META: There are various kinds of tents available in the market and every camper has a different requirement. It is therefore imperative that you look for a tent that best serves your needs and at the same time is durable and suitable for the weather type of your camping site.
Going camping is an exciting adventure provided you have a comfortable tent to keep you cosy and sheltered when required. The needs of different people vary considerably so it is up to you to ensure you purchase the tent that will suit your needs best. There are a number of factors you need to consider when choosing your tent like how much weight can I carry, the weather conditions of the area you will be visiting and the space you require. Tests are carried out by most manufacturers to test the standards of the tents in terms of quality, reliability, durability and material.
Materials used for tents are generally lightweight nylon or polyester fabric. Because of the constant abrasions that it suffers from the ground below, the groundsheet (or base) of the tent is made out of a far more durable fabric. To prevent it from tearing easily ripstop nylon is used. All camping tents are made to be waterproof by using a coating of polyurethane. This prevents the water from seeping in from the outside in case of a sudden shower or drizzle. The forming of condensation can be prevented on the tent with certain coatings. Make sure you check this out before you purchase otherwise you could end up with a tent that has no ventilation.
The kinds of tents include ridge tents, geodesic tents, dome tents and tunnel tents. The aerodynamics, the location of the guy points and the arrangement of the poles for the tent are all factors that determine whether the tent you have purchased can withstand severe weather conditions. Geodesic tents are the most sturdy and made to the standards that are fit for harsh weather conditions and therefore these types of tents are more suitable for expeditions. The poles intersect each other forming a self-sustaining structure that allows more room inside, besides it can hold the weight of snow as well as keep the icy winds from penetrating through the material.
The curved roof on the tunnel tent gives more height than the sloped pointed roof on the dome tent, which provides you with more space. You lose the constricted feel with this as it gives you more room inside the tent. If you are looking for a lightweight tent then you should consider the dome tent. This tent only requires two poles to support it and three if it includes the porch. This would be very appropriate if you were going backpacking.
If you are looking for a family tent then you must look for designs that are structured keeping in mind a base camp environment. These will remain standing until the end of the trip as such tents are only erected once. These can be heavier and larger but even so they must be able to accommodate a number of people for a longer period of time. You will not regret having more space, so if you can, take a tent that is size bigger than your actual requirement. With all the information discussed in the article you can now purchase the right tent for your needs with peace of mind.
