Camping Tents
COMPLETE SELECTION OF CAMPING TENTS
Choosing The Best Camping Tent For You
Buying your first camping tent can be extremely confusing as there are literally hundreds of different types, styles and designs on the market today. So, to make it a little less traumatic, the following will provide a place to start. A camping tent can be a major investment, however, if properly cared for it will provide many years of service. What type of camping tent you buy depends on several things such as where, when and how many. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is to define your camping needs. By this I mean, ask yourself where will I be camping? When will I be camping, the time of year? How many people will be using the tent? Is privacy a concern? Will I be toting the tent while backpacking or carrying it a short distance while car camping? What is my tolerance level for “roughing it”?
With this in mind lets take a look at the different types of tents. Let me say first that there are single walled tents and double walled tents. The doubled walled tents are those with a rain fly to cover them. Typically, the double wall tents are heavier, but less expensive. However, the advantage is that they breathe better and less condensation gathers on the interior walls. Also, if the rain fly (outer wall) is damaged, all is not lost. Now before I get started on the types of tents lets go over a few tenting terms or as the pros say, “tent lingo”. The rain fly is the outer covering. A second layer or skin if you will. Vestibule is an outside porch or storage area. Capacity is how many people you can cram in the tent for sleeping only and no gear.
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Types of Tents
A-Frame - (also known as pup tent). A very simple design, requiring stakes and inexpensive. This tent has a lot of headroom in the center, tapering down on the sides. These tents do not, for the most part, stand up well to wind. The modified A-Frame has curved poles, can be free standing and make better use of headroom.
Dome - With these tents, the poles criss-cross over the top forming a geometrical shape making it easier to shed rain. These tents are free standing and also can be unruly in wind unless securely staked. With less floor space and more headroom, it gives you a place to store your gear. Most 4-Season tents are of the dome design. Also known as mountaineering tents, they are designed for the worst of winter storms, are heavier and more expensive.
Cabin Tents - (Family tent, Campground tent or Base Camp tent) When weight is not a problem, these large square design tents have high ceiling, vertical walls, lots of features and provide lots of room. Different designs provide sub-divided rooms for privacy or a separate place to store gear.
Tunnel or Hoop - These tents are usually 3-Season tents, which means they usually will not stand up well in the snow. These are the most common tents and usually have a rain fly, mesh inserts and a large vestibule. They are very efficient in floor space when it comes to weight. Usually, they are lighter and more compact than the dome tent. Typically with a rectangular floor plan, they are not free standing and have to be staked.
Bivy Socks - These solo shelters have only room for one in their sleeping bag. Their priority is to save weight while providing shelter from the weather.
Sleeping Screens & Tarp Tents - These ultra light shelters are only useful in warm, dry conditions shielding mainly from bugs.
Summer or Warm Weather Tents - Usually light weight and highly ventilated. They are mostly for warm, humid weather and not real versatile.
Covertable Tents - Usually 4-Season models with zipper panels for windows, rain flies, extra poles and detachable vestibules.
Things to Look for When Buying a Camping Tent
Make sure it has sufficient ventilation so that condensation does not collect on the interior walls. Good ventilation will keep your gear dry and make for better sleeping conditions.
If buying a camping tent with a rain fly, make sure it extends almost to the ground covering all of the sidewalls. If you anticipate a lot of rainy climate in the area you will be camping, make sure the floor of the tent extends up the sidewalls of the tent, called a “bathtub floor”.
Sloping doorways should be designed so you can enter and exit without exposing the tent to rain. Otherwise, look for a tent door that is nearly vertical. All the above should be taken into consideration to help prevent water from entering.
If a vestibule is a concern look for one that is a least 10-foot square so that you can store all of your gear and equipment. The vestibule should be easily accessible from the interior of the tent. This will also provide a place to take off wet coats and muddy boots without trashing the inside of your tent. Remember, no vestibule and rain will come in when you go out.
Floor fabric needs to have a good waterproof coating. When the ground is wet, the pressure of your body can force water through the tiniest of weakness in the coating.
Seam construction is an important factor. Try to buy a camping tent with factory-sealed and taped seams. Check edges, corners and where the stake loop reinforcements are attached. Otherwise, you will have to seal them yourself and this can be a messy process.
Look for the lightest weight possible for where and when you will be using the tent. However, the lighter the weight usually means less durability in nasty weather conditions. But, when packing it across country, you will be grateful.
Color is also a consideration. A bright colored tent is easily found after an exhausting day of hiking. It is also cooler when the sun beats down on it. Low impact, earthy tones are environmentally friendly, but harder to find at dusk and hot during the day.
Easy of setup may make the difference of getting soaked or staying warm and dry. Also, continuous pole sleeves will allow you to insert the poles with the fly laid over the tent keeping it dry.
Size of tent will be determined by your needs and camping style. Just remember how the manufactures capacity chart interprets square footage or size. Capacity is determined by how many average size adults can wedge inside of the tent and sleep in a human puppy pile. This may not always be conducive to storing gear or moving around especially in the middle of the night when nature calls. Also, if the tent is to small it forces you to keep brushing the walls and weakening the waterproof coating.
Value of the tent should be the last consideration after all other factors are looked at to make sure you get the camping tent that is right for you. Just remember, the most expensive tent is still less than an average months rent and if properly taken care of will last many camping seasons.
Tent Care
Now that you have your camping tent, lets talk a little about how to care for it. Never put your tent away wet, as any mildew will ruin the protective waterproof coating. After the 3rd or 4th use, you should rinse your camping tent to remove dirt and grime as this to will wear on the protective coating and wear down the zipper sliders. However, you should never put your tent in the washing machine. If it needs a real bath, use the bathtub with a mild detergent and a soft scrub brush. Treat the poles with care sliding them together easily or you can damage the interior snap cord. Re-coat your rain fly when needed or when leaking. Pitch your tent tightly without over stressing the seams to shed off the weather and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun when not using it. Lastly, never store your tent in the car trunk, as the extreme heat will damage the protective coating.
COMPLETE SELECTION OF CAMPING TENTS