How to Choose a Good Camping Tent

A good tent is one the the most important camping purchases. Your tent will typically last about 100 nights in the outdoors so it is important that you are confident and pleased with your purchase. Budget at least $200 to buy a quality tent that will improve the condition of your camping experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Decide what kind of camping you will be doing. There are a few different ways to prioritize tents--weight, breathability, durability and user friendly-design are some of the most popular categories. A backpacker's first priority, for example, will be a lightweight structure. A family going car camping may be most concerned with the user-friendly aspects of the tent setup. Consider what kind of trips you mostly engage in and develop your priorities accordingly.

Step 2

Decide if you want a three-season tent or a four-season tent. A four-season tent is also sometimes referred to as "winter tent," the name is a dead giveaway to the fact you only need to invest in one if you plan to go camping in snow or arctic force winds. A four-season tent is typically much more expensive and heavier than a three-season tent.

Step 3

Ask your friends what kinds of tents they have and how they like them. Flip through popular camping magazine gear guides for ideas about different kinds of tents and different brands.

Step 4

Go to a local camping store and check out their floor models. Most camping stores will have a variety of tents set up on display so you can crawl in and out of them. Salespeople can answer questions about tent design and the strengths of different brands. Ask the salespeople if they rent tents on a trial basis so you can get an idea of what features you like.

Step 5

When you finally invest, make sure to buy a good footprint, good tent stakes and a tent repair kit to ensure the longevity of your purchase.

Article Written By Caroline Schley

Based in New York City, Caroline Schley has been writing articles on fitness, social interaction and politics since 2008. Her articles have appeared in "The Tahoe Weekly," "Second Line News" and websites, including Eatthestate.org. Schley graduated from CU Boulder in 2005 with a degree in environmental science.

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