REI Hobitat Tent (Ténéré Expedition Tent Contender)

[TierHawg]

Got a personal coupon from REI today, good only for REI branded products. I'm set as far as most camping gear, boots, and packs. As I was looking at their wares I came across the REI Hobitat 4 tent:

http://www.rei.com/product/810122/rei-hobitat-4-tent?preferredSku=8101220013&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-8101220013&mr:trackingCode=444A6861-D2E9-DF11-9612-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA

REI Hobitat Garage:

Looks interesting, and should be great for car camping. Specs are 8.5' by 7.5' by 6' tall. The packed specs are 10 x 10 x 27 inches and 17 pounds. Not sure if this size is doable on a bike, since I have zero moto-camping experience. I don't really need this type of tent this season, but I am getting tired of not being able to stand up in my current tents. The price with my REI coupon is about $200, plus another $100 for the garage.

Any thoughts on this compared to the Ténéré Expedition Tent?

 

[Venture]

Neat tent. 10"x10"x27" is a pretty big for a packed tent. Not undoable, but that kind of space makes it a luxury.

Remember as well that those are trekking poles holding up the garage roof, and I doubt they're included in the package. You'll have to get separate poles for that I'd bet.

 

[Swagger]

This is my idea of tenting

 

[keeponriding]

Yes, well, Swagger...were I as wealthy as you to afford the 100s of porters ridng pillion, I would make the same choice....

For the rest of us: This is the tent I use; 3 lbs (I also have a footprint below the tent preventing rips and tears and adding to waterproofing. The picture doesn't show it, but there is also a rain fly. I've been cozy in rain and even some late snow.

http://www.o2gearshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2&language=en&currency=USD&products_id=12365&zmam=55982562&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=12365

I've had mine for 3 years now and it is still in great condition.

 

[Chadx]

I've been thinking about the REI Hobitat tent for car camping for the last year or so. I don't mind smaller tents but the wife has mentioned, a few times, that she would prefer a taller tent. Since she doesn't go camping with me much, I still haven't gone for it yet. I'd never bring it with on the bike with me. Just too big for the few minutes I'd actually be standing up in it each day. More convenient when standing, but less convenient the other 12 hours when hauling it around and no more or no less the 8 hours you are laying on your back inside. At some point, I'll get one for car camping, though. And I like the current version much better than the previous versions which didn't have good reviews due to the fly design and lack of coverage. This current one addressed all that and I like it.