Camping Tents
There are all kinds of manufacturers of tents out there. Some create tents that are exactly the same as a tent by a different manufacturer. Some are different. One of your prime considerations for picking a tent should be the name of the company that manufactures it. North Face for example is an extremely well known manufacturer of tents and other camping equipment as well. We all know though, that they can be prohibitively expensive to buy for your average every day family camping type of person. Well, you should know that if you consider buying at the end of season or even last year’s stock, you can buy good quality gear like this for a dramatic amount of money off the original price.
North Face is a true leader in the world of camping tents. They make everything from solo tents to base camp expedition tents that have withstood some of the harshest climates known to man. You can be assured that when you buy one of their tents that it is a quality piece of gear that has the interest of the user in mind. They’re water-proof, stable, roomy enough to use, yet small enough to pack, really they’re a perfect tent, depending on what you plan to use it for. Their tents generally tend to be more suited to individuals that may have the intention of hiking and backpacking, or canoe camping, kayak camping etc. Basically people who are likely to be moving around and carrying their gear at the same time.
For most folks a tent from companies like Coleman or Woods will suffice. These tents are generally made with the family environment in mind. Their materials may not be as “light weight” as some of the materials you would find on a North Face tent, but if properly cared for they can last you for years. Also note that they frequently will have fewer poles in the structure of the tent. One may argue that this will save grams of weight and maybe even that it’s easier to pack but the real truth is that when a tent has fewer poles, it becomes less stable. Most of the time this won’t be an issue at all but I’ve been in a Woods tent in a bad storm and know first hand how much they can blow around in the wind. I can remember the sides coming in right on top of me. This doesn’t happen with tents from a manufacturer like North Face as they plan for these kinds of elements. On the other hand, severe wind storms are not the ‘norm’ and wouldn’t occur regularly, so they’re normally not a concern to most campers.
You need to be sure your tent is water proof. Many have taped seams for extra protection. Some tents have peg-out vestibules to help you stow gear without it actually being in the tent. It’s been my general observation that when sizing a tent for a group of people, you should always buy with in extra person in mind. That is to say, if two people are going camping then a three person tent would be the smallest tent you would likely want to take. I’ve used two person tents with two people in them in the past but the quarters are extremely tight, especially when trying to get into your sleeping bag or changing etc.
With the multitude of tents available to us these days you are certain to find the best one for your trip. All you really need to know which tent is the best for what reason and go from there. You can save money by buying end of season or last year’s stock to get the best quality for the money.
