Photo by AscentXmedia via iStock
Are you ready to take the plunge and buy a tent but feeling overwhelmed by all the choices available? Don’t panic – we’ve got your back! Whether you’re after cheap tents near me or thinking of splurging on a more expensive model, here’s your go-to guide for selecting a tent.
First off, do some research (see our top ten tent buying tips below) – shop around and compare prices between different stores (for example, there’s lots of tents at Walmart). This way, you’ll be sure to get the best deal.
Secondly, look into each manufacturer’s warranty and customer service offerings – it pays to know that if something does go wrong with your tent, your tent is backed up by top-notch after-sales service.
Thirdly, read reviews from other customers who’ve bought the same model before – they’ll be able to provide valuable insight so that you don’t end up making an expensive mistake.
That said, pull up a seat and enjoy this feature. We have included a number of recommended tents for you in this article as well!
Table of Contents
- Choosing the Perfect Tent No Matter What Mother Nature Wants to Throw at You
- Ready to Camp? Make Sure You Choose the Perfect Tent for Your Number of Travelers
- Picking the Best Camping Tent: Choosing a Camping Companion That’s Easy, Breezy and Fun!
- Picking the Perfect Tent: Don’t Miss the Little Things
- Picking the Best Camping Tent: The Weight of the Tent Matters
- Picking the Perfect Tent: Ventilation is Key
- Picking the Best Camping Tent: The Extras Matter
- Picking the Perfect Tent: Tread Lightly
- Picking the Best Camping Tent: Price Tags Can be Misleading
- Picking the Perfect Tent: Don’t Just Buy Any Old Tent
Choosing the Perfect Tent No Matter What Mother Nature Wants to Throw at You
Are you in the market for a new tent? Whether you’re an experienced camper who is ready to take on all kinds of weather or a fair-weather camper who only wants to camp when it’s calm and sunny, choosing the right tent for your needs can be quite a pickle. To help make sense of it all, here are some handy tips..
Summer tents, like the Coleman Sundome pictured above, are designed for those hot days spent camping in mild climates. They typically have plenty of ventilation and lightweight materials which don’t weigh too much when transported from spot to spot. These tend to be also great for backpackers who monitor every ounce of weight.
Speaking of backpacking tents, the Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO Ultralight pictured below is an especially good option if you need a quality, lightweight tent.
Three-season tents help keep you warm from wind and rain and provide protection from cold temperatures – perfect for campers that want a bit more stability on their trip!
Most importantly, if you’re planning on camping in snowy conditions, then opting for a winter tent is probably your best bet, as this type of tent is built with thicker walls that will keep its occupants safe and warm no matter how low the temperature gets outside.
A good example of a tent I’ve been testing out that I would highly suggest in this category would be the Overlandish Base Camp V2.
Last but not least, if you’re a fair-weather camper who’s just starting out, then don’t worry too much about getting top of the range – your basic summer tent should do just fine.
However, mother nature can be fickle, so it pays to consider how your chosen tent would perform should a storm arise unexpectedly.
By following these tips carefully before purchasing, buyers can make sure they choose exactly what they need in terms of size, durability, and convenience when picking out their next camping companion: The Perfect Tent!
PREVIEW PRODUCT RATING 13 Pcs Camp Kitchen Cooking Utensil Set Cookware Kit RoverTac Multitool Hatchet Camping Tool Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern, LED Lanterns LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness 163 Pieces First Aid Kit Waterproof Coleman Camping Chair with Built-in 4 Can Cooler
Ready to Camp? Make Sure You Choose the Perfect Tent for Your Number of Travelers
Are you looking forward to a camping trip with your family, friends, or significant other but not sure which tent is suitable for everyone involved? Well, never fear. Here are a few tips that will help make sure your camping experience is both comfortable and enjoyable:
First things first, always consider how many people are going to be sleeping in the tent. The OneTigris SCAENA Backpacking tent shown above is ideal for two people. And while it’s easy to think that a four-person tent would sleep four humans, the reality is it can probably fit three snuggly and two comfortably.
So if you’re planning on taking your entire family (or even just yourself plus someone else), then it might be a good idea to upgrade and look at six-person tents, like the Coleman Dome Tent with Screen Room shown below! This will give you plenty of room for bedding, clothes, and whatever else you may need during your time away.
Weather conditions should also be taken into consideration – an extra bit of space in the event of rain or snow can really prove invaluable! Besides this, make sure you know the height of all campers involved – especially those on the taller side who won’t want their heads brushing against the ceiling.
With so many different tents available on the market these days, it pays to do some research before purchasing one. Remember, size does matter, so take the time to determine exactly what kind of tent works best for your number of travelers.
Picking the Best Camping Tent: Choosing a Camping Companion That’s Easy, Breezy and Fun!
We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘if it looks too good to be true, it probably is,’ and this sentiment is especially true when it comes to choosing the right tent for your camping trip. Sure, that ten-person tent with its multiple storage compartments might look like a dream come true – but how long will it take to get it all set up?
You want speed? The Gazelle T4 Overland Edition tent shown above is a good example of a tent that goes up fast. Only 90 seconds!
This is where ‘ease of use’ becomes a key factor in picking out your perfect camping companion. While there’s no shame in enlisting help from family or friends, you want to make sure you won’t spend hours trying to work out where each pole goes!
Instead, if possible, try setting up the tent while you’re still in the store (although this may not always be allowed). Failing that, jump on YouTube and see if anyone has put together a review of your chosen tent – these tend to be more reliable than manufacturer videos, as an independent opinion doesn’t have an invested interest in making things look easier than they really are.
By following these simple tips before purchasing, buyers can get their camping trip off to the best start by having a stress-free setup experience – what could be better?
Picking the Perfect Tent: Don’t Miss the Little Things
When shopping for your ideal camping companion, we all know it pays to check the size and materials of the tent – but don’t forget to note the finer details too! Take canvas tents, for example; while they’re 100% waterproof, they do become incredibly heavy when wet. Not only that, they don’t deteriorate at quite the same rate as thinner fabrics like nylon or polyester.
Speaking of which, if you decide a nylon or polyester tent, like the The North Face Wawona shown above, is best suited to your needs, double-check those seams. It’s important to ensure they are correctly sealed in order to get optimum waterproofing!
While many cheap options claim such protection, some may not live up to expectations. Believe me, I know this from experience – this is where ‘rip-stop’ fabric might save your day in case of emergency downpours.
Tent poles also come in different varieties, so bear that in mind and potentially upgrade yours for added assurance. If there are extending poles with compression locks, cheaper tent pole legs may not hold as well. Again, this one I’ve experienced many times.
And last but not least – don’t forget about the little things like zips! Make sure it’s a quality one that won’t easily break on you (and let any uninvited guests into your tent!) as well as being non-rusty and effortless to move. Likewise, with the flysheet, opt for one made from nylon and treated with either polyurethane or silicone coatings for maximum rain-proof protection from top to bottom!
Picking the Best Camping Tent: The Weight of the Tent Matters
If you’re planning on carrying your tent from A to B, it pays to carefully consider its weight. After all, you don’t want to arrive at your destination only to discover it requires a team of buff bodybuilders just to move it from the car! The Klymit Maxfield Backpacking Tent shown above is a good lightweight choice.
This is especially important for larger tents and family-sized models like the Aglory 8-person tent shown above – not only might they be too heavy for one person to lift, but also too big for some roof racks. So before you make any commitments, double-check those measurements and try lifting that bag a few times if necessary. The best camping tent for a family doesn’t have to weigh hundreds of pounds!
At the end of the day, while it’s an essential part of camping – nobody wants to lug around an overly cumbersome tent!
PREVIEW PRODUCT RATING CLIQ Camping Chair - Most Funded Portable Chair in Crowdfunding History PORTAL Camping Table Foldable Portable with Adjustable Legs 3000 Large Capacity Hand Crank Solar Camping Lantern Odoland 15pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit WANNTS Sleeping Pad Ultralight Inflatable Sleeping Pad for Camping MARBERO 88Wh Portable Power Station 24000mAh Camping Solar Generator 
Picking the Perfect Tent: Ventilation is Key
The last thing any camper wants to wake up to is a soggy tent and damp clothing; which is why ventilation is so crucial. You’ve gotta love the huge ventilated doors on the Whiteduck Regatta Canvas Bell Tent shown above!
But take note – not all tents offer enough airflow, even when the rain cover’s on! So before you commit to purchase, double-check for well-placed vents and make sure your tent of choice will keep air circulating throughout the night.
That being said, no one wants any unexpected visitors either – so try and find a balance between keeping those open windows and staying dry. After all, who wouldn’t mind a breath of fresh air without ending up sleeping in a pool?
Picking the Best Camping Tent: The Extras Matter
We all have different needs when it comes to camping, so take a look at what else your tent could offer. Sure, there’s ventilation, weight, and waterproofing – but don’t forget about the little things like the number of doors and windows (because nobody likes clambering over someone else in a tight space) or storage pockets for ease of use.
The CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent shown above is a great example of a tent with tons of doors and windows for easy ingress and egress. In fact, this type of tent design is ideal for the best camping tent for a family!
And if you’re planning on taking camping to the next level with an extra-large tent like the CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent above, a canopy, or some other swanky add-ons – make sure you check that your chosen tent is compatible before checking out.
So give it some thought – after all, everyone deserves a comfy home away from home.
Picking the Perfect Tent: Tread Lightly
When it comes to flooring, it’s always best to opt for something durable. But no matter how strong your tent is, a ‘footprint’ is a must-have for protecting against any moisture seeping in. And if that doesn’t sound alluring enough, you’ll be relieved to hear that not all footprints come from the same manufacturer – Tyvek (building material) works just as well!
So take some time and check what kind of flooring your chosen tent offers – you don’t want the fun to end just because no one remembered their shoes!
Picking the Best Camping Tent: Price Tags Can be Misleading
When it comes to buying a tent, price tags don’t always tell the whole story. Sure, it’s tempting to go for the cheapest option you can find – but with tents, as with most things in life – you get what you pay for.
That doesn’t mean breaking the bank, though! Shop around, take a look at sales, and compare prices between stores. The last thing you want is to think you’re getting a bargain only to discover down the line that you could have saved yourself some money elsewhere.
And if you’re brave enough to face harsh weather conditions, make sure your chosen tent can stand up against the elements – no matter what price tag it comes with, even if it’s an inexpensive tent like the CORE 10-Person Tent shown above!
Picking the Perfect Tent: Don’t Just Buy Any Old Tent
When it comes to choosing a tent, reviews, warranties, and after-sales services are all worth considering. That said, don’t assume that a tent is perfect just because it’s shiny and new – cast an eye over the manufacturer’s website for more information about their products and any faults customers may have encountered in the past.
If you’re lucky enough to find one with a lifetime guarantee, then you know you’ve got yourself a winner! But even if there isn’t one available, always read that small print so you can be sure of what is covered by whatever warranty on offer.
After all, no one wants to end up stuck in the wilderness looking for someone who will answer the phone at customer service!