How to Choose a Tent
If you’re planning a camping trip, it’s important to make sure you have all the know-how and gear to make your trip safe, smooth, and successful. At the heart of this preparation is the need to purchase the best tent for you and your camping party.
Choosing the right camping style for you
Camping can be done in many different ways, from the most luxurious to the simplest bare-bones. To get the most out of your adventure, think about what kind of amenities you want and the kind of activities you’d like to participate in, as well as your fitness levels.
Some of the most popular camping styles include:
Tent camping
Car camping
RV or trailer camping
Dispersed camping (camping away from designated campsites)
Backpacking or wild camping
Each style comes with its own pros and cons and is better suited to different groups of people. Wild camping for example might be better suited to younger, physically fitter adventurers, whilst car camping is a style far better suited to those with young children looking to get out in the great outdoors, without having to compromise on the amenities needed to care for their young ones. Choose wisely in order to make the most of your time in the great outdoors. Below we’ll look at the different types of tents you might need for these types of camping trips.
What tent will best suit you?
At the end of a long day hiking, skiing, mountaineering, or just taking in the beauty of nature, nothing is quite as comforting or relaxing as returning to your tent for food and a bit of rest and relaxation.
There are many elements to consider when deciding what tent to buy for your trip. Firstly, you’ll want to consider how many people your tent needs to fit. If you’re camping in a group of 3 or more people, you will likely benefit from a family tent that can offer a bit more space not only for sleeping but also for storing your items.
Below we’ve detailed the best types of tent to buy depending on who you are camping with and the type of campsite you’re planning on visiting.
Family Tents
If purchasing a family tent or group tent, you may be interested in the Summit Series™ 2-Metre Dome Tent. Designed for the harsh conditions of the base camp, this geodesic tent is made with durable aluminium tent poles and comes with a canopy that forms a double-wall tent, adding extra insulation and protection from the elements.
Tents
Durability is a key element to consider when purchasing a tent for a family with children or pets, as stronger tent poles are less likely to break when accidents happen such as your children or pet dog running into and falling over your tent.
Another factor you may want to consider is finding a tent that is easy to construct. Whilst pop-up tents are often a firm favourite with individuals or couples, tents best suited to families often come with several sleeping areas and communal space for relaxation or storing items. Unfortunately, tents on this scale are often quite time-consuming in terms of needing to be constructed with sturdy tent poles. Tents that need construction such as the Summit Series™ 2-Metre Dome Tent, however, do have the advantage of being sturdier than pop-up tents due to their aluminium poles.
When shopping for your next family tent, you'll ideally want something that will help prevent condensation from forming whilst you sleep. According to Rentokill, "An average family of four can produce 24 pints (14 litres) of water vapour in just 24 hours". When you spend time inside a tent, this water vapour will form as condensation on the inside of your tent's walls. Fortunately, there are several ways you can help limit condensation from forming in your tent.
When looking in-store for a camping tent, looking for a style where the tent poles are arched to provide more head space will allow more air to circulate. The right tent for you will likely also have vents at the top of the interior compartments.
The best tents for preventing moisture build-up come with a flysheet which goes over the top of your tent and acts as a windbreak. If you own a single-wall tent, this may be ideal for family days at the beach, but will not offer much protection from the harsh elements of a camping trip. Pop-up tents usually come without a fly sheet and so can be prone to condensation gathering inside them; it is worth considering a more substantial tent if you think condensation could be an issue for you.
Backpacking tents with tent floors are an ideal choice for family camping holidays as it is easier to clean up after a busy family when your tent has floor space you can easily sweep or wipe clean. Family tents often come with sewn-in pockets which can also be advantageous for families in need of enough space to store equipment.
Tents for Younger and More Physically Active Couples
Couples of all ages, as well as families, will also benefit from a three-season tent with a vestibule. Tent vestibules act like a house's front porch, providing space to store muddy boots, wet coats and other items and freeing up space in the main body of your tent.
Any 2-person camping holiday would benefit from the Summit Series™ Mountain 25 2 Person Tent. This model offers a spacious vestibule and can be pitched as quickly and easily as possible thanks to its use of both tent pole sleeves and clips, meaning you will have more time to spend on the activities you’ve gone to enjoy.
Any couple who enjoys engaging in outdoor pursuits will likely either get caught in the rain in inclement weather or end up getting wet when partaking in water sports such as canyoneering or swimming. One added bonus to a vestibule is it means you don’t have to store wet items of clothing in your tent’s main sleeping areas, further helping to reduce the amount of condensation that can often form on the inside of your tent, making your sleeping experience less comfortable.
Younger or more physically active backpackers may also be interested in more adventurous forms of camping such as in tents that have no groundsheet, rather than a freestanding tent. Tents without a floor are ideal as cover sheets for suspended camping in hammocks up in the trees. If camping up in the trees in this style, however, you may find your camp more prone to infestations of flying, biting insects.
We highly recommend taking a heavy-duty insect repellent with you on every camping trip to help mitigate the risks of being bitten. If camping up in the trees, investing in a mosquito net may also be not only a good idea, but an essential item depending on where and in what country you are camping.
More adventurous backpackers perhaps staying in places where conditions are more intense will likely also need a tent that has guy lines to help keep it pinned down in place should the wind pick up.
Tents for Older and Less Physically Active Couples
Older couples may be more interested in camping styles more like “glamping”, where you have access to more creature comforts. You could try car camping, or RV or trailer camping as this can be a warmer option, often with the capacity to run some basic or essential electric appliances.
However, if you are still interested in a backpacking tent holiday, we’d advise carrying a lighter tent that is easy to construct. You could try an inflatable tent or something like the Assault 2 Futurelight™ Tent. This durable tent weighs just 2.7kg so is ideal for couples of all ages and fitness levels to take on your next backpacking tent holiday where you may need to carry your equipment for a certain amount of time.
If camping as a family or couple, another important factor to consider is whether or not your tent has a groundsheet. Floorless tents are appropriate options for some more trepid explorers, but if you are going away for a few days and comfort is a priority, you will likely want a tent floor as an added layer of insulation and protection from insects and the elements, like this option for our Wawona 6P tent.
Many campers also enjoy having a little extra room in their tents. For example, if two people will be sharing the tent, some people prefer to choose a three-man tent. If going away as a couple for an extended amount of time it could be more convenient to take a tent with space for three people, just so that you have room for your camping gear and other items. Think about what works for you and your camping partner before you commit to purchasing your tent. Here are some useful links to help you decide:
Other Important Camping Gear
It is crucial to remember to check that you have your pegs and poles with you before you set off on your next camping trip, especially if you are going wild camping, miles off the beaten track and in areas where there is no established campsite. If you are going to isolate yourself in this way, it is first important to make sure you have all the equipment you will need, and that the equipment you have is dependable. Take a look at The North Face’s camping gear range to make sure you have everything you need for your next camping trip.
Prep
The importance of having the right gear
On any camping trip, having the right gear (and the right amount of gear) with you is key. Carrying too little gear or the wrong equipment can quickly leave you without the essentials – anything from the ability to heat food to drying off quickly after getting caught in the rain. Having too much gear can cause as much trouble, weighing you down and making hiking even short distances unpleasant or unmanageable.
To start the gear planning process sketch out a rough plan of your trip. Look at where you’ll be going, how long and what the weather is likely to be like. Next, consider the key factors that will influence your gear choice. This will include elements such as the difficulty of the terrain you’ll navigate, your mode of transport, existing supplies at your campsite (if any) and the length of time your trip will last, how much gear you will personally need to carry with you, among many others.
For example, will you be doing a lot of hiking every day? Will you be passing through steep, mountainous terrain? If so, be mindful of the weight and bulk of what you’re carrying.
Will you be crossing rivers or getting wet regularly? Make sure your clothes are quick-drying. Properly considering all elements of your trip can help you make sure your gear is tailored to what you’ll need it to do.