For some people camping means a pop up camper on wheels with all the comforts of home. For others it means tenting it, but even tents can be large and well equipped, some even being designed to offer several rooms and a “porch” area canopy. For other hearty souls still, a simple lean too is fine for a night under the stars. When you’re considering a camping trip, choosing the right type of tent for yourself and/or your family is very important. Bearing in mind that the simple lean to costs under $20 and a big cloth tent can run you over $1,000, breaking down exactly what you need has a budgetary aspect.
Question One: How many people does the tent need to hold? Among those individuals do you need separate sleep spaces or just one large floor? Is anyone tall? These kinds of questions help you determine tent size. I always tell campers to try to think small whenever possible. Your vehicle will only hold so much equipment, and if you have to hike the equipment into the woods you’re not going to want to make 10 trips! Additionally if you only plan to sleep in your tent it doesn’t need to be the Taj Mahal.
The tent is one of the largest and heaviest items on the packing list. However, remember that when a tent’s manufacturing label says it sleeps 3 – that means the ONLY thing the tent holds is three people. There’s rarely any room beyond that for personal items. Think of anything else you want in your tent by dimension – i.e. how many “people” worth of space it would take up then add that into your size requirements. Additionally, consider how long you’re going to be out in the woods. Your tent is your home during this time. How much comfort do you want in that space? The longer you’re planning to camp the more little niceties you’ll probably want.
Question Two: What shape tent do you want and what type of materials. Some tents are designed to have minimal poles, which reduces weight. Others are designed so you can stand up in them (again this is heavier and will take more time to set up than small tents). Shape can make a big difference in being able to set up your tent on a nice, flat piece of ground easily (like the little bubble tents). Having said that, those tents aren’t really great for full grown adults wanting to stretch out.
The materials of the tent influence weight, water resistence, and ventilation. You want a tent that can breathe when it’s hot, and stay warm when its cold. Good ventilation also keeps dampness from building up (which makes it feel far colder than it is, and makes for uncomfortable sleeping conditions). Generally speaking larger tents that are not packed to the gills offer better ventilation than small ones. And, you want a waterproof tent that keeps you dry on those bad days. It should be noted that even the best waterproofed tent may leak under extreme circumstances.
Question Three: How long do you want the tent to last? If you’re a serious camper having a solid tent that lasts for several seasons is going to be important. You don’t want to have to worry about seams ripping out easily, for example. That means spending a little more on a quality tent at the outset, but over time it will more than pay back that cost.
