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Family tents come in many shapes and sizes. The one that suits your needs may not be the right one for someone else. That is why such a large variety is produced for the outdoor enthusiast market.

Shape your store options

Tents come in four basic forms: A-frame, umbrella, geodesic or “dome,” and wall. The A-frame is the traditional old-style “pup” tent shape, but can also be quite large. The Umbrella is a common-use family tent, with plenty of standing space, including large windows and a rain cover. The geodesic dome has many variations, with various combinations of connected triangles. The wall tent is like an A-frame tent, but is usually much larger and has vertical side walls, and is more commonly used in military applications and Scout camping (they are usually set up on permanent canopies).

Square floor shaped tents are more efficient when it comes to arranging sleeping quarters and equipment. If you decide to purchase a tent with a round or oval floor, you should plan for additional floor space to compensate for the less efficient design.

Size Matters

The tents are marketed for two people, four people, six people, etc. At best, this describes most of the people you can fit into the tent to sleep in, with no storage for any of your personal items. This sizing determination is fine for light-packing backpackers, but it doesn’t make sense for the average camper.

Why be horned shoes in his tent? Estimate to use the tent at half its rated capacity and you should have enough room for two adults and most of your gear. Each person must have a minimum of 24 square feet of floor space; enough space for your mat, sleeping bag and equipment. If you’re packing for a long trip, you may want to increase the square footage based on how much gear you’re bringing.

Don’t forget to buy a tent that is wide/long enough for you to stretch out when you sleep…a ​​6′ high bed will be too narrow in a 6′ wide tent; allow yourself at least 1 foot of foot space. You will need a minimum of 30″ of space in the tent for each sleeping bag for sleeping only.

Adding ‘dry’ storage for your gear, and enough space to get out of your tent without trampling your tent mate, will result in a more enjoyable outdoor experience. With this in mind, an 8′ x 8′ tent would work well as a 2 person family tent. This gives each camper 32 square feet to spread out their gear and sleeping area. BUT, a 10′ x 10′ tent is much better suited for two adults (seems like overkill, huh?). This size tent will have enough room for air mattresses, cots or cushions AND still have enough room to stand up when changing clothes.

Be careful when purchasing a gazebo larger than 10′ x 10′. First, finding a suitable place to drop such a large item will be a challenge. You need a place that is as level as possible. Second, big tents are extremely heavy and bulky to transport. Finally, it might be better to have several smaller tents so that everyone does not share the same sleeping, changing, and living area.

The maximum height is very important for your comfort. For most trips, try to have a tent that is tall enough to stand on. Plan for the tallest people in your group. A maximum height of six or seven feet is needed for adults, and a maximum height of four feet is adequate for children. Remember, the tent slopes down at an acute angle, so the actual place you can stand on will be small. Larger spaces will be provided in tents with higher peaks.

Children can fit comfortably in smaller tents. Once they’re old enough, around seven or eight years old, they’ll probably want to sleep in a separate tent anyway. Parents will appreciate the privacy provided by this arrangement as well. A five by seven foot tent is suitable for youth. Teenagers should be considered as adults when setting up a tent.

Support your local store – Poles

The poles included with most tents available today are made of aluminum or fiberglass. The best quality tents usually come with specially made aluminum poles, with a high degree of flexibility. Fiberglass poles are included in most everyday camping tents. The poles are usually attached to each other with an elastic cord. This speeds up the setup process (important when doing it in the rain!). Poles, when mishandled, can bend or break, so many tent manufacturers provide repair kits for you to take along on the trip.

Seams for me is important

The seams must be reinforced with nylon tape and double stitching. Tape is sewn into each seam, which reinforces the seam and adds to the waterproofing. All seams on the fly and the floor (or tub) are usually waterproofed from the factory with a seam sealant. Set up the tent in your yard before the first use of the tent to test the assembly process. You can also take this opportunity to go to your local sporting goods store to purchase seam sealant and waterproofing spray. It’s always a good idea to do this to ensure a dry ride. Be sure to let the tent dry before repacking.

Fabric

Almost all modern camping tents are now made of nylon. Coated nylon is used for waterproofing. Nylon mesh is used for the interior walls and gear pockets. Invisible mesh is used for window screens. The best tents use thicker fabrics and ripstop fabrics.

Hey!!! close it!!

Make sure when you go out to buy your tent… test the zippers. They should open and close easily and should not catch on the tent fabric. Zippers must be rust resistant.

Hot flashes and colds and “Why is my tent shaking?”

Variations in weather will place many demands on your store.

Windy conditions will require strong poles, stakes, and anchor ropes. Dome tents work extremely windy. Its rounded design reduces the effect of the wind, and its arrangement of poles provides them with great resistance.

The rain causes two problems to arise. Keeping you and your gear dry is first and foremost. Second, you need enough space for all the occupants of the tent to feel comfortable if you need to ‘weather the storm’.

The floor should be constructed of waterproof coated nylon that covers the floor and raises the sides approximately six inches, creating the tub. There should be a minimal amount of seam (the more you have, the more chance of leaks). It will keep out any water that runs down and under the tent.

Make sure your tent has a waterproof rain tarp made of coated nylon. The fly should wrap around the tent and reach the sides, leaving only a few inches of space between it and the ground. This should block rain, even in windy conditions. The fly should spread far enough over the door, so that the rain does not enter when you open the door to go in or out. Some stores even come with a vestibule that allows for this.

Sunlight and the heat that comes with it create a great need for shade and airflow. The rainfly will provide shade. Screen windows on opposite sides of the tent, or a screen window opposite a screen door, will allow air to flow through the tent.

Long excursions in cold weather require a special heavy-duty 4-season tent. Unless you plan to do winter camping, you can use a “three-season” tent that has the features listed above. The biggest features will be a rainfly that fully covers the top and sides to keep snow and other precipitation at bay, and an inner shell made of an open mesh fabric to allow water vapor to breathe out of the jacket. store. In colder climates, water vapor inside the tent from the humid outside air and the exhaled breath of the occupants will condense on the interior surface of the tent. This can be avoided by allowing air to flow through the tent or through the mesh fabric.

Tent size is also a consideration for cool-weather camping. A smaller tent will stay much warmer than a larger tent with your body heat.

you get what you pay for

Typically, more expensive tents are made with stronger fabrics, poles, and stitching. They are built to withstand stronger winds and more violent rains. A good store, well cared for, can last for many years.

Remember that not everyone will need this amount of durability. The more temperate the climate you camp in and the closer to home you camp, the less expensive tent will probably be the best solution.

If you’re just starting your camping trip and don’t know if you’ll enjoy it, you may want to start with a less expensive setup. Your first few trips will probably be when the weather is warmer, and you probably won’t venture out into the wild until you gain some experience and decide whether or not you like camping. Remember, you can always upgrade your equipment later.

For more information you can visit us at Birdseye Outdoor Supply where you can get more tips to help you with your camping needs.