You will either fall in love with camping, or you simply won't get it. There is no other option. So that you belong to the first camp as well, we will advise you how to choose a tent correctly and what to pay attention to when buying one. A tent will be your second home on your travels and can reliably serve you for years. So how do you choose the right one for your adventures and comfortable holiday?
How many people will mostly use the tent?
One of the first questions you should ask yourself. Even if you plan to travel mostly as a couple, do not necessarily focus only on a tent for 2 people. You will certainly appreciate a bit of extra space in case you have to spend several extra hours in the tent due to bad weather. After a full day of hiking, you will appreciate being able to stretch out properly without giving your fellow camper an elbow to the ribs.
You will also appreciate more space if, for safety reasons, you want to leave your belongings in the tent and not just in the vestibule. With a larger number of people, do not forget about having more entrances either. They significantly increase comfort, especially when some "co-inhabitants" go to sleep at a different time or get up a bit earlier. A great example is, for instance, the Husky Family Boston 8 tent.
What tent shape is ideal?
As you probably already suspect, there is no universal, clear-cut answer to this question either. The shape of the tent needs to be chosen not only with regard to the point mentioned above, but also your height. This is especially true for smaller tents, which can be quite uncomfortable.
At the same time, we must not forget about usage. For example, when camping in the mountains, you will appreciate a vestibule. Some vestibules (especially on larger tents) even have their own "floor," are quite tall, and during unpleasant sun or rain represent a great space for several people to sit. And let's not forget – these parts of the tent can easily serve as storage space for luggage and even a bicycle.
Smaller tents have a vestibule only in the form of an extended flysheet (the upper part of the tent). Of course, these small, non-insulated-from-below spaces are also useful. You can also store items in them, but they are not as safe (e.g. from moisture) due to the absence of a groundsheet. However, they do have one advantage – you don't have to worry about using a small camping stove or burner near them.
Single-wall versus double-wall tents
Most tents sold are double-walled. Such military tents consist of two layers, the bottom layer - the inner tent and the top layer, the so-called flysheet. This construction prevents the condensation of water vapor inside the tent. The bottom inner tent layer is made from a breathable material. Air circulates between the layers, which helps, for example, with drying the tent. The flysheet layer should be waterproof, which is why it is most often made from materials such as polyamide and polyester.
Let's stay with materials for a moment longer. To protect against tearing and greater damage, better tents have a ripstop fabric structure, which prevents tears from spreading. You can recognize this special structure at first glance (as small squares on the fabric). The inner tent is usually made from thin fabrics or mesh, serving as insulation and, at the same time, protection against annoying insects.
The bottom part of tents is mostly made from the same materials as the flysheet, just with higher water resistance. Cheaper tents have a bottom made of PVC, more expensive variants of polyester and polyamide. And finally, the poles – these are made in cheaper tents from fiberglass (not recommended = it cracks more often and is heavy), or from durable metal. Most often they are made from aluminum, duralumin or Scandium.
If you have the option, also pay attention to the color of the tent. We don't mean just from the perspective of your preferences and aesthetics, but light colors generally let in more light. If you spend a longer part of the day in the tent (for example during a long rain), you will definitely appreciate more light rays inside the tent. Among other things, you will also feel more comfortable in them in summer.
What water column should you choose for a tent?
We recently wrote about what a water column is. In short – the water column determines the waterproofness of the material. If you're asking yourself how to choose a tent, this is exactly one of the deciding factors you should consider. In our conditions, a flysheet water column of 2,500 mm will be sufficient. However, if you plan to go tent camping in the mountains regularly, we recommend choosing tents with a water column of around 5,000 mm. This, however, applies to the flysheet (the top part of the tent). The floor, i.e. the bottom part of the tent, should have a water column of at least 5,000 mm. The reason is simple – the top flysheet is loaded by rain relatively evenly and with the same pressure, but we press on the floor irregularly and with the full weight of our body. For very demanding conditions, tents with water resistance of 6,000 – 12,000 mm are ideal.
The water column of a tent also affects breathability to a certain extent. The higher the water column value, the thicker the material and the harder it is for air to pass in and out. Before buying a tent with a high water column, be sure to check whether the tent has good ventilation solved. After all, you know, so that you don't accidentally get woken up in the morning by condensed dripping water. :-D
If you want to choose the mattress correctly, also take into account that the water column may decrease over time. Due to stress and uneven tension, some parts may lose some of their great resistance.
Tent construction strength
The strength and stability of a tent is not determined only by the number of poles and the number of their crossings. No less important is the aforementioned material from which they are made. In general, remember that duralumin poles are the most durable = an alloy of aluminum, magnesium, copper and manganese. However, some manufacturers (including some MFH tents and Husky tents) use so-called durawrap poles. These are lightweight fiberglass poles coated with a polyester film, which ensures a long service life.
How to choose a tent correctly?
First of all, be careful and compare all the individual parameters. We could certainly mention a number of other tips and criteria. However, the questions and answers above should give you a sufficient answer to figure out which tent is best for you. If you still can't decide despite this, don't hesitate to contact us and write to us. We will be very happy to help you with your choice!
