Tent camping - How to choose your tent

How to choose your camping tent - The ultimate guide

Whether you're camping with the family on weekends or only during one week in the woods, choosing the right tent can make all the difference between a fun and unpleasant experience.

Step 1: Consider the following factors:

Users You should always consider the number of people who will use the tent. For each tent, the number of people that can sleep there is indicated; this does not include space for you and your equipment. If you are 2 adults, a tent for 4 people would be more appropriate after entering your equipment. For groups of 4 or more, we recommend vestibules and mosquito shelters. For more privacy, tents with 2 rooms are also available. For details, see the configuration of the floor indicated on the packaging.

Use You must determine whether the tent will be used for sleeping or as living space. A tent to sleep will offer a closed and cozy place to spend the night. A screen house protects you from mosquitoes, deer flies and other biting insects, but this is not the best choice if you want to protect yourself from the sun. A sun shelter or shelter protects you from the sun and UV rays and occasional showers, but do not protect you from biting insects in spring and summer

Transport How do you access your campsite? If you can drive right up to your site, the volume and weight of the tent do not matter. However, if you are hiking, biking or canoeing, you should choose a small compact tent with lightweight aluminum poles. Check the packaging to know the weight of the tent.

Budget As with many other products, tents price varies according to their quality. A tent will integrate more expensive materials, a seal and a better quality of rainfly and other features that make the site more convenient.

Tent style A style of tent can be described with two elements: its shape and how to mount it. Although the two are related, the tents of a given form does not always rise in the same way.

Step 2: Let’s see your options:

Chalet-style tents: Have vertical walls and offer more headroom, often enough to stand upright. We can also get in and out more easily. Some family chalet-style tents have a vestibule, a screen house or storage area.

The dome tents: Are often easier to install, but they are generally lower than the chalet-style tents. They therefore offer less headroom, but they are more resistant to high winds.

Compact tents: There are different types of tents compact easy to transport and assemble.

· Popup Tent: Flexible hoops embedded in this tent allow to mount in seconds.

· Hiking tent: Lightweight and designed to be carried on foot, hiking the tent allows quick and easy installation with a minimum number of masts or no.

· Instant Tent: The masts are already attached to the tent for quick and easy assembly.

Shelter and mosquito nets: can be taken camping, but they can also protect you from the sun and insects at picnics in the park or in your backyard. If you are camping, mosquito nets shelters protect you from mosquitoes and midges without you having to take refuge in your tent or chalet. If you do not have a mosquito problem, but there has few trees and shade to your camping site, go for shelter. This will protect you from the sun and you can stay there in case of rain.

Step 3: Installation of the tent:

Most tents are easy to mount, but some require more than one person for this step. Always read the operating instructions before mounting a tent to prevent damage and facilitate its installation.

It is recommended to mount once at home before using it the first time camping. This approach not only allows you to become familiar with the procedure, but also to verify that there are no problems or missing parts before you hit the road.

Look for these other practical features:

Color coded poles and sleeves: The color codes are used to see what sheaths immediately insert the poles.

Mast system with hub: Some tents, such as Easy-Up models Broadstone use a system of integrated assembly without masts. The masts lockable joints are preassembled into the holes and come together in a central hub. Just drop the tent floor, lifting the hub and lock the frame.

Popup Tent: These spring tents are mounted in seconds. The power reinforcement fiberglass is sewn into the tent. When the tent is folded, the armature is wound in a circle. Simply remove the elastic strap and throw the tent. It opens by itself. There remains then only drive the stakes.

Step 4: Other features that must be considered:

Air circulation: For maximum comfort, choose a tent in which it is possible to control the temperature and air circulation through windows and vents

Slush Carpet: These mats are used to let the muddy shoes outside the tent.
Lobbies: They offer more storage space for your equipment. You can use the tents with large vestibule to sit in the shade.
Shelters nets: To sit outside away mosquitoes.
Lighting Systems: Practices to illuminate the tent or night lighting; they do not occupy any space on the floor.
UV protection: The roof of some shelters is aluminized or treated against UV rays to reflect heat and harmful sun rays.
Passages for extension cord: They offer easy access, free water and mosquitoes, to connect electrical devices in your tent.
Shopper for anchoring ropes: They allow you to neatly store the anchor ropes and serve as highly visible flags to avoid tripping on the anchor ropes.
Drinks holder: The drinks holder and storage pockets are handy to keep your tent clean and tidy.
Cupboards: Cupboards system that lets you keep your tent tidy.
Partitions: Some large tents are available with several partitions that can divide the space for privacy.
Sets: They usually include a tent, 2 chairs and 2 sleeping bags. These are sets of departures at great prices.

Step 5: Warranty.

It is strongly recommended to install the tent at home to inspect and detect defects before use. Once used, most tents offer only a warranty repair. Manufacturers' warranties vary by brand; the period can range from one year to a lifetime limited duration. Consult the documentation of your attempts to find the warranty.