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Think "Wow" When You Select a New Camping Tent

from: TRB

Your excitement about wilderness trips will help you select your next camping tent. When you think, "Wow, I'm going camping," you are using an acronym that sums up a new tent's most important features. WOW = Weather + Occupants + Weight. Before you select a tent, consider the season and the location. What is the weather forecast, how many people are going and how much can they carry?"

Camping tent selection involves tradeoffs between comfort and the practicality of cost, size and weight. If you are car camping, you can afford the luxury of a bulky, heavy tent that requires space in both the car and the camp. If you are a backpacker, smaller and lighter tents are more practical for carrying.

Weather

Camping tent ratings by manufacturers reflect the time of year for which the tents are intended.

For summer use, 1 season tents feature light-colored fabrics, mesh for ventilation and single-wall construction for protection against light rain.

The most popular is the 3-season tents, which feature breathable fabrics and mesh windows and doors for ventilation and insect protection. Double-wall construction, usually in the form of a waterproof full or partial rainfly, keeps out rain and light snow. A durable, properly pitched 3-season camping tent will usually tolerate more wind than a 1-season tent.

For protection against heavy wind and snow, 4-season tents feature stronger fabrics and sturdier tent poles along with zip-up panels to keep out the elements. Look for tents labeled "expedition" or "mountaineering" for extreme winter weather and/or high altitude conditions.

Occupants

Camping tent capacity ratings (1-person, 2-person, 4-person, etc.) indicate the number of people who can reasonably sleep in the tent. Some experienced campers suggest buying tents rated for more people than you have in your group if you don't like snug sleeping quarters and want room to store gear, eat and play games.

Creature comfort space adds weight and bulk, a concern especially for backpackers. Car campers can extend the space of a basic tent by purchasing models with multiple rooms and by using gazebos, awnings and larger rainflies. The 2-person and 3-person dome, modified dome and tunnel-style tents are very popular because they provide enough room for sitting, standing and moving around.

Weight

You may not mind carrying a heavy tent a few feet from your car to the campsite, but if you have to carry the tent for any distance, the weight becomes more important. Some backpackers favor sunshades and tarps in the summer and bivy sacks/shelters in the winter. You can find good 2-person and 3-person tents that weigh only six to eight pounds. When backpacking with multi-person tents, some of the weight can be shared by handing the poles and rainflies to other members of the group.

A good camping tent is light, durable, easy to pitch, easy to maintain and repair and reflects your outdoors style. Remember "WOW," to help you make a better selection for your shelter needs.