Know Your Tents

Understanding the different tents that are on the market can make buying a tent much easier. You can have a focused shopping expedition, online or offline, when you know exactly what type of tent you need to buy. Doing your research makes the process less time-consuming, which leaves you more time for outdoor enjoyment.

Here are some basic tents and their features.

Dome tents. These tents are popular with backpackers, mountaineers and hikers. These are hexagon-shaped and usually made from nylon. Nylon is a tough, synthetic material that is great for those who need durability but don’t want to be weighed down. These tents require simple anchoring with stakes.

Tunnel tents. These tube-like tents offer easy set-up and great ventilation. They are ideal one-person tents. Tunnel tents are lightweight and normally are made of nylon. They are suitable for winter camping because they are durable and moisture-resistant. They offer ease of storage and can fit into a backpack or a tent bag.

A-frame tents. These tents are suitable for backpackers, climbers, hikers, hunters and anglers. They are fairly spacious and allow room for storing some supplies. With these tents, you can add a canopy entrance to the front of the structure. This provides a porch effect: you have the extra space outside, but you’re covered from any rain that might fall.

Cabin tents. Cabin tents are great for family camping trips. They offer a spacious environment with the option of multiple rooms. You also can add room dividers to this type of tent. While they offer more room, their set-up is more complicated. These tents are heavy, so it’s best if two or more adults work at raising them. These tents are best transported by vehicle because they can be quite heavy and cumbersome.

Pop-up tents. Pop-up tents are easy to set up and take down. They are easily set up through pushing tent poles through the tent fabric. They are highly portable and can fit into a backpack or small tent bag with ease. These durable tents are great for the solo hiker or backpacker who needs to travel light.

With the variety of tents available today, you can get any size, shape or color to suit your needs and tastes. You can find tents on the Internet or at your favorite outdoor gear retailer.

Once you decide which one is exactly right for your specific outdoor needs, shopping for a tent can be easy and fun.