Finding the right tent for the WR can be a very difficult thing to do. I searched more blogs than I care to admit, in pursuit any suggestions I could get on buying a tent. I finally found the perfect tent at Dick’s Sporting goods. It was light enough to backpack with, but big enough to sleep in with a pack. Then I read the reviews. It said it wasn’t a free standing tent. WHAT?! Not a free standing tent? It certainly looked like it was. It had poles after all. Isn’t that what makes it a free standing tent?
Well, I wasn’t going to purchase a tent that needed to be staked down to anything. So I went to the store to see a replica model. To my surprise they had replicas of EVERY tent but the one I was interested in. Reluctant to purchase a tent just to have to return it, I left the store with out a tent.
So it was back to the computer, searching for a tent. There were plenty of tents that were large and light, but all cost more than $200. I had already told the woman that was buying the tent for me that the tent I was looking at cost about $100. I couldn’t go back to her and ask for more money.
So I prayed. And it just so happened that it was Cyber Monday. And at REI outlet on Cyber Monday, they offered 30% off any one item, plus free shipping! So I found a tent that was originally $179 on sale for $135. With the extra 30% off the tent, I paid less for it than the one I originally was going to get. Now if that isn’t a God thing, I don’t know what is.
Today it came in the mail. My cat Maddie was very curious as to what was in the box. She sat by it waiting to see what I pulled out. It turned out to be a bit larger than I expected, but none the less still light. I set it up and took it down with no problem. It fits nicely in the bottom of my hiking pack, with quite a bit of room for other things. Maddie decided to make the box her new hiding place, so I guess the tent is a keeper.
I would like to thank everyone who prayed and offered advice in the process of finding a tent. And I would like to give a special thank you to Ruth Weaver, the woman who purchased the tent. I am certainly hoping now that after all the fuss that we use our tents more often than past racers say they did.
For those of you who are looking for a tent for your race, word of advice, read reviews and weigh the options, and if you can…REI outlet is a great place to buy, especially on Cyber Monday 
