Tent...
 

Should I get a one-man tent, thereby eliminating the possibility of having to sleep with another adult....or get a larger tent?

Larger, if going car camping. One or two man if hiking with back pack. If car camping, get something big enough to stand up in.

I completely understand the dilemma. How are the rest of the adults in the ward? Are they people you'd want to share the tent with? Some of it also depends on your $$ status and how much you'll camp with SB and the kiddo. PAC just got this at REI and really enjoyed it. It's a two-man tent for $100. If money weren't that much of a factor, I'd suggest a one-man and and larger one. That way, you have options. If you don't plan on much family camping and the other potential leaders are the annoying types, I'd go with a one-man or a small two-man -- more than likely the other adult leaders will have multiple-person tents that you can use if they're cool people. If not, "Sorry, guys, it's made for one."

The ultra-minimalist/ultra-isolationist...
http://a1072.g.akamai.net/f/1072/206...dia/513496.jpg

Considering the Texas weather, that should work, shouldn't it?


And only because the thread made me think of it, remember the first episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm? The pants tent -- that's one to avoid on the campouts!

http://www.tve.co.il/images/full_10032005_asur-curb.jpg

Allow me to put to use my years of gear geeking...

If you're "car camping" then almost any old tent will do. You want a "freestanding" tent because having to put in stakes is a pain in your butt.
I highly recommend getting a 2 man and not inviting anyone to share. When I car camp I sleep in a 2 man with an inflatable coleman bed (almost as comfy as my mattress at home).

Remember:
Freestanding
2 man
3 season (you do NOT need a 4 season).
look for good ventilation and a decent rain fly.

Don't spend more than $150.

Here's a good sample http://www.rei.com/product/47975297.htm

If you're ever going to go backpacking, everything changes. That's when the weight weenie in me can give you lots and lots of options.

Our bishop bought the Taj Mahal of tents, of course it took the entire troop to set it up.

It could sleep a dozen, had cushioned floors, had air conditioning and heating and basically was a small house. We laughed when we saw the satellite tv.

He's really not the outdoorsy type, if you get my drift.

I don't quite get this sharing the tent issue. I have been involved in scouts and so forth and I have no prolem saying "no" when someone wants to share my tent. Get the tent you wqnt and say no if someone you don't like asks. I always say no o everyone, btw, so no onew takes offense. Do it a few times and people quit asking

Compromise: get one of the larger tents that you can make into two or three rooms - then if another adult wants to share, you can say, "That's your room. Good night."

Tents are for sissies, just bring a tarp and a couple pieces of cordage.

At a scout campout I once went tentless - several of us slept ouitside by the fire. I woke up in the middle of the night to something growling and moving right by my head (my head was in my sleeping bag, because it was quite cold that night). Scared the crap out of me - there were packs of stray dogs that had gone wild roaming around the area, and I thought it was one of them. Turns out it was one of the other scouts snoring and moving his feet, which were right by my head.

Get a nice two man tent so you will have extra room for your gear and then let it be known that you snore and you have gas. Works like a charm.