How to choose a tent?

Almost everyone loves traveling and hiking, but not everyone knows how to choose a tent. Dimensions, weight, structure, fabric - all these factors affect the price of the product. This article will discuss the types of tents and the criteria for their selection.

If you are traveling by car, then most likely you will need a large camping tent with parking.

• Camping tent differs in large dimensions and height. There is a vestibule and windows. The main purpose is caravanning, traveling with children. It can stay for a few days. The main advantage is the size: this tent allows you to get up to its full height, it will accommodate a whole family. From the negative sides - bad warming up and massiveness. For lovers of traveling long and light, a trekking tent will do. For backpackers, lightweight and overall dimensions are very important.

• Trekking tent - a small room used as an overnight stay during a hike. Positive sides: lightness, ease of carrying. Negative moments: it will not withstand heavy rain or wind. If you're a fan of hiking in the mountains, then the weight of the tent becomes especially important. For travel over rough terrain are assault tents.

• Assault tent is the easiest of all. It will be especially useful if you have a steep ascent up the hill or a hike for a long distance. The advantages include weight, high quality material, ease of assembly and installation. She is not afraid of rain and wind. The disadvantage is size. Usually these are single tents - it will be uncomfortable for a large person to be inside.

From the size and model depends on the number of inputs. Here you need to carefully read the following points.

• If the tent is not designed for one person, then there should be two exits. Otherwise, both tourists will have to experience discomfort: one of the tenants will always watch the other climb through it, and the person lying farthest from the exit will wait until all partners have dressed and left the tent.
• The second exit will be especially useful if you are traveling in the summer, as you can make a draft, and the air in the tent will not stagnate.
• One output is considered valid if it is installed not near the side of the sleeper, but near his feet. In this case, each traveling, if necessary, will be able to go outside, without disturbing the partners.

On the modern market there is a huge number of tents made by various manufacturers. But each of them is designed to perform the same function - providing accommodation and shelter during the rains. Below is an overview of the top 3 most common brands on the Russian market.

This is a waterproof, comfortable, lightweight tent, designed for three people. Inside there are one room and two vestibules. This product is made of polyester. The material is double-layered, waterproof, but breathable, so that owners can be sure that the air will circulate well even on a hot summer day. The frame of this model consists of three arcs, located on the street side. Installation is very simple: at first fixatives are fixed, and the material is pulled over them.

Specifications:

• moisture resistance - 6000 mm;
• length - 3.8 m, width - 2.4 m, height - 1.45 m;
• production materials: polyester, fiberglass;
• weight - 4000 gr.

This product has many positive aspects.

• Sophisticated design. There are two exits on both sides of the tent. Near each exit there is a vestibule. This solution allows you to quickly climb, and the tent is ventilated much faster.
• The manufacturer has provided many additional elements: here you can hang a flashlight, there is a window for ventilation, pockets for phones.
• Model is not sticky, lightweight, easy to carry.

This model is quite roomy. Made of durable two-layer waterproof fabric. The seams here are treated with special glue, so you can be sure that neither moisture from the ground, nor rain, nor wind will get inside. The product has a hemispherical shape. There are windows through which a pleasant atmosphere will reign in the bedroom. The model accommodates six people, suitable for family holidays or a group of friends.

The design feature is the presence of two bedrooms, which provides special comfort. Another advantage is the high "ceiling". The entrance has a height of 2 meters, so you do not have to constantly bend down to enter the tent.

The case is very light, but despite this, this model can serve for several years. This tent is ideal for people who like to gather large companies. When folded, the tent is small in size. Specifications:

• moisture resistance - 3000 mm;
• material: polyester (both outside and in the bedroom);
• polyethylene floor;
• casing: fiberglass;
• dimensions: 5.15 x 3.4 x 0.2 m;
• weight - 15.5 kg.

Benefits:

• the tent will not get wet even in heavy rain;
• large capacity;
• inside you can walk in full growth;
• the presence of organizers, pockets.

Disadvantages:

• due to the large size of the person will not be able to install the tent alone.

This model will allow the company of four people to comfortably enjoy the trip. Here much attention is paid to convenience: there is a vestibule inside, which can be used as a kitchen or utility room. There are even partitions through which you can divide the bedroom. Just like in the apartments, the bedroom here is separated from the rest of the rooms, thanks to which you will feel comfortable even in the steppe.

If you have ever spent the night in nature, then you probably know that mosquitoes cause a lot of inconvenience at night. In this model there is a mosquito net that protects from intruders. So you can sleep with the door open, not worrying that insects will get inside the tent.

Specifications:

• moisture resistance of the canvas - 4000 mm;
• bottom moisture resistance - 6000 mm;
• entrance from three sides;
• 1 bedroom with partitions;
• windows for ventilation;
• there is a place for cooking;
• weight - 12.6 kg;
• dimensions in the open position - 4.5 x 2.5 x 17.5 m.

Benefits:

• sizes, height of a cloth;
• good wind protection.

Disadvantages:

• weight;
• the complexity of the assembly.

Many people know that tents are divided by seasons. However, people who have no experience in choosing the tents, believe that they are all divided into subgroups: for the summer, autumn, winter and spring. However, it is not. All tents are classified in a slightly different way.

• Summer Representatives of this category are designed for use in hot conditions, so manufacturers are focusing on the ventilation system. Along the edges of the material is raised. Note that it will be useless during a rainstorm or wind.

• Three seasons. By name you can understand that they are operated in winter, spring and autumn - in cold times. It uses a fabric of increased strength, therefore, even long rains do not interfere with your rest.

• Winter Such tents are usually used in extreme cold conditions. They will be very useful during the winter trip to the mountains. The difference is that these models can be used both in winter and in summer.

Tents are divided into single, double, triple, etc. Single models are designed for one large man (with a backpack and clothes).

• Usually the width of a bedroom in single tents is 80 cm. This size will be enough so that you can lie comfortably on your back and on your side.
• Double tourist tents provide for 60 cm by 1 person in width. Men of large build will be uncomfortable.
• If the tent is designed for 3 or more people, then one will be less than 60 cm. This is not very convenient, because you will also need to place your things inside. For a thin person, half a meter wide will be quite enough.
• If in a multi-person tent per person accounts for about 45 cm, then you can not sleep comfortably on your back. Get ready to turn around the whole company at the same time.

Another important parameter is the length. This item should be considered if your height is more than 180 cm, because you need to have room for a pillow and a backpack inside. If you are a man of medium build or your partner is a girl, then it is not necessary to overpay for a double tent, there will be more than enough “half-liners” here. However, two men of a large or athletic build a double tent will be small. In this case, it is recommended to resort to the "-1" rule. For a company of two people, take a triple tent, for three - a four-person tent.

The requests of all buyers are very different, and for someone the length and width of the bed are not important. The most important criteria are weight and convenience. Consider a single tent MSR Hubba HP. It is arranged quite simply. There is no vestibule here, therefore, there is no place to cook food. All that can be done is to lay a mattress and go to bed. Ferrino Blow Lite - the exact opposite of the above tent. Under the tent of the vestibule, you can safely make a salad, you can mess around inside, the tent is quite spacious, but it is designed only for one person.

During the selection of the tent, many are confronted with incomprehensible inscriptions, such as Poly Taffeta 210T 3000 PU. For an unknowing person, this data does not mean anything. Below we will explain how to correctly decipher this marking.

• All companies during the production of tents resort to the use of two materials: polyamide (nylon) and polyester (polyester). The first option is very dense and does not differ in high cost, but the fabric drags strongly when it enters the water and burns out in the sun. The second type of fabric is even stronger than the first, it is almost impossible to tear it, it is resistant to moisture ingress, however, you will have to overpay for such indicators. On this basis, we can say that the inscription Poly means that the tent is made of their polyester fabric.
• Taffeta - A popular method of weaving from silk, cotton and synthetic polymers. In addition to this method, there are Oxford and Rip Stop. Oxford fabrics are characterized by increased strength and moisture resistance, therefore they are usually used for the bottom of the tent.Rip Stop - materials of combined weave, which are based on reinforced thread. But such weaving does not affect the weight of the tent.
• Next comes 210T. These numbers indicate the density of weaving. It completely depends on them how strong the tent will be. The lower the T value, the more elastic the fabric will be. In addition to the letter T, D. may also be present in the description of the characteristics of the tent. It denotes the thickness of the fibers from which the tent is made. Both of these parameters are reflected in the mass of the goods.
• PU means that the material is treated with a special substance - polyurethane. This is necessary so that the roof does not get wet even in the rainiest weather. Some manufacturers prefer silicone processing: it is much more reliable, and the tent can last longer. However, the quality will have to overpay.

All tents are divided into 4 types according to their shape: hemisphere, semi-bar, hammock and cottage. Let's talk more about each of them.

• Hemispheric Models provide for the presence of two or more crossed arcs that form a kind of dome. Tents in this design are in great demand due to the fact that they can be used in a variety of conditions: they are not afraid of the winds and have a function of water repellency.
• Products in the form of a semi-barrel differ in large dimensions. Many models have a tambour. Arcs are set parallel to each other and do not intersect. This building have many camping tents. They can not boast of reliability and unstable to strong winds.
• Hammock tent Great for people who travel alone. They do not have a frame and are not designed for large companies. But such models are the easiest among all competitors, and the whole installation comes down to the fact that you need to tie the rope to the tree.
• Tent, made in the form of a house, is considered a classic. Thanks to the two slopes on the roof, neither snow nor water will linger, but such tents are unstable to the winds due to their structure. Plus, such models require more time to build.

General recommendations

• Experienced travelers do not recommend using a windproof skirt. Instead, you can lower the edge of the tent to the ground. The fact is that the skirt makes the tent very massive and impairs air circulation.
• At the entrance you need to hang mosquito net. This criterion is very important if you relax in the forest in the summer. It not only protects against mosquitoes, but also lets in fresh air. During tourism in the mountains in winter, this item loses its relevance.
• Before buying, check if there are ventilation windows. They should be at least two, from different sides of the tent. This item is especially relevant if you want to purchase a multi-seat model. Tents designed for one person have only one window.
• Do not overpay for increased water resistance. In today's world, this indicator is used for marketing purposes. Even the cheapest models with a water resistance of 3000 mm can withstand even the strongest rainfall.
• The tent should be high enough to make you feel comfortable in a sitting position, without touching the ceiling.
• Thanks to additional loops, it will be more convenient for you to control the level of stretch of the awning. They will also help to secure the tent more reliably during a strong wind.
• Lanyards must be free from damage, even minimal.
• Special attention should be paid to lightning. They should be well opened with one hand, without biting the material. The advantage will be the presence of two locks with a zipper - from the top and bottom. So you do not have to completely unzip to view the weather. And also it will be possible to make a “window” for air circulation.
• Before purchasing a product, inspect the seams well: they must be stitched and processed with special glue.
• Additional pockets will be an advantage: they can be put mosquito spray, phone, etc.Some models may be with hanging shelves, which is usually located a flashlight.

How to choose the right tent, see the following video.