How To Buy A Tent

How to Buy a Tent:
Function & Comfort In One


Camping is indeed a lot of fun. You will enjoy the great outdoors – being able to appreciate what nature's beauty has to offer. There is no better way to enjoy nature than with a camping trip with your friends and family. With these special people around – your camping adventure will be nothing short to awesome.

Before you go for a camping trip, you must prepare for it. You must equip yourself with the right equipment, tools, devices and food. Preparing for the camping activity will be fun in itself – as this will also involve shopping around for other things you currently don't have but will need.

And one important thing to consider in camping is your tent. The quality of your tent may just determine how well you get a good night's sleep – and how well you will enjoy your whole camping activity. Having had one of the worst sleep in your lifetime with a less functional tent - you may just find your camping adventure less fun and more of a bore.


Types of Tent Structures

There are many types of tents for your camping use- and below are just a few:

Avian Tents

These tents are used for light weather and for quick shelter. These can easily be installed – and taken down with ease as well.

These are commonly used when opts to rest a while before moving on ahead. One or two straight poles are used in this type. The cover is then simply spread out to cover the ground area.

Pyramid Tents

As the name implies, the tent follows the form of a pyramid. With one pole in the center, the tent cover is pulled tightly. There will be multiple smaller compartments that results from such set-up.

A-Frame Tents

Traditional tents were of this type. A triangular pocket is formed by this set-up.

A modified A-Frame type however, proves to be a better alternative as it creates more room. A center hoop is added to the traditional A-Frame tent for this modified version.

Hoop Tents

A tubular pocket is formed with this set-up. The curved walls provide for a bigger volume while maintaining the same ground area. With the curved form, this type is considered to be strong as it is able to divide the pressure over the hoops.

Wedge Tents

This type of tent is set-up in a manner where two hoops are intersecting, forming a square to a round pocket. It is known for its strength and lighter weight. This is popular among campers because of its functionality.

Dome Tents

Like the wedge tents, this type have intersecting hoops. This come in three or more intersecting hoops, giving it more strength. The downside may be, that such type is difficult to erect as compared to the other simpler ones.


Tips In Buying A Tent For You

Basic features

Weight and size.

Determine the number of persons who will stay in your tent and choose one that will accommodate you. It maybe wiser if you give an allowance so your tent will be spacious enough to place some of your important things inside.

You may also consider the weight of the tent. It is better to choose a tent that is light so that it will be easier for you to carry.

Doors and windows.

If you plan to camp in a warm area, choose one that has doors and many windows to ventilate your tent. You wouldn't want to feel suffocated by the style and form of your tent.

Make sure, however, that these are screened so that bugs and other insects cannot get inside. This will make your sleep in the tent a lot more comfortable with less distractions as you give yourself a good rest after a day's hiking and moving around.

Ensure the tent has enough rainfly.

A rainfly is located on top of the tent. This is considered as tent's umbrella because it protects the campers from rain.

When you buy a tent, it is better that the rainfly is bigger. Choose a rainfly that comes down the sides of the tent, not just covering the top so you can be well protected, especially during heavy rains.

The tent must have aluminum poles.

Aluminum poles are one of the best tent poles because this does not break easily.

Ventilation.

Proper ventilation on your tent is very important so that you can properly breath inside - even if the doors and windows are tightly zipped.

The tent must have a roof vent.

Consider buying a tent with roof vent. This helps circulation of air to eradicate moist inside your tent, especially at night.

Waterproof.

Purchase a tent that has high quality material as much as possible. This will help you protect from getting wet - especially on heavy rains.

Storage area.

Choose a tent that has a pocket storage where you can place some of your things. This will be a valuable feature for your tent that you can actually use.

Some tents have gear loops so you can hang your flashlights and other light materials inside. This will add to your convenience and ease of keeping things in order and in their appropriate places – where they will be easier for you to grab hold of when needed.

Color.

To avoid being an eyesore, choose a tent that has a natural color and blends with the color of the nature. But you should buy a tent that has the brightest neon color if you are not in a designated camping site. Your tent will be very visible to rescue team if in case something happen with you.


Purchase a tent appropriate for the season.

Four-season tent. This tent caters to all kinds of weather – offers more versatility for all seasons.

Features:

* This tent has removable vestibules to reduce its weight.
* This can be converted to a three-season tent.
* It has one or two additional poles to strengthen the walls and can stand firm
against strong wind.
* It has a frame that will hold the weight of the snow.

Three season tent. A three-season tent can be used for camping in all kinds of weather except for extreme winter. This is usually easier to assemble, and is lighter than a four-season tent.

Features:

* It has complete waterproofing.
* It has proper ventilation and good protection for rainy weather.
* You have an option not to use the fly to cool you on hot nights.
* This tent is lighter, bigger, spacious and less expensive than a four-season tent.

Two-season or Summer tent. This tent is generally designed for a warm weather camping. Proper ventilation and lightweight are being emphasized since this is intended for summer season.

Features:

* The tent must have a good ventilation system.
* Choose one that is water-repellent.
* It must be lightweight and made for warm & humid weather.
* It has an inner that is completely made of net.

Determine the size of the tent you need.

In a getting a tent for your use in a planned camping trip, you must consider whether you will use it alone – or with others inside. There are tents of various sizes that can accommodate a certain number of individuals.

In buying one, you must however have to check the tent physically. You must install it yourself and find out how easy or difficult it will be. You should try to get inside and stretch out to see if it will really fit you.

You must beware of some stores claiming that one tent would fit two campers, yet this may be just two people of small or short sizes. For your case, this may not apply – and thus the need to actually check it for yourself and see if it fits your use.

A good rule to follow may be to go for a tent with a declared capacity of more than what you need. This will ensure you get the right size of tent for your need.


The Perfect Tent – Your Choice

Getting yourself the right tent for your camping activity will do well for purposes of function and comfort. The tent you choose will make or break your whole camping experience.

You must decide early on, during your planning and preparation stage, what type of tent will fit your needs for the upcoming activity. Considerations on size, functionality, durability and the type of weather it may be subjected to – will have to taken into account so that you can get the best possible tent there is for this use.

And while one should also have his own budget to contend with, one must however realize that a good quality tent will be a good investment towards fully enjoying camping outdoors. Look at it as a necessity. For increased chances of survival in the outdoors, and surviving comfortably at that – one must have the best quality tent there is he could buy.

The perfect tent will be one that will fit your case appropriately. It will be one that can provide you with the protection at night – against bugs, insects and the weather outdoors. It should be one that will be comfortable for you and for your partner – if ever you have someone that will share the tent with you.

No doubt that a tent with excellent quality will come costly for you than any other type around. This will most probably be from the 4-season category tent. As it provides for superior performance & function, you will be sure that your tent will live up to your expectations. And at the end of the adventure, you will find yourself a satisfied camper who has survived & enjoyed the outdoors with the great stuffs you brought along – with your tent coming out on top of the list.