Snuggle Up - Comparison of Double Sleeping Bags

Backpacking with the family is a combination of good planning, patience and carrying the right gear with you. After a good sleep system, you want to make sure the tent you choose is a good weight and fit for what your family needs. When choosing your backpacking tent, it's important to consider what options are important to you. How many vestibules do you want? Do you want something ultra light or can you add a few pounds for extra space? Will you set it up by yourself or will you be going with another adult/older child who can help? Do you want a footprint/fly combination or just always use the tent? To help you sort through some of the backpacking tent options, I've reviewed five four-man tents to help your family get out in the backcountry together! Get Started Backpacking Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 ($249.95) [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="947087,947088"] Looking for a good introductory tent for backpacking with your family? The Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 is a great entry-level tent that will get out on the trail quickly. The package comes with the footprint included. This is a great option for those who can utilize the footprint and fly instead of the full tent on the trail or if you want something that can double as a sun shelter (great for beach days). As a bonus, I was able to set up the tent by myself. This is a bit heavier at 8 lbs., 6 oz. so you may not want to carry it by yourself. Mountainsmith creates a bit more headroom in the Morrison Evo 4 with their brow pole. While not the tallest tent I tested, it certainly was spacious with 56 sq ft of usable interior space. This tent easily accommodates four adults and packs. One nice feature is the amount of storage spots inside. There are storage pockets around the bottom in addition to a ceiling loft. The tent will be superb in the summer as it has mesh lower on its side. This will allow an excellent breeze through the tent. You'll need to be aware of this for windy, cold days while on the trail and adjust the tent accordingly. Related: Backpacking 102: Taking the Kids Sturdy and Tough Grand Mesa 4 ($219.95) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947091,947090"] About seven years ago, I purchased my first camping/backpacking tent. It was a Kelty Teton 4 and that tent has survived a German Shepherd puppy and a toddler. I was excited to try the Grand Mesa 4 from Kelty as my Teton 4 still looks great even after all the trips we've taken. Similar to my Teton, the Grand Mesa has one door and one large vestibule. This is excellent for parents who want to make sure their littles ones stay in the tent. The Grand Mesa 4 is a bit lighter in weight than the Morrison at 7 lbs., 7 oz. Kelty provides a roll-top bag that makes cinching it a bit easier. This was easy to stuff into my Deuter 65L bag. As for interior space, this is set for four adults and the center of the tent is relatively tall. There are only two pockets that come in the tent. If you want more storage, you can buy a separate loft section. This is an upgrade from my old Teton with its upgraded clip system. The hug clips are super easy to use and were hard for my 3-year-old to take off the tent. (Bonus for me: she thinks that is hilarious.) This is a tent that was very easy for me to put up and down by myself. Since it only has two poles, it was very quick to set up, which would be a great bonus for those rainy days. Lightweight and Packs Small MSR Pappa Hubba NX 4-Person ($599.95) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947093,947092"] The MSR Pappa Hubba NX 4-person is a tiny package for a mighty tent. It's the lightest tent among those I tested at 5 lbs., 15 oz. and one of the biggest for floor space. It is one of the shorter tents so you will need to lay down to put pants on. This tent excels for doing solo trips with your children or for bringing another adult. MSR boasts that it packs up smaller than most two-man tents and it's the truth. The bag for this tent comes with three small straps that allow you to cinch it down quite a bit. While the other tents fit in my 65L Deuter, this bag took up the least amount of space. This tent was very easy to set up by myself and the directions/tent marking were clear. This comes with a set of unique stakes that are very lightweight and durable. Four pockets in each corner add to the living space inside. These are high and out of the way, but easily accessible by myself and Sky. For being so lightweight, I was worried about it tearing, but the tent handled the abuse from 70 lbs. of Sheperd and 30 lbs. of preschooler like a champ. Another feature I enjoy about this tent is how high the walls are on the side. I can get Sky dressed in relative privacy and still have good venting on the warmer days. MSR made an excellent family tent that allows just the two of us to get out without the additional purchase of a two-man. Backpacking Tent that Does Car Camping Well Nemo Losi Backpacking 4-Person ($449.95) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947096,947095"] When I first put the Nemo Losi Backpacking 4 Person up in my basement, I was unsure if it was going to fit into the space all the other tents had gone up in. It's taller and larger than anything else in this review and weighing in at 7lbs., 14 oz, it's not that heavy for its size. What's even more impressive is that when I stepped inside, I was almost able to stand up completely (I'm about 5'3"). I didn't need to put on pants lying down because here's a tent I can stand in! This tent is so large for a backpacking tent, it's almost a car camping tent. We were able to put a double sleeping bag, three quarter sleeping pads and several backpacks inside the tent. Not to mention the space in the double vestibules. Aside from the size, one of my favorite features is the light pocket. This made it so easy to get ready for bed and read to Sky. I placed my light in the pocket and it diffuses evenly throughout the tent. They have two light pockets in this tent, so it was bright and cheery for bed time. But don't worry, just because they have light pockets doesn't mean they skimped on the stuff pockets! There are still four around the tent that are pretty large. This comes with its own roll sack, making it easy to pack. It was great for Sky as she was able to help put everything back into its space neatly. This does have a pretty open mesh top (only obscured a bit by the pole guides) so stargazing will be easy. Nemo really packs a ton of features in this tent. Shoulder Season and Cold Camping Hero Hilleberg Nallo 4 ($885) [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="947098,947097"] The Hilleberg Nallo 4 comes in at 6 lbs., 12 oz. and is a great tent for those who want something for all seasons. This tent is meant to be taken out in all weather so those who enjoy the shoulder season or cold weather camping should take notes here. This packed up pretty compact into my 65L Deuter bag. When you first pull this out of the bag, the fly is attached to the tent body. This has the potential to make setup quicker in those sudden downpours. With only tent poles, it goes pretty quickly once you get the hang of it. It took a few tries to set up the tent, so make sure you set it up at home before heading out on trail. With its design, I can see how great it would do against the wind and storms. I liked how the vestibule door worked on this tent, so you can easily open it completely or just a bit with this design. The vestibule provided plenty of space for gear and if you need more space, you can upgrade to the Nall0 4 GT. If you want to go the distance in whatever weather, this is a great choice for families. What tent do you use on your backpacking adventures? Share with us in the comments below. Read More: Snuggle up: Comparison of double sleeping bags Sleep soundly: Review of kids sleeping bag The ultimate guide to camping with kids

This summer, the days have felt especially long. Due to COVID, I find myself saying “no” and “we can’t” a lot more than I want to. The restrictions and precautions evoked by parks and outdoor spaces, along with those we choose to abide by as a family, have left me feeling like I’m trapped in a shrinking room! Then one day, shoulders slumped as I sad-sacked around the house, I decided to change things up. All summer long, my husband and I have been missing our regular adventures. Camping has been high on our list because, though he has been camping in our old Westy, our 3-year-old has never been tent camping! Cue, backyard camping! The Pre-Test We figured there was no reason to put it off any longer. I got our tent out of the basement and walked purposely across the living room toward the back door, only to be stopped halfway by my very insistent son. He was VERY interested in setting up the tent… in the living room. And that’s exactly what we did. It was the perfect way to test out this whole camping thing… before we tested it out. Though my intention was to pitch the tent in the backyard, I recommend this “pre-test” to anyone who has concerns about your child actually sleeping in the tent. Our son has always been an early riser and so he is also an early sleeper. To expect that he could get to sleep at his usual 5 PM bedtime with the summer sun still at its peak and so many backyard distractions was a tall order. We had other concerns too but the most pressing was bedtime routine, general supervision, and whether or not my husband and I would get any sleep. With the tent set up in the house, my son was content to “pretend camp” for weeks. We looked for plastic night animals with our headlamps, roasted Lego marshmallows, and slept under a Christmas light sky. It was a major success and was just what we needed to shake up the boredom. However, if you opt to skip this pre-test and head right to the backyard I do have a few helpful tips. Photo Credit: Deanna Curry @shinydayadventures Taking the Tent Outside Though our son is an early sleeper part of the appeal of going camping is that you get to do things you normally wouldn’t (here are some ways to make camping fun for kids). When we finally made it outside with the tent we stayed up until it got dark, around 8:30 pm, looking for nocturnal animals and lightning bugs. By then we didn't have to worry about the sun and all the neighborhood noise had quieted. Not to mention, he was so tired we didn’t even need the bedtime routine to lull him to sleep. We also let my son fill his tiny belly with a marshmallow, hot dog, and Chex Mix dinner. As far as supervision, we actually went to sleep when my son did that night because, well, we are parents and we are tired. But if you’re camping with a baby (check out this post on camping with a baby) or your kids go to sleep before you, a baby monitor, or even an open window, depending on your situation should suffice. Photo Credit: Ashley Scheider Backyard Camping Tip The number one tip I can offer is this, try to remember why you wanted to do this. We did it because we wanted our son to experience all the things we love about camping and being outside. So, we let our kid eat junk food, set off a few sparklers, forgot about bedtime, were noisy and ridiculous, and as much as possible tried to remember what it’s like to be a kid. Need more inspiration? We got you covered: Camping with Great Books Things to Know for Your First Camping Trip Helping children and families sleep better when camping Do you have a favorite family room or backyard camping memory? Share it in the comments! Be sure to join the Hike it Baby Community Facebook Group. It's a great place to ask questions, learn from others, and share your family's outdoor adventures! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Editors Note:   We hope you enjoyed reading this article from Hike it Baby. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.   But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.