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Choosing A Tent
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Published: September 27, 2006
When choosing a tent, there are many criteria to consider when picking out a tent specific for you and your needs. Think about how many people will be using the tent on average. If you have a large family, but not each person will be on every camping trip, you might want to think about getting multiple 3 person tents rather than one large one.
Large tents weigh quite a bit more than smaller tents and there are more important things to carry than an unnecessarily large amount of unoccupied space.
Think about what everyone will be doing with their gear when choosing a tent. If a tent is built to sleep two it could mean just that. Some tents will only fit two people without equipment, so look at a floor plan of the tent or check it out in person before buying it. Equipment can easily be stashed outside, but sometimes it is more convenient to have it inside so you won't have to unpack every night (if you are on the move), worry about varmints or worry about keeping your gear dry in case it rains.
This brings us to another thing you should keep in mind when choosing a tent: the weather in which you plan to use it. If you want something for spring, summer, or fall, most tents should be three season tents able to keep you comfortable in temperatures from 30 degrees to 100 degrees (depending on your tent's ventilation). For winter camping, expeditions and ice climbing, a tent that can withstand tremendous cold is a must. Make sure the tent you are looking at zips up fully for extra warmth. If snow will be piled up on the walls of the tent, ventilation is necessary to prevent condensation on the inside of the tent, even when it is cold. You will want a 'bathtub' floor, or one that curls up on the walls a little bit to keep out the wetness on the ground. These are good for three-season campers as well to keep out the ground's moisture after a downpour.
When choosing a tent, regardless of the season, make sure it comes with a fly. A fly is a thick cover that fits over the tent to keep it dry in case of a heavy rain. Not all flys are made of polyester, but polyester is better material for keeping out rain and ultraviolet rays. Nylon has been improved and blended with other materials for additional strength and water resistance and is a more lightweight choice than polyester. Be sure to consult with a professional if you are trying to decide which material would be the best for you.
Buying a footprint when choosing a tent is not necessary, but it is recommended to keep your tent in working order for longer. It will protect your floor from stones, needles, twigs, or anything else that could poke a hole in the bottom of your tent. For a couple brands of tents, buying the footprint with a tent adds versatility; you can set up your tent as a tarp in warm, light-wind conditions by simply using the fly and the footprint. This is something to think about when choosing a tent to purchase. Usually a tent will last for a long time, so you want to be happy with your purchase.
The poles your tent is made of should be some kind of lightweight aluminum or aluminum alloy. These are lighter and more resilient than fiberglass poles and can also be fixed on the trail if one breaks whereas a fiberglass pole cannot. A repair kit should be bought immediately after choosing a tent–you’ll never sleep in a broken tent as long as you have some duct tape.
Choosing a tent is something that takes a proper amount of premeditation: you and your family wouldn't want to sleep in a tent you don't trust. Keeping these aforementioned points (weather, capacity, fly, material) in mind when choosing a tent should keep you camping happily ever after for quite some time.
Crislip, Kathleen. "Tents, Tarps and Footprints for Camping Backpackers." About.com. 26 Sept. 2006 http://studenttravel.about.com/od/campinggear/a/te ntstarps.htm.
Mountain Safety Research. 2006. Mountain Safety Research, Inc. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.msrcorp.com/home.asp.
Sierra Designs: Tents: Choosing a Tent. 2006. Sierra Designs. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.choosing.html.< br />
Sweet, David. "Camping Basics - What Kind of Tent? Choosing a tent to Meet the Occasion." About.com. 26 Sept. 2006 http://camping.about.com/cs/advicetips/a/campingba sics05.htm.
The North Face. 2006. The North Face. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.thenorthface.com/na/index.html.
Tulin, Philip. "How to Choose a Camping Tent." Outdoor Eyes. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.outdooreyes.com/choosetent.php3.
Think about what everyone will be doing with their gear when choosing a tent. If a tent is built to sleep two it could mean just that. Some tents will only fit two people without equipment, so look at a floor plan of the tent or check it out in person before buying it. Equipment can easily be stashed outside, but sometimes it is more convenient to have it inside so you won't have to unpack every night (if you are on the move), worry about varmints or worry about keeping your gear dry in case it rains.
This brings us to another thing you should keep in mind when choosing a tent: the weather in which you plan to use it. If you want something for spring, summer, or fall, most tents should be three season tents able to keep you comfortable in temperatures from 30 degrees to 100 degrees (depending on your tent's ventilation). For winter camping, expeditions and ice climbing, a tent that can withstand tremendous cold is a must. Make sure the tent you are looking at zips up fully for extra warmth. If snow will be piled up on the walls of the tent, ventilation is necessary to prevent condensation on the inside of the tent, even when it is cold. You will want a 'bathtub' floor, or one that curls up on the walls a little bit to keep out the wetness on the ground. These are good for three-season campers as well to keep out the ground's moisture after a downpour.
When choosing a tent, regardless of the season, make sure it comes with a fly. A fly is a thick cover that fits over the tent to keep it dry in case of a heavy rain. Not all flys are made of polyester, but polyester is better material for keeping out rain and ultraviolet rays. Nylon has been improved and blended with other materials for additional strength and water resistance and is a more lightweight choice than polyester. Be sure to consult with a professional if you are trying to decide which material would be the best for you.
Buying a footprint when choosing a tent is not necessary, but it is recommended to keep your tent in working order for longer. It will protect your floor from stones, needles, twigs, or anything else that could poke a hole in the bottom of your tent. For a couple brands of tents, buying the footprint with a tent adds versatility; you can set up your tent as a tarp in warm, light-wind conditions by simply using the fly and the footprint. This is something to think about when choosing a tent to purchase. Usually a tent will last for a long time, so you want to be happy with your purchase.
The poles your tent is made of should be some kind of lightweight aluminum or aluminum alloy. These are lighter and more resilient than fiberglass poles and can also be fixed on the trail if one breaks whereas a fiberglass pole cannot. A repair kit should be bought immediately after choosing a tent–you’ll never sleep in a broken tent as long as you have some duct tape.
Choosing a tent is something that takes a proper amount of premeditation: you and your family wouldn't want to sleep in a tent you don't trust. Keeping these aforementioned points (weather, capacity, fly, material) in mind when choosing a tent should keep you camping happily ever after for quite some time.
Crislip, Kathleen. "Tents, Tarps and Footprints for Camping Backpackers." About.com. 26 Sept. 2006 http://studenttravel.about.com/od/campinggear/a/te ntstarps.htm.
Mountain Safety Research. 2006. Mountain Safety Research, Inc. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.msrcorp.com/home.asp.
Sierra Designs: Tents: Choosing a Tent. 2006. Sierra Designs. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.choosing.html.< br />
Sweet, David. "Camping Basics - What Kind of Tent? Choosing a tent to Meet the Occasion." About.com. 26 Sept. 2006 http://camping.about.com/cs/advicetips/a/campingba sics05.htm.
The North Face. 2006. The North Face. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.thenorthface.com/na/index.html.
Tulin, Philip. "How to Choose a Camping Tent." Outdoor Eyes. 26 Sept. 2006 http://www.outdooreyes.com/choosetent.php3.
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