Sometimes simpler is better.

This common statement is very true when it comes to carp fishing gear. We as a whole carry a lot of gear. I�m fairly scaled down myself, but even at my level of gear, I sometimes look like a flea-market exploded on the bank.

When it came time to purchase a new shelter, I did a little research on a little known product make by Kamp-Rite known as a Tentcot. This thing looked crazy, but seemed quite practical.

It was also affordable. $180 at Bass Pro Shops for the �Oversize� including carry bag and rainfly, seems quite reasonable.

Upon unpacking the box at the house I was instantly impressed. This thing was built. It was better material than my current tent, and gave the feeling that I was holding a well made product. I had to see it up, in about 5 minutes I had it set up for the first time in my yard. 5 Minutes! I swapped it from lounge to cot to tent and back and forth several times just to get the feel for it. Everything went quick and easy. Finally, something new that is also simple.

This past weekend was my first in the Tentcot. 51 hours on the bank is not a long time, but it is even easier when your shelter is up so quickly. I was able to set it up in one location in the shade as a lounge during the day, and due to the lightweight, move it right where I wanted it near my pod while asleep.

Here is what you�ll want to hear if you�re thinking about one. �This was simply the best I�ve ever slept on the bank�.

It vents on all four sides for warm nights, and when it closes up for cold nights, it does well (even better with the rainfly). Temperature was only in the 50�s this weekend, but I slept on my sleeping bag instead of in it. It was small enough that warmth stayed in and close.

Knowing I was 11 inches off the ground was very comforting. Rats, centipedes, snakes, rocks, dampness, and a million other things were safely under me, and not trying to get in my tent.

Now, believe me there are a couple problems. For starters, this thing is not tiny when folded up. It is pretty much the same size as a folded cot or bedchair. Along the same lines, while it is light enough to move around the bank (even while set up, and without taking it down) it is not exactly light to carry to and from the bank. The �Oversize I have weighs in at around 19lbs. If you are in the Tentcot, with the main flaps open and vents down, you will be required to open the vents to close the main flaps (the main flaps are poutside the vents). Also you will want some sort of cot pad to sleep on (much like any cot) These are my only complaints though. Not enough for me to worry about.

A couple last minute notes. I�m 6�1�, and 225 lbs, I fit in the Tentcot very comfortably. I can sit up inside it with my legs crossed and can sit and put my shoes on easily. If used correctly, this could be the ultimate stealth camper. Leaving it set up as a lounge during the day, then spending the 5 minutes required to set the tent portion up after dark would be a simple task and would go quite unnoticed.

I am already looking forward for my next chance to use it.

Simpler is better indeed.

sweet ride

think it would stand 25 degrees and 55mph gusts? thats where im headed. the sangre de cristos out of pecos NM.

no carp there!

I say sir that does look rather sexy mate. I like that.

Nice review.

That thing was pretty sweet!

It'd have no problems.

I look forward to putting it through some severe weather.

Parker,

As I am sure you know, a lot of that depends on your sleeping bag. I don't think I would like to try it where you are going with a sleeping bag rated at 50 degrees.

Bret,

Just how much room do you have left after you get bedded down? Enough for a small electric heater? Is there any storage room at all? It looks really nice. I have been considering buying a tent if, and when, I ever make it back to Emma. One of those might work better.

Kevin

Yes, I spent a lot of time looking at them when I worked at Cabela's. THey're awesome, but the only thing I didn't like about them was trying to hurry out of one during a run in the middle of the night. I'm not the most coordinated of people, and would probably end up trying to fight a fish while tangled in my tent cot.

I just went the other direction: I've been staying in a backpack-style rectangle dome for years, you know, the thing is like 3 feet high and you have to crawl in and out of it. So I upgraded to a 10x12 rectangle dome that stands 6'2" in the center, I can walk in, stand up to change clothes (I can almost stand straight without touching the ceiling), and it cost me $50 and can be setup by one person.

Hmmm....

So now I have large and medium, small next? Tentcot for the beach? The only thing I don't like about the looks of these is I believe they will be awfully cold on a breezy, humid winter eve just because the wind will pull all your heat away from the bottom as well as the top.

You'll have to let us know how it does as winter progresses...

Krista, you're going to get tangled, trip, hurt yourself no matter what you're in... safest thing for you is a sleeping bag on SOFT grass.

That's a true statement, Mark. You know me all too well...

I use the tent cot while surf fishing. I've slept on the beach three trips in it. The first trip a huge storm popped up , rained hard all night with 30-45 mph winds. I stayed dry and comfortable in the tent cot. I was impressed. As strong as the storm was I thought for sure it would leak or collapse.I think it is a cool product.

Mike, how much surf fishing do you do in Lubbock?

I agree that it's a very cool product. The only serious negative I see is that the legs are not independently adjustable for hight.

For someplace like emma or the beach, it'll work fine. Try to set that up on a steep sloping bank and you'll soo find out what I'm talking about.

Setting a bedchair up on a sloping bank, I often extend the legs out on one side of the chair all the way out with the other (high) side all the way retracted. That way I can sleep level and not roll out unvoluntarily.

You see Brett, with the West Texas wind it just blows all the red dirt right up next to the playa lake and we call it surf fishing.

I go down to Padre Island National Seashore several times a year and try to catch some big old red fish off the beach.