What kind of camping tents should you be buying before you go camping with your friends?
Camping is a form of outdoor activity that involves spending a night or more than one night in a protective shelter out in nature. In essence, camping is a way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of your urban life, to a more natural environment for a limited time. Camping can be a group or a solo recreational activity, depending on the camper, and it is suitable for people in a wide range of physical conditions.
However, when you go camping, you need to have a makeshift shelter to stay and that’s where camping tents come in. You can erect these pop-up tents to sleep outdoors. There are a lot of variations when it comes to camping tents — right from erecting a tent in the backyard during the summer to snow camping, in which campers are equipped with specialised gear so that they can camp safely in the snow.
Supply stores not only sell different kinds of materials for camping but also varieties of tents such as arch tents and star shade tents. But people who have not camped before might want to seek help so that they can select a tent suited to their needs. In this blog, we will tell our readers the types of tents that they can choose from in order to go camping.
Almost all tents can be grouped into one of four categories — A-frame tents, pyramid tents, hoop tents, and dome tents — based on their shape. We will define each of the 4 tent types in this blog below. Read on…
Types of camping tents
Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of the types of camping tents, we wanted to tell you that you must always pitch your tents away from places where water may pool. A good choice for pitching your tent is in areas clear of roots and sharp sticks. You must also ensure that you do not pitch your tent under dead or dry trees. This is because heavy branches could fall and injure you if a strong wind blows. Also, make sure that you clean the pop-up tent after a camp. You must completely dry it and store it in a cool place until its next use.
Now, let’s look at the types of camping tents:
- A-Frame tents: A-Frame tents are triangular, “A-letter” shaped canopies. They are supported by a pole on each end and tend to have ample floor area. However, with the sides sloping inward in a triangle shape, you might not often find a lot of air space. These tents are generally a quite popular choice and an inexpensive option for camping.
- Dome tents: A very common choice in camping tents are dome tents. They are typically made with poles that crisscross over their middle in the shape of a “dome”. These tents are strong, sturdy and spacious. That’s why they’re a good option for most conditions.
- Hoop tents: These types of tents create their frame by bending poles in a half-circle and connecting their sidewalls to those poles. So most hoop tents only comprise two or three long poles.
- Pyramid tents: Pyramid tents have a single pole to support them in their middle while the fabric is being pulled out and pegged on each of its sides. However, these tents are not too popular options because the central pole gets in the way and can be an obstruction.
How to care of your tent
We wanted to reiterate that taking care of your arch tents properly after you’re all finished forms a very crucial part of camping. Remember, you’ll have to sleep in the same tent again on your next campout. So it is always a good practice to make sure that your tent is kept in good condition.
Here are a few steps you can follow to take care of your tent:
- Mildew can grow on a wet tent. A wet star shade tent can also stink, and fall apart much sooner. So make sure your tent is completely dry before you store it away.
- Typically, tents are taut and that’s why they can tear if you pull on the zippers carelessly without bringing the fabric together. So a good way to operate your zippers is by using both hands.
- Despite manufacturers giving you a waterproof warranty, you should never throw your tent into a washer or clean it with strong soaps. It can ruin the waterproofing over time. Our suggestion is to use water or mild dish soap to wash the tents.
- A good way of avoiding a puncture is by never pitching a tent on sticks, sharp rocks, or jagged surfaces. However, you must still keep an eye on whether your tent is getting punctured or not. Another important step you must follow is that you should shake your tent properly before storing it. Do not make the mistake of rolling the tent up with loose items because they might lead to punctures.
Conclusion
Now that you know about camping tents, we would want to tell our readers that you might also want to consider factors like the weight of the tent, and whether or not the tent has features such as a flyscreen. A flyscreen allows air to circulate on hot nights without letting insects in. You must also keep in mind that the tents should have waterproof covers to protect you from rain.
