Your first priority is figuring out which kind of camping you are going to utilize the tent for. Camping with your car or van at an established campsite requires different types of tents than walking in to a wilderness site.

Camping tents fall into three broad categories: "A" frame, dome, and cabin styles.

- "A" frames have two upright poles that support a ridge pole. Generally small, they have a maximum capacity of two to three people. Models range from low-cost pup tents to high-quality backpacking tents. In most cases, "A" frames are designed strictly for sleeping, and for providing minimal shelter from sun and rain. For family camping they're often used as separate quarters for the youngsters, who insist upon having their own bedroom.

-Dome tents resemble high-tech igloos and use three or even more poles depending on configuration. Models can sleep from two to eight people. Some dome styles permit you to stand erect inside, while some have little headroom. In most cases, dome tents will be the easiest to erect, once you understand the basics. Plus they can frequently be moved, while pitched, if you discover the ground is more desirable a few feet away.

-Cabin style tents are just what the name implies, and are designed to accommodate larger groups of people. Main support is really a horizontal ridge pole linked to uprights that extend to the bottom front & back. Often they will have side ridges and poles aswell. The higher models use external poles, thus providing more usable space inside. You ought to have more than enough headroom to stand comfortably in this kind of tent, not necessarily the case with other styles.

All of this will over-simplify, because many camping tents are hybrids, combining top features of all three styles. These often are identified as "modified domes"---which covers a substantial amount of ground.


Over the years my family has used almost every style of tent. Our initial family camping trip, for example, was made with a cabin tent. We had a couple of toddlers, a crib, a portable potty, mounds of clothing, and sundry other items. Because the boys grew, so did our interests, from family camping to backpacking, which called for high-tech packing tents. By enough time the kids were within their teens they were camping by themselves, and we expanded our interest to whitewater rafting and four-wheeling. For these activities a modified dome fit the bill.

Choice of tent style is often a matter of personal preference and lifestyle needs - as is additional camping equipment. If you don't care for sleeping on the ground you're going to bring along a folding cot. If so, make sure the tent is big enough to accommodate one.

Unless you object to crawling in and from the tent on hands and knees, a backpacking tent is ideal. They are lightweight and, when folded, create a small package. This makes them perfect for canoe and bicycle camping, where weight and bulk are considerations.

However, if you like to stand up and stretch each morning, a dome or cabin tent will suit you better. There's a lot of headroom, and, depending on size, space to stow your gear as well. It's therefore not unusual for two visitors to work with a six-person tent, especially if they need their equipment inside using them.

Regardless of what tent style you choose, it's crucial that you give it a dry run before heading on a camping trip. Set the tent up in your yard or a nearby park, to understand what pitching and striking it is all about. You'll find nothing worse than attempting to create a tent for the first time at two in the morning, after a long drive. It could really put a damper on your camping trip.

Click here for more info require that the seams be sealed, using compounds the manufacturer supplies. You can better do this during the test run then while actually surviving in the tent.

Finally, be familiar with warranties. An established company will stand behind its gear, supplying a multi-year or lifetime warranty. In addition, the customer service department usually has a policy of repair or replacement if you can find any manufacturing problems. An organization that's afraid to provide replacement parts or repair service on its tents is not confident about its equipment---which should let you know if you actually want to buy that product.