BSA tents on sale

[EagleG]

Anyone have any experience or have heard from others how these tents are? I am in the market for a 2-man, but know nothing about these tents.

 

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/SearchPage.aspx?page=LIST&free_text|=clearmid&answers_per_page=15&SRC=HP&ET_CID=HP_CampingSale_03152011

[EagleG]

oops.. don't know how I got this into the OA thread. This can be closed. Sorry about that.

[bakerjw]

I haven't used these tents so can only comment based on the pictures and description. The BSA X Country tent looks like a slightly smaller, but heavier version of the North Face Bullfrog 23 that used to sell for about $180-$240. Does it have a vestibule? I don't like that it has long pole sleeves instead of clips. It can be a hassle to slide poles through the long sleeves when it is windy and rainy. The BSA Pine Bluff maybe a good, cheap starter tent, but would be heavy for backpacking. Have you looked at Alps Mountaineering and their Scoutdirect.com discount program for Scouts? For about $20 more than the BSA X Country they have the Zephyr 3 that weighs less than 5.5 pounds with the same floor area, 2 doors and 2 good vestibules and oly a short length of pole sleeves to deal with. It has more mesh and more ventilation, but since the fly can be cinched close to the ground it isn't drafty.