A Guide to Choosing the Right Tent for your Camping Experience

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