Fortunately,
there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions,
and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
In general, it's wise
to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions
you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a
region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose
tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can
make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker,
alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons,
you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
For summer,
early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a
quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor,
durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air
netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities.
Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly
for enhanced waterproofness. For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four
season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more
poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without
collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent
in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on
their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding
tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed
this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect.
Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models
employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they
require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan
that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not
freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles,
they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future.
For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your
eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature
poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and
you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters. Families who plan on car camping in good weather
can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to
spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition
tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to
break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume
and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.
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