AUTOGRAPHS

Camping tents and you – Finding the perfect match

Choosing the right type of camping tent can be largely relative; preference may vary from person to person. Whether you are a leisure camper or a hardcore backpacker, your particular camping needs will determine the kind of tent you should buy.  Naturally, some tents are designed for more comfort while others are more rugged. 

Intended use

Once you decide what kind of camping you want to do, you can trim down your options of what kind of tent to buy. If you intend to go backpacking, weight and size are crucial factors for consideration.  You also want to look at its resistance to wear and tear, seeing that you’ll be camping in different sites and pitching and striking the tent quite often. Since the elements can be unpredictable while you’re on the trail, you should also consider the ease of pitching and striking the tent and how long both will take. A few seconds can spell the difference when there’s a strong wind or a blizzard you have to contend with. On the other hand, if you wish to stay at one campsite for a week or even a month, your number one consideration could be comfort and also durability.

Tent designs

There are five basic camping tent designs manufactured today: Ridge tent, Dome tent, Single-hoop tent, Tunnel tent, and Geodesic dome tent.

• Ridge tent: The simplest and most reliable tent used by most backpackers, the ridge tent withstands almost any type of weather and can be easily set up in any kind of terrain. It can accommodate only one or two persons. It has two poles, a built-in groundsheet, a ventilated inner tent, and a waterproof flysheet, and allows shelter for cooking and storage under its flysheet.  Ridge tents, such as coleman tents, can be either wedge-shaped or horizontal-ridge.

The wedge-shaped is higher in the entrance and has a shorter rear, which effectively streamlines against the wind. The horizontal-ridge has the same height for both ends and gives additional headroom, but sacrifices the reduced wind resistance afforded by the wedge-shaped.

• Dome tent:  A much more spacious tent than the ridge, the dome tent can accommodate up to three people.  Its flexible poles also allow more headroom and better interior comfort.  It does not stand well with really strong winds, however, and necessitates firm pegging. It is much more suited for family backyard camping, for the beach, or for use in three-day concerts and the like than in hiking or in rugged terrain.

• Single-hoop tent: The single-hoop tent is lightweight and provides ample space for lots of creature comforts. It is also easy to pitch and strike in most terrains. The tent’s sloping profile also helps in deflecting oncoming winds.

• Tunnel tent: A relatively large tent designed to accommodate as much as four people, the tunnel tent has a frame of up to three hoops, with smaller hoops at both ends and the largest one in the middle.  It often has entrances on both ends.

• Geodesic dome tent: Shaped just like a dome tent but with curved, interlocking poles, the geodesic dome tent is a lot more stable and sturdy than a regular dome, but also needs to be strongly pegged down. It is lightweight and easy to erect and take down. Instead of guylines, it uses flexible poles that cross at intervals and hold the tent fabric taut.

Taking seasons into consideration

Another important consideration is the time or season you want to go camping. There are tents made only for summer use while others are especially made to withstand heavy snow.  Manufacturers usually label the tents to indicate which season they are good for, often as: one-season (for summer use only), three-season (for summer, spring, autumn), and four season (for all seasons). The expedition coleman tent, for instance, is a four season tent that can cope with strong winds, heavy rain, and heavy snow.

Size matters

In general, camping tents fall into two categories when it comes to size and weight: small lightweight tents and larger heavier tents.  Small lightweight tents are intended to be carried over long distances when hiking or trekking, and are designed for use by backpackers, mountaineers, cyclists, and such. A lot of these tents are easy to set up and can be pitched in seconds. These tents can accommodate one to three people. Larger and heavier tents, on the other hand, are meant for sheltering groups of people such as a family or a group of friends. These are usually carried in a vehicle and can be assembled between five to twenty-five minutes. These tents are used more for vacation camping and are set up in relatively safe and wholesome environments such as parks or even one’s own backyard. The age of the persons who will occupy the tent will also matter when choosing the right size of tent, as well as the features that the tent must have. A small dome tent may already be adequate to accommodate as much as five kids but can only fit in three adults. For cyclists and backpackers, an extra covered space outside of the tent may be desirable to cover cooking utensils, backpacks, or a bicycle. An additional pole can hold the tent’s entryway fabric to serve as an awning. This is also invaluable in providing a good shade from the sun outside of the sleeping area. The interior height of tent is a consideration when it comes to comfort.

If you are simply using the tent to sleep and are mostly outside of it, then a ridge tent, which only allows mostly lying down, is adequate. If you are camping in one location for more than a few days then more height will give you more freedom to maneuver inside the tent and allow for better relaxation and leisure.
You can check for the usability of the tent’s height by testing it in four different positions: lying down, sitting, kneeling, and standing. Depending on what you think you will be doing inside the tent (playing cards, reading, eating, etc.), you can chose the appropriate height accordingly.

For more information on Camping Supplies or coolers go to http://www.coolersforcamping.com

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