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How to Buy a Tent
By HOOKED™ Staff
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Provided you use some foresight in your site selection, most modern tents are capable of withstanding much more than a late night squall. Make the right selection and your tent will be a comfortable home away from home for many years.
Season and Activities
Summer tents are designed for warm climates only. Plenty of mesh and lightweight materials help the breezes keep you cool and the tent well ventilated. Although lightweight minimalist designs ward off temporary rain showers, they don’t fair well in high winds, colder weather, or extended rain.
Key features to look for:
- Generous amounts of mesh in the tent body help the tent ventilate better.
- Rainfly that stops several inches above the ground allowing for maximum protection combined with maximum ventilation.
- Two-pole construction for weight savings.
Three season tents are the most popular tent choice among backpackers. Designed for spring, summer and fall, they’re capable of handling most of Mother Nature’s moderate outbursts. These sturdier designs usually weigh more than summer tents, but they still provide ample ventilation to keep the air flowing in warmer conditions.
Key features to look for:
- Three pole high-strength aluminum construction to stand up to strong winds and heavy rains.
- Full coverage rain fly.
- Sturdy guy-out points sewn to the rainfly for tying down the tent.
- Option of setting up the rainfly by itself for the ultimate in weight-savings and go-light travel.
- Inside gear loft attaches to roof for additional gear storage.
- Large vestibule adds room for wet boots and damp dogs.
- Two-door or extra-large door means easier access and exit without having to use your partner's face as a doormat.
- Three pole construction for maximum durability.
- Skylight window in the rainfly for additional light.
Convertible tents, three-season tents that convert to four-season use, are also designed to withstand bad weather. Unlike traditional three-season tents, however, windows and doors can zip closed to make the tent air tight and even more prepared to face the elements. Because the zippers and the extra material add some weight, convertible tents are slightly heavier.
Key features to look for:
- Skylight window in the rainfly for additional light.
- Four high-grade aluminum poles for freestanding construction with minimal staking required. One pole removable option for weight-conservation versatility.
- Sturdy guy-out points sewn to the rainfly for tying down the tent.
- Option of setting up the rainfly by itself for the ultimate in weight-savings and go-light travel.
- Removable vestibules for additional weight-savings.
- Generous mesh with zip-out panels for added ventilation when needed or full closure when maximum protection is required.
Four-season tents are built to handle all weather conditions. Often built with beefier materials, sturdy pole configurations, extra tie-down points, and low profiles, these tents are extremely stable when set up properly. Likewise, mountaineering tents are designed for use in harsh winter conditions. But what you gain in durability and weatherproofing, you lose in ventilation, increased weight, and higher prices. Some of these tents are built with a single wall of waterproof-breathable material, instead of the normal tent and fly. This saves weight and set-up time, but increases the price.
Key features to look for:
- Four to five high-grade aluminum poles and freestanding construction.
- Full coverage rain fly.
- Steep sidewalls to shed wind and snow.
- Two doors on opposite ends or sides of the tent for entry and exit versatility in the face anything a moody Mother Nature might toss your way.
- Two vestibules for maximum gear storage options, each with their own poles for support.
- Sturdy guy-out points sewn to the rainfly for tying down the tent.
- Rain fly pitches separately from tent so you can use it as a roof for a modified snow cave shelter to save weight and space.
Size
Tents come in all shapes and sizes. The freestanding two-person tent is the most common. When choosing what size tent to buy, make sure there is sufficient room for your party and your gear. Look closely at the manufacturer specifications as some tents have more room than others regardless of their designated sleeping capacity.
A large vestibulethe covered area that the tent’s fly creates outside the entrance of the tentenhances the usable space of a tent. It provides a great place for food preparation in foul weather, storing your gear, or sheltering your dog.
Weight
If you’re looking for a summer tent, you can expect it to be relatively light. If you plan to sleep through winter storms, you’re going to have to carry more weight. Ultimately, it’s more important to be warm than to save a few pounds. You should purchase your tent anticipating the coldest weather you plan to encounter. In general, tents increase in weight from summer models to four-season designs. That said, not every summer or three-season tent weighs the same. Lightweight also correlates to how much you’re willing to spend.
Weight savings can also be made in tent poles. Most poles for quality modern tents are constructed with high strength, lightweight aluminum. A few use carbon fiber, which has excellent strength-to-weight properties. Watch out for lesser quality designs that use cheap fiberglass poles that are heavy and weak. Most quality poles are shock-corded ¾ the individual segments of each pole are connected with a piece of elasticized cord ¾ which speeds set-up.
Likewise, whether you use a freestanding tent or not will make a difference in weight. The majority of modern tents are freestanding, which means they do not require staking, unless you’re caught in heavy winds or rain. Freestanding design means easy set-up and relocation. Yet, the additional poles needed to keep the tent freestanding do add weight.
Protect your floor
Add a ground cloth or a precut "footprint" to your purchase. These are designed to take the wear and tear of earth and grit abrasion instead of your harder-to-replace tent floor. If you are on the real budget plan and don't mind replacing your ground cloth every two trips or so, then head to the hardware store. With nothing more than clear polyethylene sheeting available at most hardware stores by the roll, you can make a trim-to-fit ground cloth that is slightly smaller than the footprint of your tent's floor.
Last Updated: Feb 24th, 2006 - 14:18:11
© Copyright 1999-2006 by Hooked on the Outdoors
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