Camping is one of the wonderful ways for people to explore nature, and separate their consciousness from the busy modern world for a while. It goes without saying that your experience will be largely dependent on your preparedness, and your choice of tent makes a big impact. Before buying a tent, you need to decide what your requirements are. Because every camper will have different needs according to their preferences, there are three basic tips for buying a tent.
The first is the number of people who will be using the tent. This is important because a tent that is too big or too small will cause discomfort with both temperature and space. A good rule of thumb is to budget space for one extra person than you think will normally occupy the tent, which will make for a little extra elbow room if an additional person is not in the tent, but will not feel cavernous.
The second factor to consider is where you will be camping with it. Some tents are more ruggedly built for the elements, while others are more suited for a campground environment. Being familiar with the climates you intend to camp in the most will help you narrow down your choices.
The third factor is how often you plan on camping. If you are only planning on using the tent for camping once or twice a year, you do not have to buy a high end model. However, if you are going to be spending a lot of time in the outdoors, it would be best to invest some money and buy one of the better brands on the market.
For those planning on camping close to an RV or car that was used to transport your gear, the weight will not matter much. But for smaller tents that will be transported a significant distance by hand, you will need to take weight into consideration. This is especially true for hikers using one or two person tents. You will also want one that is designed to keep out the rain, and made of quick-drying material.
Often the specifications will tell you what seasons that you can go camping with the tent, so you won’t have to be familiar with all of the specific materials. Most are designed for spring, summer, and fall. For instance, tents for outdoor use in winter with cold temperatures and snow are designed much differently than those for summer use. Mostly made from nylon, these tents are made to keep out ice cold wind, and offer a higher level of protection from the elements.
SunnySports has a wide selection of tents for all weather and camping needs, so be sure to stop by their website for great deals and other tips for buying a tent!
Featured Image from Tommy Lisbin/Unsplash
