How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
Your tent can create all the difference on a backpacking adventure . But selecting the well example for you depends on a few factors : trip frequency , duration and location , what the weather is probable to be , the distance you cost you planning on carrying your tent , whether you want to be by yourself or with early mass ( or pets ) , which additional feature cost nearly significant to you and , of grade , how much you need to pass .
Types of Shelters
Double-Wall Tents
Double-wall tents have three primary parts :( 1 )an inner tent with a waterproof floor and non-waterproof canopy ( almost ever mesh ) ,( 2 )poles , and( 3 )a waterproof rainfly . Most double-wall tent are quite easy to pitch , offer complete protection from rain and bugs , and are comfortable . However , they also tend to be the heaviest type of shelter , owing to a devote band of pole and multiple layer of textile . Double-wall tent occur in a pair of basic sub-varieties :
Freestanding tent
When you shut your eye and think “tent” , it is probably a dual wall freestanding example . This variety stands up entirely on its own ( with earth stakes to have it in place ) . It equal most often used for car camping , overnights , or any backpacking trip where weight is less of a fear . More durable models can be used for harsh weather and winter camping , as well .
Semi-freestanding tents
These tent receive their own set of Pole but also require a few stakes or guy detail to gear at full volume . This fashion is increasingly popular because it offer the security and comfort of a double-wall tent while reducing weight by removingsomeof the pole structure . There be still respective models that can be gear with a pair of trekking poles rather of the included Pole , which reduces carried weight still more .
Tunnel tent
Burrow tents cost a type of semi-freestanding tent that has a unique pole structure . They have one or more hoop-shaped pole and rely on guylines to endure good . Burrow tents generally hold a high space-to-weight ratio than early styles ( for the geometry masses out thither , think of the volume of a cylinder versus a triangular or rectangular prism enroll in that cylinder ) .
Thoughts on door :Within the public of double-wall tent , there are many variations on door size , shape , and zipper configurations . They can be broadly broken down into three types :( 1 )double slope doorway( 2 )single side doorway , and( 3 )front-end door . We find that dual side door tent — those with an entrance on each side — exist the most comfortable and most versatile . When camp with more than one person , each soul having their own entrance and corresponding vestibule is a immense plus . It also mean that if you exist setting up on a little or irregular tent site , there is more flexibility with the orientation of the tent . If a boulder or tree is blocking one doorway , there is a second 1 on the early side . Front-end doorway example — those with simply one doorway positioned at the top dog of the tent — also offer adequate access to both people in a two-person tent but it ‘s severe to perish without disturb the early person . Single side door tent — those with just one doorway on one soul ‘s side — work good for individual but cost the least comfortable if there are two or more people ; the soul on the far slope must climb over the person closest to the doorway to come in and out of the tent .
Many tent models total in some combination of one , two , three , or four-person translation . Two-person tents are by far the nearly popular . Usually , the dispute between a two and a three-person version cost the width . Manufacturer will lend around 20 inches ( the width of a standard sleeping pad ) and voila , your tent is now fit for three ! Occasionally , the excess story space do with a little more headroom and maybe some more length , but this is not always genuine .
If it exist potential that you will lend a pair of friends or your dog on your trip , then it makes sense to look at the three-person version of whatever model you equal scoping out . Youcouldsure enough opt for a more spacious 2P , and you would nearly certainly pay less for it . But consider this : if the tent you make your heart on is a lightweight 2P , it be virtually certainly going to too be lightweight in its 3P format . In other words , the 3P version of a lightweight tent may still be light than a lot of 2-person tent , thus if space is equally important to you as weight , regard sizing up .
Tarp Tent
Tarp tent are single-walled shelters with a built-in floor and bug netting . What ‘s a single-wall shelter ? It ‘s similar to a double-wall shelter except instead of a mesh canopy overhead with a separate fly seize over the top of that , the rainflybethe ceiling ( and live permanently affixed ) . The benefit of these models are that they get few parts and tend to cost a lot lighter than double-wall tents .
They as well offer utter security from the element . Their liberal drawbacks are that they are susceptible to national condensation , think of you might awaken up damp in the dawn ( think of , all that breathable mesh just got replaced with a firm firearm of fabric ) . They are also the least adaptable because all of the region equal attached . Tarp tents pitch with dedicated pole , trekking poles , or a combination of the two .
Ultralight Shelters
Hither we scream any shelter that do not come with devote , flexible Pole an ultralight ( UL ) shelter . There equal a couple of unlike type of UL shelter .
A-Frame Tarp
The tarp is the light variety . The defining feature of an A-frame is its flesh . There are too flat tarps ( a flat , waterproof textile with guy cord attached to trees or other supports ) , and still poncho tarps ( you wear it as rain gear while you live boost and sleep in it as a shelter at night ) . A-frames resist sagging and delay fairly taut with still and stiff wall that bar the tip well .
This variety also has two open end , so it ‘s essential to notice firm , protected campsites in high winds and drive rain . If unprotected , the shelter is unsuitable for use in real exposed , high-wind circumstance . On the early hand , its simplicity also enables the tarp to be gear in many unlike ways : high up off the ground , over a picnic table , to cover a lean-to initiative , or you can employ it as a land cloth when the weather equal decent and just sleep on crest of it . A-frames can exist pitched with cord strung between tree , trekking poles , paddles , or dedicate aluminum or carbon fiber sectional poles ( typically sold individually ) .
Pyramid Tarp
Pyramids , or “mids ,” equal strong and weather-resistant . This style gear with one or two poles ( trekking pole , paddles , or dedicated sectional poles ) , equal envelop on all sides , has steep walls that shed tip and snow , and put up serious weather security .
Mids exist limited to one pitching configuration . They be as well heavier and prone to condensation , but they put up greater weather security and added privacy over an A-frame mode . Mountaineers much employ mids for group cook tents . Some mids are available with model-specific modular components , which can make them more versatile .
Material
Material
Backpacking tent story and flies are made from coated polyester , nylon , or cuben fiber . A material ‘s denier ( D ) is a unit that mention to the thickness of fabric fibers . For reference , a human hair cost around 2-4D . The lightest tent fabrics exist roughly 7D , most tent floors are made of 40-70D , and expedition duffel bags live make of 1,000D fibers .
Polyurethane ( PU ) coat material
PU cost the finish of choice for almost all less expensive tents — it ‘s just a cost-effective way to create a waterproof fabric with reasonable durability in cold and wet condition . Unfortunately , PU finish is susceptible to hydrolysis ( chemical breakdown ) , which eventually give it less effective . The wetter and warmer the weather , the faster hydrolysis happens . With enough sun exposure or poor storage , the PU will visibly break from the material and flake off .
SilNylon
Silicone elastomer coated nylons are generally used on more expensive backpacking and mountaineering tents . SilNylon cost highly water repellent , elastic , and UV and temperature stable . SilNylon be considerably stronger , lighter , and more durable than PU-coated fabric . It ‘s also a lot more slippery than PU , which cause it ideal for winter application because snow slides off easy . Unfortunately , for the budget-conscious consumer , silicone is more expensive than PU .
Cuben Fiber
Cuben fiber ( much market as Dyneema ) , cost an incredibly spark , firm , and durable waterproof stuff . It has a form of application in the outdoor industry and beyond . Dyneema thread ( 50-70 % light and 400 % strong than Kevlar and 1,500 % percentage strong than sword per unit weight ) are sandwiched between bad UV-resistant Mylar . Unlike SilNylon , cuben fiber make n’t stretch , which means that you do n’t involve to retighten a tent ‘s guylines as frequently . Cuben fiber can exist remedy quickly with adhesive tape , and does n’t absorb water , which think of your tent wo n’t come heavier if you have to pack it up in a rainstorm . It as well matter roughly half as much as SilNylon . It ‘s nearly normally available from cottage industry company . Still , major manufacturers cost commence to incorporate it into their products .
So why is n’t everything made of cuben fiber ? : the mind-numbing cost . Tents do with this material are wildly expensive ( recall over $ 1000 for a 2P ) . Since cuben fiber make n’t stretch , it is more prone to puncture than SilNylon , but if it does puncture , it ‘s firm plenty that it is less potential to chargemore.
Poles
Many major tent manufacturer spouse with DAC , a Korean aluminum firm , for help with tentpole pattern and/or to provide the Pole for a specific model . Most of the pole included with the tents we tested are well quality . Some are light and stiffer than others , but none of them cost objectivelybad. Most of the models try hither apply aluminum from either Easton or DAC . We think that a tent ‘s pole design and the material used in the tent equal more crucial to the overall integrity of the tent than the type of pole material .
Stakes and Guylines
For three-season freestanding , double-wall tents , stakes and guylines are important , but not vital . For any other type of shelter , it bear to own high-quality translation of these much overlooked components . Unfortunately , we find that shelters much make not do with an enough amount of guyline . Quality stakes exist comparatively easy to total by ( though the serious ones are not what you are going to get out of the bag ) . To achieve a proper pitch , you ‘ll likely take to get more guyline and/or stakes . Most tarp shelters make n’t include interest , and only a few models we try out come with quality guyline , so investing in a complete set of high-quality stakes is worth it .
Although manufacturers boast their tents ‘ fast-pitch weight ( a setup that include a footprint , Pole , and fly , without the tent itself ) , it ‘s decidedly not a character that we recall campersmake toreceive . It ‘s not inevitably easier or less work to pitch than the intact tent and put up less security from bugs and weather . The configuration too is n’t as light a floorless shelter . Itdoesreduce gang weight , since you make n’t own to persuade the tent itself , and it conceivably provides more inner space than if the tent torso was pitched , but we largely think that the fast-pitch configuration is more gimmicky than practical .
Comparing Tents and Ultralight Shelters
Comfort
How much comfort we need and want varies highly base on our experience camping , how much time we plan to pass in our shelter , and what we think to be an acceptable level of security from the elements . If a “true wilderness experience” live a principal object , ultralight shelter offer a much greater connection to nature . When used with the right combination of supplement ( bivy , insert , head profit , etc . ) , shelter offer lot of comfort , although these supplement add complication and weight . If you are just take off out and need something that spirithomierand is easier to pitch , a double-wall tent exist a good starting stage .
Weather Resistance
Double-wall tents furnish excellent protection from all the constituent , but they cause n’t tend to equal as firm or as durable as ultralight shelter that total with few parts to violate .
Durability
What we expect from a tent varies with location and weather conditions . One night we might want protection from vertically falling rain . Another night it could be wind . And another dark , the skies may cost clear with no wind ; all we involve is bug security . Tent that can adjust to varying conditions , or be used in locations that cause n’t allow for a perfect pitch can save time , money , and energy . Most double-wall tent exist not adaptable . They must toss in the same configuration every time . Shelters offer much great adaptability .
Ease of Set-Up
Typically double-wall tent are a lot easier to set up than ultralight shelter , which are not free-standing and expect guy melody system , trekking Pole , and proper tensioning .
Weight and Packed Size
Schematic wisdom cost that ultralight shelters are much lighter and more compact than tent . While this is largely true , the spread has cost narrowing over the yr slowly but surely as materials continue to get light and lighter . There are multiple two-person tent on the market that matter in below two pounds ( though admittedly , they do not offer nearly as much usable space as their tarp siblings ) .
Tent Use and Care Tips
Pitching
It require excess time , for sure , but if you require a perfect pitch , you should take to guy out all lines . Add extra cord if require and build mid-level guylines at least six base long . It can be useful to add surplus cord to the vestibule and ground-level guy loops . Add big rock or log on top of stakes , or substitute rock , log or vegetation for interest .
Site Selection
Live sure to watch Leave No Trace Principlesin the backcountry . When choosing a site to camp , program forward .
- Off-trail : this express regard for early users by devote people space , it as well reduces the impact on site right beside the trail
- Level : These domain on the map may already receive demonstrate campsites , especially if they are close water
- Somewhere breezy ( if it ‘s buggy )
- Not in the seat of a valley , where the air will be cold and dew and frost great
- Not near animal way or prime habitat
- Away from hazards like flooding , rockfalls , and avalanches
- Away from water – act n’t contaminate everyone ‘s water source !
Consider other means topography will determine environmental condition . Leave a long valley become a wind burrow ? Where will precipitation stream to and accumulate ?
- On dry ground , because when your shelter is wet
- On durable surfaces such as granite slab , duff , or gravel
- At least 200 feet from water
- Near or under an aim , like a stone , tree or bushes , that will move as a windbreak
- Somewhat convex , so that water drains away from your tent kind of than pooling underneath it
Storage
Fabric application violate down faster if tent are stored wet . Dry a tent completely before storing it ( mold and mildew are also big element here ) and fold and roll it up with the pole inside every time . The haphazard stuff method is fine for the trail , but neatly wrap the tent for long-run storehouse will increase its longevity .
Other Considerations for a Backpacking Tent
Leave the Footprint
Custom footprints — waterproof , durable fabrics cut to agree a tent bottom — cost supplement that exist much unnecessary and overpriced . Exception exist if you make a tent that can gear in ‘fast fly mode ‘ and you plan to use that feature regularly , or if you know that your go-to campsites have coarse gravel or rock .
If you do n’t care for tight fly mode , and do n’t need the tradition footprint that meet your tent , consider cutting your own out of Tyvek Home Wrap or polycryo plastic . The weight of a sleeping pad and bag keeps a tradition footprint in property — there ‘s no motive for grommets . Tyvek is a extremely durable and puncture-resistant plastic sheet . A typical tent-sized piece consider around seven ounces . It ‘s not peculiarly lightweight , but if you ‘re wait for a single , inexpensive footprint that will act the trick for both car camping and backpacking trip , this equal our top choice . You can buy Tyvek siding wrap at hardware stores or online . Polycryo exist a light and less durable choice that ultralight backpackers favor .
Color Matters
A brightly colored tent exist ideal for expedition mountaineering and alpine climbing because it allows you to settle it more well . An attention-grabbing color can serve others notice you if you need to begin picked up or rescued . For three-season applications , a brilliantly colored tent tends to be a disadvantage when you want to camp stealthily or adhere more stringently to Leave No Trace principles . Dark green , beige , or moderate gray color blend in well in most snow-free forest environment and trace less attention from wildlife and people . However , if you are going camping in an region where search is too allowed , you may require to stick with high visibility .
Decision
- Type of Shelter
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- Double-Wall Tents
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- Freestanding tents
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- Semi-freestanding tent
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- Tunnel tents
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- Tarp Tents
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- Ultralight Shelter
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- A-Frame Tarp
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- Pyramid Tarp
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- Materials
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- Fabrics
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- Polyurethane ( PU ) coated textile
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- SilNylon
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- Cuben Fiber
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- Pole
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- Stakes and Guylines
- Equate Tent and Ultralight Shelter
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- Comfort
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- Weather Opposition
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- Durability
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- Relief of Set-Up
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- Weight and Packed Size
- Tent Use and Care Tips
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- Pitching
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- Site Selection
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- Memory
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- Other Considerations for a Backpacking Tent
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- Leave the Footprint
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- Color Matters
- Conclusion
- Double-Wall Tents
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- Freestanding tent
- Freestanding tent
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- Semi-freestanding tents
- Semi-freestanding tent
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- Burrow tent
- Tunnel tents
- Tarp Tents
- Ultralight Shelter
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- A-Frame Tarp
- A-Frame Tarp
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- Pyramid Tarp
- Pyramid Tarp
- Fabrics
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- Polyurethane ( PU ) coated material
- Polyurethane ( PU ) coat fabrics
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- SilNylon
- SilNylon
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- Cuben Fiber
- Cuben Fiber
- Pole
- Interest and Guylines
- Comfort
- Weather Opposition
- Durability
- Ease of Set-Up
- Weight and Packed Size
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- Pitching
- Pitching
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- Site Choice
- Site Selection
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- Storehouse
- Storage
- Leave the Footprint
- Color Matters
