| A tent can be one of the more costly items on | | | | considering; if they just try to bamboozle, or |
| your camping equipment shopping list. It is | | | | even bully, you then walk away. |
| definitely something that you need to consider | | | | Shopping online has the great advantage of being |
| carefully. | | | | something you can do at odd moments, and is |
| If you go shopping in the traditional fashion, down | | | | commitment free right up until the point you |
| your high street, you often have the advantage | | | | decide to buy. You can look at as many, or as |
| of being able to see exactly what you are | | | | few, sites as you like. Look to see what tents are |
| getting; and if the staff are unwilling to get the | | | | out there, see what the manufacturers claim and |
| tent out for you to see, it's probably a good idea | | | | look for reviews by users and independent |
| to move on somewhere else. | | | | reviewers to see if those claims hold up. |
| By seeing the tent for real you will be able to get | | | | The internet is a wonderful tool and so long as |
| a better impression of its size and construction | | | | you know how to make the most of search |
| that you can by looking at pictures and lists of | | | | engines and put in a little effort you really have |
| measurements. However, the downside is that, | | | | the perfect answer waiting to be found. That |
| unless you are experienced, you may miss out on | | | | answer will be different for every camper as |
| some of the detail that manufacturer's | | | | each of us has different needs. Don't be surprised |
| promotional material makes clear. Cheap tents | | | | to see your favourite criticized somewhere, but if |
| often look similar to the quality models they are | | | | you see too much criticism then you had better |
| mimicking, but you can be sure they use inferior | | | | start thinking again. No problem. You won't have |
| materials and probably have lower design | | | | spent anything yet so think of it positively, as a |
| standards. | | | | large expense saved. |
| Shop staff are often campers themselves. That | | | | Probably the best approach, if you have the time, |
| means they usually often give out lots of advice. | | | | is to research tents online and make a short list. |
| However, you won't always know what their level | | | | Then try to inspect those tents at nearby shops. |
| of actual experience is and whether their advice is | | | | You can then make a final decision on where to |
| tainted by other motivations. If a shop assistant | | | | buy your chosen model based purely on total |
| agrees with your own conclusions, great; if they | | | | cost. Price + post & packing, or price + |
| try to modify your decision with a clear and | | | | petrol & parking. |
| reasonable argument then that would be worth | | | | |