Family
camping tents come in all shapes and sizes. The right one for you
will not necessarily be the right one for someone else. Hence, the
wide variety being sold in stores and
catalogs.
Size
Tents are advertised as two man,
four man, six man and so on. However, at best this is the maximum
number of persons you can cram into the tent for sleeping in close
company with no personal gear. This rating method might make sense
for backpackers who are traveling light, but it is terrible for all
others.
Why be cramped? Divide the advertised rating by two,
and you will have the real capacity of the tent. Therefore, most
four man tents are really only comfortable for two adults, or
perhaps two adults and two very small children.
You should
plan a minimum of 30 square feet of floor space per person. Make
this even higher for longer camping trips, unless reducing weight is
important.
Actual length and width are also very important.
If you are six feet tall, you will need a space of at least seven
feet in order to stretch out and not be crammed against the tent
sides. You will need at least two and one half feet in width just
for sleeping. This equals only 17.5 square feet. A "two man" tent
might be advertised which measures five by seven feet.
Adding
space for clothing, and a space to stand up without walking on your
tentmate, will result in a more livable situation. Think more like
eight by eight feet as a basic two man family camping tent. This
gives you 32 square feet per person. Still not overly
generous.
A ten by ten foot tent is ideal for two adults. You
will have enough space for cots or a double air mattress, plus space
to stand up when changing clothes.
Kids can fit comfortably
in smaller tents. Once they are old enough, about seven or eight,
they will probably want to sleep in a separate tent anyway. Parents
will appreciate the privacy provided by this arrangement too. A five
by seven foot tent is adequate for young kind. Teenagers should be
considered as adults when fitting a tent.
Be cautious about
tents that are larger than ten by ten. You will find three problems.
First, it will be much more difficult to find a smooth and level
spot large enough to set up the tent on. You need a spot as level as
possible. Second, big tents can get heavy. This is not a problem for
your car, but think about how much work it might be for you in
loading and unloading the car. Finally, do you really want everyone
to sleep, and dress, in the same tent. Privacy becomes an issue with
the bigger tents.
The peak inside height is very important to
you comfort. For most trips, try to have a tent that is tall enough
to stand in. Plan for the taller persons in your group. A six or
seven foot peak height is necessary for adults, and a four foot peak
is about right for kids. Remember, the tent slopes downward at a
sharp angle, so the actual spot where you can stand up will be
small. Larger spaces will be provided in tents with taller
peaks.
Shape
Tents come in four basic shapes:
A-frame, umbrella, geodesic or "dome", and wall. The A-frame is the
common "pup" tent shape, but can also be quite large. The umbrella
is a very commonly used family camping tent, as it has lots of
standing room, with large windows and a rain fly over the top. The
geodesic comes on many shapes, but all look like combinations of
connected triangles. The wall tent is like an A-frame tent, but is
generally much larger and has vertical side walls.
Tents with
square floor shapes are more efficient when laying out sleeping and
gear arrangements. Because of other factors, it is not always
possible to have a square floor. If you buy a round floor, or nearly
round like with the geodesic dome tents, you should allow some extra
floor area to make up for the less efficient
layout.
Poles
Poles are made from aluminum or
fiberglass. Most tents have poles that are linked together with an
elastic shock cord. This helps when setting up the tent. Poles can
bend or break, so many tent manufacturers provide emergency repair
links for you to carry along on the
trip.
Fabric
Nearly all tents are now made of
nylon. Coated nylon is used for waterproofing. Nylon mesh is used
for inner walls. No-see-um mesh is used for the window screens.
Better tents use thicker fabric and rip-stop
fabric.
Zippers
When you are shopping, test the
zippers. They should open and close freely, and should not catch and
bind up on the tent fabric. The zippers should not be of a rusting
type material.
Seams
Seams should be reinforced
with nylon tape. The tape is stitched into each seam, and will make
the seam stronger and more weatherproof. All waterproof seams in a
nylon tent, such as on the fly and floor, must be waterproofed with
a seam sealer. Your new tent should come with a bottle of seam
sealer. Set up the tent in the yard before your trip, and apply the
sealer. Let it dry before packing the tent. You will need to do this
yearly.
Weather Considerations
Wind, rain, sun,
heat and cold, all have different demands on the tent.
Windy
areas will require sturdy poles, stakes and anchor ropes. Geodesic
tents are excellent in wind. Their igloo-like shape reduces the
wind's effect, and their pole arrangement provides great
strength.
Rain creates two considerations. First, keeping the
rain out. Second, giving you enough room so you will be comfortable
if you have to "weather" the storm by entertaining yourself indoors
for a while.
Your tent should have a completely waterproof
rain fly made of coated nylon. The fly should wrap around the tent
and reach down the sides nearly to the ground. This will keep out
all types of rain, even if it is windy. The fly should extend far
enough over the door, so it keeps out the rain when you open the
door to enter or leave.
The floor should also be waterproof
coated nylon. This fabric should cover the floor, and turn up the
sides for about six inches or so. There should be a few seams as
possible. This is called a "tub" floor. It will keep out any water
that runs down and under the tent.
Sun and heat create the
need for shade and airflow. The rain fly will provide shade for
tent. Large screened windows on opposite sides of the tent, or a
screened window opposite a screened door, will allow air to flow
through the tent.
Cold weather brings special needs. Unless
you will be dealing with snow (when you would need a mountaineering
tent), you can use a "three-season" tent that has good features. The
most important features will be a rain fly that fully covers the top
and sides, and an interior layer made from an open mesh fabric to
allow water vapor to pass through it. In cool weather, warm water
vapor inside the tent, from damp fresh air and moist air you exhale,
will condense on the cooler surface of the tent's exterior. The only
way to prevent this is to allow the excess water vapor to escape
from the tent by passing through the mesh fabric.
The tent
size may also be a consideration if you plan to camp in cool
weather. Your body heat will keep a small tent much warmer that
outside. However, some campers will use a tent heater in their large
tent. Heaters are not safe in small tents due the the closeness of
the tent walls.
Cost
In general, the higher
priced tents are made with stronger fabric, stronger poles, and
stronger stitching. They will withstand higher winds and heavier
rain. They will last longer. A good tent can last for many
years.
However, not everyone needs this strength and
durability. The milder and drier the climate, and the closer to home
you camp ("just in case"), the more the least expensive tents will
be very good bargains.
If you are just starting out in your
family camping adventures, and don't know if you will really like
camping, then you might want to stick with the least expensive
tents. Many families do. It is very likely that you will try your
first trips when the weather is warm and dry, and will probably keep
close the "civilization" until you gain some experience and decide
whether you like camping or not. You can always upgrade to a better
tent later, and keep your original budget tent for when conditions
allow. Show me More
Family Camping Tent Tips
