How to Choose the Right Tent for Camping?
“Winter camping is very peaceful, But it is (also) a beautiful and fun activity which offers many different elements than camping in other seasons. Many folks enjoy the fact that with leaves and brush gone, and lakes frozen, there is so much more terrain and different trails to explore freely”, says Mark Hubner, a testing team director for Hamilton, Ontario-based cold weather footwear and apparel company Baffin. Camping in cold weather has its gratuities. It offers a one-of-a-kind experience. Imagining a serene view of snow-covered landscape and camping under starry night sounds rip-roaring and a fantastical expedition. While you experience the allurement and tranquility of a pristine wonderland, there would be fewer bugs and crowds to muddle the joyous camping of your life. However, unpreparedness may bring about challenges in cold weather. It is better to be over-prepared than unprepared. For this purpose, build knowledge based on snowy landscapes and unpredictable weather.
The formula for a fair, successful and fun trip lies in the simple strategies to stay warm, stay hydrated, choose your gears wisely, make a sagacious decision for sturdy tents. A shelter that can handle winter weather is an important decision. So, a variety of features must be kept in mind while choosing a cozy shelter such as space, weight, layering, durability, budget, seasonality, etc. A wide variety of cold weather tents are available in the market and online that may bewilder the array of choices. However, knowing the basic features of choosing the right tent may sound an overwhelming idea.
How to choose the right tent?
Decide on the size
Be obnoxious in choosing a tent size. Take account of how many people can fit inside the tent. But most consumers claim their actual size is underestimated by the tent capacity rate. In other words, it is very common to feel tighter than its capability ratings suggest for backpacking tents. A bigger tent can be hard to carry and pack up except in the case of car camping, where a bigger tent with plenty of room may serve as a good option. A two-person tent will only accommodate two people, with no free space. But a four-person tent can be rather better for two persons, providing extra space for other gears as well. For a family of six, best 6 person tents are available that not only accommodate a family but also provide space to spread out comfortably. As the rule of thumb suggests, always buy a tent that has high capacity than the number it suggests.
Go light and tight
“Light is right!” is a common phrase in the outdoor industry. A tent made up of lightweight material may be the best option if you’ll be huffing it on your back. However, tent design must ensure a balance between lightweight and durability. If you are thru-hiking, nonfreestanding tents with guylines are great but freestanding tents with poles are much easier to set up for regular users. Don’t worry about the tent weight if you are car camping.
Seasonality
Classification of tents based upon seasons serves as a guideline while choosing tents for cold weather camping. Single-season tents may not serve the purpose. Three-season tents with double-wall construction may withstand mild cold, rain and breeze but are not considered in extreme weather conditions. Four season tents are designed to be able to endure low temperatures, heavy winds and strong snow, so if there’s a risk you’re going to experience this sort of weather, this tent is best for you. In general, these tents are heavier than three-season tents and have thicker, longer-lasting fabric, lower mesh, and burlier poles.
Singles or doubles?
The outer waterproof layer of a double-walled tent provides durability and protection from elements while the inner layer serves as a means of ventilation and is made of breathable material. Both layers coupled up, provide more versatility and comfort and make double-walled tents much better suited for rainy and warm environments than a single-walled tent.
Like most gear purchases, you can narrow your focus and have faith in your investment until you grasp certain core principles and worry about how you want to use your shelter. Deciding a tent is a crucial task because it can help to make your outdoor experience amazing and can ruin your moments at the same time. A tent, after all, is quite literally your “home away from home.”
