing Link || Status: In Storage
Purchased for use on our honeymoon backpacking trip to Saguaro National Park, this lightweight, single-wall tent is HUGE on the inside and makes use of hiking poles for support.
2008 – Present || North Face Something-Or-Other || Status: Retired
Our friends, Britt and Debbie, decided we needed a four person/four-season tent prior to our honeymoon trip. This was a tent they had in storage and they offered it to us. The door zippers don’t function anymore but it is huge and warm inside due to the lack of mesh.
2010 – Present || Marmot Aura 2 || Status: In Use
When we started bike touring, we bought this tent with an REI dividend because we wanted a lightweight tent that didn’t require hiking poles to set up. It’s been a good purchase, and in the winter we often ‘fast pack’ it, sleeping under just the fly without the tent body.
Update (Summer 2023): This tent was given to Mandy who is currently using it on a three-week rive trip down the Grand Canyon.
2010 – Present || ENO Doublenest || Status: In Use
We have two of these, and we love them. They’re light, quick to set up, and super comfy for napping and reading. When bugs aren’t a problem, they’re good option for warm-weather overnights.
2017 – Present || REI Kingdom 6 || Status: In Use
I wanted a tent I could stand up in to change my pants so this is what we found. It has a full coverage rain fly and, when the additional guylines are used, it is very strong in high wind situations. Sometimes we arrange the inside with an air mattress, and a table+chairs. Other times we fit a three adults on cots inside with room to spare.
2021 – Present || Durston X-Mid 2P || Status: In Use
Hayduke managed to rip the rainfly of our Marmot Aura a few months before a Colorado backpacking trip so we started shopping for a replacement. We kept reading about this lovely tent designed by Dan Durston but it was sold out and had been for months. Turns out thought that there was a new shipment expected soon and Bryan managed to buy one for us. This simple to set up double-wall tent weighs 36 ounces and utilizes two hiking poles.
2021 – Present || Hummingbird Single Hammock || Status: In Use
Description of hammock.
Photo: Caption goes here.
2021 – Present || Six Moon Designs Deschutes Plus || Status: In Use
Description of tarp tent.
Photo: caption goes here.
2022 – Present || Ram Promaster City Wagon || Status: In Use
In 2022, we flew to Denver and rented The Smalls van from Native Campervans and fell in love with it. It was perfect for us and we enjoyed the two weeks we used it to ramble around Wyoming.
Fast forward to late 2022 and we found ourselves car shopping for a black truck replacement. The car market was dumb! After looking at trucks, EVs, and other potential choices, Aly found a Ram PMC about an hour from us. We bought it and spent the winter/spring building our own version of The Smalls. We’ll put up a blog post eventually.
