Where to buy a tent in Springfield?

[Curmudgeon]

If ya still use it ya done gud!

In 1996 I got a wife the same way - no Internet and I still have her!

[mrsgenealogy]

CD Forum is the best place, I'm tellin' ya! Thank you all for your tips! I'll come back soon and let you know how it goes!

Originally Posted by firebll31

Academy just opened up a large store, I think on the west side of town.
You could try Dynamic Earth and Ozark Adventures. These will be more expensive, unless you find something on clearance.
Bass Pro has an outlet store next door that sometimes has really good prices, but with limited selection.
Surplus City is another possibility. They have more than just military surplus.

Have you used or bought tents before?
Are you looking for something in particular and how soon do you need it? Lots of online catalogs if you know what you want.

Thank you for so many great leads, firebll! I have already looked up the stores and will share them with my husband in the morning. We bought a couple of tents yeeaaars ago and used them once. We are definitely NOT the outdoorsy type! LOL! We sold our RV about a year ago and can't afford to buy again so we're gonna rough it as best we can.

We will be camping with friends in mid October for a week. We don't want to be cramped or have to bend over all the time so we've been looking at the larger tents just so we don't feel cramped. We have looked online some but since we're not the outdoors type, we don't even know all the sites to see.

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Look or Omar's!

Hi, Curmudgeon! What in the world is Omar's? I googled "Omar's Springfield MO" and came up empty handed.

Originally Posted by pams73

Target would also sell tents, probably about the same price and selection as Walmart.

I highly recommend trying the Bass Pro outlet store.....it's hit or miss on what will be there, but you can get some good deals. And really, if you go with the Bass Pro brand Redhead, it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to get a tent. I have a Redhead, and it has lasted me 10 years so far with no problems.

Thanks, Pam! I didn't realize Bass Pro even had an outlet store and was afraid the main store would be too expensive...and after looking at their website, that proved to be true. I'll remember that Redhead line. Thanks! I will check out Target, too!

Originally Posted by christina0001

try craigslist, although buying a used tent is always a little risky.

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

If ya still use it ya done gud!

In 1996 I got a wife the same way - no Internet and I still have her!

I'm thinkin' that's a goood thing, you bein' such a curmudgeon 'n' all! Thanks for the laugh! That goes for you too, Ozarks boy!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by mrsgenealogy

Hi, Curmudgeon! What in the world is Omar's? I googled "Omar's Springfield MO" and came up empty handed.

I'm thinkin' that's a goood thing, you bein' such a curmudgeon 'n' all! Thanks for the laugh! That goes for you too, Ozarks boy!

Hey there, Lady. Long time no see. Might be overdue for another OTFC get together.

"Omar the Tent Maker" is a bad joke appellation from the 50s to describe sand fleas....ummm....rag heads....umm....Middle Easterners. Anyone but me remember the old 60s song, A-Hab the A-Rab?

Politically correct I ain't, thankfully!

[firebll31]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Look or Omar's!

Embarrassed to say I fell for this, too! Was looking up the address, to no avail. I was SURE I knew all the outdoor stores in Springfield!

[Cali BassMan]

Dont forget Cabella's or Costco's websites......

[firebll31]

A few suggestions if you haven't bought a tent for a while:
Rain fly is essential, even if rain isn't forcast. Helps with air circulation and to keep heavy dew or frost from making everything feel damp.
We like the shock-cord type of poles. A friend has a pop-up style tent and loves it.
If it says 2-person tent, IT AIN'T BIG ENOUGH! No room for backpacks, suitcase, whatever.
Use a tarp under the floor of the tent to protect it from rocks and provide a moisture barrier.
Leave the vent flaps open, even on cool nights. Your body heat and breath will make condensation collect on the inside and feel damp.
Look for a tent with small pockets or bags on the inside. Very convenient to keep a small flashlight or other essentials close and easy to find.
If it is new or has been stored for a while, take it out a few days ahead of time, set it up and air it out. This way you can check for mouse or bug damage, make sure all poles are intact and that you know how to set it up quickly. Sounds like a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many people get to a campsite with no idea how to put up the tent!
Good luck shopping! I love tent camping (in nice weather )

[Cali BassMan]

another suggestion if you have a pickup truck, is to buy an air mattress that fits between the wheel wheels and a camper shell

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by christina0001

try craigslist, although buying a used tent is always a little risky.

Thank you, Christina! In fact, we did look at Craig's List but came up empty. I just checked again because of your post and while there were no tents listed since I last looked, there was a used high queen mattress listed and I emailed it to my husband. He's heading into Springfield tomorrow to go to all the stores you all have listed. Maybe he'll see if the mattress is still available, too.

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Dont forget Cabella's or Costco's websites......

Thanks, BassMan! Good to see you here, still! I had not been to either site but have checked them both now.

Originally Posted by firebll31

A few suggestions if you haven't bought a tent for a while:
Rain fly is essential, even if rain isn't forcast. Helps with air circulation and to keep heavy dew or frost from making everything feel damp.
We like the shock-cord type of poles. A friend has a pop-up style tent and loves it.
If it says 2-person tent, IT AIN'T BIG ENOUGH! No room for backpacks, suitcase, whatever.
Use a tarp under the floor of the tent to protect it from rocks and provide a moisture barrier.
Leave the vent flaps open, even on cool nights. Your body heat and breath will make condensation collect on the inside and feel damp.
Look for a tent with small pockets or bags on the inside. Very convenient to keep a small flashlight or other essentials close and easy to find.
If it is new or has been stored for a while, take it out a few days ahead of time, set it up and air it out. This way you can check for mouse or bug damage, make sure all poles are intact and that you know how to set it up quickly. Sounds like a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many people get to a campsite with no idea how to put up the tent!
Good luck shopping! I love tent camping (in nice weather )

Firebll, your tips have been great! We got a tiny tent last year and even though we used the rain fly AND it never rained, we had puddling from the dew and it was miserably damp. We set it up in the back yard so thankfully, we didn't have to rely on it out in the wild. We took it right back and knew we'd never deal with a small tent again. Ugh!

We had seen the shock cord poles mentioned and now that you've mentioned them, we're grateful to know that they're good. As for size, I think we want to get at least a 6 person tent so there's plenty of room for our stuff...since I tend to over prepare. We definitely plan to use a tarp underneath and possibly a piece of carpet. I've seen the pockets and love that idea so I can keep my flashlight and water bottle handy.

We'll set it up ahead of time so we can spray that sealer on it, anyway. We have seen them online and notice that we need at least a couple of days for it to dry/cure, depending on the weather. It's so true that we need to be sure all the parts are there and we know how to use it. My dh is going to shop tomorrow and hopefully, he'll be able to make a good find and purchase one. Then, our biggest concern will be to pray for good weather!

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

another suggestion if you have a pickup truck, is to buy an air mattress that fits between the wheel wheels and a camper shell

What a great idea, BassMan! As it turns out, we have a short bed truck and it doesn't have a camper shell. My husband had a brand new 77 Chevy Stepside when I met him...and he still has it, today!

[firebll31]

Any updates Mrs.? Did you find what you needed?