patb12•2mo ago

The debate over a 4-season tent vs a 3-season with a liner

I spent a whole weekend setting up a 4-season tent on a snowy trip up in the Adirondacks last November... and it took me 45 minutes to get the poles right in the wind. Then my buddy rolled in with a 3-season tent and a liner, set it up in 12 minutes, and was just as warm. So here's the thing: is a 4-season tent worth the extra weight and setup time, or is a 3-season plus a liner the smarter call for most folks? I'm leaning toward the liner route now, but I've seen people swear by the heavy-duty build. What's your experience with either approach?

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2 Comments

wyattrobinson2mo ago

Yo that's a brutal comparison, your buddy's setup sounds way more practical for most trips? I've been down the 4-season road too and the weight savings from a 3-season plus a quality liner are seriously underrated. You gotta respect the convenience factor when it's freezing and your fingers are numb.

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johnflores2mo ago

Respectfully, I gotta disagree on the convenience factor. When your fingers are numb, the last thing you wanna do is mess with a liner. One big bag you can just crawl into and cinch up is way easier in my book, especially at 2am when you're half asleep.

1