Find the Best Tents for Camping

Camping is a great outdoor activity for the whole family. Sometimes the best tents for camping are easy to find at your local store or online. There are a variety of tents available to suit your needs.

Whether you're looking for a simple one man tent or a family tent or something in between, you can find it. The camping industry makes it possible to have a "home away from home" no matter where you are. The are a number of modern luxuries in tents today that weren't available even a few years ago.

What type of tent are you looking for? A small tent or one for a large group? This article will help you find exactly what you need for your next camping trip.

When you choose a tent, one of the most important considerations is how large it will be. Here are the things you want to think about:

• How many people will be sleeping in the tent? Sometimes you may want to "buy a little extra room." If you have 3 people who will be camping, you may want to buy a 4 person tent, or if you 4 people, you may want to buy a 5 person tent, and so on. You might even want to add 2 people instead of just 1.

• Plan on 30 square foot of floor space per person. You can make this higher if you wish. The last thing anything wants is to feel cramped when they are camping.

• Don't forget to leave plenty of room for your gear. It's easy when you're buying a tent and measuring for everyone who will be sleeping in it, and to forget about all the gear you will have. This includes clothes, any hiking equipment, and anything else you require when you go camping.

• Consider people's height. Make sure the tent is long enough to accommodate the tallest person. For example, if you have someone who is 6 foot tall, you will want the tent to be 7 foot wide to give them ample room.

• Avoid tents that are too big. It might seem logical to buy a really big tent to make sure you have plenty of room. The problem with this strategy is you can actually get a tent that is too big. You will run into problems when you are looking for a level spot of ground for the entire tent. Large tents are also heavy to carry. This can be a problem if you are hiking a long distance.

• Consider then tent's height. It's nice to have a tent high enough that you can stand up in it. This means you will want it about 6 to 7 foot high so you can comfortably stand.

Two important factors to consider when you are picking out your tent is the tent's shape and the fabric the tent is constructed out of.

Tent Shape

Tents come in 4 basic shapes: A-frame, umbrella, dome, and wall.The A-frame tent is the common pup tent shape but it can also be a large tent, too. An umbrella tent makes a great family tent since it provides a large amount of standing room. The dome tent looks like connected triangles and looks a bit like an octagon. Lastly, the wall tent is similar to an A-frame tent but is much larger and accommodates a larger number of people.

Tent Fabric

Nearly all tents are made of fabric. This is because it is waterproof and sturdy. Coated nylon is used for the outside walls and nylon mesh is used for the indoor walls. Some older tents were made out of sturdy canvas, but it's not common to see this type today.

The tent poles and tent seams are important components of the tent. The poles support the weight of the entire tent so they must be sturdy. The seems keep the lining of the tent intact.

Tent Poles: Aluminum or Fiberglass?

Most tents have poles that are linked together with an elastic cord. The poles are typically made out of either aluminum or fiberglass. The aluminum are probably more sturdy, although under great pressure could bend. The fiberglass can break if dropped on a hard surface. Tent poles should always be handled with care and packed away with the tent when transported.

Tent Seams

The best tents have reinforced seams. This makes for a much sturdier tent. Many times the tent is reinforced with nylon tape.

Tents are designed to withstand many types of weather, like wind rain, cold, sun, and heat. Each element takes a toll on the tent in a different way.

Consider the places you think you will camp and buy a tent that can withstand the most extreme of conditions of your chosen camping spots. Tents specially designed for heavy winds will have study poles and ropes to anchor the poles into the ground. A rainy, damp environment will have an extra thick waterproof outer layer to stand up to this kind of weather.

Did you know you can camp in the winter? They make tents that are specially designed to withstand extreme temperatures and snow. But, if you don't want to camp year round, there's no need to spare the extra expense for this type of tent.

Don't think you don't need to take into consideration weather if you will be in a hot and sunny area. Sun and heat mean a tent needs shade and plenty of air flow. You may also want screened doors and windows for extra ventilation.

No matter what type of weather you encounter, the ground is likely to have moisture. Make sure you have a thick, waterproof floor made of coated nylon. There should be few, if any, seams. In addition, the floor should come up several inches all the way around the base of the tent. This keeps any moisture in the ground from getting up into the walls of the tent.