How to Buy the Right Tent

Are you buying a tent for your next camping trip but feel overwhelmed by all the options available?

Picking the right shelter for your family’s next camping trip might seem daunting at first, but buying a tent is easy once you know what your options are.

Essentially, tents start off as one person and move up to accommodate 8 or more people. One-person tents are much more lightweight and portable, often used by hikers and bikers for their convenience out on the trails.

Another point to consider is the time of year during which you intend to camp. Some shelters are all-weather, but some are summer or winter specifically.

A winter style will have you sweltering in the early morning sunlight of July, and a summer tent will leave you freezing on an October night, It’s best to consider your options before you buy. Three-season tents are often your best option.

Tents with certain features are always more convenient than other. Look for collapsible poles that are made of a durable material, like strong aluminum, fiberglass or carbon fiber. Color-coded poles make assembly easier, especially in low light conditions.

Waterproofing, especially a rain fly, is a great feature to have in rainy climates. Be sure your tent’s stakes are durable enough for use in any soil.

Mesh windows with zippers allow for good ventilation that seals up nicely during storms. Skylights are romantic and practical, as they allow heat to rise out of the shelter and fresh air and light to circulate throughout.

What To Do On Your First Day Of Camping

If you’re preparing to camp for the very first time, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what exactly you need to do. Here are the primary things you’ll need to do in order to make that first day smooth and enjoyable:

Check in

When you get to the campground, you’ll need to stop into the office. If you have a reservation already, you will sign in, fill out a registration form, get your campsite number or choose your campsite, and pay for your stay. You will also be asked how many people will be camping, the license plate of the vehicle that will be parked at the campsite, and other information. You will probably be asked to provide identification, as well.

If possible, take a look around the campground to hand-pick your campsite. You want a campsite that isn’t completely out in the sun, that isn’t too close to the bathrooms, and that is on fairly high ground. If you’re camping with children and would like to be near the playground or beach, make sure you indicate that when you check in as well. Pick a campsite that has room to cook, and that is near a water source.

Setting Up

Once you’ve arrived at your actual campsite, it’s time to do some setting up. You’ll want to set up your tent, screen tent or other dwellings first. As you unload your vehicle, you’ll be unloading your camping equipment into these locations.

Choose a spot for your tent that is dry and elevated, but not on a slope. Keep the tent away from your campfire and from your cooking area, if possible. Often, a far corner of the campsite will work best for the tent.

If possible, try to have a sack lunch ready, rather than having to try to cook while you’re setting up camp. This gives you the afternoon to get things set up, before you need to worry about cooking.

Unpack

Once the tent is set up, you’ll unpack your camping gear. Place your sleeping gear in the tent, and your cooking equipment near where you’ll be cooking. Unload and set up your camping chairs, and stack your firewood somewhere near where your campfire will be.

Enjoy Yourself!

Really, that’s all there is to it. Once you’re set up and unpacked, you can start enjoying a nice campfire, a game of Frisbee, or whatever other activity you’re interested in.

Inexpensive Tent Camping

Tent camping is probably the least expensive way to go camping. With tent camping, you save the expense of maintenance on a trailer or camper, and you save the gas involved in pulling that trailer or camper. In addition, tents cost much less than other forms of camping shelter.

Where to buy inexpensive tents

There are even ways to find inexpensive tents. Here are some ideas of places to look:
Retail stores. Sometimes, large retailers will run specials on tents. This is especially common in the late spring. Often, those stores will have closeout specials at the end of the season, as well. If you’re smart about it and watch for those sales, you might be able to buy your tent at a decent discount.

• Wholesaler or surplus store. You may choose to buy your tent from a wholesaler. An Army Surplus store may have what you’re looking for, or you might look into a wholesaler’s store at an outlet mall.
• Second-hand stores. While you can never guarantee that a tent will be available at a second-hand store, it doesn’t hurt to look.
• Classified ads. As with retail stores, spring and fall are the best time to look for used tents in the classified advertisements.
• Online. The Internet is another place where you can get very good deals on quality tents. There are various camping clubs online, which provide you with full support and guidance in directing you to the best manufacturers.

What to look for

Understanding the different types of tents available will help when you go to look for an inexpensive tent. Here are some of the basics to keep in mind when tent shopping:

• Inexpensive camping tents are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. What you buy will largely depend upon your needs and your group size.
• Some types of tents include stand-up or pop-up tents, frame or A-frame tents, canvas tents, dome tents and cabin tents
• Inexpensive camping tents are made of many different fibers, such as canvas, nylon, and polyurethane. Canvas tents usually need some kind of treatment for protection against fire, water, or mildew.
• Nylon has the advantage of being much lighter, although canvas is good because it’s a breathable fabric.

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