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.