Campers Info Source

Talk about a great, versatile deal on a 4 person tent at a very low price.  Here it is.  The Cooper Dome Backpacking Tent falls in the category of 4 person tents from Gigatent.  It is really easy on the pcket book and can server lots of different purposes.  This is one of the best 4 person tents I’ve ever seen for the price.  It’s size is

Cooper 2 Dome Backpacking Tent

7′ x 7′ x 51″  and it actually sleeps 3-4 people.  This would make a perfect tent for backpackers or even your teenage kids and their friends.  It’s also a good tent for small families or small groups looking for an inexpensive way to get started camping.  

This tent would even work well for your family pet.  Lay down some newspaper and a bowl with some food and cool water inside and let your dog or cat have a night under the stars.  Point the windows toward the campfire but away from the direction of the smoke and let your pet be part of the campfire activities without eating all the hotdogs and marshmallows.

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.

This is the fourth in a series of six blog posts describing styles of camping tents to help you choose the design best suited to you.  This fourth style of camping tents is the A-Frame or Wedge Style Tent. 

Eureka Timberline Outfitter 6

A-Frame or Wedge Style Tents

Just like its name, this tent is shaped like the letter “A”. The design was actually the classic tent design in the sixties.  The sturdy end frame at each end forms an “A”, with a single ridgepole across the top to hold up the tent’s canopy.  This style is also called a pup tent.  

A pup tent is a structure used for shelter that is made with some sort of durable material, such as canvas, and two poles.  There are many types of tents, but the pup tent is distinguished by its small size and lack of roof.  A typical pup tent was originally only about 6 ft (1.8 m) long, 4 ft (1.2 m) wide, and about 3.5 ft (1.1 m) high, though they may now be found in slightly larger sizes. One pole holds up the front, and one pole is placed in the back, giving the tent an A-frame appearance.  They get the name of pup tent due to the small, kid-like size. 

The sloping sides of an A-Frame tent does restrict the interior headroom, but A-frame tents have an efficient rectangular floor space.  The angled sides sag in wet or windy weather, so other, more weather-worthy designs have mostly replaced the use of A-frame tents.    The ‘A-Frame or Wedge style tent is the type that first comes to mind when someone utters the word “tent” and is a style that’s been in use for many centuries.  More compact and therefore lighter in weight than either a wall-tent or a pyramid, a good sized wedge nonetheless provides excellent shelter for two people and all their stuff.  Historically, big A-Frame tents such as 6 person tents were not as popular as 2 person tents.  Tents and other temporary shelters were used routinely in the military for storage of guns and also by fur traders who needed shelters for their annual journey to and from the Bay or Lake Superior.  Everyone had to live in A-Frame tents while a fur post was under construction.  Today, A-Frame tents are popular with cub scouts, boy scouts, hikers and backpackers.  They are also are bigger.  The Eureka Timberline Series tents like the one pictured are very popular and sturdy A-Frame tents.  Eureka Timberline series includes 2 person tents, 4 person tents and 6 person tents.

This is the third in a series of six blog posts describing six camping tent designs that will help you choose the camping tent style best suited to you.  In our first two blog posts we talked about dome tents and modified dome tents.  The third camping tent style is the pyramid, cone, or teepee tents.

Pyramid, Cone or Teepee Tents

A pyramid, cone, or teepee tent has a very basic design.  It is easy to setup as it is made with a single layer of waterproof fabric.  The

Guide Gear® 18x18 Teepee Tent

tent is usually held up with a single pole in the center, with the sides staked out securely.  The teepee tent is liked especially by ultra-light backpackers because of its simplicity.  Small pyramid shaped tents make excellent backpacking tents but large teepee tents like the one pictured make good family camping tents.  For example, the Gear Guide 10′ x 10′ Teepee tent is great for small groups or small families where up to 6 people need to sleep.  But the 18′ x’ 18′ Teepee tent pictured is better suited for large families and can accommodate 10-12 people or fewer people and lots of camping gear. 

Teepee tents don’t have a complicated pole system and the center pole even doubles as a hiking stick in some models.  Although the Guide Gear Teepee tent has a floor,  teepee tents are usually floorless.  In fact, car campers sometimes use it as a potty or shower tent. The teepee tent has a high entrance and sloping sides, which offers good head room in the center and an excellent place to store gear as the headroom disappears with the inclined sides.  This type of tent isn’t very secure against mosquitoes and other insects, though.  It also doesn’t stand up well in anything less than the best of weather conditions.

This is the second in a series of six blog posts describing six different designs of camping tents in order to help you choose which style of camping tents is best suited to you.

Modified Dome Tents

The Modified dome tent is almost a dome tent except that it has a square floor area as well as some poles for extra support.  Almost all four-season tents are of the modified dome design.  One good example of this is the geodesic dome

MT.Garfield Dome Tent - With Fly

tent which is especially designed for snow or high winds because of its multiple pole intersections.  Modified dome tents are available as Large Dome Tents or smaller dome tents.  The Wolf Mountain Dome tent from Gigatent is a large, modified, 3 room dome tent which is easy and quick to set up.  It also provides plenty of interior volume and floor space.  There are three twin track doors which provide easy access to the rooms.  The room dividers are removable allowing for one large room or three smaller rooms.  There are four windows in the tent and 2 large roof vents for air flow.  A bath tub floor helps keep things dry and sewn in pockets keep small items off of the floor. A large duffle style tent bag makes this tent easy to pack and carry to the campsite.

When buying a tent, make sure you are looking for the design which best suits your needs. If you’re the family guy then a large dome tent or modified dome tent is the best one for you. If you’re a backpacker, the modified A-frame or tunnel tent may be the perfect design for your lifestyle. Whatever your needs may be, also keep in mind the quality of the tent you will buy; it is an investment for you to enjoy the life outdoors.

This is the first in a series of six blog posts describing styles of camping tents to help you choose the design best suited to you.  It doesn’t matter if you are in the mountains, back country, lake country or desert, the great outdoors call for a reliable tent so you can fully enjoy the tent camping experience.  Camping tents come in different designs, styles, sizes, shapes, and colors.  So it’s important that 

Eureka! Luxury Family Tents Equinox 6

the design of your camping tent be best suited to your needs.  Going over the different designs and styles will help you make the right choice.  

There are at least six designs you can choose from: dome or umbrella, modified dome, A-frame or wedge, modified A-frame, tunnel or hoop, and pyramid, cone, or teepee tents.  Each design provides a unique set of benefits which may be good enough for some backpackers but not to campers.  

Dome or Umbrella Tents

The first design is the Dome or umbrella tent – Its basic design is hexagonal which uses three or more poles depending on the pattern.  There are many models to choose from and can sleep two to eight people.  A dome or umbrella tent is a good choice for all types of camping for most of the year.  They are also easy to set up and take down therefore ideal for backpackers and adventure seekers.  They are great space savers for packing and are lightweight as well.  If you have a large family or a large group such as cub scout, boy scouts or girl scouts, Large Dome Tents are your best choice.  In particular, choose large dome tents that have multiple rooms so your older children can have the privacy they prefer.  If you are looking for a little luxury in a 3 season tent known for exceptional wind stability, maximum weather protection, and easy set up, check out the Eureka! Luxury Family Tents Equinox 6.  It sleeps 6 and is a perfect example of a dome style tent with all the benefits. 

There are other tents out there which do not belong to any of the above because their design is a combination of the best features of any of the above given tents. When buying a tent, make sure you are looking for the design which best suits your needs. If you’re the family guy then a dome or modified dome tent is the best one for you. If you’re a backpacker, the modified A-frame or tunnel tent may be the perfect design for your lifestyle. Whatever your needs may be, also keep in mind the quality of the tent you will buy; it is an investment for you to enjoy the life outdoors.  When selecting the right tent, check that it fits your needs. Don’t think twice if you need to shell out some more if what you’re going to buy will shut out the rain and the mosquitoes.

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.

Family camping tents have always been available in various sizes to meet the needs of different family sizes but historically, you could only see outside through a couple of small windows or an unzippered and opened door.  Family

SwissGear St Alban Family Dome Tent

camping tent manufacturer’s have added more doors and windows over the years which allows for more outdoor viewing from the inside and increased air flow to keep you cool during the hot summer months.  But one of the popular features of family camping tents today is a mesh ceiling that allows you to see outside at night and do some star gazing.  This family camping tent allows you to do some star gazing with the kids inside the tent without having to fight mosquitos, moths, flys and no-see-ums.  I have also found that after the kids are asleep and my wife and I are alone in the tent looking out at the stars through the mesh ceiling, things get a little mushy.  You know.  You start with a little kiss after naming some twinkling stars after your kids.  Then you whisper sweet nothings into each other’s ear so the man in the moon can’t hear.  My Aunt Barbara has always shared one phrase with me and my family which is “Love is Grand”.  I gotta tell you that Love is truly grand when star gazing through the mesh ceiling of family camping tents with a loved one and things can get a little mushy.  SwissGear’s St Alban Family Dome Tent is 11′ x 9′ , sleeps 8 and has a mesh ceiling.  It has plenty of room for the entire family.  Check it out and if you like it, get one and enjoy some mushiness.  Of course, rain can put a damper on any mushiness so rest assured, this tent has a rain fly to cover the mesh ceiling if necessary.

Backpacking tents are lightweight tents and durable.  But not so durable that they will withstand poor care and packing.  You will extend the life of your backpacking tent if you follow the tips below.

• Pack your tent poles so they don’t bend, break or chip on the ends and cut into the shock-cords.
• Pack the tent stakes and poles in a stuff sack.  Packing the tent poles and stakes with the backpacking tent could puncture the
  

  MSR Hubba Hubba Tent

  tent.  Wrapping the poles and stakes in a beach towel first will also keep them protected.

• Make sure your backpacking tent is thoroughly dry before packing it, otherwise mold/mildew could form on the tent and break down the tent fabric.
• When folding your backpacking tent, lay it on grass vs. sand or gravel, then pack it in a stiff sack or your backpack if it fits.
• Keep in mind for winter packing… backpacking tents packed in the cold take about 20% more space then a tent packed in a warm house. So for winter camping taking a stuff sack that can give that extra space when repacking the tent out in the snow.
• When its raining hard, try not to lie your tent on the ground for too long as the water could make the tent about 10 times as heavy.
• Always clean sand out of the zippers with a vacuum cleaner to prevent the zippers from tearing.  This will improve the life of backpacking tents.