A tent is a necessity when going camping.

It plays a huge role in the success of your camping trip when it comes to providing comfort and protection, aside from meeting your needs.

There are many other factors that you need to consider when choosing the best camping tent.

We present them here as a guide before you make your next purchase.

Capacity

Tent capacity refers to the number of people that can sleep inside it. What manufacturers advertise is the number of people who sleep side by side with little or no room in between or for your camping gear.
If you plan to use a tent for other activities other than sleeping, or if you want to store your gear in it, choose a tent with a larger capacity.
Note that tents with large capacities are harder to set up, heavier to carry, and will require more space in your vehicle.

If you have children camping with you, it’s best to choose a spacious tent. Kids can sleep comfortably, play, and do other activities inside a big tent.

Comfort

Comfort is determined by how spacious the tent is. Larger tents have more headroom allowing adults to stand and move freely inside the tent.

Smaller tents require you to crawl or bend over in order to move around. Some tents come with more than one door, usually placed in the back. It provides convenience, added comfort, and privacy to campers.
Dividers are another option for privacy that typically apply to cabin-type tents. These are useful to create additional rooms in a large tent.

Types of Tents

Tents come in different shapes and sizes. The following are descriptions you will find useful regarding the different types of tent.

A-frame or Ridge Tent

This is a simple, lightweight, and inexpensive tent shaped like an “A”. It is not very spacious because of its sloping walls. This type of tent is vulnerable to high winds, making it more suited as a fair-weather tent.

Dome

Dome tents are the most popular type of tent. They have arched ceilings, a decent amount of headroom, and a spacious interior. Dome tents provide good stability during windy conditions. It has a dome shape, enabling it to handle snow a lot better than other tent styles. This type of tents is freestanding, meaning they stand without the use of stakes and easy to transport anywhere.

Hoop Or Tunnel

These tents provide good stability and weather-resistance. They are designed to accommodate one or two people and are ideal for backpacking because they are lightweight and compact. An advantage of this type of tent is that snow and water will slide off due to its shape.

Pop-up

Also called an instant or quick pitch tent, the poles of these tents are already built in and fitted into the tent fabric. You simply have to pop them up and they are ready to use. Folding them back, however, can be tricky.
The flexibility of these tents makes them less ideal for windy conditions.

Inflatable

Also called a blow up or air tent, these are similar to an air mattress. The structure of the tent is from the air filled tubes or beams that have replaced by traditional poles. They are simple to set up, taking only a few minutes. However, these tents are heavy and are more expensive.

Geodesic

Geodesic tents are known for the crisscrossing poles that form triangles on the tent’s surface. This structure makes them a stable tent in extreme weather conditions such as on mountains or exposed areas with high winds.

Tent Sizes

Tents can also be classified according to their size. This makes it easier to determine which tent you need and for what purpose.

Large and Family Tents

Large and Family Tents are known for being spacious and having a large living space. These tents allow an adult to stand and move around freely in the tent.
They also come with multiple bedrooms separated by doors or dividers. Because of their size, they require a large campsite and will take more time to set up.

One man tents and two man tents

One man tents and two man tents are the ideal shelter for people camping alone or with a partner.
These tents are lightweight and can easily be packed and carried around in your backpack.
If you are travelling alone, we recommend a two man tent so you can have a comfortable amount of space for sleeping and additional space for your gear. These tents provide reliable shelter and come with a convenient porch area for cooking or for storage.

Lightweight backpacking tents

Lightweight backpacking tents are designed for backpackers and hikers. These tents are light, small, and compact compared to standard tents. They are easy to set up and provide a stable and wind-resistant shelter even in open fields.

Motorcycle camping tents

Motorcycle camping tents are ideal for motorcycle enthusiasts who like to go motorcycle camping. Similar to backpacking or hiking, these tents are lightweight and compact so as not to exceed the motorcycle’s maximum weight capacity.
A unique feature of these tents is the extra space for parking your motorcycle inside the tent, protecting it from the weather and any other unexpected damage.

Winter tents

Winter tents are recommended if you like camping during the winter season. These tents are heavier than three-season tents and are mostly made of solid fabric to ensure that the tent is strong and can retain warmth.
Typical features of a winter tent include having a dome shape and an extra strong pole structure. Some tents have dual doors for easy access especially in bad weather conditions. They also have a large porch area for storage of wet gear and muddy shoes or to be used as a sheltered cooking space.

Waterproof  Tents

While most tents are water-resistant, these tents are waterproof. They are made from polyester with a polyurethane coating. The coating is measured in Hydrostatic Head and must be over 1500 to be considered waterproof.
A waterproof tent is recommended for camping trips in very wet regions or during rainy seasons. This will ensure that you and your gear will remain dry and comfortable even in bad weather.

Cabin style tents

Cabin style tents, also called frame tents, are ideal for groups or family campers. These require a longer setup time because of their size. You have to stake them properly to prevent the fabric from becoming flabby, which leads to water entering the tent. Cabin style tents are spacious and tall enough for an adult to stand inside. They also come with fabric walls that act as dividers and create additional rooms.

Weather-Resistance

Choosing a camping tent also depends largely on the weather conditions during your camping trip. Is it during fair weather? Will there be a lot of rainfall and strong winds? Is it during the cold season?

Some tents are labeled three-season, four-season, and some even five-season tents. The main difference is their features and the materials that they are made of.
Three-season tents can handle strong winds and heavy rain.
The four and five-season tents are stronger and are built to handle tougher and extreme weather conditions.
When choosing your tent, make sure it can provide the protection you need in both fair and inclement weather. Your tent should be able to withstand a storm, heavy rains, and strong winds. It is better to be safe and more prepared than regret not being prepared later on.

If you are planning to camp in extreme weather conditions, choose a tent that is specially built to handle those conditions.

Materials

The materials that make up the tent are important in determining the lifespan of your tent. Compare tent fabrics, poles, zippers, rainflies, and flooring. Don’t just go for a cheap tent since it might only be good for one time use.
The tent will be your shelter for the next few days, make sure you choose a durable tent that offers added protection.

Ease of Setup

Setting up a tent and taking it down requires time. Practice setting up your tent before you go camping. Consider whether a single person can set up the tent easily or if it requires two or more people. The best gauge would be how quickly it can be set up during a storm.

Packing Size

The weight of the tent when packed does matter. You definitely do not want a heavy tent if you are backpacking your way to camp or if you are hiking.
If you have a car or a motorcycle, you want the tent to fit in the car trunk or within your motorcycle’s storage capacity.
Although comfort is more important, the packing size is something that you need to consider before making a decision.

Final Words

Choosing the best camping tent requires looking into the tents quality, comfort, and protection. It should be able to meet your standards. Compare, read reviews, and if available, personally check it out on display. The important thing is, at the end of your trip, you have peace of mind knowing that you and your family will stay protected when outdoors.