4 Tips For Choosing The Best Camping Tents

Tips For Choosing The Best Tent

6 People Easy Set Up Instant Cabin Tent will take the struggle out of setting up a tent.

A tent is a vital part of your camping trip. It not only gives you shelter but ideally ensures utmost comfort. That is why the utility and quality of your camping tent can easily make or break your adventure.

Well, there are numerous options when it comes to choosing the best tents for camping and this makes the task overwhelming, particularly if it’s your first time. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you pick the best one for your needs.

The Camping Conditions

Some tents are better suited to varying environments. A summer tent will have adequate ventilation, made of lightweight material and not suited for harsh weather conditions. A 3-season tent will be more likely to stand heavier winds, rain and offer protection from the cold. However, if you plan to camp in the snow, then your tent has to be a winter tent. For the best experience, you should pick carefully a tent that fits the weather.



If you’re a fair weather camper, your tent does not need to be top-of-the line, but even the most ideal weather conditions can change rapidly. As such, you need to think about how your tent would hold if a storm was to occur unexpectedly. Most cheap tents do not perform well in poor weather conditions.

Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent keeps you off the ground and shielded from the weather.

In addition, some people like to sleep in their truck bed using a truck bed tent. It keeps them high and dry, up off the ground from the small critters and bugs.

If you have ever slept on the ground, out in the open, you probably know what I mean. I had a bug crawl into my ear and it was not too pleasant, but it came out when my mom shined a light into my ear.

The Materials

It is also important to check what the tent is made of as this might influence your choice. Canvas tents are waterproof, but they get quite heavy when they absorb water. However, they are quite durable and don’t deteriorate as much as their counterparts.

Polyester or nylon is ideally waterproof, but sunlight will lead to deterioration over time. If you are going to pick such tents, it’s imperative to ensure that the seams have been sealed to ascertain waterproofing.

The zips of the tent is another important material aspect to consider. If a tent zip fails, you are going to have all kinds of unwanted materials in the tent. Ensure that the zip is of high quality, moves easily and does not catch on fabric or rust.

The Size

Tents are usually given a rating for how many individuals can fit inside. The ratings are often in even numbers. Two to ten person camping tents are quite standard and you can easily find them at local retail shops or online.

When picking a tent, it’s wise to pick one that is bigger than what you actually need. This is particularly true if you are bringing a dog or have a group of individuals who are hyper. So, if you plan to go on a camping trip with 4 individuals, pick a tent that is rated for 5 to 6 people. This will give some extra elbow room.

Keep in mind that there are some tent shapes that give more room than others, examples being dome and cabin shapes. The cabin type has more vertical walls which lend you more space. They ideally feature things like room dividers in order to provide more privacy. The dome types are easier to set up and due to their curved shape, they can stand up to wind and other weather conditions pretty well.

The Height

Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent with Instant Setup – welded floors and inverted seams will keep you dry.

Most camping tents, particularly the compact ones aren’t designed to be stood up in. Most of them are meant for crawling in and out, rather than walking in.

The height is certainly something to consider so that you know what you are getting into when making the purchase. Most average height individuals can comfortably sit up in a tent of 3.5 feet high. If you’re a significantly taller individual, you may want to pick a tent with a height bigger than this.

When it comes to picking the best tents for camping, these are the most important factors to keep in mind. Happy camping!

Updated: July 1, 2019 — 5:40 pm