Choosing The Right Tent For You
Whether you go camping for the weekend or for more than a week, getting the right tent for your situation is an important decision. Many tents are very small for one of two persons and are strictly used for sleeping. Many of these tents can be packed away in very small spaces like backpacks for the biking or hiking camping.
Some tents are more for that camper who picks a campsite and stays for a while. These sorts of tents are used a bit more for just sleeping. An area or space for luggage and such as well as a comfortable sleeping area.
Having enough windows is always an option, as most people go camping in the warm summer months, it's a good idea to have a tent with as many windows on all sides of the tent to catch that cross breeze on those hot summer nights.
For me, I have been tenting for almost 26 years, and there is one thing that I find the most important thing when considering buy a tent. And that is zippers. I have seen many many heavy duty zippers that they use on tents fail. And a failed zipper can be the ruin of many a camping trip. I have owned about 6 or 7 tents in that 26 year period and I don't care how good the tent is or how popular a certain brand is all the zippers fail eventually. Some quicker than others. So my only advice is buy a tent with multiple entrances. I currently own a tent we laughingly call the Taj Mahal it is so huge. It is an 8 person tent and we only sleep 2 in it, but the extra space when we go camping for 2 or 3 weeks at a time is priceless. We have had this tent about 10 years now, one of our better purchases and it has 4 entrances. 3 of the zippers have failed. Once the 4th zipper is toast we will buy another tent.
And finally my only other piece of advise about tents is, if you are a camper like me that goes out for 2 or 3 weeks at time, I would get a tent that fits at least triple the number of people you actually intend to go camping with. Believe me when I say you will be happy that you did.
Big Tents
Swiss Gear is a prominent name in the outdoor gear industry. This tent is huge and is a great price for a tent so large.
Coleman is a familiar name in the outdoor gear industry. A popular brand they make quality products. This steel framed tent is an outstanding price. A great buy.
This type of tent will be sure to have multiple windows and doors. A good buy for that camper who like to camp for extended time periods.
Family Tents
The Wenzel Sycamore is very big with the tent stretched out to make more room. A great buy for the money.
The Eddie Bauer tent is very nice as it has huge windows for maximum air flow through the tent. A great sale price now.
Swiss Gear has made a great tent with big windows for the great air flow. An awesome price.
Backpacking Tents
The High Peak tent is super light weight to fit into a backpack without taking up to much room. It's low to the ground with short walls to resist any kind of wind you might find yourself in.
The Wenezl is a very inexpensive 1 person backpacking tent. Fits well into a backpack and is not a back breaker where money is concerned.
The Eureka tent is well made and gives the camper a bit more head space. A great buy.
Tent Accessories
The Coleman Tent Light is awesome as it has a powerful magnet that will hold on any tent pole and you don't run the risk of ripping your tent fabric trying to tie it on a loop attached to the fabric. Runs on 4 AA batteries. A really great buy right now.
This Coleman Cool Zephyr Ceiling Fan and Light is awesome. I plan on getting one of these. It attaches with a powerful magnet to any tent pole and has two speeds on the fan for great air circulation. A light is an added convenience.
The Coleman Tent Kit includes 4 steel stakes. a rubber mallet for pounding in the stakes, a whisk broom and dust pan to sweep the floor of your tent, and a hand little tool for pulling stakes. A really good deal for the money.