When buying a tent. You need to decide on your budget, do you want to spend $20, $100, $500 or more. Tents can cost from $20 to around $900. You don't have to spend your total budget but it is good to know what you can afford so you have options. Now that you know about what you want to spend you need to decide on the size of the tent you will need. The type of camping you will be doing will be a factor in the size of tent you will need. If you are going to be backpacking or canoeing the biggest consideration is; will it fit in my backpack or the space I have in the canoe. If you are going be car camping you will want to get a tent big enough to comfortably. The guide in tents is a two man tent will fit two sleeping bags and that is all, there will be no room for any thing else. So if you will not want any supplies in your tent buy a tent for the number of people that will be sleeping in it. I recommend that you buy a tent two people bigger than the number of people in your group that way you will have room to keep other things you will want to have in your tent, and also have wiggle room. If you are camping with kids I suggest that you look at a multiple room tent, they offer a greater level of privacy. You can get a two or three room tent, and bigger.There are different types a two room tents, one has a divider that has a zipper to separate the rooms. Another has one big room and a screened in room attached, you can use this one to change wet or dry clothes before entering the sleeping area. Three room tents are the same, you can buy them with three internal rooms or two internal rooms and a screened room for changing before you enter, or use the screened room for storing supplies. Other tent features to look for. *Tent poles: Most tent poles are collapsible and made of aluminum or carbon fiber.Carbon fiber is more fragile and may be more likely to break, if this happens you can replace them.On the other hand aluminum is lighter. You might look for poles that are color coordinated, this will aid in set up. *Tent color: Colors to look for are white, yellow or beige. These colors will let the most sun light in *Floor: A one piece and water proof floor is important. *Rain covers and flood seams: Rain covers are called a rainfly and they cover your tent to protect it from rain, it is the tents umbrella. It is important that it comes well down the sides and has adequate anchors. You will need to check the seams to see if they are waterproofed, if you can pull on the sides of the seams and see light they will leak. *Walls: If you get a tent with steep walls this will increase usable interior room and shed precipitation better. *Windows and Doors: Look for windows and doors with zippers to close them; this will help battering down the hatch when the weather turns rough. *Bugs: Look for tents that use noseeum meshing; this is the best material for keeping our flying friends out. *Inside the tent: Look for storage pockets and gear loops inside this will make life in a tent a lot more enjoyable. *Keeping cool: Look for a tent with an adequate roof vent, tents can become very warm in the sun and no roof vent, or to small will not keep you cool. *Guy lines: Look for tents and rainflys that have loops half way down the walls so you can tie guy lines to them and anchor to the ground; it is very hard to sleep in a tent that the walls are flapping all night. *Fastening your tent: Look for loops at each corner of the tent; they should be big enough to accommodate the biggest tent stakes. I suggest that you use steel tent stakes. *Zippers: A heavy duty zipper is always the best, especially with kids because the zipper may go up and down a hundred times a day. Final tips look for a tent with a ground cloth (footprint), this will protect the floor from sticks rocks etc. it also helps keep the water out. You can use a plain tarp if you want to, but make sure to tuck the corners under the tent, you don't want water to run off the tent and collect on the foot pint and run under the tent. It is not a good idea to store or eat food in your tent; this will only attract unwanted critters to and in your tent. It is best to eat at the picnic table if there is one, and to store your food in your car. It is ok to eat in the screened in room attached to your tent but be sure to clean up right after you are done. Last but not least after shopping and buying your tent what ever you get have fun and enjoy the outdoors. This is what we are all about at Campingduds.com I hope this information is helpful a little bit. www.campingduds.com Campingduds.com is a great site to compare tents and look for all the things you need for your camping trip. |
