How to Choose a Camping Tent

Want to know someone better? Go with him on a campaign with tents.

Many love the trips, but few know how to choose a good tent. Size, weight, design, material - all this has a meaning and impact on cost. How to choose a tent that meets your travel preferences, check out this article.

Do I need a tent in the campaign?

In short - yes. Of course, you can spend the night in a sleeping bag under a canopy, but this:

• uncomfortable (at night, even the summer, cold in nature, it can go rain or strong wind rise - weather forecasts do not always come true);
• safe (insects, snakes, small rodents - not a complete list of sources "thrill" when spending the night in the open air).

So take for granted: a tent in the campaign required.

Which tent is right for you?

The answer depends on the answer to another question: what kind of outdoor activities do you prefer?

If you like equipped campsites with parking, you can safely take a large tent.

Camping tent - it is a big high tent, often with a vestibule and windows. Designed for trailering, recreation with family and an overnight stay in one place for 3

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–4 days. Pros: comfortable (you can stand tall), large capacity. Cons: great weight, warming of bad.

If you are planning a long journey on foot or bicycle, the important criteria are the weight and size of the shelter. You will need a trekking tent.

Trekking tent - a small tent, used for flat hiking, recreation along the hiking trails. Pros: lightweight, easy to carry. Cons: not designed for strong wind and rain.

Even more important size and weight of the tents are during a hike in the mountains or over rough terrain. It needs already assault tent.

Assault (or alpine) tent - it's ultra-light tent designed for serious hiking (difficult route, long transitions). Pros: Very easy and reliable, not afraid of strong wind, quick to install and is going. Cons: As a rule, small (even for one person may be closely).

What is the seasonality of the tent?

Beginners mistakenly believe that if subdivide tent seasonal, it must be spring, summer, autumn and winter. In fact distinguished:

• Summer tents. For warm or hot weather. The important point here - is the ventilation: the fabric is well blown, and the edge of the tent, usually elevated above the ground. But this will not save the tent against strong winds or rain.
• Trohsezonnye tent. The name speaks for itself - designed for three main hiking seasons (spring, summer, autumn). They are made of a thick fabric, so that can withstand wind and cold demi and heavy rains.
• Winter (or universal) tent. Designed for use in severe climatic conditions (snow, wind), but can also be used in summer in calm weather. Construction differ resistant, waterproof material dense.

How to determine the size?

Boa in a known cartoon measured parrots and men tent measured. Many have heard: One tent, double, triple and so on. In the first case, this means that in a tent comfortably accommodate (with all belongings) one adult male; in the second - two; in the third - three and so on.

"Men are different," - you might say. Right. Therefore, to get a clearer idea of ​​the dimensions of the tent, before buying study on the Internet its length and width. Then "recreate" these dimensions at the floor, take a sleeping bag and try to accommodate in the resulting square. Managed? You can take! Not? Perhaps we should buy a two- or three-bed tent.

How many layers you choose?

Depending on the design, tents are divided into single and double layer.

In the first case made of waterproof tent awning and is a single sheet. It is easy to add and install. But there is a drawback - the condensate. In wet or hot weather, it is inevitably formed on the inner walls. If you do not provide ventilation, wake up in a wet sleeping bag. Fortunately, scientists are trying to solve this problem - come up with a variety of "breathing" and at the same windproof fabric. Tents with membrane tents already on the market, but they are quite expensive.

The bilayer is composed of waterproof tent awning (outer layer) and light "breathable" awning (inner layer). Between them, usually 10–15-inch gap. This tent is somewhat heavier, but it does not accumulate condensate, while it is safely protected from the rain.

Another advantage of two-layer tents - the presence of the vestibule.

Tambour - extra space under the awning outside the tent. It serves as a storage and muddy shoes.

Do I need a tent in the window?

In general, no. As a rule, you are in a tent at night - look through them no matter what. If we consider the window as an additional air vent, then the two-layer structures it is not necessary, and in single-task with fresh air copes ajar zipper on input.

The only exception - camping tents. In this case, a tent with windows similar to the house and creates a greater comfort.

What material to choose?

Poly Taffeta 210T 3000 PU - this is not a magic spell, but after seeing a similar inscription in the description of the tent, the inexperienced tourist can fall into a trance. What do all those numbers and letters?

In fact, everything is simple. In the manufacture of tents used two types of tissue:

• polyamide (Nylon);
• polyester (Polyester).

The first is quite durable and very affordable, but it is easily expandable when wet and are sensitive to UV light. The second - even more durable and does not tear when wet, but are more expensive. Thus, the first word in the marking tent (Poly) means that it is made of polyester material.

Taffeta - this is the most common method of weaving yarn. Apart from him, there is Oxford (creates additional strength and tend to be used for the bottom of the tent) and Rip Stop (increases strength due to yarn, while not weighing weight).

The next element (210T) - a density of weaving. It is measured in tex and affect the strength of the material. The larger T, the denser, stronger and heavier fabric. In addition, the labeling of the tent can contain digits and the letter D. Since the thickness of the strands is designated, from which the material is made. This rate also affects the strength and weight of the tent.

Finally, PU means that the fabric is impregnated with polyurethane, so that is water resistant. There are also silicone impregnation (SI), is a high-quality and durable, but also more expensive.

Polyurethane material coated on the inside. When this two layers PU-impregnation provide waterproofness to 3000 mm water column; three layers - 5000 mm. The silicone coating is applied from outside. Here, an acceptable level of water resistance - 2000 mm.

So, what is material to choose? If you go out on the nature infrequently and at the same time hold the beaten tourist tracks, you is fine tent with braided nylon or Taffeta Rip Stop and density of 190T do210T. A good complement to this is a silicone water-repellent impregnation.

What should be the bottom of the tent?

Strong, durable and strong again! The bottom of the tent has to hardest: you put it on the sharp rocks, the snow on the sand.

Typically, the bottom is made of the same material as the outer tent. Suitable for this purpose with braided nylon fabric Oxford, with a weaving density of at least 210T and yarn thickness of at least 210D. But the main indicator - water resistance. Desirably, the bottom material of withstanding 5000 mm water column.

Sometimes also the bottom is made of a reinforced polyethylene (indicated he PE, tarpauling). This material is virtually waterproof and is quite affordable, but it is much harder to polyester and nylon.

In addition, many of the tent are the so-called skirt that prevents the blowing wind and rain from entering between the inner and outer tarpaulin.

Skirt - this is an additional strip of fabric along the perimeter of the tent. May be removable or sewing.

Tent with skirt makes sense to buy if you are going in winter hike: it will provide additional heat. For trekking skirt summer tents - unnecessary burden. Because of it only will accumulate condensation.

What kind of design to choose?

Three main forms of tourist tents can be identified:

1. hemisphere

It consists of two or more arcs, crossed with each other, thereby creating a dome. It is a versatile and very popular form. Tents in the form of a hemisphere can be used even in extreme expeditions: they can withstand strong wind with them easily slips into the water.

Tent in the shape of a cup

2. flip

As a rule, large and roomy tent (often revolving). Arcs such tents are parallel to each other and do not intersect each other. It is not very stable and not stand any weather. This design is common in camping tents.

The tent is in the form Half rolls

3. lodge

Gable tents in a house considered a classic. Rain and snow to easily slide down them, but construction of wind resistance is poor. In addition, this type of tent is considered to be the most troublesome in terms of installation.

Tent "house"

In addition, tourists lone often prefer Single frameless tents. They are light and compact, in fact it is just an awning tacked on ropes to trees or kept on multiple racks (usually sticks).

Tips on buying and operating

Now that you know about the tents are enough to make a purchase. But do not run to the mall or to open the online store website. There are a few tricks that will help you save money.

• Older models of well-known brands are not worse than their new models, but much cheaper.
• Do not be afraid to buy a tent a little-known firms, as long as the specification correspond to reality.
• Study reviews, advice from friends, of the opportunity to experience a particular tent in before purchasing (for example, borrowed from a friend).

Having bought a tent, do not rush immediately to go into the forest. To begin, gather her home, in order to understand how it is arranged, and in the campaign to assemble and disassemble it quickly and easily. After this walk at the seams water-repellent spray to certainly protect from moisture. A tent to serve you for a long time, on his return from a trip do not forget to dry it thoroughly.