In order to end up with the tent best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of tents are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a tent.
Research the market: Tent essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the tent market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: You'll have many types from which to choose: family size tents, one or two man tents, two, three, and four-season models, all made from different materials.
Size: If you are looking to camp with your family in a park you might consider a budget, family-size tent, which will sleep four members easily. Some even come with porches, small storage add-ons, and different rooms. If you are looking to a solo tent or backpack, you would want a one to two man, lightweight model. And, for mountain or deep forest trekking, you might consider a lightweight, four-season, and durable model. Size matters only when you are concerned with weight.
Shape: The shape of a tent will determine how well it will be able to withstand different types of weather. There are dome, tunnel, and geodesic tents. A dome-style tent is the design most used for mountain camping. An oval shape is practical for three season tents. Some tents are the classic triangle shape, while others are bivvy shaped. Therefore, the shape of the tent you choose depends on where you'll be camping.
Cost: The four 'Ms' of tent production are: make, model, manufacturing, and materials. A budget, department-store tent will cost fifteen to twenty times less than a regular high-quality, lightweight, four-season mountaineering tent bought at an outdoors retail store. A tent that would be used in a Himalayan expedition, for example, will cost at least ten times this amount; some cost as much as a new car!
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a tent. For example, do you just need a simple 2 man tent so the kids can camp out in the back yard or do you need a multi-room structure to accommodate the family on an annual camping trip?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used a tent before? |
| | If you have used a tent, work out what you did or didn't like about the tent. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What do I want a tent for? |
| | Perhaps you are going to backpack Europe alone or with a friend, or you are thinking of going trekking in the mountains. Maybe you want to go camping with your family at a State or County Park. |
| How often will I use the tent? |
| | Maybe you trek often and like to sleep in the wild outdoors. Perhaps you are going to use the tent for just an occasional weekend getaway. |
| What is the weather like where you are going to camp? |
| | You will have to choose a tent that will resist the elements. A town in the mountains, a park by the beach, or a campground near the desert all have different weather patterns that you will have to think about. |
| How much do I want to spend? |
| | Consider what your budget allows at this time. Maybe it's worth using a credit account for a more expensive model. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of tents and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:ChoosingChoosing a tent for bicycle campingHints and tips about tentsChoosing a tent for hikingChoosing the perfect tentGeneralWhat is a tent?What's the difference between single versus double walled tents?TypesWhat is a single walled tent?Easy to erect tentCanvas wall tentsMosquito proof tents for travel or homeWant something different - try a Tipi