Choosing the right tent
There are many types of tent to choose from these days and a variety of shapes and sizes. You might be looking to purchase your own tent for your camping adventures at home and abroad. You can learn about the styles of tents below to give you an idea of what to look for.
RIDGE TENT – A triangular shaped tent with a horizontal pole supported by two end vertical poles. These tents are very sturdy with plenty of headroom however on the downside their weak points are the tent sides which are unsupported.
FRAME TENTS – These style tents give Frame tents give you the best amount of headroom and living area. Frame tents offer individual sleeping compartments perfect if sharing with another or other couples, a kitchen and living area. Frames are generally made from steel. The inner walls of the tent are made of cotton, though occasionally you might find them made of synthetic fabrics.
DOME TENTS - These tents are very simple to erect and use lightweight flexible poles which pass through a sleeve in the tent fabric across at the top. Dome tents are available in a variety of shapes and are considered thew best selling family tent on the market. One thing to remember though - higher domes increase the vulnerability of the tent in windy conditions.
TOURING TENTS – This type of tent usually has a high dome or ridge and come with a good size porch area perfect for shade, shelter or cooking (caution is required when cooking near a tent as the body of these tents are usually made in polyester or cotton) Poles are usually made from steel providing a rigid frame.
VIS-À-VIS - This is a name which applies to tents which have their sleeping compartments on either side of a living area (ridge or dome types). Fabric is usually made of polyester or cotton.
HOOP TENTS – These style tents combine the best features of both the ridge and dome tents in one and are strong with a generous amount of space inside. Single hoop tents are favoured by backpackers, trekkers and mountaineers as they are light, wind resistant and easy to put up.
Once you have found the perfect tent and had it delivered you should do a couple of trial runs and practice putting it up before you go away – this could save you time and keep you from being frustrated (especially if it is raining when you arrive at your campsite!)
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