Tents

If you would like to buy a tent then you should know the answers on the following questions before you head off:

• How many people are going to sleep in it?
• Is weight and bulk an important issue?
• What weather conditions will you be using it in?

Size versus Weight

The importance of the first two questions will be covered in this section.A major consideration for anyone who will be carrying their tent is the internal space the tent offers versus it's weight. Tents that are, let's say designed for 2 persons, do have different sizes. That is because some provide a way of storage space for gear or 'living room' for changing clothes, cooking, sitting out bad weather, etc. Other do not. Some tents offer larger porches, or a porch on each side/end (therefore giving double the storage space), with only a marginal increase in weight. It is therefore important for you to decide whether increased comfort and convenience of carrying a lightweight (but cramped) tent outweighs the comfort and convenience of a more spacious (but heavier) tent.

Types of Tents

What weather conditions you will be using your tents for as well what type of camping you are planning to do is the next you should know. Dependent on the answers you can choose between the following types of tents:

3-Season Camping Tents

If you camp and backpack in mild or hot weather, then you should buy a 3-season tent. They are manufacturered with lighter weight fabrics and poles. They are also less ridged and have a stable structure. They will cope with heavy rain and moderately strong winds. Because the inner is well vented, the tent can be made cooler in hot weather. These are often the cheapest type of tent.Example:


Sierra Designs' Meteor Light


Mountain Hardwear's Hammerhead 3


Marmot's Equinox

4-Season Backpacking Tents

If you backpack and camp all year round, you need a stronger tent. 4-Season tents are made of stronger fabrics and poles than the 3-season tents. They also have a more stable structure. It will cope equally well with hot and cold temperatures through use of adjustable vents on inner and outer. Because you want to use the tent also in rainy and winter conditions, it will withstand heavy rain, strong winds and some snow.Recommended:


Mountain Hardwear's Night View


The North Face Talus 23


Marmot's Fortress

Expedition Tents

These type of tents are the strongest: they are made of the strongest fabrics, poles and have the most stable structure. They are especially useful if the main activity you use your tent for is mountaineering, high altitude trekking and camping in exposed location in winter conditions. These tents are dedicated to cope with gale force winds and heavy snow. For summer camping these tents do have a disadvantage. Because they have smaller entrances (to reduce the amount of snow blown in severe weather) and is less vented (to increase warmth of tent) it is rather uncomfortable in hot weather conditions.Example:


Mountain Hardwear's Trango 3.1


The North Face VE-25


The North Face Mountain 25

Other criteria

Condensation

All tents that are waterproof will allow condensation to form on the inside surface of the flysheet - most notable first thing in the morning. To avoid that you or your gear become wet inside the tent, a well designed tent will have a good airspace between the inner and flysheet. This will reduce the amount of condensation and reduce the chance of the inner touching the outer and getting wet. The 2 main methods of pitching a tent that have an inner and an outertent are: inner first or inner and outer together. Pitching the innertent first offers the benefit of extra strength and stability and it also offers a larger ventilation gap between the inner and outertent which reduces condensation. If tents are designed to pitch the inner and outer together, then these are quicker to put up put up and it will keep the inner tent drier if you pitch the tent in rainy windy conditions.

Cooking in tents

Beware that all most of the tents are made of fabrics that do burn very easily and rapidly. Therefore, if you have a choice, never use a stove inside your tent. However, in some situations this can not be avoided. Then do take care that the tent is adequately ventilated, and that the stove is well away from sidewalls of the tent. If you use liquid fuel stoves, then watch out for flares that can occur occasionally if you are cooking.

Maintenance of your Tent

• Always let your tent dry thoroughly before packing away for storage. If you don't then they will grow mildew, which is smelly, unsightly and impossible to remove.
• After you have dried your tent always clean all the dirt and grit from the zips, as it greatly accelerates wear. Lubricate zips when necessary with a silicon spray.
• Inners and flysheets can be machine washed with a product dedicated to clean tents.
  After some time, you might want to waterproof your flysheets again. There are several special products on the market that can be used for this purpose.
• Check the tent for small holes and rips in the flysheet or ground sheet. If you found some, then you can easily repair these with sealant products.
• If there are larger holes, rips or other damage then the tent can be returned to its manufacturer. They will repair it with care. Do make sure that the tent is clean and dry before you return them.