Tent Buyers Guide
The sheer number of tents available means that buying the right tent for your needs can be quite a confusing process. There are many different shapes, sizes and designs available and prices range from £10 right up to £1,000. A well selected tent will ensure that your camping experience is a good one... choose the wrong tent and your trip (and possibly all your equipment too!) will be ruined, regardless of how good the rest of your gear is.
Tent Categories
Tents fall into two main categories, divided mainly along portability lines. If you're able to drive right up to your camping spot, then comfort is likely to be a higher priority than portability. If, however, you're hiking up Kilimanjaro, then you're probably going to want something a little lighter than a 10kg family tent!
Family Camping
If most of your camping is done in dedicated campsites over the weekend, with the family, then you're likely to be better served by a larger family tent. Although family tents are generally heavier and larger in size when packed, they do provide much more comfort and space compared to lighter and more portable tents. As most family campers will be driving to and from the campsite, portability isn't really an issue. In most cases, these tents will be pitched and left up for several days at a time, so quick and easy pitching isn't critical. Additionally, many family tents provide different 'rooms' in the tent, ideal for when larger families and groups are using the same tent.
Backpacking/Hiking
These tents are smaller, lighter and generally easier to erect. However, those benefits come at a cost- they are also less spacious and the top of the range models are very expensive. The smaller size makes it easier for them to be carried longer distances and they are usually designed so that they can be erected and packed up in a matter of minutes. If you're planning a backpacking/hiking trip and/or use public transport to get to your campsites of choice, then this style of tent will likely be more suited to your needs.
Tent Designs
Once you've decided what sort of tent you're looking for, your tent of choice will probably come in one of the following three designs:
Dome Tents
These tents are simple to pitch and basically consist of several support poles crossing each other to form one or more domes, which is then covered by the tent fabric. Most family tents are in this style, as they are spacious and easy to erect.
Tunnel Tents
The classic tent shape, tunnel tents use fewer poles and the design is therefore more suited to lighter and higher performance tents. They generally require the use of guy ropes and aren't suitable for extreme weather conditions.
Geodesic
Geodesic tents are the strongest design of all, as they use crossed poles and have an aerodynamic shape for use in even extreme conditions. They have a self-supporting design, so can be used without guy ropes if the conditions allow.
Tent Components
Flysheets
This is the outer layer of the tent that protects everything inside from the conditions outside. They can be made from a variety of materials and are normally coated with a waterproof layer and have taped seams.
Inner Tent
This is the part of the tent immediately inside the flysheet. As they are not required to provide any waterproofing protection, they are generally made of light and breathable fabrics.
Tent Poles
Generally either constructed from fibreglass (cheap, but not high performance) or aluminium (more expensive, but stronger). Poles contribute greatly to the overall weight of a tent, so lighter tents have high performance aluminium poles that cost more than standard fibreglass poles.
Groundsheets
As this is the tent's main protection from soggy or damp ground, it's important that the groundsheet is seam sealed and totally waterproof. If the groundsheet is stitched to the inner tent, make sure that it has a 'bucket design' and has sides of at least 10cm.
You should buy the best tent that you can afford... buying a cheap tent that will be used on a regular basis can often be a false economy, as it won't be as durable as a more expensive tent. As your tent will often be used as your home for a few days at a time, it's worth spending time and money selecting a tent that best performs that function according to your needs.
Tent Categories
Tents fall into two main categories, divided mainly along portability lines. If you're able to drive right up to your camping spot, then comfort is likely to be a higher priority than portability. If, however, you're hiking up Kilimanjaro, then you're probably going to want something a little lighter than a 10kg family tent!
Family Camping
If most of your camping is done in dedicated campsites over the weekend, with the family, then you're likely to be better served by a larger family tent. Although family tents are generally heavier and larger in size when packed, they do provide much more comfort and space compared to lighter and more portable tents. As most family campers will be driving to and from the campsite, portability isn't really an issue. In most cases, these tents will be pitched and left up for several days at a time, so quick and easy pitching isn't critical. Additionally, many family tents provide different 'rooms' in the tent, ideal for when larger families and groups are using the same tent.
Backpacking/Hiking
These tents are smaller, lighter and generally easier to erect. However, those benefits come at a cost- they are also less spacious and the top of the range models are very expensive. The smaller size makes it easier for them to be carried longer distances and they are usually designed so that they can be erected and packed up in a matter of minutes. If you're planning a backpacking/hiking trip and/or use public transport to get to your campsites of choice, then this style of tent will likely be more suited to your needs.
Tent Designs
Once you've decided what sort of tent you're looking for, your tent of choice will probably come in one of the following three designs:
Dome Tents
These tents are simple to pitch and basically consist of several support poles crossing each other to form one or more domes, which is then covered by the tent fabric. Most family tents are in this style, as they are spacious and easy to erect.
Tunnel Tents
The classic tent shape, tunnel tents use fewer poles and the design is therefore more suited to lighter and higher performance tents. They generally require the use of guy ropes and aren't suitable for extreme weather conditions.
Geodesic
Geodesic tents are the strongest design of all, as they use crossed poles and have an aerodynamic shape for use in even extreme conditions. They have a self-supporting design, so can be used without guy ropes if the conditions allow.
Tent Components
Flysheets
This is the outer layer of the tent that protects everything inside from the conditions outside. They can be made from a variety of materials and are normally coated with a waterproof layer and have taped seams.
Inner Tent
This is the part of the tent immediately inside the flysheet. As they are not required to provide any waterproofing protection, they are generally made of light and breathable fabrics.
Tent Poles
Generally either constructed from fibreglass (cheap, but not high performance) or aluminium (more expensive, but stronger). Poles contribute greatly to the overall weight of a tent, so lighter tents have high performance aluminium poles that cost more than standard fibreglass poles.
Groundsheets
As this is the tent's main protection from soggy or damp ground, it's important that the groundsheet is seam sealed and totally waterproof. If the groundsheet is stitched to the inner tent, make sure that it has a 'bucket design' and has sides of at least 10cm.
You should buy the best tent that you can afford... buying a cheap tent that will be used on a regular basis can often be a false economy, as it won't be as durable as a more expensive tent. As your tent will often be used as your home for a few days at a time, it's worth spending time and money selecting a tent that best performs that function according to your needs.