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Tents are used for portable shelter. Most people use tents while visiting campgrounds on vacation. They are most basic form of shelter, providing limited protection from the elements and wildlife.
Backpackers use special lightweight tents that are highly portable. Even modern nylon tents weigh significantly more and are generally carried a short distance from the camper's vehicle to the camp site.
Tent camping is best for campers who want to "unplug" from modern life and really get back to nature. -
Modern tents are made of lightweight nylon and come in a variety of styles to suit different camping needs.
Backpacking tents are small and lightweight, and can be easily carried by one person. These tents can fit either one or two people.
Family tents/cabin tents are large tents with separate compartments within the tent, and can sleep 6 to 8 people on cots.
Dome tents are smaller, with an easy-to-assemble dome shape. They can sleep 2 to 4 people.
Screened tents/gazebos have mesh sides and are made for protecting a dining space from insects, sun and rain.
Rain flies are a type of tent with no walls and are set up for shelter from sun and rain. - Modern tents can have many feature unavailable to campers of previous generations. Most tents come with a rain fly to keep the contents dry, zippered doors and screen windows. Larger tents can have hanging dividers to form "rooms." Other tents have vestibules, a kind of floorless "porch" for your gear or to change shoes. Some tents are designed for extremely cold temperatures or have special vents for summer heat.
- Consider the type of camping your tent will be used for before making a purchase. How many people will sleep in the tent? Do they need any privacy? What kind of weather will you camp in--summer heat or winter cold? Will you be able to drive to your campsite and drop off a large tent, or will you hike miles into the woods and need a lighter tent?
- Whatever kind of tent you have, it will need to be cared for properly. Tents should be kept clean and stored dry to prevent mold. Always check the ground and remove pointy rocks and sticks that could damage the floor of your tent. Use a ground cloth or tarp for better protection from wet ground and rain. If a tent needs to be packed wet on leaving a campsite, pitch it again at home to dry out, or hang it on a clothes line. Try not to eat or store food in a tent; the smell of food could attract insects or larger pests.
