| You've been a camper for years. You know all | | | | These are usually smaller and lighter tents. The |
| about setting up a tent and sleeping outdoors. | | | | drawback is that when you are backpacking, you |
| Now you want to expand your outdoor activities | | | | don't always have a convenient, level spot for the |
| to include backpacking. All you need is a backpack; | | | | tent. If the ground is too rocky for tent stakes, it |
| you can use the tent you already have, right? | | | | is hard to erect a tent that does not stand by |
| Well, maybe. And maybe not. What you want in a | | | | itself. A free-standing backpack tent is easier to |
| backpacking tent may be different from what | | | | use on a hard surface and can be moved around |
| you want in a camping tent. | | | | to the best spot even after it is set up. |
| If you've never backpacked before, chances are | | | | Design. A camping tent usually has plenty of |
| you drove right up to your campsites in the past. | | | | headroom, large doors that are easy to move |
| Your biggest concern in choosing a tent was | | | | through, and a rain fly that covers just the upper |
| probably size; you wanted plenty of room to | | | | part of the tent. It may have heavier fabrics in |
| move around and store your gear. You set it up | | | | the walls and floor, and be challenging for one |
| and left it up for several days while you pursued | | | | person to set up. A backpacking tent, on the |
| your camping activities. On a backpacking trip, the | | | | other hand, is designed to be an easy setup tent |
| tent is set up and packed away nearly every day. | | | | because after hiking all day you won't want to |
| For a backpacking tent, you'll still want to consider | | | | struggle with your tent. Because of its |
| size, but also weight, style, and design. | | | | space-saving size, there is not much room to |
| Size. Backpacking tents come in smaller sizes. Are | | | | move around, and you'll have to crawl through the |
| you backpacking alone, or are you sharing the | | | | low doors. The rain fly covers more of the walls, |
| tent with someone? A solo backpacker only | | | | sometimes even reaching the ground, and often |
| needs a one-person tent, although many choose a | | | | provides a covered vestibule to protect gear |
| two-person tent for the extra gear storage | | | | without having to drag it into the tent. |
| space. Two people can sleep in a two-person | | | | Of course, each of these considerations affects |
| tent, but it's a close fit. A tent for backpacking is | | | | the others, and you'll have to decide your own |
| designed with poles that break down into shorter | | | | priorities. Some people backpack in order to camp |
| lengths to take up less space in the backpack. | | | | off the beaten track. They don't hike as far and |
| Weight. A car camper isn't much concerned with | | | | are willing to carry more weight in order to be |
| the weight of the tent, but a backpacker will be | | | | more comfortable during their time in camp. |
| carrying a tent for many miles. Ten pounds over | | | | Others camp because they are hiking a long |
| a mile isn't so bad; at the end of the tenth mile, | | | | distance. They are more concerned with being |
| however, that tent feels much heavier. | | | | comfortable with the weight they carry than |
| Backpacker tents are designed to be as light as | | | | being comfortable in camp. Probably the most |
| possible. A two-person tent should be no more | | | | common on the trail are 2 person backpacking |
| than five or six pounds. | | | | tents which come in a wide range of styles, |
| Style. Camping tents are almost always | | | | designs, and weight. Some of them may even be |
| free-standing and used on a level surface created | | | | camping tents, but now you know the differences |
| especially for camping, while backpacking tents | | | | to watch for. |
| can also be found in a non-free-standing design. | | | | |