Before you start looking, it is worth taking time to decide how you will use your tent.
Many factors might come into play, such as:
How many people will be sleeping inside?
It is commonly held that you should buy a tent with more ‘berths’ than people who will use it. It is certainly worth looking at the sleeping space available for each person.
In some tents, for example, you cannot fit a double airbed into a sleeping cabin for two.
However, if you are planning to carry your tent up a mountain or squeeze it into a canoe, you will probably happily sacrifice some space in favour of a smaller unit.
How long will you stay at one site?
There are exceptions, but generally the smaller the tent, the easier it is to pitch. If you are planning a fortnight’s family holiday you may be prepared to spend time hanging wardrobes or adding canopies and enjoy the benefits of extra space, but you may prefer a more basic tent for weekend stops.
What is the weather likely to be?
If you have the option of only camping in fine weather, you can probably get away with a small, cheap tent just to sleep in, with a few guy ropes to hold it down. If you are looking to camp in winter or in more extreme conditions you will need to take this into account when choosing your tent. This is where your choice of tent fabric and pole material is also important.
How much do you want to spend?
Remember the tent is only the start of your camping expenditure. You will need to budget for something to sleep on and in; cooking and eating facilities; and lighting as a minimum.
On the other hand, a cheap tent may not have the quality and facilities you need for an enjoyable holiday – and this could be enough to spoil the whole camping experience.
Questions to consider
Is there enough space for everyone to sleep comfortably, with space for airbeds if required?
Can I stand up inside?
Is there space to get changed?
Is there enough living space for a rainy day?
Is there room to store my kit?
Is there enough ventilation, especially when I am asleep?
How easy is it to pitch? Am I tall and strong enough to fit the poles?
Can I keep children inside, if necessary?
Do they need their own space at night or during the day?
Are there enough guying points and ropes for stability?
What pegs do I need?
Does it have a sewn-in groundsheet?
How easy is it to move when packed away?
Do I want to spend this amount of money?
Tent styles
Most tents on the market today have a fabric outer – known as the flysheet – and inner sleeping compartments. When you are in the tent this double-wall gives insulation and prevents condensation from the flysheet falling on you or making your bedding damp.
Natural-fabric tents, usually made of heavy cotton canvas, do not necessarily need an inner tent because the canvas ‘breathes’ so condensation is less of a problem. At the base of the tent is a groundsheet. This is generally of a thick, waterproof fabric such as PVC and protects you from the dampness of the ground beneath. Traditionally, groundsheets were separate from the flysheet of the tent, except in sleeping areas. They could be lifted during the day to let the grass below ‘breathe’, so it remained in good condition.
Today, however, many tents come with built-in groundsheets. These are known as sewn-in groundsheets (or SIGs), though the seam between the flysheet and groundsheet is often welded (to improve water resistance) or zipped.
Types of tent
There are several types of tent on the market today, with some larger units combining elements of several others. Here are some of the more common styles:
Dome tents
A dome tent has two or more flexible poles arranged in sleeves to form semi-circles and meeting at the central top point of the tent, hence making a ‘dome’ shape. The larger the dome, the less stable it is in the wind, so most dome tents are of a sm
Geodesic tents
A geodesic tent has poles that criss-cross its surface, often intersecting to form triangles, the term ‘geodesic’ meaning the shortest line between two points on a curve. This pattern distributes any stresses across the tent’s structure, making it the most stable type of tent for extreme weather conditions. Semi-geodesic tents are similar, but use fewer poles. Both geodesic and semi-geodesic tents are normally small and ideal for those who want a lightweight tent for pitching on mountains or in other windy, exposed places.
Pod tents
Some of the largest tents around are in a pod formation, with a central living area and sleeping compartments radiating out like the points on a star. At first glance, these look great for families where each member wants his or her own space, with a central area where you can get together during the day. However, there is always plenty of fabric in a pod-style tent, which can make it challenging to pitch. The circular shape also means it is often too large for a standard pitch on a campsite, so you may be turned away or need to pay more for your pitch (see How big do you want to go? on page 2).
Tunnel tents
Tunnels have two or more hoops arranged one behind the other, with the flysheet between forming the tunnel. These are some of the most straightforward units to pitch and are generally stable once pegged out, though they can act as good kites if the wind catches them before they are secured to the ground.
Vis-à-vis tents
A tent with a vis-à-vis (literally ‘face-to-face’ in French) construction has its sleeping compartments arranged at opposite ends of the tent with a living area in between. These tents are often good for families with children who prefer to keep some space between different parts of the family, but the living area can be darker than in other tent designs because of the position of the windows and doors.
Frame tents
Frame tents were popular in the 1960s and 1970s, but fewer are now sold. They are often made of cotton or polycotton canvas with a rigid pole framework inside. Current frame tents tend to be large and heavy, but they have plenty of space and head height inside.
Trailer tents
At the top end of the tent market – in terms of price and often space – are trailer tents and folding campers. These have a Data Sheet of their own: Choosing a trailer tent or folding camper.
Easy-to-pitch tents
There are several types of easy-to-pitch tents on the market, some with established pole systems, others of newer design. They include pop-ups, knuckle-jointed units and inflatable
pole tents.
Knuckle-jointed pole tents
In these units the rigid poles are already threaded into their sleeves, but fold away with the fabric of the tent. The tents come in dome and vis-à-vis styles and are quick to pitch, though you need to take care not to pinch either the fabric or your fingers in the pole joints.
Inflatable-tube tents.
Many tent manufacturers now have a range of tents with inflatable tubes in the place of traditional poles. Typically these tents have a structure of low pressure tubes that are inflated after basic pegging out. They can be swift to pitch but are often heavier, bulkier and more expensive than their pole-and-sleeve counterparts.
Pop-up tents
Many manufacturers now produce pop-up tents that already have the poles threaded into the fabric. They are stored with the poles curled up. The poles act as springs when taken out of the bag, so the tent ‘pops up’ into shape, almost by itself, ready for pegging out.
In the past, pop-up tents were single skinned and only suitable for fair-weather camping, but recent developments mean some of these easy-to-pitch tents can be found with inner tents and accommodating as many as five people. Before buying a pop-up tent, check the levels of ventilation and make sure you can get it back into its bag at the end of your stay.
whichever you choose, just have a great time and enjoy the outdoors