Selecting a Camping Tent
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Your first priority is determining what sort of camping you are going to utilize the tent for. Camping together with your car or van at a recognised campsite requires different kinds of camping tents than walking in to a wilderness site.
Camping tents belong to three broad categories: "A" frame, dome, and cabin styles.
- "A" frames have two upright poles that support a ridge pole. Generally small, they will have a maximum capacity of two to three people. Models range from low-cost pup tents to high-quality backpacking tents. In most cases, "A" frames are designed strictly for sleeping, and for providing minimal shelter from sun and rain. For family camping they're often used as separate quarters for the youngsters, who insist upon having their very own bedroom.
-Dome tents resemble high-tech igloos and use three or more poles based on configuration. Models can sleep from two to eight people. Some dome styles enable you to stand erect inside, while some have little headroom. As a general rule, dome tents are the easiest to erect, once you understand the basics. And they also can frequently be moved, while pitched, if you discover the ground is more suitable several feet away.
-Cabin style tents are simply what the name implies, and are designed to accommodate larger sets of people. Main support is a horizontal ridge pole connected to uprights that extend to the ground front & back. Often they have side ridges and poles aswell. The better models use external poles, thus providing more usable space inside. You should have more than enough headroom to stand comfortably in this kind of tent, not necessarily the case with other styles.
All of this tends to over-simplify, because many camping tents are hybrids, combining features of all three styles. These often are defined as "modified domes"---which covers a substantial amount of ground.
Over the years my family has used almost every design of tent. Our initial family camping trip, for instance, was made out of a cabin tent. We had a pair of toddlers, a crib, a portable potty, mounds of clothing, and sundry other items. As the boys grew, so did our interests, from family camping to backpacking, which called for high-tech packing tents. By the time the kids were within their teens they were camping on their own, and we expanded our interest to whitewater rafting and four-wheeling. For these activities a modified dome suit you perfectly.
Selection of tent style is really a matter of personal preference and lifestyle needs - as is additional camping equipment. If you don't care for sleeping on the ground you are going to bring along a folding cot. In that case, make sure the tent is big enough to support one.
Unless you object to crawling in and out of your tent on hands and knees, a backpacking tent is ideal. They're lightweight and, when folded, make a small package. This makes them perfect for canoe and bicycle camping, where weight and bulk are considerations.
However, if you like to operate and stretch in the morning, a dome or cabin tent will suit you better. There' Visit website of headroom, and, depending on size, space to stow your gear aswell. It's therefore not uncommon for two visitors to work with a six-person tent, especially if they need their equipment inside with them.
Regardless of what tent style you choose, it's crucial that you give it a dry run before heading on a camping trip. Set the tent up in your yard or a nearby park, to learn what pitching and striking it really is all about. There is nothing worse than attempting to set up a tent for the very first time at two in the morning, after a long drive. It could really put a damper on your camping trip.
Some tents additionally require that the seams be sealed, using compounds the manufacturer supplies. You can better do this during the test run then while actually living in the tent.
Finally, be familiar with warranties. A reputable company will stand behind its gear, supplying a multi-year or lifetime warranty. Furthermore, the client service department usually includes a policy of repair or replacement if you can find any manufacturing problems. An organization that's afraid to provide replacement parts or repair service on its tents isn't confident about its equipment---which should let you know if you really want to buy that product.
Camping tents belong to three broad categories: "A" frame, dome, and cabin styles.
- "A" frames have two upright poles that support a ridge pole. Generally small, they will have a maximum capacity of two to three people. Models range from low-cost pup tents to high-quality backpacking tents. In most cases, "A" frames are designed strictly for sleeping, and for providing minimal shelter from sun and rain. For family camping they're often used as separate quarters for the youngsters, who insist upon having their very own bedroom.
-Dome tents resemble high-tech igloos and use three or more poles based on configuration. Models can sleep from two to eight people. Some dome styles enable you to stand erect inside, while some have little headroom. As a general rule, dome tents are the easiest to erect, once you understand the basics. And they also can frequently be moved, while pitched, if you discover the ground is more suitable several feet away.
-Cabin style tents are simply what the name implies, and are designed to accommodate larger sets of people. Main support is a horizontal ridge pole connected to uprights that extend to the ground front & back. Often they have side ridges and poles aswell. The better models use external poles, thus providing more usable space inside. You should have more than enough headroom to stand comfortably in this kind of tent, not necessarily the case with other styles.
All of this tends to over-simplify, because many camping tents are hybrids, combining features of all three styles. These often are defined as "modified domes"---which covers a substantial amount of ground.
Over the years my family has used almost every design of tent. Our initial family camping trip, for instance, was made out of a cabin tent. We had a pair of toddlers, a crib, a portable potty, mounds of clothing, and sundry other items. As the boys grew, so did our interests, from family camping to backpacking, which called for high-tech packing tents. By the time the kids were within their teens they were camping on their own, and we expanded our interest to whitewater rafting and four-wheeling. For these activities a modified dome suit you perfectly.
Selection of tent style is really a matter of personal preference and lifestyle needs - as is additional camping equipment. If you don't care for sleeping on the ground you are going to bring along a folding cot. In that case, make sure the tent is big enough to support one.
Unless you object to crawling in and out of your tent on hands and knees, a backpacking tent is ideal. They're lightweight and, when folded, make a small package. This makes them perfect for canoe and bicycle camping, where weight and bulk are considerations.
However, if you like to operate and stretch in the morning, a dome or cabin tent will suit you better. There' Visit website of headroom, and, depending on size, space to stow your gear aswell. It's therefore not uncommon for two visitors to work with a six-person tent, especially if they need their equipment inside with them.
Regardless of what tent style you choose, it's crucial that you give it a dry run before heading on a camping trip. Set the tent up in your yard or a nearby park, to learn what pitching and striking it really is all about. There is nothing worse than attempting to set up a tent for the very first time at two in the morning, after a long drive. It could really put a damper on your camping trip.
Some tents additionally require that the seams be sealed, using compounds the manufacturer supplies. You can better do this during the test run then while actually living in the tent.
Finally, be familiar with warranties. A reputable company will stand behind its gear, supplying a multi-year or lifetime warranty. Furthermore, the client service department usually includes a policy of repair or replacement if you can find any manufacturing problems. An organization that's afraid to provide replacement parts or repair service on its tents isn't confident about its equipment---which should let you know if you really want to buy that product.
