Welcome to my review of the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Tent. This cabin-style tent is fully freestanding, spacious, and easy to set up, making it an ideal choice for campers of all skill levels. In this blog post, I will provide an in-depth review of the Camp Creek 6 Tent, including its type, target user, materials and construction, specifications, and a comparison with other similar models on the market. This review will help you make an informed decision when purchasing a new tent for your next camping trip. Let’s dive in!
Key features & benefits
- Very tall and pleasant tent.
- Fully freestanding.
- Front and back awnings.
- Very reliable.
What type of tent is this
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Tent is a typical single-room cabin-style tent with vertical walls, providing plenty of headroom and living space. Its design is similar to other tents in the Camp Creek series, which includes a 4-person tent and a two-room tent, all with the same name. The Camp Creek 6 Tent is also fully freestanding, allowing you to pitch it on any terrain.
Cabin Style Design:
The Camp Creek 6 Tent’s cabin-style design features vertical walls and completely straight lines, providing ample headroom and comfortable living space. This design is different from other tents that have sloping walls and a more traditional tent shape. The straight walls of the Camp Creek 6 Tent allow for more living space and easy movement inside the tent.
Freestanding Design:
The fully freestanding design of the Camp Creek 6 Tent allows for easy setup and flexibility in terms of where you can pitch it. With a symmetric structure and minimal rainfly, setting up the tent is simple and intuitive. This design is also ideal for camping on uneven terrain or rocky ground, where staking the tent down may be challenging.
Comparison with Other Tents:
The Camp Creek 6 Tent is similar in design to the Browning Camping Big Horn 5 tent, another popular cabin-style tent on the market. However, the Camp Creek 6 Tent has a taller peak height and more vertical walls, providing more headroom and a more spacious living area. Additionally, the Camp Creek 6 Tent is fully freestanding, while the Big Horn 5 tent requires staking down.
Who is it for?
Size-wise:
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Tent has a declared capacity of six people, but its floor area of 100 ft² (9.3 m²) means that each person only has 16.7 ft² (1.55 m²) of space. This is in line with the backpacking principle, where people are expected to have minimal gear and sleeping arrangements. While the tent can accommodate six sleeping pads, it is more suitable for parents with one child or couples.
Seasons-wise:
The Camp Creek 6 Tent has a decent waterproof rating, but its partial coverage fly and large windows make it suitable for summer camping. The tent is also good enough for two seasons, which include summer, late spring, and early autumn. If you plan to camp in colder environments, the tent’s mesh areas may not keep you warm enough, and it may be better to use a fully enclosed tent with PVC windows and without mesh.
Climate-wise:
The Camp Creek 6 Tent’s mesh areas make it unsuitable for use in cool environments or areas with a big temperature drop overnight. In such cases, it is best to use a fully enclosed tent with PVC windows and without mesh. Additionally, the mesh areas make it unsuitable for use in environments with lots of sand and dust in the air. In such cases, an enclosed tent would be a better choice.
Materials and Construction:
1. The Poles:
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Tent has a combination of steel and fiberglass poles. The fiberglass poles have an 11 mm diameter, while the corner steel poles have a 19 mm diameter, providing a sturdy structure. The roof has sleeves that keep the roof poles in place. It is important to note that the roof structure may not last long if snow accumulates on it during the night.
2. The Fabric:
The tent’s partial coverage fly is made of 75D 185T polyester, which has a waterproof rating of 1500 mm due to its coating that also resists UV damage. This rating is sufficient for most situations in three-season use. The floor is made of very durable 150D polyester Oxford with the same waterproof rating. All seams on the tent are factory-sealed, ensuring that it is watertight.
3. The Windows and Doors:
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Tent has openings on all sides, with double-layered windows that have mesh and waterproof panels for privacy and protection. The tent only has one door, but it is large enough to provide easy access and ventilation.
Specifications:
- Type: Freestanding cabin tent
- Weight: 23 lb 8 oz (10.66 kg)
- Dimensions: 10 x 10 ft (3.05 x 3.05 m)
- Area: 100 ft² (9.3 m²)
- Area per person: 16.7 ft² (1.55 m²)
- Peak height: 84 in (213 cm)
- Packed size: 28 x 8.5 in (71 x 22 cm)
Pros
- The tent offers a comfortable and spacious living area.
- It comes at an affordable price point.
- The tent has a tall peak height and is very reliable.
- Its fully freestanding design allows you to pitch it on any terrain.
Cons
- It may not provide enough space for larger camping groups.
Conclusion:
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 Tent is a reliable and affordable camping option, with a cabin-style design that provides ample headroom and a comfortable living space. While its declared capacity may be misleading, the tent is ideal for parents with one child or couples. Its mesh areas make it unsuitable for use in colder environments, but it is a great option for summer camping or two seasons. Overall, it is a great investment for those seeking a reliable and durable camping tent that is easy to set up and comfortable to live in.
