If you are planning to head out on a camping trip and star gazing is important to you, you will be happy to learn that there are many tents on the market today that provide optimal sky views. This guide will advise you of what you need to consider as you are shopping for your stargazing Tent.

Considerations for Buying a Tent for Stargazing

Mesh

If you are going to have a clear view of the night sky, portions of the tent must be constructed of mesh. You definitely want to choose a tent with a mesh top, so you can literally lie back in your sleeping bag and look up at the cosmos.

The upper portion of the tent walls is another area where mesh can enable you to stargaze to your heart’s content. An added benefit to having mesh panels in your tent is the increased air flow you will receive.

But if you are daring enough, you can even find tents that have entire side panels made of mesh. Imagine yourself in a wide open area far away from city lights: can you envision what an amazing view of the sky you would have?

Rainfly

The main disadvantage to having a mesh ceiling or top side panel is the possibility of bad weather. The stargazing tents we are reviewing today all have a rainfly that will give you protection from rain just in case you need it.

Generally, a rainfly is made from waterproof materials so it will shed the water off of your tent. A rainfly can also block the wind if you are camping during the cooler months; it can also protect the inside of your tent from blowing dirt and sand.

One thing worth noting, if you are looking at the stars and have the rainfly rolled back, you will have to get out of the tent in order to move the rainfly into place if it starts raining. One of our reviewed tents has an ingenious method of quickly getting the rainfly in place, so keep an eye out for that!

Size and Weight

When you are choosing a tent for your upcoming plans for looking at the stars from your vantage point in the wilderness somewhere, you will take size into consideration, and in some instances, the weight of your tent as well.

When it comes to size, tents may be referred to as ‘1-person’, ‘2-person’, etc. This is a way tent advertisers choose to market their tents, in an effort to help individuals visualize the approximate size of the tent. As a rule, if a tent is called a ‘2-person’ tent, you can rest assured that it will be a tight fit for two individuals and their gear. If you don’t mind being in close quarters, you can rely on that guidance, but if you anticipate needing a little more personal space, you may want to consider ‘sizing up’; in other words, choose a 3-person tent for two campers.

The weight of your tent may be an issue, especially if you are going to hike into the area where you will be camping. Some backpackers obsess about counting every single ounce that goes into their backpack and the shelter/tent is typically one of the big three (the three heaviest items you carry – tent, sleeping bag, backpack). If you are hiking in, be sure to think carefully about how much tent weight you want to carry.

Bug Repelling Ability

Mesh panels are great for giving you a view of your surroundings as well as for increasing the flow of fresh air through your tent, but sometimes they do not exclude insects as well as solid panels of tent material. If the mesh is too big, tiny insects can find their way into your tent. This is something you should consider as you research your tent purchase.

There are products you can purchase to treat your mesh panels with that will serve to repel insects. Some tents already have bug repellant applied that will last up to six months. In addition, there are some things you can do around the campsite to limit how many insects will be ‘bugging’ you during your camping trip.

Ease of Set Up

If you have ever fought with your tent in order to get it set up, you know that ease of setup is an important consideration as you are choosing your new stargazing tent. Many of the newer tents can be set up without staking. Once the final position of the tent is determined, the tent is staked down.

As you are looking for your perfect stargazing tent, consider how the tent is constructed: do the poles clip to the tent, or do you have to thread the poles through fabric sleeves (tip: the clips are a whole lot easier). Color-coded poles are easier to use than poles that all seem to look alike.

Configuration

As you are considering various tents, you want to look at the general layout of the tent. Take into consideration such things as number of entrances: two doors can be better than one, if one of the campers tends to ramble around outside in the middle of the night and don’t want to be stomped on by mistake.

Another thing you may want is a tent with some sort of vestibule at the entrance. This is often created by the overhang from a rainfly. A vestibule is basically a sheltered area where you can store some of your gear or dirty boots.

Materials

Most of your smaller backpacking type tents will be made of polyester. It’s lightweight and strong. Tents made of natural fabrics like cotton, or a polycotton blend, are available on the market, and individuals who like them believe that their breathable fibers keep the tent cooler in the summertime.

Bathtub Floor

This is something relatively new to the camping world: a bathtub-style floor. The purpose of this type of floor is to prevent water from pooling up underneath the floor of your tent. If you have ever tried to sleep in a tent where water has seeped up through the floor, you know how absolutely miserable it can be.

A bathtub-style floor extends from the floor up the sides of the tent by a few inches. Remember, the place you choose to pitch your tent substantially impacts whether or not your tent floor will get soaked during a rainstorm. In all cases, avoid setting up your tent over a depressed area of ground. https://sectionhiker.com/what-is-a-bathtub-floor/

Now that you know what to look for, here are our three reviews of some of the best tents on the market for stargazing.

A Few other Considerations

Camp Away from the City

The farther you can get from cities and big towns, the better. Light pollution from cities can stretch hundreds of miles. More ambient light from Earth means less stars will be visible. Most of the breathtaking pictures of the Milky Way galaxy are taken from areas hundreds of miles away from anything resembling civilization.

In general, the west half of the United States is darker than the east half. That’s not to say that there aren’t great locations in the east, it’s just that the west tends to be much more sparsely populated. The deserts of the south west and the Rocky Mountains have made it more difficult for major cities to spawn up.

Take a look at this dark site finder to find the ideal locations to stargaze.

Open Spaces are Better than the Forest

It should go without saying, but it’s hard to see the sky if there is a solid layer of trees between you and the sky. If possible, camp in an open field rather than in the forest.

Winter is Better

There are several reasons its better to stargaze during the winter. First of all, nights are longer during winter. In the northern part of the continental United States, night can last over 15 hours. This obviously leaves more time for looking up.

Another reason winter is better is that if you are limited in camping site selection and are forced to camp with more trees than you want, at least the leaves won’t be on them. There are obvious exceptions such as pine trees and evergreens, but fewer leaves allows more of the sky to shine through.

The Moon

If you’ve ever been outside at night during a full moon, you know how bright it can be. Ideally, your trip can be planned to align with a new phase Moon (where you can’t see the moon). If you can’t line that up perfectly, try to stay as close to that new phase as possible.

Best Tents for Stargazing

Kelty Trail Ridge 4 with Footprint

This tent is designed for 4 people, but it’s a better fit for 3 adults. The walls are steep, so you don’t feel closed in. Made out of 68D Polyester, this tent is sturdy and lightweight. The Kelty Trail Ridge has a lot of mesh on the side of the tent as well as the roof, resulting in excellent star gazing. The rainfly can be rolled up, giving you an unobstructed view of the sky.

The Kelty has two doors, making it easy for someone to step in and out of the tent without disturbing everyone else. It has two vestibules, great for storage of your gear. The Kelty also comes with a ground cloth (called a footprint) to protect the floor of the tent and also keep your sleeping bags dry.

Setting up the tent is easy. There are few poles, and the fly attaches with a color coded clip.

What we really like:

• the incredible view of night sky
• if storm rolls in, you can literally reach outside the door with one hand to unclip the rainfly
• the easy of setup
• the price is reasonable

What we don’t like:

• the rainfly is difficult to put on initially
• the weight (17.3 pounds) makes this not suitable for a backpacker

Big Agnes- Copper Spur HV UL Tent

Big Agnes can accommodate 3 adults comfortably. Constructed of rip-stop nylon, this tent comes in as extremely lightweight, weighing only 3 pounds. The nylon construction makes this tent strong and durable despite its deceivingly light weight. There is a lot of space due to the way the tent is designed, so you don’t feel cramped. Lots of mesh allow for optimal sky viewing as well as good ventilation throughout the tent.

Big Agnes has lots of inside pockets and gear loops overhead. You also get two vestibules for gear storage.

What we really like:

• the media pockets over the sleeping area
• the ease of set up (clips to attach tent to frame)
• when rainfly is folded over the view of the sky is amazing

What we don’t like:

• the material is very thin, making the footprint a necessity
• the footprint must be purchased separately
• the high price, be sure you need an ultralight tent before you make this investment

ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3-Person Tent

Chaos is listed as a 3-person tent, but it suits 2 adults better than 3. Chaos is available in a variety of sizes depending upon your needs. The tent floor is made of polyester, and the walls and ceiling are mainly mesh, giving you great views of the sky. You have two vestibules for gear storage, as well as two doors for ease of entry/exit.

Chaos is easy to assemble, with aluminum poles that attach by clips.

What we really like:

• you get a nice-sized tent weighing in at less than 6 pounds
• the floor is coated with urethane to keep you and your gear dry
• there is a lot of mesh allowing great views
• the price: it’s very affordable

What we don’t like:

• this low profile tent may cause problem for taller individuals
• the angle of the vestibules make access a bit difficult
• the matching footprint must be purchased separately

Conclusion

With some amazing choices on the market, you should have no problem locating a stargazing tent that suits your particular needs. Remember, the amount of mesh overhead will enhance your views of the stars, but you want to make sure you can get a rainfly in place quickly in case of a sudden storm.

Now get out there and enjoy the stars!

The post Best Tent for Stargazing appeared first on Score Survival.