Tent Analysis

[Urban Achiever]

Below is a listing of ultralight tents at REI as of 7/17/2009 with Analysis
Cost to Weight Ratios ranked based on comparison with most expensive (presumably the best):

Weight	Tent Cost	lb / 1000$	Ex Weight	Savings	Weight to Savings	Item @ REI
2.19	300	7.292	-0.063	150	-4.17	http://www.rei.com/product/779612
2.25	450	5.000	-	-	-	http://www.rei.com/product/781504
2.31	350	6.607	0.063	100	6.25	http://www.rei.com/product/763324
2.38	250	9.500	0.125	200	6.25	http://www.rei.com/product/734816
2.75	200	13.750	0.500	250	20.00	http://www.rei.com/product/761891
2.81	170	16.544	0.563	280	20.09	http://www.rei.com/product/779406
2.75	230	11.957	0.500	220	22.73	http://www.rei.com/product/779026
2.56	350	7.321	0.313	100	31.25	http://www.rei.com/product/762723
2.94	250	11.750	0.688	200	34.38	http://www.rei.com/product/781505
3.19	200	15.938	0.938	250	37.50	http://www.rei.com/product/781503
3.25	190	17.105	1.000	260	38.46	http://www.rei.com/product/737059

[Urban Achiever]

Better; Inverse the Price (Cheaper is Better)

Weight	Tent Cost	Weight to Cost Ratio	Item @ REI
2.81	170	4.78	http://www.rei.com/product/779406
2.75	200	5.50	http://www.rei.com/product/761891
2.38	250	5.94	http://www.rei.com/product/734816
3.25	190	6.18	http://www.rei.com/product/737059
2.75	230	6.33	http://www.rei.com/product/779026
3.19	200	6.38	http://www.rei.com/product/781503
2.19	300	6.56	http://www.rei.com/product/779612
2.94	250	7.34	http://www.rei.com/product/781505
2.31	350	8.09	http://www.rei.com/product/763324
2.56	350	8.97	http://www.rei.com/product/762723
2.25	450	10.13	http://www.rei.com/product/781504

[Urban Achiever]

I think I like http://www.rei.com/product/761891, least expensive freestanding tent.  But isn't $200 a bit much to spend on a tent?  This pack is going to be worth a thousand dollars by the time I get done.

[Urban Achiever]

Enter WALMART into the equation:

Weight	Tent Cost	Weight to Cost Ratio	Item @ REI
3.40	25	0.85	http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8136423
2.81	170	4.78	http://www.rei.com/product/779406
2.75	200	5.50	http://www.rei.com/product/761891
2.38	250	5.94	http://www.rei.com/product/734816
3.25	190	6.18	http://www.rei.com/product/737059
2.75	230	6.33	http://www.rei.com/product/779026
3.19	200	6.38	http://www.rei.com/product/781503
2.19	300	6.56	http://www.rei.com/product/779612
2.94	250	7.34	http://www.rei.com/product/781505
2.31	350	8.09	http://www.rei.com/product/763324
2.56	350	8.97	http://www.rei.com/product/762723
2.25	450	10.13	http://www.rei.com/product/781504

[Urban Achiever]

FYI

The "Weight to Cost Ratio" is the weight of the item expressed as a decimal value divided by the inverse of the cost divided by 100.

For Example: The Walmart tent weights just over 3 lbs 6 ozs and costs $25.  Converted to decimal, the tent weighs 3.4 pounds.   The inverse of the price (1 / $25) is 0.04.  So 3.4 / 0.04 = 85.  I also reduced the precision a little to make the end values easier, divide the answer by 100.  (85 / 100 = 0.85)

There are many factors that go into the price of a tent.  This calculation is an over simplification to compare tents solely from a weight prospective.