Tents

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Selecting the Best Tent

Big Agnes Big House 4 Tent

The tent becomes your home while you are out enjoying nature and the beautiful outdoor world.   So it is very important that you have the right tent!  There are many options available when selecting the best tent.  Having the necessary accessories for your tent will also make outdoor camping easier and more pleasant.  After you have selected the best tent visit our page for the tent accessories to make your outdoor home complete!

Types of tents

Tents take on three basic shapes — dome, A-frame, and walled.  The walled tents are also often called cabin tents.

• Dome tents:  These are easy and quick to set up.  It is one of the most popular styles of tents seen today.  The flexible poles arch over the tent, and are secured to the bottom of the tent.  If properly staked to the ground this tent offers good stability in high winds.
• A-frame tents:  These are shaped like the letter “A”.  They are usually small and will sleep only two or three persons.  They are often used for backpacking tents since they take little space and are lightweight.
• Walled (or cabin) tents:  These tents have upright side walls and one or more “rooms” for campers or gear.  These tend to be the largest tents and will give the most space, which makes them ideal for campers with a larger family.  They are also great for extended camping trips when you may prefer a little more room.  While these tents are made of the same materials as the other types of tents, the poles will be larger and heavier so they tend to be bulkier and heavier to transport.  They will also take longer to assemble. 

What is the right tent for when I go camping?   One of the first things to think about is size.  Tents are sized by the number of people it can hold, e.g. a two-person tent, four-person tent, etc.  However, many times this size rating provides space for that number of persons to lie down, but no elbow room or space for your belongings.  A general guide that many campers follow is adding two to the number of campers that plan to stay in the tent.  So if there are two of you, get a four person tent.  If you are a family of four you will want a six person tent. How often do you plan to use your tent?   If you are a frequent camper you will want a more durable tent. In what kind of conditions do you plan to use your tent?   Be sure to get a tent that can handle the most extreme conditions in which you will use it:

• If you only camp occasionally and when the weather is warm and dry then a lightweight, inexpensive tent will likely meet your needs.
• Maybe you are a three season camper.  The cooler weather and a rain shower won’t stop you.  You will want a quality tent that is strong enough to handle rain and wind in spring, summer and fall.
• If you are a camper for all seasons you will want the most durable tent.  Four-season tents are made of higher grade fabrics and will have more poles to add strength to the tent frame. These tents can withstand more adverse weather conditions, as a lower profile design allows it to withstand high winds and heavier snow loads.

In the long run a good quality camping tent will pay off many times over as it adds to the comfort and ease of your camping experience.  It may cost several hundred dollars.   But you will be more comfortable, it will be durable and provides the shelter you need for your camping adventures. Some other things to consider when shopping for a tent include the following:

• Large, easy-to-use zippers on the doors and windows.  The zippers should have large storm flaps to make sure no water will leak through.
• Screen windows will allow plenty of fresh air to circulate during the day.   However, make sure they can be zipped shut with a waterproof cover when you need privacy or when the rain starts.  Ventilation is important as modern tents made of nylon and other synthetics tends to be more waterproof and will prohibit moisture and vapors to escape.  Be sure the tent has adequate ventilation, as this will help the hot air to escape in the summer and keep down condensation in the cold weather.
• Full coverage rainfly, always essential as sooner or later it will rain while on your camping excursion.

Tent Setup:

Texsport Headquarters Camouflage 4 Person Tent

Set up your tent at home first.  Practice setting it up so there are no surprises when you reach camp.  If it is new you will be sure you have all the parts.  You will also be familiar with any special instructions that may have come with it.  

Always use a ground cloth (tarp, painting dropcloth, old shower curtain) underneath the tent.  This helps keep the tent clean and helps the tent floor from wearing out.  Be sure you have picked up any rocks or twigs before setting up your tent.  Adding a second ground cloth inside your tent will help keep everything dry if there is a chance of rain.  Be sure to fold the edges up to keep your belongings dry.  

Keep the tent ventilated.  Even if it is cool outside, keep some ventilation to cut any condensation buildup inside the tent. 

Tent Care:

The tent must be dry when you are done and pack it up.  Hang it out to dry when you get home, or, if it got very wet set it up to dry thoroughly.  Wash away any mildew with warm water.  Even if it didn’t rain, airing them out in the sun will help prevent mildew.

Pick out the best tent for you!

DOME Tents Coleman and Eureka both offer an excellent selection of quality dome tents.  The Sundome series of tents from Coleman and the Sunrise and Tetragon series from Eureka are all classic tents.  Watch a short video here displaying the features of the Eureka Apex series.
Coleman Sundome 4	Coleman Sundome 4The Coleman Sundome 4, 9’x7′, dome tent is part of the classic Sundome series of tents … [More] Price: $74.96  Buy Now
Eureka Apex Solo Tent	Eureka Apex Solo Tent The Eureka! Apex Solo is a side entry 1 person backpacking tent with a huge (14.8 Sq. F… [More] Price: $79.96 Buy Now
Eureka Sunrise EX4 Tenti	Eureka Sunrise EX 4 Tent The Eureka! Sunrise EX 4 is a redesigned version of one of the most popular Eureka fami… [More]              Price: $179.95   Buy Now
Sixty Second Setup Dome Tent	Sixty Second Set-Up Dome 2-3 Person Tent The Sixty Second Set-Up Dome 2-3 Person Tent requires no matching or threading of poles… [More] Price: $199.97 Buy Now

A-FRAME Tents
The Wenzel Starlight Hiker Tent continues to be popular as it is one of the simplest tents on the market today.	Wenzel Starlite TentIt’s baaaack! The Wenzel Starlite is a very small anlight 1 person tent. d It has been … [More] Price: $39.97 Buy Now
Eureka Alpenlite 2XT has an incredibly strong A-frame design. It has steep walls for shedding snow and an added center hoop to pull out the walls for space and added strength.	Eureka Alpenlite 2XT TentThe Alpenlite 2XT is a sturdy compact 3-4 season tent for 2. Its incredibly strong A-fr… [More] Price: $369.90 Buy Now
The Big Agnes Scout UL 2 is an ultra light, 2 person shelter that is a new-school version of your old-school A-frame wall tent or tarp.	Big Agnes – Scout UL 2 TentThe Big Agnes Scout UL 2 is an ultra light, sub 2 lbs, 2 person shelter. The Scout is a… [More] Price: $209.96 Buy Now
The Eureka Timberline Tents are possibly the worlds most popular tent!	Eureka Timberline 2 Tent The Eureka Timberline Tents are possibly the worlds most popular tent with millions bei… [More] Price: $189.95 Buy Now

WALLED or CABIN Tents If you want a larger tent then the walled tent is the best pick for you.  The walled tent works well if you have a large group or family.  They also are nice if you go on extended camping trips.  Small quarters are fine for a few nights, but if you are out for a couple of weeks then the extra room will be very comfortable.
This Eureka tent is a cabin style, straight walled family tent that has 2 rooms to provide plenty of space for a camping family.	Eureka Copper Canyon 8 Tent – 8 Person, 2 …The Copper Canyon 8 is a Eureka 8 person tent. This Eureka tent is a cabin style, strai… [More] Price: $399.90 Buy Now
The Coleman Elite WeatherMaster is one of the more luxurious tents as it includes a large built-on screened room and an LED lighting system!	Coleman Elite WeatherMaster Tent – 17’x9′ …The Coleman WeatherMaster Elite 17’x9′ tent with screen room and lighting system sleeps… [More] Price: $299.97 Buy Now
The Wenzel Great Basin 3 Room Family Tent includes a removable room divider	Wenzel Great Basin 18” 3 Room 1…The Wenzel Great Basin 18’x10′ is a large, 3 room family dome tent that will sleep up t… [More] Price: $219.97 Buy Now

Campmor is a great place to shop for tents.  They offer a wide variety of walled tents, as well as the other styles featured above. Click here to visit their site to see all the styles and models of walled tents that are available.

Amazon is always a good source for a wide assortment of tents at a reasonable price. Shop for some of our favorites below.

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