Campers Info Source

I have to admit I’ve never liked motorcycles because when I was in sixth grade, I was a crossing guard for my grade school and I witness a car hit a motorcycle from behind at 30 mph. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.  But I acknowledge the fact that motorcycles can be fun to drive in the summer with the wind blowing through your hair when on the road.  I prefer four wheelers and bicycles as

Sportz X-Plorer PAC

modes of transportation and recreation.  But the bottom line is this.  It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a motorcycle, four wheeler or bicycle to get you around.  If you enjoy camping, you can tie backpacking tents to any of these and get on the road to you favorite camping destination.  But what about the other things you need to bring with you when you go camping.

The Sportz X-Plorer PAC is a complete one man camping package. The PAC includes a 1-person tent, full rain fly, one mummy style sleeping bag, one folding stool and a carrying bag. All items pack conveniently into a heavy-duty bag that features adjustable straps that attach to any rack.  This backpacking tent is 8.3′ x 5′ and sleeps one person comfortably.  It has one interior pocket for keeping your gear organized and off the ground.   It also has full no-see-um mesh sides for full ventilation.  The best part is that all items pack into the carrying bag which can be attached to any ATV, motorcycle, bicycle or backpack.  I encourage you to get outdoors. Get on the road and go camping.  And remember, ”The Joy is in the Journey”.

This is the sixth and final series of blog posts describing styles of camping tents to help you choose the design best suited to you.  Remember, it doesn’t matter if you are in the mountains, back country, lake country or desert, the great outdoors call for a reliable

THE NORTH FACE Tadpole 23 BX Tent

tent so you can fully enjoy the tent camping experience.   So it’s important that the design of your camping tent be best suited to your needs.  I’ve already gone over five of the different designs and styles that will help you make the right choice.  

They included the: 1) dome or umbrella tent, 2) modified dome tent, 3) A-frame or wedge tent, 4) tunnel or hoop tent, and 5) pyramid, cone, or teepee tents.  Each design provided a unique set of benefits which may be good enough for some backpackers but not to campers.  The sixth style described below is the modified A-Frame tent.

Modified A-Frame Camping Tents

While an A-Frame Tent has a single pole at each end to prop the tent up, a Modified A-Frame Camping Tent normally has two poles at each end to form a triangle and a single pole running along the top of the tent from the tip of the triangle at one end to the tip of the triangle at the other end.  Modern A-Frame tents add a ridgepole and a center hoop to the traditional A-Frame to create a larger volume version of the traditional A-frame pocket.  They are great space savers for packing and are lightweight as well.   The modified A-Frame tent is designed for 1-2 people and many of these style tents now have vestibules for storage of camping gear.

North Face Tents are great backpacking tents and expedition tents.  A perfect example of a modern day, modified A-Frame camping tent is the North Face Tadpole 23 BX Tent.   This tent is perfect for backpackers and people going on expeditions.  It’s a really nice 3 season tent.

This is the fifth in a series of six blog posts describing different styles of camping tents to help you choose the design best suited to you.  In this blog we will describe the tunnel or hoop style of camping tents.  

Tunnel or Hoop style tents

The fifth design is the Tunnel or Hoop style tent - The tunnel tent has a structure of simple side to side arched poles like a covered

Wenzel Lone Elk Hiker Tent

wagon.  It forms a tunnel with a series of hoop shaped poles (usually two or three).  Sometimes an extra center pole is used to keep the walls from sagging.  It is one of the lightest and easiest to pitch shapes available.  Because it is a light and compact tent option, this camping tent style is extremely popular for backpackers, hikers, and bike campers.  It is easy to setup and is relatively lightweight with a good amount of floor space. It has good headroom and steep side walls.  It has more headroom than an A-frame tent.

A tunnel tent works best as a summer or three season camping tent style, and is fine as long as the wind doesn’t blow hard.  It tends to rock and roll in crosswinds and won’t stand up to high winds or snow.  Some hoop tents, though, may be more equipped for harsh conditions.  They may have more poles and lines to help hold up against the wind.  Other options are available, too, such as a rain fly, a vestibule, and mesh windows.  Tunnel tents can accommodate one to four people, depending on the size.

The Wenzel Lone Elk Hiker Tent pictured is a perfect example of a Tunnel or Hoop tent.  Wenzel tents are great camping tents and this one is lightweight and compact for hiking and biking.

When you go backpacking, you want something light, durable and something that will keep you dry if it rains, cool when it’s hot and warm if it’s cold.  1 Person Tents are just what the doctor ordered for those who enjoy backpacking.  You may see these referred to as Solo Tents, One Man Tents or One person tents but they are all basically the same thing.  The

Eureka Solitaire Tent

Eureka Solitaire is ideal for anyone who’s a little too claustrophobic for a bivy but doesn’t want the burden of a full-blown tent when hiking alone.  What’s a Bivy?  A bivy is a is an extremely small, lightweight, waterproof shelter, and an alternative to traditional tent systems. It is used by climbers, mountaineers, hikers, ultralight backpackers, soldiers and minimalist campers.  It looks like a mummy sleeping bag but it’s actually a sack that you insert your sleeping bag into and it keeps critters and rain out. 

The Eureka Solitaire tent an extremely lightweight 3-season solo tent with an efficient tunnel design and a sturdy fiberglass shock-corded frame. An added zipper in the center of the roof cloth allows easy entry an exit.  At 2 lbs 9 oz, this 3 season, solo tent with efficient tunnel design and compact fold size remains extremely lightweight.  It has two storage pockets and flashlight loop inside.  Like the Eureka Solitaire backpacking tent, many 1 person tents allow you to do some star gazing through a mesh fabric and also get a cool breeze passing through the tent which helps in the hot southern areas of the united states in the summer time.  Or you can cover the area with a rain fly if it’s raining our cold outside.