There are so many types, brands, sizes and systems that buying your first camping tent can be really confusing. Some of the tips in this article will ease your way into your first camping gear.
A lot of people are not really into the concept of camping. The idea of sleeping in a tent on the cold ground is not very appealing. However, most of the people who finally decide to go wind up liking the experience. Yes, there are those who still hate it, maybe even more, but this article is not about them... In any event, before you buy a tent, we recommend that you go on a camping trip with a friend. Share his/her tent and see if you like it. If you do, then move to the next step, which is purchasing your own camping equipment.
The very first step is determining the size tent you will need. When you start shopping for your tent you will see that tents are categorized by their capacity. For example, you will see two-person, three-person or four-person tents. One footnote is that you will want to buy a tent that is a little bit larger than your need. For example, if you are only looking for a two-person tent, you might want to consider a three-person or four-person tent. A two person tent will fit a maximum of two people and not much else. If you get a three-person or four-person tent you will have room for some of your gear as well. Now you might say why don’t I get a six person tent and have plenty of room? The only problem here is the extra weight that comes with a larger tent. Remember, you have to pack up and carry your tent. So, the key is to find the balance between the size of the tent, guided by the amount of stuff you need in the tent, and its weight.
After you have chosen the size of your tent, then you have to choose the tent that fits the environment where you will be camping. A three season tent will make the most sense for you if you are camping in the spring or summer. A four season tent is designed for extreme cold or harsher environments.
One of the most important parts of tent shopping is choosing the materials used for the tent construction. You will want a thicker or higher quality denier fabric if you want the tent to last for the long haul. However, tents will become more expensive when you use a higher quality fabric. You need to ask yourself how often you will be camping and using your tent. If you are using the tent for seasonally you might be able to get away with a cheaper tent. Another important aspect is the amount of metal/fiber parts. The more metal/fiber parts, the heavier the tent will be and the more complicated to assemble. Also important is the shape of your tent. If you want to plant your tent in a very windy area, you need a specially shaped tent that can stand in the wind.
Lastly, make sure you pick up a footprint with your new tent. The footprint will be placed directly under your new tent and it will help protect the base of your tent from unnecessary wear and tear.
Also, after you buy your first camping tent, take the time and put it together at home. This will give you an idea on how the tent is constructed and you can make sure you have all the parts. You don’t want to arrive at your campsite after a long hike and realize you are missing a part or something is broken.