Tips on Buying a New Tent

Tips on buying a new tent
Mark Hutchinson
Name

If you have been looking to buy a new tent lately, I'm sure you've been a little surprised and maybe a bit confused at the different kinds of tents on the market today. There's a huge selection of tents from super inexpensive to super expensive.
I'd like to take a few minutes of your time here to review some key features in tents which will hopefully help you to narrow down your search and make things a little easier for you!

SIZE

One of the main factors is deciding what size of tent you will need. Unfortunately, many manufacturers have different ideas about the size of a tent as there is no standard sizing criteria for them to follow. Yes, a two-man tent will hold two people, however the amount of room may be about the same as your bathtub. In reality, personal preference is the main factor in deciding tent size. For example, a one-man tent may have as little as 16 square feet of floor space (that is only 2' X 8') while a four-man tent may have 65 square feet or even more. If you are tall or like a lot of personal space, for two people you will probably want to consider a three-person tent. If you are camping from your car, bringing your pets, or have small children, you may even want to consider larger accommodations.

COLOR

Yes, this can even be an issue with logical arguments! There are a number of issues to consider when selecting a tent color. Camping purists suggest getting a tent that is green or brown in color so it blends in with the surrounding terrain, and won't be easy to see by passersby. On the opposite end of the argument however, search and rescue teams recommend getting a brightly colored tent so that it is easier to spot in an emergency.

The color of a tent will affect how much light and warmth is attracted to, and retained, in the tent. A light colored tent that is yellow, white, or beige will let in more light and will tend to reflect off heat. A dark colored tent that is blue, forest green, black, or red will let less light in but will absorb more heat during daylight hours.

POLES

There are a number of different types of poles available on the market, and you are best to try to find some that are strong, lightweight, and collapsible. They are also made from quite a variety of materials which include:

Solid Fiberglass:

Solid fiberglass is light and flexible but not usually collapsible. One thing to keep in mind is that it isn't as flexible in cool temperature, so winter camping with fiberglass tent poles isn't a good plan! Solid fiberglass is typically used in lower cost tents. One advantage is that if one snaps, it is pretty easy to fix it in a pinch.

Tubular Fiberglass:

Tubular fiberglass is a popular pole option, and I'm sure that we've all seen these. These are typically corded together with elastic cord and have aluminum ends which fit together like a fishing rod. The shock cords help with the flexibility, but the cold weather non-flexibility issue is still there.

Aluminum:

Aluminum can work well as a tent pole, and is also fairly popular. Tubular and solid, they can be shock corded together just like tubular fiberglass. They are just as light as fiberglass and stay much more flexible in cold weather. The only downfall with aluminum is that it's a pretty hard fix in the field if it snaps.

High-Strength or Reinforced Aluminum compounds:

High strength aluminum uses different metals in its make up to make the pole stronger. Even though it's much more expensive, it can last a lot longer and is ideal if you are frequently setting up and tearing down.

Carbon Fiber:

Carbon fiber is lightweight and extremely durable and is used in many sports, automotive, and military applications. This stuff will continue to perform even in extreme conditions. The only downside to this is that it's pretty darned expensive!

RAIN FLY

A rain fly or fly is essentially a tent for your tent. The rain fly stretches over the top of the tent in order to provide additional protection from the elements. They can be rather basic while others can extend quite a distance beyond the sides of the tent providing extra protection on those days when it seems like it's raining sideways. A nice feature with a fly is that you can leave it off completely if the weather is nice and it gives you unsurpassed ventilation as well as a nice view of the sky.

VESTIBULES

A vestibule is basically a front porch for your tent. When the weather is bad, or if you're covered in mud from exploring you can take off your wet and dirty clothes without messing up your sleeping area. Vestibules are even large enough in some cases to provide an emergency sleeping area for a lost traveler (or the dog for that matter). I love a nice vestibule since I can keep my fishing gear in it without worry of getting a hook in the side when sleeping! Some tents offer the options of a vestibule, and others give you the option of not packing the vestibule with you at all, saving weight and time.

WEIGHT

If you plan to camp or backpack the weight of your tent is very critical. Tents can weigh less than three pounds and other models can easily exceed 15 pounds. Naturally the bigger the tent, the heavier it will get. Because lightweight material costs more, lighter tents typically cost more than their heavier counterparts built with the same capacity and style.

If you typically hike with a significant other you may want to consider sharing the gear you carry. Although a two-man or three-man tent is heavier than a one-man tent, a two-man tent will typically weigh less than two one-man tents (took me a minute to get that one too). By sharing the gear you carry you can even out the weight and lighten your overall load.

Please feel absolutely free to contact us if you have any questions or would like some recommendations on some tent models to check into.

Happy Camping!

Mark Hutchinson is the owner of http://www.dealsontents.com along with being an outdoor writer and photographer with much experience in camping, hiking, outdoor survival, and guiding.

http://www.dealsontents.com