How to choose a tent: a buying guide

How to choose a tent: a buying guide

Our comprehensive guide to choosing a tent will ensure you stay dry and comfortable nights whatever the weather

If you ask me, time in a tent is time well spent. I'm usually happiest when I'm under the screen. After leaving the distractions of modern life behind, I find that camping has a detoxifying effect on me. At the end of a day on the trail, I pitch my tent, eat, drink, sleep. In the morning I take down my tent and then repeat. It's a simple but good life.

Of course, knowing how to choose a tent is not that easy. There are plenty of options with a matching glossary of confusing jargon. It can be a confusing affair and potentially an expensive one if you get it wrong. However, if you do it right, you'll enjoy comfort, reliability and some of the best views that money can't buy night after night.

To make the process easier, we've put together a comprehensive buying guide for choosing a tent.

alt="Camping under a starry sky">Atlas & BootsTime in a tent is time well spent

How to choose a tent

Considerations

When choosing a tent, it is worth first asking a few basic questions.

• Wo gehst du hin?
• Wann gehst du?
• Wie wird das Wetter sein?
• Gehst du über Nacht wandern oder mehrtägig trekken?
• Welche andere Ausrüstung werden Sie tragen?
• Welche Aktivitäten werden Sie durchführen?
• Auf welchem ​​Terrain wirst du aufschlagen?
• Bleiben Sie auf einem Campingplatz oder wild campen?
• Mit wem gehst du? Kann man Ausrüstung teilen?
• Gehen Sie vom Netz oder haben Sie Zugang zu Annehmlichkeiten?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide what tent design you need and what features are important to you. For example, an ultralight hiker on a weekend trip in the middle of summer will need a completely different setup than a backpacker completing a winter traverse of the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland.

Tent Designs

Dome: Dome tents are the general camping tent and most popular design. Although they are not as strong, technical, lightweight, or weatherproof as other designs, they are easier to assemble and typically more spacious. They have two poles that cross once, usually at the highest point - the top of the dome. Dome tents are used in a variety of situations, from backpacking to car camping to festivals.

Geodesic: This is the strongest type of tent design; ideal for demanding expeditions as they can withstand strong winds and harsh weather. Geodesic tents feature two or more poles with five or more pole crossing points. Less than five crossing points and they become semi-geodesic tents. Backpackers sometimes prefer semi-geodesic tents because they are lighter but slightly weaker in strength.

Geodesic and semi-geodesic designs are usually pitched with a separate inner tent and outer tent, making pitching difficult in poor conditions.

Tunnel: Tunnel tents can be set up quickly and easily because the inner tent and outer tent are connected. For backpackers and cyclists who pitch their tents in a different location each night, tunnel tents are a popular option because they are fast and protect the inner tent in inclement weather. Tunnel tents also offer a high space-to-weight ratio.

Ultralight/Shelters/Taps: Ultralight tents or shelters are designed for hikers trying to cover the ground quickly, so they should weigh well under one kilogram (1kg). They often come without poles and instead rely on hikers incorporating their trekking poles – or poles – into the design.

alt=“A shelter with trekking poles”>Atlas & BootsMy shelters set up with trekking poles

I use an Alpkit Polestar tent (980g), which is pitched with trekking poles to save weight and space.

Not surprisingly, ultralight options aren't as weatherproof or durable as other designs. For short hikes where I can rely on reasonably good weather, I only take a tarp, pegs, guy ropes and my trekking poles.

Bell: Bell tents are a clear favorite for families or groups that don't intend to move camp. They usually have a spacious living area that can be adjusted to suit the needs of the group, providing a more comfortable camping experience. Bell tents are heavier, take longer to set up, and should not be used for backpacking.

Hybrid: Hybrid tents consist of one or more designs. I used a tunnel tent for years, but recently switched to a Jack Wolfskin Exolight II. The Exolight is a hybrid dome tent with multiple geodesic and tunnel design aspects that make it an excellent choice for multi-day trekking.

The tent has two pole crossing points like a semi-geodesic tent, but the points are connected together, making them stronger. The inner tent and outer tent are connected to each other like a tunnel tent and simply attached to the pole system, which means it can be set up quickly and easily, even in bad weather.

alt="My Jack Wolfskin pitched at sunset">Atlas & BootsJack Wolfskin's Exolight II is a hybrid dome design

Key features of the tent

Groundsheet: The groundsheet should be attached to the inner tent and must be completely waterproof to prevent water from seeping up from the ground. It is important that all seams are sealed. The best tent designs have large perimeter seams raised from the ground for better protection.

Inner tent: The inner tent, attached to the groundsheet, should be light and breathable and made of a mix of rigid fabric and mesh for ventilation.

Outer tent: The outer tent is the outer shell that protects the inner tent and its occupants from the elements. An outer tent should be light but durable and waterproof.

Water column: A tent's water column - sometimes referred to as the water column or polyurethane (PU) coating - is measured in millimeters (mm) and indicates how waterproof the tent is.

In the UK, 1,500mm is the legal minimum for a tent to be considered waterproof. A rating of 2,000-3,000mm will cope with most weather conditions. It is not uncommon for expedition tents to have a water column of up to 10,000 mm on the groundsheet and over 5,000 mm on the outer tent.

Apses: An apse – or porch – is a sheltered area inside the outer tent but outside the inner tent. Vestibules provide space for gear, especially dirty boots and wet clothes that you don't want in the inner tent. They can also be used as extended living spaces.

alt=“A view from a tent”>Atlas & BootsSuch views are unbeatable

Poles: Poles form the structure of a tent and should be strong and reliable. Avoid fiberglass poles as they cannot withstand strong winds. Aluminum is ideal for most situations because it is strong and light. Steel is sometimes used for larger tents, but is significantly heavier.

Poles should collapse into smaller sections that are easier to handle. For easier folding and packing, they are usually connected by an elastic cord.

Guy lines: Guy lines or guy ropes serve as additional contact points between the tent and the ground and provide additional stability.

Guyline Attachment Points: The points where the guylines are attached to the tent. These should be reinforced and have strong seams as they are subject to heavy use and can tear.

Doors: Fewer doors make for a lighter tent. However, additional entrances are more practical if there is more than one resident. The inner tent doors usually contain a fine mesh for extra ventilation while keeping mosquitoes out.

Ventilation: A well-ventilated tent prevents condensation from accumulating and helps keep occupants comfortable. The inner tent essentially uses a mosquito net or mesh to achieve this, while the fly tent ideally has at least one hood opening that can be opened and closed.

Storage Pockets: Storage pockets are usually mesh compartments in the corners or ends of the inner tent, ideal for storing a headlamp or other items you need to have on hand.

Accesories:

Footprint: Particularly useful for lightweight tents, a footprint is placed under the tent floor, providing an additional layer of protection from rough terrain and excessive moisture.

Gear Floor: A gear floor is a mesh or fabric storage compartment that attaches to the roof of a tent, usually at the top.

Lightweight Pegs (Stakes): Titanium, aluminum, or even plastic stakes offer an easy way to save weight without compromising the stability of a tent.

Repair kits: It's worth carrying a tent repair kit to mend fabric tears and breaks. A tent pole rail is a temporary solution to a broken or damaged pole. A good tent comes with both.

We have been using tents from Jack Wolfskin for years. On our first trip around the world, we packed a two-person tunnel tent that we used on the islands of the South Pacific, the foothills of the Andes, and everywhere in between. These days we use an Exolight II hybrid dome tent (pictured above), which has proven itself on numerous outdoor tours. Jack Wolfskin also has the Exolight I, a lightweight version for solo backpackers.

alt=“How to Choose a Tent Pinterest Post”>

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