Subscribe Buddy!Guide to Buying a Camping Tent
Looking to buy a camping tent? Sure, you can go to your discount store and pick up the cheapest tent you can find. However when you take the tent out to the field you may not be very satified with it. There are a couple of different types of camping tents that you should consider when you are making your purchase. First, what kind of weather are you going to be camping in? If you do a lot of cold and inclement weather camping you will probably not enjoy the 3 season tent. However, you shouldn’t have to buy an expensive 4 season camping tent if all you do is camp in summer months.
Mostly there are three different types of camping tents. Each one is rated for the time of year and conditions you plan on using it.
All season – these are typically cabin or family tents that generally do not perform well in harsh winter weather. Generally weight does not matter.
3 season – this tent works well in most all conditions with the exeption of harsh winter climates.
4 season – made for comfort in cold climates and inclimate weather.
Most camping tents are rated for three seasons which basically mean they are not great for winter camping. Though they will cost a lot more, the 4 season tent is able to withstand harsh winter conditions. 4-season tents are typically the lightest, smallest and most expensive, used mainly for high elevation expeditions.
Considerations of what time of year you are camping must be made. Camping in a tent that is built to keep the elements out may not be very comfortable if you mostly camp in the summer. All tents have some ventilation but those made for winter conditions are made to keep the heat in…not let it out like a summer weighted tent. If you are camping in warm to hot weather you will be comfortable in a 3 season tent. They give more options for ventilation.
Most people would prefer to buy a cheap camping tent. It is best to spend as much as you can for a tent as a cheap tent may not be very waterproof. The camping tent you choose should keep out tthe rain while allowing adequate ventilation to flow through.
There are tents that have a water resistant coating which still allow for adequate ventilation. Most camping tents have a waterproof rain fly that attaches to the tent poles and still allows for ventilation. And lastly, many camping tents have floors sewn in to the bottom.
