| Unlike previous generations, camping no longer | | | | allowing the fully erected tent to be moved |
| always involves sleeping in a tent. RVs, | | | | around without being disassembled. |
| commercial campgrounds and other options | | | | Next is the Cabin tents. These are enormous |
| provide an alternative. But there's is still something | | | | tents designed for use with car capmping or |
| satisfing about connecting with nature through the | | | | other forms of camping in which weight is not an |
| complete camping experience of sleeping in a tent. | | | | issue. These tents take up a incredible amount of |
| Here is a blueprint and a few tips for picking one | | | | space but provide a lot of interior space also. With |
| that gives you all the modern advantages, without | | | | space come a very heavy structure. |
| the traditional hassles. | | | | Last but not least is the Geodesic tents. Geodesic |
| The basic purposes of a tent are to provide | | | | tents are gradually gaining popularity amongst |
| privacy and protection from the elements - wind, | | | | normal campers. These tents take the design of |
| rain and (to some degree) cold. Any sturdy tent | | | | a dome tent and imporves upon it to give it |
| will satisfy the first, but to keep weather out | | | | better strength and resistance to the wind. |
| requires more. | | | | Installation the poles cross many times, lending |
| Windy conditions, common in wilderness areas | | | | strength to the entire structure. With increased |
| where most campsites are found, can put a | | | | strength this tent can withstand wind and snow |
| hurting on a tent. But thanks to modern materials, | | | | from multiple directions. |
| nylon fabric tents supported by fiberglass or | | | | With any of these tent designs, campers should |
| aluminum poles are up to the job. | | | | make liberal use of the can of sealant that is |
| There are four basic types of tents, the A-frame | | | | offered by many manufacturers. You set up the |
| tent, the dome tent, the cabin tent, and the | | | | tent and then spray the seams to make them |
| geodesic tent. | | | | completely watertight. An air hole at the top of |
| The A-frame tent is the most popular of all four. | | | | many models can help keep the interior from |
| This classic style tent was made well known | | | | getting stuffy, but you'll want to have one with a |
| mainly by the use of the boy scouts of america. | | | | closeable flap (either zipper, Velcro or other). |
| A-frame tents have two poles, each forming a | | | | The floor should be equally waterproof, even |
| triangleon at either end of the tent. Their is also a | | | | sturdier and preferably conduct minimal cold or |
| central pole that forms the ridge of the tent. The | | | | heat. |
| walls are formed at steep angles and are usually | | | | Tents are sold according to shape and size. |
| just large enough to accommadate a person | | | | However, a four-man tent is really only suitable |
| sleeping. To help hold the tent in place guide wires | | | | for two adults, unless you want to be really |
| are used. This type of tent is ususally very | | | | cramped. A sleeping bag is about 2.5ft by 7 feet. |
| unreliable in windy conditions. In rain conditions a | | | | That's 17.5 square feet. Double that to allow for |
| tarp is often needed to keep campers dry. | | | | stepping space and room for gear. Then double it |
| The second is the dome tent. At present time, in | | | | again to accommodate another person. That's 70 |
| the US this type of tent is the most popular. | | | | square feet or about 7 feet by 10 feet. That's |
| They are available in a variety of configuations, | | | | about the minimum. |
| but the most common is one in which two jointed | | | | Be prepared to spend a little more to get a |
| poles are crossed over one another to form a | | | | quality tent. Tent technology has developed to |
| large, bent X. In windy and rainy conditions a | | | | such a high state, it's preferable to spend a little |
| dome tent provides excellent stability and shelter. | | | | more and get something that will endure. |
| The interior provided in a dome tent is given in | | | | Kenneth Elliott is the owner of Beach Camping |
| good amounts with plenty of headroom to allow | | | | Park,. His website features some of the best |
| for sitting up. Many dome tents are built to have | | | | beach camping parks around the US. |
| their poles lock down to the tent base itself, | | | | |