Tents For Camping

Tents for camping are becoming more and more popular, particularly given recent economic conditions as more people look to save money on their holidays.

So what are the best types of tents for camping?

Tents can be traced as far back as the Roman Empire, and are still used today in many parts of the world as homes by nomadic tribes in Asia and Indians in America.

As opposed to the felt and canvas covered yurts, or the similar animal skin covered tipis, modern tents for camping are rather different. They come in a huge range from the lightweight to the  large heavy circus type tents, (known as marquees in the UK), from those with excellent airflow for hot conditions, to those insulated for exploration in colder climates.

Most people associate tents for camping with the traditional A frame tent, which has 3 poles at each end in the shape of a triangle, with a single pole running over the tent top, connected to the 2 triangular end A frames. This sort of tent is suitable for 2 people, but probably better for someone on their own with clothes, luggage etc.

However, A frame tents used to be used by the military and can be made to accommodate 8 or 10 people.

Another design of tents for camping is the Dome tent. The description is self-explanatory, a little more difficult to pitch than an A frame, but the advantage is that it has considerably more headroom as the tent forms a dome shape.

These types of tent are usually square or hexagonal, free standing so they can be easily moved. However, they should be attached to the ground with guide ropes etc once a suitable site has been decided on.

Probably the most popular tents for camping with a family is the cabin tent. This can be very complex to erect, but is usually large to enormous and consists of separate “rooms” inside, affording the occupants some privacy.

So how do you decide which are the best tents for camping for you and your family?

Decide how many people need to be accommodated, but don’t necessarily match that statistic up to the tent you buy. For example, if two of you are going camping together, consider a 4 person tent or even two two person tents. This is because should it rain for example, you both have enough room to store your kit inside, and also, it’s more comfortable to have more space!

The space issue is always uppermost in people’s minds, as well as privacy. Family tents for camping should always have a capacity of two people more than the actual number, but if the group is a group of friends, then buying a number of tents, say a three person tent for every couple, will give each couple space, and privacy that is perhaps less important on a family holiday.

Probably the best type of tent for camping if you are just starting out, is a borrowed one! Pay close attention to it and look after it, but with no ensuite facilities in a tent, it may be a good idea to see if the reality matches the fantasy before splashing out on a tent and all the equipment needed for a camping holiday!