How to Choose the Right Tent Camping Equipment
The perks of tent camping include enjoying the sounds of nature and increased flexibility. The drawbacks can come from choosing the wrong tent camping equipment. No worries though, learn from other’s mistakes so you don’t have to go into the great outdoors unprepared. Here’s a list of tips to help you choose the right tent camping equipment for easy set-up, ease of use, and ultimate protection from the elements.
Consider the Size of Your Tent
Consider the space it takes to store each piece of camping equipment, and where it will stay while you travel. Many people store their tents in their RV for extra or flexible sleeping options and most tents will fit in the trunk of most cars. It’s important to consider the space it takes to store all the things that make the wilderness enjoyable like cooking gear, linens, food, and seating. Since a tent is probably your shelter from the elements, it’s a necessity for your trip and may mean the difference between a two-person person or family size tent, depending on your needs.
Choose the Right Tent for Your Specific Adventure
You may think that choosing a tent is as simple as finding the correct size for your family, but you would be making a mistake that sends your family home cold and wet after being caught in a rainstorm in the middle of the night.
When tent shopping, pay attention to the temperature range your tent will be exposed to, the weather conditions it’s rated for, and if it needs additional tarps, or rain protection. Some tents are even rated and approved to put a heater into.
The type of material your tent is made of makes a big difference too. The most common tent materials are cotton, nylon, or polyester. Cotton is breathable and can absorb water, which means you won’t have to worry about condensation. It also has insulation properties if you’re going to be in an environment with cold temperatures.
A nylon or polyester material is your best middle-of the road tent. It’s more affordable, lighter weight, quick to dry out, and is usually more resistant to mildew and rips. You’ll also want to pay attention to how water-resistant your tent is. Depending on the coating of the fabric, some tent materials are more water resistant than others.
Go for Easy Set Up
We’re all familiar with the image of a family camping trip starting with mom and dad pushed to the limits of their stress trying to shove fiberglass poles into tiny holes. The situation often led to second-guessing the whole idea of sleeping outdoors. When you go to find your tent, you’ll see many pop-up options available, and they truly are as instant as they claim to be. In many cases a single person can put up a modern pop-up tent in the time it took a couple to lay out the poles around the perimeter. But keep in mind that pop-up tents are best for beach camping or camping at festivals. They aren’t very sturdy and don’t do well in wind. Do extra research to make sure you choose the best tent for your family and that’s also easy to set up.
Tip: if you’re setting up a tent for the first time, do a trial run in your backyard first to become familiar with the parts and process.
Tents are Not Interchangeable
You may enjoy sleeping in a tent made entirely of net to not hinder your beachside view or breezes; or maybe you’d like something with more privacy such as a tent with a single window on the front door and discrete low nets at music festivals. Both those experiences can be irreplaceable, but the tents are not interchangeable. When tent shopping, choose a tent that fits your privacy needs and allows you to enjoy the views in the area. There are many tents with windows all around that can be opened and closed for the best of both worlds.
Consider the Interior of Your Tent
Like your tent, all sleeping bags are not made to be used in all zones. The same sleeping bag that is practically too hot in a tropical winter may leave you to freeze in the summer at high altitudes. Aside from sleeping bags, you’ll find the interior of different tents in a campground can vary greatly. Some people like to "glamp" and take extra camping equipment such as a full air-mattress or cots set up off the ground, fans, and mini-fridges. Others go for a more simplistic route. How you set up your tent and campsite is a personal preference that you’ll tweak to fit you perfectly with each new adventure. The goal is to make your campsite your home away from home.
Pack Smarter, Not Harder
It’s tempting to try to think of every possible need as you plan to sleep in a tent in the wild, but it’s surprisingly easy to over pack. Save yourself from clutter and bringing extra items that will just take up space by thoughtfully packing only what you need. The Out-In-About Box™ is a great way to save space and keep your tent camping equipment organized. You can have all your kitchen, medical, and hygiene items at hand and simplify your packing with a single organizational system within a box.
When preparing your tent camping equipment, you want to maximize your space and minimize the time it takes you to pack. Download are free Essential Camping Checklist so you’re organized and ready when you reach the campsite, making your outdoor recreation easy, fun, and memorable.
