Wenzel Big Bend 12-by-10 Foot Five-Person Two-Room Family Dome Tent Review
Wenzel Big Bend 12-by-10 Foot Five-Person Two-Room Family Dome Tent Feature
- 5-person, 2-room family dome tent ideal for mid-size families
- Weather Armor polyester construction with polyurethane coating
- 2 mesh doors, 2 mesh windows, and mesh roof for cross breeze
- Shock-corded fiberglass poles and pin-and-ring system for easy setup
- Hanging divider curtain; measures 12 x 5.6 x 10 feet (W x H x D)
Spacious and weather-resistant, the Wenzel Big Bend 12-by-10-foot family dome tent sleeps up to five campers in its two rooms, making it ideal for mid-size families or couples with lots of gear. The Big Bend is made of rugged, weather-repellent Weather Armor polyester with a polyurethane coating for reliability, helping it keep water out and warmth in. The sonic-sealed, polyethylene tub-style floor, meanwhile, is welded and not sewn, eliminating needle holes that might otherwise attract water seepage. And campers will love the variety of ventilation points--including two mesh doors, two mesh windows, and a mesh roof--which combine to create a refreshing cross breeze on warm evenings.
The Big Bend is also easy to set up, with shock-corded fiberglass poles and a pin-and-ring system. And when it comes time to hit the sheets, you can either create one large sleeping room or roll down the divider curtain to create two separate rooms. The rooms can function as individual bedrooms for the campers or as a sleeping room and living area. Other details include an integrated mud mat to keep the tent clean, a removable fly with a hoop frame over the door, two hanging pockets for storage, and a storage duffel.
Specifications:
- Base: 14 by 10 feet
- Center height: 68 inches
- Area: 94 square feet
- Capacity: 5 people
- Carrying weight: 14.3 pounds
- Warranty: 10 years
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 buy 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 specifically designed for summer backpacking or other activities. Many premium tents will also feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain fly for enhanced waterproofing.
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 tents 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 lighter. 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 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.
The Wenzel Big Bend is a 12-foot x 10-foot, seven-sided-dome tent with 68 inches of center head room. It accommodates five campers on a welded-polyethylene tub-style floor to keep out ground moisture and is made of rugged, unique Weather Armor weather-resistant polyester with a polyurethane coating for toughness and reliability. The hanging divider curtain creates two separate rooms for privacy. A removable hooped fly over the back to back D-style door keeps out the rain. Double-stitched, lap-felled seams through out the body of the tent provide a shingle effect against water. All threads, zippers and webbing are treated with superior water repellency applications to enforce these critical areas. Mesh doors, two windows, and mesh roof provide a cross breeze. The lightweight, shockcorded fiberglass frame has a pin and ring system for easy set-up. This tent includes two hanging pockets for storage, an integrated mud mat to help keep the tent clean and has a 10-year warranty against defects. Specifications: • Base: 12 ft. x 10 ft. • Center Height: 68 in. • Area: 94 sq. ft. • Doors: Back to back Dutch "D" style • Floor: welded polyethylene • Frame: fiberglass • Stakes: plastic • Sleeps: 5 • Carry Weight: 14.3 lbs
