Tents

Basic Guide to Tents

Getting set up for camping starts with your Tent. There are a myriad of options and choosing one can be a little overwhelming so we'll give you a little information to help you make your decision.

If you are new to camping and have friends or family with gear, you may want to borrow a tent for your first campout. That lets you not only checkout that style of tent, but lets you also see and learn about a  variety of other tents.

Car Camping Tents

Since we are typically car camping (close to our cars) we have more flexibility in tent selection and options.  Size and weight should be considered, but are far less critical than if we were backpacking.  This lets you choose larger sized tents for additional room and plenty of space for gear, and take into consideration standing height inside of the tent, ease of tent sent up, etc.  

Weather Rating (3 Season Tents)

Most tents are 3 Season Tents. These are rated for camping in three out of four seasons, with winter being excluded.  Generally winter refers to Nothern Winters, so 3 Season is generally suitable for most South Florida  camping. 

3 Season tents are typically composed of a mesh-lined inside structure and a rain fly or water resistant outer layer that fits on top of the mesh frame.  This system won't won't ensure that it’s  cool, warm or perfect to sleep in, but will provide shade and ventilation in  hotter temperatures, while restricting wind and rain when staked down properly.

Tent Size (Ignore the capacity ratings)

Family Camping! Everyone can come! How many are you bringing?

Tent capacity ratings are misleading as they are rated by Only the Maximum Occupants they can sleep, in bags, head to toe.  Ratings don't take into account mattresses, camping gear storage, moving around or general comfort.  

For example, a typical two person tent may hold you and your scout for sleeping on small pads, or in sleeping bags, but typically won't have much room for mattress pads, luggage, or any other gear.  You can make this work. It will just be tight. 

For reference, my daughter in the Scout Troop uses a two person tent when she camps. If my wife or I join the camping trip, we use a two person tent for a single person.  Two person is plenty for one person. 

Really, if you want a tent for two, including  extra space to move around and store gear, you will want a  three person,  or better yet a four person tent.

As a family of four, we started  with a 6 person dome tent. That's a 10' x 10' tent.  It was generally workable as it did sleep 4 with some room at your feet for gear.  We did however find it a little cramped  (We may, ok, ok... we do... over pack when family camping, between clothing, fans, and other gear keep the kiddos entertained) so we moved up to an 8 person tent, for the 4 of us. It's something like 9' x 17 and has plenty of room for the girls on one side, us on the other, and gear in the middle. 

Tent Height

Tent height can be an important factor for some campers. If you’re not a fan of crawling around in your tent to access things or putting your clothes on while leaning down, then you’re going to want a tent with a high ceiling. 

Smaller capacity tents generally have lower heights. Some only capable of sitting space. Larger capacity tents generally have taller heights and be be standable.  Dome tents only have the specified height at the center and it quickly drops off toward the sides. If you pack the tent with mattresses, use of this height will be limited.  Straight wall tents give more overall tent height.

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Tent Style

Tents come in a variety of styles but are generally either dome shape or  cabin (straight walled). 

Dome Tents: Dome tents use arched poles for structure. This results in tents that are sturdy against the elements, but that have limited standing room. Standard Dome tent setup is typically fairly easy. Smaller tents require one person. Setup becomes more difficult with increased size and may require a second person.  Some popup dome tents make setup easier.

Cabin Tents: Cabin tents have straight sides that maximize both space and headroom but may not be as sturdy against high winds. Standard Cabin tents use separate side and roof poles making tent setup more complex. They typically require two people. Some Instant  Cabin Tents make setup much easier with only a single person.

Instant Tents: Instant tents come in a variety of dome and cabin styles. Setup is very quick as the tent body is typically pre-attached to extending poles that lock into place. This eliminates the timely set up process of putting together poles and pushing them through the tent. Instant tents are typically heavier than standard versions.

Rain Fly

An essential part of any tent, a Rain Fly covers the tent adding sturdiness while helping to  keep out the elements.  Most family tents include a rain fly. If optional, it should be purchased.

Footprints

A common source of tent damage comes when the floor of the tent is pierced by rocks, limbs or other debris when a tent is placed on rough terrain. Careful cleaning of your camp site can help reduce damage, but a tent footprint is the best way to protect the floor of your tent. 

A footprint is essentially a tarp that fits underneath your tent. Some manufactures sell footprints specifically sized for a tent. Another option is a similar sized tarp. It should match the tent size and not hang out past the tent. Doing so allows water coming off the tent to find its way between the tent and footprint, preventing it from draining away.