Camping; the action of escaping civilization to spend a night (or more) in the wilderness sleeping under the stars with just a Tent and the basics; a time to relax and refuel the mind.

This is a favourite pastime that has been enjoyed by many for centuries and continues to evolve year-after-year with new technologies constantly improving equipment.

In the 1800’s, camping equipment was very heavy and was often transported using boats due of its connection with the pleasure boating craze of the late Victorians. Since then, improvements have made camping more accessible and more mobile thanks to newer, lightweight products that can be hauled to the top of mountains and deep into the dense forests with great ease.

Along with these weight improvements have come more sophisticated products that have created new categories, new limits and new expectations!

Every adventure junkie has their preference and has dealt with a little trial-and-error process in order to discover their ideal products. In order to simplify this trial-and-error process for buyers looking for the right tent, we have created a guide to ease your shopping stress!

 
 

How Many Are Sleeping in your Tent

One of the first steps to tent shopping is to clarify how many people you will be housing in your tent. Are you planning to go on solo expeditions alone, weekend trips with just you, your dog and a close mate, or are you looking for a little cozy abode away from home for your and your friends’ weekend getaways to the lake? Whatever the adventure may be, you want a tent that will be able to accommodate your needs.

When deciding on the size of your tent keep in mind that there is no industry standard for per-person tent dimensions and each brand will vary in size depending on its suggested capacity. Generally the per-person dimensions for tents are going to be a tight fit so plan accordingly.

If one of your group is a night-time thrasher who needs a little extra arm and leg room or an overpacker with too many bags, you may want to opt for a slightly larger tent. If you’re three people, you may want to go for the 4-person tent instead like the Marmot Tungsten 4 Person Tent or the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 4 person tent. That little extra space can save your sanity and the overall morale in the tent.

Marmot Tungsten 4P TentBig Agnes Copper Spur UL 4P Tent

 
 

Tent sizes can range anywhere from one person to 12 or more depending on what their intended use is for. Although in most cases the larger the tent, the heavier it is, with new technologies you can find yourself a backcountry-worthy tent to set up basecamp for you and your crew on your next remote adventure like the MSR Backcountry Barn Tent or the Mountain Hardwear Optic 6 Tent.

MSR Backcountry Barn TentMountain Hardwear Optic 6 Tent

 
 

What is the Intended Use For Your Tent?

The tent market can be a little overwhelming for some shoppers. With so with so many options to choose from it’s hard to know where to begin and what exactly you should be looking for.

Are you looking for a spacious, shaded shelter to lay your head after a long day of fishing and floating on the river or do you plan to hike for 5 hours up to Garibaldi Lake and pitch your tent for the night so you can check out the Black Tusk the following day? You need to decide whether you are looking for a tent that you will be carrying into the wilderness or one that will be carried no more that 100ft from the car to the camping spot.

When weight isn’t an issue:

If you are going to be doing mainly car camping then weight is not so much an issue so your options are nearly limitless! You can go for something funky like the Burton Stone Hut Tent which is equipped with an adjustable hanging table even. Or maybe the North Face Kaiju 6 with lots of space and ample head room so you can stand-up inside if the weather happens to tank for your family’s annual lake campout.

Burton Stone Hut TentThe North Face Kaiju 6

These roomy tents are great for many reasons be it having the ability to stand up straight while moving around or cool features like hanging tables, but they aren’t for everyone.
 

When weight is an issue:

If you’ve got some overnight camp-outs planned out in the wilderness you’re number one critical feature will be the weight of the tent. If you’re going to be hiking for multiple hours hauling your tent and all your other gear on your back you’re going to want something simple and lightweight like the MSR Flylite Tent or the North Face Stormbreak 1. Both of these tents weigh less that 5lbs and will provide the shelter you need when it is time to hit the hay after a long day of hiking.

*Take note that the MSR Flylite Tent does need require 3 hiking or trekking poles in order to set it up. The tent uses two poles to hold up the front and one to hold up the rear of the tent.

MSR Flylite TentThe North Face Stormbreak 1

 
*When you’re looking at the specifications for a tent make sure you check out the weight, especially the packaged weight. This is the weight of the tent and everything it comes with including the stuff sacks, poles, guy lines – everything! Keep in mind that this the heaviest the tent will ever be so if you divide your 3 person tent among the 3 people you are going to be camping with the weight will be even less.

 
 

Tents are Rated By the Seasons

Once you’ve figured out whether you need a lightweight tent or a heavyweight, home-away-from-home you can tackle the next question: do you get a 3-season tent or a 4-season tent? What’s the difference? Are there 1-season and 2-season tents too?

When it comes to seasonal ratings of tents the most common are going to be 3-season and 4-season tents. Yes there are 1-season and 2-season tents but they can only be used certain times of the year so unless you are camping solely in tropical climates where the sun is always shining, you’re going to want to stick with 3-season and 4-season tents.

A 1-season tent is designed to simply keep you protective from solid objects like a pinecone falling from the tree overhead or the buzzing mosquitos that are waiting for you impatiently on the otherside. These tents are generally only used in the summer time as they are more often made from mesh to maximize airflow labelling them more as a mosquito net. There is no protection from wind and rain so if you’re going to be experiencing wetter and cooler weather, a 1-season tent isn’t the choice for you.

A 2-season tent is meant ideally for late summer or early spring when the weather conditions may include a little drizzle of rain or a little bit of wind but nothing more than that. These tents are generally a single-skin tent and will have a waterproof coating on the outside to keep the rain out although they may leak in consistently wet weather. Due to the lack of breath-ability, a 2-season tent may condensate overnight so items near the walls may get damp.

2-season tents are ideal for light, camping excursions in moderate weather or for providing some shade for the young ones while you’re at a picnic in the park. If you are looking for a tent with more than your basic waterproofing and a more technical weather-design, you’re going to start wanting to check out the 3-season tents like the Black Diamond Skylight Tent.

A 3-season tent is great for camping from spring to autumn and summer in between. These tents are made to protect you from the wet, the cold and the wind and will generally have 2-layers and taped seams. In order to withstand gusty weather, a 3-seaosn tent will have stronger tent poles, tough guy-lines and strengthened pegging points.

3-season tents will have better ventilation than 2-season tents avoiding condensation build-up inside and airflow on the warmer days. Generally they will be equipped with a storage vestibule at the front of the tent where you can leave your bags and shoes and they will remain undercover and protective from the elements.

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Shop 3-Season Tents

If you are a beginner camper, the possibilities of a 3-season tent make them the right choice for you. You are not limited to only summer camping and can venture out even if the weather is looking gloomy. Check out the Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2 DP or the MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent!

Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2 DPMSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent

 
 

A 4-season tent can be used year-round in all types of weather including a blizzard on top of a mountain. These tents will have very strong poles and feature a wind-proof structure to withstand strong gusts for your mountain-top excursions. The materials used in 4-season tents will be very durable and have adequate finishes to combat against the worst conditions including horizontal rain coming from all directions.

Although they are labeled as 4-season tents and ready to use year-round, a 4-season tent may be better off used just for winter camping as they can become very warm for camping in the summer months.
 

Shop 4-Season Tents

Because 4-season tents are made with the highest quality materials for tent gear, they will fall more on the pricier side. If you are an adventurer who doesn’t let anything stand between you and your next adventure, a 4-season tent like the Marmot Thor 3 Person Tent or the Mountain Hardwear EV3 Tent may be worth investing in so you can stay safe and warm on your year-round activities.

Marmot Thor 3 Person TentMountain Hardwear EV3 Tent

 
 
 

Entry Doors, Rainflys and Gear Vestibules, Oh My!

When you’re trying hard to decide between the TNF Triarch 3 and the Black Diamond Skylight Tent, comparing the tent features may help you make up your mind. Depending on what activities you are planning to use your tent for, different features may be beneficial in different ways.

The North Face Triarch 3Black Diamond Skylight

One of the main features an adventurer will focus on when choosing their new tent is the number of doors it has. The two tents pictured above are both 3-season tents suitable for 2-3 people and they both weigh between 4 and 5lbs.

Other than their shapes, the big difference between these two tents is that the TNF Triarch 3 has two entry doors whereas the Black Diamond Skylight has only one entry door. For some, there is no need for two entry doors, but for others, more than one entry door is an essential feature they look for when buying a new tent.

Other features that you may want to look for while shopping for a new tent include a rainfly and a gear vestibule/garage.

Most 3 and 4-season tents will be equipped with a rainfly because this is the waterproof cover which protects the tent from rain and dew. A rainfly will fit over the top of your tent and generally come in two styles.

A roof-only rainfly will only cover the top of your tent and still allow some light to come in through the sides. Although these don’t offer as much protection, they will still keep you and your gear dry inside. A full-coverage rainfly will offer maximum protection and will keep you and your tent dry in rain and wind when it’s more than just a drizzle.

A gear vestibule/garage is sometimes integrated into the rainfly of a tent like on the Mountain Hardwear Ghost UL 3 Tent. This vestibule is ideally used for storing your boots and shoes as well as packs so they are out of the rain and stay dry.

For those tents that do not include a gear vestibule integrated into the rainfly, sometimes they can be purchased separately like the MSR Nook GearShed.

Keep in mind though, that not all tents are compatible for gear vestibules and will quite often only be compatible with the tents made by that particular brand.

Mountain Hardwear Ghost UL 3 TentMSR Nook GearhShed

 
 

Other Tent Features

Other things to look out for when tent shopping are the more technical features such as the tent materials themselves, the ventilation, guyout loops and even interior loops and pockets. Like anything, the more features a product has usually equates to a more performance product and higher price. So if you want the cream of the crop with all the features you’re going to be paying a higher price.

• The more mesh panels you find on a tent skeleton, the better ventilated it will be. Not only do these mesh panels provide scenic views in the morning and starry skies at night, they also allow air to circulate and keep you cool and fresh at night. This ventilation will also regulate the condensation.
• When it comes to tent materials, the more rugged bomb-proof tents will be made using higher-denier fabrics making them more sturdy and durable. If you’re looking for a tent that can withstand all weather conditions and rugged terrain you may want to look for a tent equipped with higher-denier fabrics and taped seams too!
• Guyout loops are more oftenly found on higher-quality tents that are made to withstand a variety of weather conditions including high winds. These features will be found on the outside of the tent body and are used to secure your tent when the winds pick up so it doesn’t take flight.
• When you’re out in the backcountry and nature calls at night, scrambling around the tent for your headlamp can be a hassle and a pain for everyone else in the tent. In cases like thes, interior pockets and loops can be your savior! Having internal pockets inside a tent are very convenient and a great place to stash a mobile phone, a headlamp and even some chapstick. Majority of tents will be equipped with internal pockets and a loop to hang a lantern at the top center of the tent ceiling but t’s always a good idea to double check.

 
 

What is a Footprint and Do I Really Need One?

A footprint is a groundcloth which is used to extend the life of your tent floor. Although they are generally made of a tough, tarp-like material, the terrain and usage can eventually take a toll on the tent floor.

Footprints are generally sold separately and will often be compatible to a particular tent so they are sized to fit. Most brands will sell tent footprints for the models that they carry. They aren’t mandatory but if you want to avoid having to replace your tent due to a hole or rip in the tent floor after camping on some rugged terrain, a footprint is a much cheaper option.

Shop Tent Footprints

 
 

Let’s Get Camping!

You’ve got your tent, so what are you waiting for?! Get out there and camp this weekend even if it means setting it up in your living room, basement or backyard. Throw away the electronics for the evening and camp-out out in your new cozy, abode!

 
 

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