Tents for Camping

Let’s talk about the all important tents for camping. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to pick the tent that suits:

The number of people attending
The weather
Your budget
Your camping needs – if you’re a frequent camper please take the time and money required to invest into a tent that will last.
The type of camping trip you are preparing for – will you be RV camping, beach camping, kayak camping, car camping, etc.

While using camping tent reviews to find the best camping tent may be your current strategy – and it might work – you should really take the time to find the tent that best fits your needs. No two campers are alike and if you will be camping with kids or a group of friends, there will certainly be many more items to add to your checklist.

First things first, what you should ALWAYS check when selecting a tent, no matter the desired size:

Does this tent have the proper ventilation?
Will this tent keep me dry?
Can I set this tent up?
Does this tent have mosquito netting?
Do these zippers look like they will get stuck or have a short-life?
Is the floor thickness and quality to your liking?
Does it have heavy duty stakes?

Camping tent equipment that you should seriously consider purchasing:

Sealer so you can seal the seams – This will ensure that your tent is waterproof. Some tents come with the seams already sealed. If they are, great, if not it is not difficult to do yourself.
Vestibule – a vestibule is great if you will be camping with pets are if you will be backpack camping. It will provide extra space and storage.
Fully Rain Fly – This helps to ensure that your tent is waterproof and that heat will not escape if you will be encountering cold weather.
A mallet for securing the stakes.
A ground tarp – This will prevent ground moisture from getting in and prevents sticks and rocks from poking holes in the tent floor.
Tent repair kit – in case anything goes wrong at the campsite.

How Big is Big Enough

Okay, so for those of you that are still with me, let’s talk about how to make sure your tent is suitable for the number of people attending. As a rule of thumb always purchase a tent that advertises to fit at least one more than the actual number of people actually attending. Personally, I would purchase a tent that advertised for 2 – 3 more than the actual amount of people attending. I don’t like for it to get muggy in my tent. Please believe me when I say that you are going to want to be nice and comfy in your tent. When everyone gets back from all the daily activities that are required for camping, including any fun activities that you have planned, they are going to want plenty of space to relax. The tent is your retreat from the wilderness, and your home away from home. Allow plenty of room for everyone attending, and all of your belongings, especially if you plan on keeping gear in the tent. As I mentioned earlier, if you will be carrying any pets or keeping gear with you, you may want to invest into a vestibule.

If you will be camping with kids or a very large group of people, 5 or more, take the time to sit down and really determine if one large camping tent would be better than a few smaller ones. I got my own tent when I turned fourteen and my brother got his when he was 12. You should also consider what everyone is sleeping in or on. Everyone sleeping on a queen airbed mattress or in sleeping bags would have a huge effect on the space needed.

Picking the Right Tent for the Weather

A three season tent will handle most weather situations you will encounter. It will not handle heavy duty stuff like very high winds or snow and ice like a mountaineering tent, but I believe that it is the best choice for most when you consider its capabilities and cost.

The canvas wall tents are usually large and have straight walls. It can handle most weather conditions.

The four season tent is just as it states – perfect for all seasons.

When trying to decide on a three season vs. four season tent, you need to decide on what you want the tent to withstand. Don’t pay too much attention to the temperatures. For example, unless you are going to need a tent that can last through heavy wind and snow, then you will be perfectly fine in a three season tent.

A summer tent is light and has a lot of mesh and ventilation. If can be pimped to withstand greater weather conditions.

When you are selecting a tent be sure to consider the color as light colors will reflect heat and dark colors will absorb.

I suggest you invest in a high quality, extreme tent; those are the situations where comfortable shelter is more important. For hot weather camping select a cheap dome tent with mesh walls and rain. Use the good tent when weather merits, and pop up the dome when its hot.

Tents and Your Budget

Since some tents are well known for lasting for YEARS, there is nothing wrong with searching online for used or discount camping tents. You will have your work cut out for you; as you can see, there are many concerns that go with selecting the right tent. I would imagine that if you start searching for discounted or used ones, you will be limited in your search. Don’t get me wrong, it can be done!

I have always loved camping and love to invest in tents. I just want to point out what some great advantages there are to investing in a high quality tent:

better construction materials, including zippers
higher quality stitching at stress points
Higher quality stakes and pole system
Better seam sealing
More stable floor

Well Known Brands

Well, this is going to depend on who you ask. Most people I know swear by Coleman, REI, or Eureka. You get what you pay for. More importantly though is that the tent suits all your needs.

The Right Tent for the Camping Type

If you are RV camping or car camping then the weight of the tent should not be of any consideration but if you are backpack camping or motorcycle camping, you are going to want to place close attention to the weight of your tent. You are going to want something light and compact.

Eureka Camping Tents
Wholesale Camping Tent

Choose the Right Tent Videos:

This video is a little long, but it's very informative.
This is a great video that covers the fundamentals of picking a tent - a lot of important details!
Very informative - and it actually demonstrates how to put up a tent - great information for a newbie!

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