Which Tent Should I Buy?
The word “camping” no longer means sleeping in a tent. RVs and commercial campgrounds provide an alternatives. But there’s is still something about connecting with nature through sleeping in a tent.
Here are a few tips for picking one that gives you all the modern advantages, without the traditional hassles.
The basic purposes of a tent are to provide privacy and protection from the wind, rain and (to some degree) cold. Any sturdy tent will satisfy the first, but to keep weather out requires more.
Windy conditions, common in wilderness areas where most campsites are found, can damage a tent. But thanks to modern materials, nylon fabric tents supported by fiberglass or aluminum poles can stand up to the job.
There are four basic types of tents:
- the A-frame tent,
- the dome tent
- the cabin tent
- and the geodesic tent
The A-frame tent is the most popular. This classic style tent is well known due to the use of the Boy Scouts of America. A-frame tents have two poles, each forming a triangleon at either end of the tent. Their is also a center pole that forms the ridge of the tent. The walls are formed at steep angles and are usually just large enough to accommodate a person sleeping. To help hold the tent in place guide wires are used. This type of tent is unreliable in windy conditions. In rain conditions a tarp is often needed to keep dry.
The second is the dome tent. At this present time, this type of tent is the most popular. They are available in a variety of configuations, but the most common is one in which two jointed poles are crossed over one another to form a large, bent X. In windy and rainy conditions a dome tent provides excellent stability and shelter. The interior of a dome tent is good with plenty of headroom to allow for sitting up. Many dome tents are built to have their poles lock down to the tent base itself, allowing the fully erected tent to be moved around without being disassembled.
Next is the cabin tents. These are enormous tents designed for use with car camping or other forms of camping. These tents take up a huge amount of space but provides a lot of interior space. With space come a very heavy structure.
Last but not least is the Geodesic tents. Geodesic tents are gradually gaining popularity amongst normal campers. These tents take the design of a dome tent and improves upon it to give it better strength and resistance to the wind.
With any of these tent designs, campers should make use of the can of sealant that is offered by many manufacturers. You set up the tent and then spray the seams to make them watertight. An air hole at the top of many models can help keep the interior from getting stuffy, but you’ll want to have one with a closeable flap (either zipper, Velcro or other).
The floor should be waterproof as well, even sturdier and preferably conduct minimal cold or heat.
Tents are sold according to shape and size. However, a four-man tent is really only suitable for two adults. A sleeping bag is about 2.5ft by 7 feet. That’s 17.5 square feet. Double that to allow for stepping space and room for gear. Then double it again to accommodate another person. That’s 70 square feet or about 7 feet by 10 feet. That’s about the minimum.
Be prepared to spend a little more to get a quality tent. Tent technology has developed to such a high state, it’s preferable to spend a little more and get something that will endure.