How to Pick a Good Tent
Thinking of going on a camping trip? Are you going with the Boy Scouts or are you going alone? Maybe it is a camping trip for the entire family? Whatever the occasion is, you must have the right equipment. Your equipment will either allow you to have a nice time in nature, or a horrible time with the elements of nature. If you do not have a good quality tent then this article is for you. There are a number of things a person needs for a trip, but the most important is the tent that will keep you comfortable throughout your trip. There are a number of things you should look for in a tent, but I will narrow your search down to the top four things that I look for in a good tent. They are the fabric, framework/poles, design and enclosure or zipper.
First, is the tent made of good quality fabric? There are many types of fabrics out there and as a kid you may have taken a sheet from your parents closet and slung it over the clothes line. It worked at that age, but now it is not what you need. Most tent fabrics will require a coating and the heavier the coating, then the better you are protected. It is typically measured as how many millimeters of water the fabric can support without the water coming through. Of course the higher the number would equal a better fabric. Therefore, I would stick with a number of 600-800 mm for the tent body and over 800mm for the rain fly.
Second, the frame and or poles of the tent are very important to the life of the tent. Some tents have Aluminum poles, which are lighter than fiberglass and can resist damage by the elements to a greater extent. In addition, look for sturdiness in the poles by the diameter of the tent pole. The larger the diameter of your tent poles, then the more stable your tent will be.
Third, the design of the tent is very important, because it will help you decide which type is best suited for your excursion. Shop around for retailers that have a wide selection of tents. The last thing you want to do is to purchase a tent that is not suited for your excursion, because the store only had that model. Shop around for the right design that will fit your budget. Don’t forget to look online as most stores have favorable return policies, pictures and more information than you would find at a retail shop. In addition, when looking at larger tents, look for tents with combo rooms, as that will allow an area within the tent to store wet gear and keep your dry gear and sleeping area dry. Of course you will most likely be the one putting up and taking down the tent so find a design that will be easy to manage also.
Lastly, look to the quality and design of the zippers. A good tent will have a double zipper at the entrance and this will typically be one that is horizontal and another that is somewhat curvilinear/vertical. This design allows for a fail safe zipper and an entryway that is easier to enter and exit.
Happy camping
