Choosing a camping tent can be an onerous task because of the variety of choices available these days. Here are a few tips that will help you make the best possible selection.
Camping in tents is becoming an increasingly popular activity. The variety of camping gear available in the market is tremendous. With such a vast variety to choose from, how do you know which one will suit your needs the best? After all, the quality of your outdoor experience will be largely dependent on your choice of the right tent.
Take Space into Consideration: Even if the specifications of the tent may be for four people, it may get cramped when four people actually use it. Hence, it is best to check out the actual measurements of the camping tent. Take into consideration various factors like the number of people that will use the tent, what will the tent be used for apart from sleeping, whether you will need to seek shelter in the tent during bad weather, and the amount of things you will store in the tent, the terrain of the camping site, and the space required for putting up the tent.
The Material is Important: Since there are always chances of getting caught in the rain or storm in the outdoors, always make certain that the tent you are looking at is weatherproof. Usually, tents that are made of a single layer of material have the potential of developing leaks and start to drip when there is a buildup of moisture. Extra layers add extra protection against all kinds of weather conditions. Also, screens that can be opened and closed provide more protection against cold weather. If you plan to be camping out in the open in hot weather, choose a color of the camping tent that reflects the sunlight, which will prevent it from getting too hot inside. Also, check out the kind of flooring material the tent has, and choose one according to your needs.
Choose the Shape Wisely: Tents basically come in four types of shapes: the A-frame, the wall, the dome or geodesic, and the umbrella. The A-frame tent is the common pup shape, although it can also be fairly large. The wall shape is similar to the A-frame, however, it usually is larger, with side walls that are vertical. The geodesic or dome comes in many kinds of shapes, although all of them are made up of connected triangles. The umbrella shape is the most common type chosen by families that go out for camping. It comes with large size windows with rain flies on top, plus it also has plenty of standing room. Tents that have their floor in a square shape are the most convenient for arranging the sleeping and other gear. If you select a geodesic shaped tent, which has a round floor area, make sure to allow for some extra floor area, since the round space layout is less efficient.
Decide on the Material of the Poles: You can choose from either fiberglass or aluminum poles. Most camping tents have poles that are connected together with an elastic shock cord, which is helpful while setting it up. Poles can break or bend, hence many manufacturers supply emergency repair links that you can take along on the trip.
Check the Ease of Setting it Up: There are tents that require just a few poles to be clicked together to put them up, while there are others that are far more complex and which require a lot of assembling. It is advisable to choose a camping tent that is easy and simple to set up if you are a novice camper. Another thing you should make certain of is that it comes with sturdy stakes, which will help in anchoring it securely to the ground. Also, it is a good idea to try out setting up your tent in your backyard before actually heading out for your trip.
Check Out the Extra Features: Camping tents come with various options these days. There are tents that can be zipped together to form a larger tent. There are also tents that have special vents, which help in keeping the circulation of the air going.
Keep in Mind the Cost: Generally, camping tents that are more expensive have stronger stitching, are made of stronger fabric, and have stronger poles. They have the ability of withstanding heavier rain and stronger winds. They also last long. However, not everybody requires this kind of durability and strength. Actually, the cheaper tents can be good bargains if the climate is drier and milder and you plan on camping fairly close to home. Also, it makes more sense to go for an inexpensive tent if you are just a beginner, and do not know yet whether you will actually like camping. If you do find that you like going out on trips, you can always get a better tent, keeping the less expensive one for camping in milder conditions.
Checking out all your options will ensure that you will get the best camping tent according to your requirements.
