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Backpacking tents. The essential guide to buying the best tent

Kelly Avatar By: Kelly | Last updated February 13, 2019

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There’s just something so liberating about sleeping under the starry sky, breathing fresh air and not being surrounded by walls.

Backpacking tents are an essential item in a backpacker’s kit. They will be your home away from home, your bedroom and your shelter against the elements. That is why it is best to know a thing or two on this subject, before throwing your money on the first tent you can get your hands on.

Here is a short guide to buying a backpacking tent:

  • First thing’s first: you have to decide how big you want your tent to be. Try to think ahead: how many campers will sleep in it? Just you? You and your significant other or maybe even more than 2 people? You have to take into consideration the required space/person, you have to have enough storage space but you don’t want to pay more for a huge tent in which you are going to sleep alone. Regardless of your needs, you should buy a tent that is 1-person larger than what you need. For instance, if you just need a 1-person tent, buy one that has a capacity of 2 people. This way you make sure you are not crowded and have enough storage space, too
  • Time/climate and place of use. There are countless types of backpacking tents out there, each of them designed for specific purposes. You should know when and where you are going to use the tent, so you can pick the best model for your needs. Are you going to use the tent just during summer, when temperatures are mild, or also during fall or winter, on snow or rain? You can choose between 2, 3, or 4-season tents. The places in which you are going to use the tent are also important: will you need it for simple, fun camping trips with your family, in camp sites, on lowland, or on top of the mountain? Narrow down your options based on these criteria
  • Weight and packability. If you are not going camping in your car all the way to the camp site, you will pay attention to how much the tent weighs! You don’t want your backpacking adventure to turn into a nightmare because you have to haul around pounds and pounds on your back (Also, you have to take into account other bulky items that need to fit in your backpack: your sleeping bag for instance). If you’re planning on carrying the tent in your backpack, go for a lighter and smaller model. As a general rule, cheaper tents tend to be heavier
  • How easy is it to set up the tent? Free standing ones are the easiest to assemble and they stand on their own, without requiring pegs. You’ll find a lot of dome shaped tents that are free standing. Tunnel models on the other hand are usually not free standing
  • What features does the tent have: does it have enough inside pockets to store your gear, if it is a 2-person tent or bigger, does it have 2 doors, so that you don’t have to inconvenience each other when you enter and leave the tent? Is the tent double-walled or single-walled? Double wall tents are more breathable.

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