How to choose a camping tent can be a challenging question to answer. Typically, you have many factors to consider, such as the weight and size of the tent, the number of people you need to sleep in it, how many seasons you want the tent to cover, and so forth. But these considerations are even trickier when camping tents because they vary so much in price.
It’s important not to make any rash decisions when buying a new camping tent – take your time and do your research! Here is a list of things that every future camper should know before purchasing their camping tent.
How Much Do You Want to Spend?
The price of a new camping tent typically reflects the brand. You will probably not find a low-end tent anywhere under $100 and can find most mid-range tents in the $300 range. Most high-end tents go for above $1000, but good quality ones can go as high as $2000. It is another one of those “buy cheap, buy twice” situations!
The best way to find out what you are willing to spend is by visiting your local camping store and asking them what they have in stock. Typically you will be able to identify what season and size of tent may fit your needs.
Where Do You Intend On Using The Tent?
Don’t buy a tent based solely on appearance! While the appearance of a high-end, lightweight tent is nice, this does not show how durable it is. Often you will see tents whose appearances are luxurious yet which have cheap materials used in their construction. While these can offer a nice look to an interior, they won’t last long when used in rough conditions.
For example:
The North Face Kaministiquia 4-person tent is high quality and sturdy tent with 7000mm waterproofing and reinforced seams. It comes in at 3 pounds, which isn’t too heavy if you’re carrying it up a hill every day.
Do You Need The Tent To Be Waterproof?
It would be a yes or no answer, depending on where you plan on camping. Some areas have more unpredictable weather than others, but waterproofing shouldn’t be an issue with today’s technology if your tent is made of good quality materials and is seamed correctly.
How Many People Are You Planning on Fitting in This Tent?
It is one of the most important questions to answer when purchasing a new tent because it determines how weatherproof and what size of poles are needed for the roof. Some tents can fit up to 8 people! However, most families will only want a 4-person tent or smaller.
How Many Seasons Will You Camp in?
All camping tents claim to be able to withstand many weather conditions. However, it’s easy to be skeptical and wonder if these claims are true. You must know what kind of weather conditions a tent is made for before you purchase one.
Will You Need Extra Features?
Most tents have extra features, like storage compartments, rain flys, screens, and pockets for storing your items. Some come with special vents that help regulate the tent’s temperature during hot or cold days and nights. Be aware of what kinds of features tents have and if any of them appeal to you!
What Size Of People Will Be Sleeping in The Tent?
Be sure to consider the number of people you want to fit in your tent. You might be able to fit eight if you are all small, but it might not work as well with larger people. Also, keep in mind that this number can differ when you’re keeping children or pets out of the equation!
What Kind of Pole is Used?
Most camping tents have aluminum poles because they are lightweight and help support the roof while not taking up too much space inside the tent. However, some tents use fiberglass poles that are more durable and offer more strength than aluminum ones.
Will You Need To Put The Tent Up By Yourself?
You can set up some tents quickly, but others take a bit more time. If you are planning on going camping with family and friends, then we recommend finding tents that you can set up easily so everyone can pitch in!
How Much Does This Tent Weigh?
Tents with the least amount of poles are typically the lightest ones because fewer poles mean less weight and difficulty transporting it from place to place! But don’t worry if you’re more interested in the size of your tent than its weight – keeping in mind how many poles a tent has will help keep your packing light!
How Do You Plan To Store The Tent While It’s Not Used?
Plan on keeping your camping tent outside during the warmer months because most tents are not waterproof enough to withstand being stored inside during winter. It’s best to take the storage cover off and dry it if you’re worried about it getting wet.
You’ll also want to keep in mind what kind of climate your area has so you can store the tent accordingly. If it gets very cold, make sure that the poles don’t freeze in windy weather!
How Tall Will This Tent Be?
If you are interested in a tall tent, then be sure to factor in the height when looking at your tent! Many tents can be purchased that are tall enough to stand up straight.
What’s The Best Way To Keep It Clean?
If your tent’s rainfly isn’t attached, then there will be gaps between the fly and your tent. It is where dirt and other accumulated pieces of dirt can collect. Be sure to put some hooks or d-rings on the front of your tent to attach it back together when it rains! It also allows for easier sleeping under a fly instead of having one that is just floating above you while you sleep!
How Light is The Tent?
That doesn’t matter. It’s a tent! But it does and should matter! Look for the lighter-weight tents that can be easily carried around in your vehicle and are not too heavy to set up!
How Big Is The Storage Compartment?
Depending on where you end up camping, you might want to consider getting a tent with a canopy because it will block out more of the sky and offer more shade while you sleep. However, this can also make it difficult to change clothes because you’ll need to get in and out of your tent, so be aware of when it will be sunny or stormy based on where you’re going.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our guide to the best camping tent reviews, you should have a good idea of what kind of tent to choose for your next camping trip! You’ll want to keep in mind some of the questions we’ve discussed when reading over your favorite tents and deciding which one is right for you.
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