gray tent on top of mountain

When on your outdoor adventures – whether these are camping, hiking, or fishing, and more – your tent will be your home away from home. Tents are indispensable for every great outdoor escape, so you should know how to choose and buy the right one.

Many people consider outdoor travels a pastime. Whether your campground is the main event or your base camp for other activities you will do nearby, this detailed buyer’s guide is designed to help you choose suitable tents.

Things To Consider When Choosing Tents

A. Tent Sleeping Capacity

As you choose a tent, you must first select a tent model based on the size of your group and whether or not you need more space for more people, gear, or, perhaps, dogs. However, bear in mind that there are no industry standards about what defines per-person tent dimensions.

When evaluating the capacity ratings of a tent, the general rule of thumb is: Assume a close fit. If you need more room, consider upsizing the tent capacity by one person, specifically if you or your usual companions who will use the tent:

  • are large people
  • are claustrophobic
  • sleep more soundly with more than average elbow room
  • toss and turn at night
  • will bring a small child or a pet dog

B. Seasonality Of The Tents

1. Three-Season Tents

Touted as the most popular choice, three-season tents are lightweight shelters designed for spring, summer, and autumn seasons and their relatively temperate conditions. These tents are commonly equipped with ample mesh panels that boost airflow.

These mesh panels also keep away insects. However, sometimes, they might let it powdery, blowing sand. Rightly pitched with a taut rainfly, tents of this kind can withstand downpours, but you should look for other options since they are not the best choice for protecting you during violent winds, harsh storms, or heavy snow.

A three-season tent has these primary functions:

  • Keeps you dry during light snow or rain
  • Protects you from bugs
  • Provides privacy

2. Three- To Four-Season Tents

Also known as extended-season tents, they are made for prolonged three-season usage, ideal for summers but also adventures during early springtime and late fall when there is already moderate snow. The goal of these tents is to provide a balance of strength, ventilation, and warmth-retention.

Usually, tents of this kind, on the other hand, include one or two more poles and fewer mesh panels, unlike the pure three-season tents you learned about previously. These make them warmer and sturdier than their three-season cousins.

Moreover, extended-season tents are also the perfect choice for travelers visiting exposed, high-elevated places. While they tend to be sturdy, they are not as fully fortified for harsh winters as the four-season tents, which you will know about next.

3. Four-Season Tents

Engineered to guard you against substantial loads of snow and fierce winds, four-season or mountaineering tents are perfect for any season. Their chief purpose is to stay firm in the face of incredibly inhospitable weather, such as winters or above treeline.

Compared with three-season tents, tents of this kind use heavier fabrics and more poles. They also got rounded dome designs, not flat roof spaces where snow can collect. There are also fewer mesh panels and rain flies extending close to the ground. However, these hinder ventilation and could make them feel stuffy and warm in mind weather. But there is no denying that four-season tents provide a place of refuge when strong winds begin to howl.

C. Essential Features Of The Tent

1. Peak Height

Search for a tent with a towering peak height if you like to stand up when changing clothes or simply enjoy the space provided by a high ceiling. In this regard, you can choose between cabin-style and dome-style tents. What are these about?

  • Cabin-style tents have near-vertical walls that maximize overall liveable space and peak height. Furthermore, some models even come with family-friendly features such as awnings, room dividers, and vestibule doors.
  • On the other hand, dome-style tents are known for their superior strength and wind-shedding capabilities, which work great during stormy nights. They stand firm and tall in the center but have walls with slopes, so the liveable space is a bit reduced.

2. Length Of The Tent Floor

If you are taller and like more space, consider buying a tent with a floor-length measuring 90 inches rather than the usual 84 to 88 inches.

3. Tent Doors

On your way to buying your tent, you should also consider the number of doors based on your needs, including the tent’s orientation and shape. Tents with multiple doors are the right choice if you are taking on an outdoor getaway with your family so you do not climb over each other for midnight trips to the bathroom. Additionally, cabin-style tents shine in this regard. Also, note how silent or noisy the tent doors are when opening or closing them. You can find tents with zippers that resist snagging and breaking.

4. Tent Poles

The pole structure of a tent will determine how easy or difficult it will be to pitch. These days, virtually all family tents are freestanding. What does this mean? It means these tents will not require stakes to be set up. Also, the great advantage of this is that the person can pick the tent up and transfer it to another location before staking. You can also quickly shake off dirt before taking the tent down.

Not only this, but fewer poles also make way for faster setups. It is also easier to attach your poles to clips than to thread them through long pole sleeves. Many variants of tents use both short pole sleeves and clips to bring strength, setup ease, and ventilation to proper balance. You may also opt for tents with color-coded corners and pole clips for faster setup. Or, choose tents with aluminum poles since they are more durable and stronger than fiberglass.

5. Rainfly

Rain flies are separate waterproof covers designed to fit over your tents’ roofs. A rainfly is used when there is rain or dew or any time you want to retain warmth while using the tent.

Generally, there are two kinds of rain flies. You can choose either roof-only rain flies – allowing more views and light while offering adequate protection from rains – or full coverage rain flies – offering utmost protection from rains and winds.

6. Tent Materials

When shopping for tents, note that higher-denier fabric canopies and rain flies tend to be more rugged compared to lower-denier ones.

Likewise, seam tape and high-denier fabrics on tent floors reduce possibility of leakage.

7. Garages Or Vestibules

Next up are garages or vestibules. Awnings and shelters with the tent will store or shelter your dusty or muddy boots, or keep your packs away from the rain. These can be an integral component of the rainfly or add-on items sold separately for your tent.

8. Ventilation

More often than not, mesh panels are used in the tents’ ceilings, doors, and windows. This allows you to access views and enhances cross-ventilation, thereby helping manage condensation. For hot and humid climates, look for tents with larger mesh panels.

9. Interior Loops And Pockets

A lantern loop is commonly placed at the top center of your tent’s ceiling, where a lantern is hung. On the other hand, loops on the interior walls of your tent can be utilized to attach a mesh shelf (known as a gear loft, usually sold separately) to keep smaller items off the floor. Similarly, interior pockets will help keep your tent organized.

10. Guy Out Loops

The higher-quality tents usually include loops outside the tent body for attaching guy lines. These let you batten down the hatches – no flapping fabric – in the event of high winds.

D. Other Nice-To-Have Tent Accessories

Consider adding these nice-to-have accessories to your tent:

  • Footprint
  • Gear loft
  • Stakes and anchors for various site conditions
  • Floor mat for inside and outside the tent
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Tent repair kit
  • Battery-powered ventilation fan
  • Utility cord

Buy The Best Tents From Addnature.co.uk

Consider buying your ideal tent from Addnature.co.uk. They have tents that can protect you from icy rain, bitter winds, and all the harsh temperatures, thereby giving you a comfortable sleep. They got the most modern designs: lighter, more robust, more stable, more windproof, and more waterproof. Their tents are also easy to set up with relatively small pack sizes. Addnature.co.uk has tents for one person to eight persons; igloo tents; tunnel, dome, and inflatable models.

Addnature.co.uk has a wide variety of tents of all shapes, all sizes, and all kinds. The brand has family tents, tipi tents, kitchen tents, and tent accessories, plus so much more.

Escape to blissful memories with tents from Addnature.co.uk. With them, your outdoor adventures will never be the same.