Tents For Camping
What Is The Ideal Tent?

The ideal tents for camping are those most suited for your needs and requirements as they all vary in size and function.

Kids often build 'play-play tents' draping blankets over kitchen chairs, and even if some people can make do with a stretched tarp, most of us need more between us and the elements to experience the great outdoors.

Tents for Camping

Tents are manufactured form different materials such as canvas, nylon, felt and polyester which influence the durability, weight, bulkiness and general feel and function of a tent.

What are the best tents for camping?

Friends camping in the Bushveld

Answer these questions for yourself before buying a new tent.

What is YOUR main use for a tent?

How many people will use this tent?

Does the weight and bulk matter, do you have place to transport it, some tents are bulky in size. Can it fit into the trunk/boot of your car or do you have a trailer?

In what weather conditions are you planning to camp? Rain, snow, icy weather, hot humid conditions?

Even better do you want to fit a tent onto your vehicle, such as a rooftop tent?

General Use

Different Size Tents for individual needs

For hiking you need an ultra lightweight tent that fits into a backpack together with everything else you need for the hike.

For a large family you will need a large camping tent or even two in order to build a camp.

For touring and sleeping over in a different site every night you should look at something that you can pitch quickly.

If you plan to camp for a longer period of time be certain that the tent has sufficient space for sleeping to keep clothes and other gear as well as a place to sit if the weather happens to turn unpleasant.

Otherwise have an extra small tent to keep clothes and extra gear in order to give more space in the main tent.

Size Matters

Tommy: A tent that's high enough for a person to stand upright while dressing is something I much rather prefer, that crawling around on all fours.

For young people it might not be a problem to creep into a tent, but for us getting on in years the comfort of standing up or sitting on a chair to put shoes on is necessary. Make sure the tent is big enough for your needs otherwise you will get tired of camping sooner than later.

A Six man tent is big enough to sleep 6 people. Six sleeping bags fit into the tent. This, however, leaves no room for baggage or other gear.

It is best to buy a 6 man tent for at the most 4 people, and a 4 man tent for two people and so on.

This will give a bit more space to move around.

Some tents have a curtain down the middle of the tent for some privacy, or an extension at the front for undercover usage.

Quality

Look for things like aluminum poles versus fiberglass poles that snap fairly easy.

Heavy-duty zips and double stitched seams are features of good quality.

A good size rain sheet over the top of the tent keeps the walls of the tent dry.

A fitted floor keeps water out and creepy crawlies at bay.

Make sure the tent has a vent or window to keep open for fresh air in rainy and all weather conditions (under the rain sheet). Bear in mind that a tent can get very stuffy if not properly ventilated especially in humid conditions.

The conclusion is, the best tents for camping to buy is the best tent that YOU can afford that caters for all your camping requirements.