My husband and I have been tent camping for years. We own two other tents - a 4-person REI dome tent (that we've enjoyed for 10+ years) and a small backpacking tent that sets up quickly and takes up very little space in the trunk of our car. We finally got this last summer when I wanted to start sleeping on a cot (back problems, darn them) and none of the cots I wanted would fit in our other tents.
After lots of careful research I decided on this tent because of its size, everything I'd read about ease of set-up, Paha Que's customer service, and how well people say they stand up to wind and storms. We like desert camping and wind and storms are usually part of the package.
We got to use it for two camping trips so far and were not disappointed whatsoever. But I must say that I am REALLY glad we did a trial set-up in our local park before going. Some of the set-up for us wasn't as easy as it looked in their online video instructions - those poles are really strong and not as flexible as the fiberglass ones we were used to (and maybe we're just a little more out-of shape than we thought). Either way, we were able to figure out a system that worked for us ahead of time so we weren't struggling during set-up at the campsite. I highly recommend doing that if you can.
I can't say enough good things about sleeping in it though. It was huge and roomy - my husband was able to stand up to get dressed and undressed which he never could in our other tents (he's just under 6' tall). We also had room for a small table, a tent fan and a porta-potty (no more late night jaunts out into the cold where I wake up too much to go back to sleep).
The inside pockets that are reachable from the outside are very handy, as is the "attic" where we can store all those little things that just get in the way. We could've brought chairs in if we wanted, there's that much room, but we didn't want to this time. Heck we could live in it if we ever needed to! I also love the square shape vs the dome shape - it's a much better use of space and things just seem to fit better (like cots, for instance).
We didn't get to try out its storm-resistant qualities though, because we had unusually good weather those weeks - darn it, because I was really looking forward to cozying up in there during a good storm. Oh well, maybe next time. But the ventilation was excellent and we didn't notice any condensation on the tent walls, even though there was dew on the grass in the mornings.
The only downside (and I'm really reaching here) is that because of its large footprint our choice of campsites was more limited than we were used to - but that would be true of any large tent and it's actually smaller than a lot of other "family" tents on the market.
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Paha Que Pamo Valley 10- by 10-Foot Six-Person TentProduct Description: Like all Paha Que tents, the Pamo Valley Tent--the tallest model of all tents by Paha Que--uses state-of-the art fabrics, innovative design, and high-quality components for performance that ensures a trouble-free camping experience. Designed to provide maximum usable space and total weatherproof performance, this tent is ideal for 4-6 people.
With its large no-see-um grade mesh roof, two large doors and windows, the Pamo Valley provides excellent ventilation, visibility around camp, and fantastic stargazing at night. And when the weather turns unpredictably drizzly or wet, the Pamo Valley buttons up tightly with an easy-to-install rainfly for full waterproof performance--even in heavy rain anddriving wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. A bathtub style floor design keeps running ground water out off the tent as well.
The entire tent body and floor seams of the Pamo Valley are factory tape-sealed, elimating the need for an awkward full-coverage rainfly. By sealing all of the tent's floor, body, and rainfly seams, only a partial coverage rainfly is needed, which is also integral to Paha Que Weather Control System (WCS). Partial coverage rainflies and mesh roofs provide great ventilation in any weather while virtually eliminating interior condensation, even on the most humid nights. Paha Que's rainflies (which have built-in awnings) also allow the use of doors and windows even during foul weather.
The Pamo Valley comes complete with a full set of adjustable and reflective guylines and two complete sets of ground stakes to accommodate any ground conditions you may encounter. An oversized carry sack makes folding and storing the tent a breeze. An emergency tent repair kit is also included with this tent. Gear access ports are located underneath each side window which allow access to your gear without tracking bugs and mud into the tent. (This is especially a feature appreciated by the parents of little ones!) Interior hanging gear slings and an overhead gear attic make gear storage and access a snap while also maximizing the amount of usable space inside the tent.
The entire Pamo Valley tent is supported by a heavy-duty 6000 series aluminum pole set. All sets are shock-corded for ease of set-up and storage and are also covered by Paha Que's lifetime warranty. A pair of awning poles is also included.
Manufacturer's Warranty Lifetime Warranty
About Paha Que Paha Que Wilderness Inc. is a young and innovative company that makes high-quality family camping tents. Campers love them, but when they first see the name in print, they pause and wonder just how to pronounce it and try to understand its meaning. You won't find it in any dictionary and there have been debates amongst linguists about its derivation. According to the legend behind the term, Paha Que is the Southwest Indian version of "Aloha." Paha Que takes it to mean "happy trails." It can mean hello, good-bye, how are you, have a good day, and more. Perhaps a variation on the Spanish phrase
Que Pasa? The people at Paha Que learned it from a local rancher friend whose grandpa learned it from local Indians. It boils down to the fact that the name is surely different, and appropriately so because these tents are very different from ordinary tents.
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.
Buy cheap Paha Que Pamo Valley 10- by 10-Foot Six-Person Tent now
This is just an expensive piece of plastic.Get a real ground cover from Sierra Designs (Sierra Designs Convert 2 Footprint - you will need to know your tent dimensions).I love my Eureka tent but these are a waste.The Sierra Designs ground cloth fits perfectly.
