What tent should i buy camping

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You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Check out our family tent reviews here at TakeOutdoors for pros, cons and key features of family tents we have tried and tested. At the higher end of the price scale, 3 and 4 season tents can range anywhere between mid-hundreds to mid-thousands. The main thing to remember with these tents is that you are paying for quality and they will protect you for years to come.

Make sure you choose a tent that you will be confident putting up in any weather! The last thing you want is to spend hours trying to work out which pole goes where.

Freestanding tents are a quick-to-pitch option, with a fixed pole system that makes it easy to setup virtually anywhere. In comparison, non-freestanding tents often need guy lines, stakes and trekking poles, which can save weight but adds time to pitching. You can then do a practise run at home before you get to the campsite. Ideally you want to leave the instructions at home or risk the wind whipping them out of your hand leaving you with a semi-constructed shelter. Unless your tent is made from a highly breathable material, ventilation is essential, for both hot and cold climates.

A well-ventilated tent prevents condensation build-up caused by exhaling and sweating. Without it, there is a high chance of waking up in a soggy tent. Look for vents that can be closed should the weather turn bad.

This is particularly important if you are going on an all-weather trip. Also make sure vents are placed in areas where air can still flow if the rainfly is on. Or consider a rainfly with vents attached. Mesh also acts as a ventilator however be wary that this material is more susceptible to rips and tears. Together, they make up double walls and are the most versatile option. If the weather is dry and warm, you can ditch the rainfly, allowing for more ventilation and cooler air to pass through.

In poor weather, the fly will repel rain and wind, protecting you as well as keeping your warm. Double walls are the most common and recommended unless you are ultra-light and choose to pack only your fly, poles and footprint for a light and quick setup. If your tent floor is likely to receive heavy foot traffic, it is worth getting a strong footprint to protect the floor from routine damage.

They are often sold separately to tents but are particularly worthwhile for family camping. Another benefit of footprints is they act as a barrier between you and the ground, preventing water from leaking through. They are not generally used by backpackers due to their added weight but are good for recreational campers who want to extend their tent life.

Most double-walled tents have what is called a bathtub floor which can eliminate the need for a footprint. They are designed to extend a few inches up the sides of the tent to stop any ground water seeping through the walls. Tents that have more than one door are convenient when there is more than one person sharing a tent, as it makes it easier to enter and exit without having to climb over other people. The downside is it adds weight and cost so for backpackers, one door is usually enough.

For family campers, the more doors the better especially if you have a number of people coming in and out all the time.

It is ideal for tents housing multiple people or for those with a lot of gear. Pockets located in the body of your tent can be a really useful place to store convenient items such as headlamps, gloves, keys and lip balm. For backpacking tents, internal storage is limited to keep weight as low as possible.

Depending on your space and weight limit, guy lines are good to keep handy in case of bad weather. Remember that many extras can also be bought separately. Research is key when purchasing tents, so take the time to shop around both online and in-store if you can. When she is not hiking, she is working as a freelance writer in Glasgow or travelling the highlands in Neil, her campervan.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Table of Contents. Share on Facebook. Follow us. It helps when the tents are made with high quality D rip-stop ventilate coated poly-cotton material to withstand even the most torrential downpours or frigid snowstorms. Additionally, you want to pick a tent capable of holding yourself in a snug fashion. However, not everyone likes the idea of being in tightly enclosed spaces, which is why most people turn to a tent spacious enough to hold two to three people.

You will be able to store all of your belongings in the tent and still have enough space to move around. This will prevent any pesky mosquitoes from entering your tent. One of the most important factors you should consider is whether or not the tent is efficient at protecting you from the sun. Thankfully, there are tents using UV-protective material capable of preventing the sun from attacking your skin.

When it comes to tents there are a variety of options out there for you to choose from.