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How to buy a camping tent...When you buy a camping tent there are different things for you to consider, i.e. how many people will be going, what is the size of the campsite etc... With this in mind you should know that all camping tents are not created equal. We'll look at some of things you should consider. First of all you need to know the number of people that will be in the tent. I've always found that when a tent has a rating for a particular number of people that it is always best to buy one that will fit one extra body. That is to say, if you're going camping with your buddy or wife or husband and it will be just the two of you then your tent should be rated for three people. This will give you the room you need to stow backpacks and also give you room to roll around when you sleep. I bought a two man tent for a trip my friend and I went on once and we slept literally shoulder to shoulder for four nights. It was fairly uncomfortable so be sure you don't make the same mistake.
Another point to consider when you buy a camping tent is the size of the actual site the tent will be pitched on. If you mainly camp at a state or provincial run campground the sites are large enough to accomodate even a large family camping tent. If you decide to take one of these tents into the back country you may find that there are just too many trees and bushes to set it up. I have actually been stopped on the trail due to bad weather and had to set my tent up on a game trail so I know that anything can happen when you're in the woods. You need to plan properly for it. You can find there's not enough room quite easily! You should look for features on your tent as well. How many poles does it have? How many guy attachment points? does it have any pockets? How about a peg out vestibule? All of these things add up to a better tent. More poles and guy attachment points help keep a tent more stable in the strong winds. Obviously pockets are helpful when trying to organize things within the tent. A peg out vestibule can give you a place to store things, (not food) and create more space within the tent. Also you can leave shoes and other things out there that may puncture the tent floor.
Probably the most important thing to look at would be how well the tent is water-proofed. Buy a camping tent that will keep you dry! Most Coleman tents are pretty good in the rainy weather but they are not as water-proof as something you will buy from Northface. Naturally you'll pay more for the Northface tent so be sure you get what you think you'll need. The tent pictured below is the one I have opted to use as my main three season tent. I love it. When I buy a camping tent I like to buy what I know will give me value for my money. It's perfect for me and my two kids or myself and a buddy if we're out in the back country. Not too heavy, easy to pack and great value for a Northface tent in my mind. It's got loads of headroom but is still very sturdy on the nights when the wind is whipping... It's the NorthFace Moraine 33. Go ahead and click on it so you can compare it to other tents that are similar. You'll be taken to the Altrec site.
To me, one of the most important things to pay attention to when you buy a camping tent is the weight and size of it when it is packed. I talk fairly extensively about that on other pages in this site so I won't say too much on it here but in general, the smaller the tent, the smaller it packs and the lighter it will be when you're trying to carry it. This mostly matters to hikers and people that are canoe camping and kayak camping. If you're car camping then it matters less. I hope that the ideas above answer some of your questions about how to buy a campming tent. If not you can use the search box below to help find the answers you need...
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