Your camping or hiking tent is an extended life support system, the mini-environment designed to keep you dry, warm and out of the wind. When purchasing a tent, your first consideration should be what sort of weather you'll be camping in, followed by how many people of what size need to fit in the tent.
Parts
Most tents consist of three main components: the body, poles and rainfly. The tent body contains mesh ventilation panels to let fresh air in and keep insects out. The ventilation panels may or may not have covers that zip over them. Most tent poles are divided into sections connected by elastic shock cord for quick assembly, then threaded through sleeves on the tent body or clipped to it, giving the tent its shape. The waterproof rainfly covers both tent body and poles.
Setup
Always assemble your tent in your yard or at a park before your first camping outing. This helps you both learn the ins and outs of its assembly and make sure you have all the parts you need. Some tents, particularly one-person tents, must be staked out to hold their shape. Freestanding tents retain their shape without staking, but should still be staked or at the very least weighted down to keep them from blowing away in a strong wind.
Types
Dome tents are relatively roomy, with two or more poles that extend from corner to corner and intersect over the middle of the tent. Wedge tents are like an elongated dome tent, with a rectangular footprint instead of a square. Hoop tents use anywhere from one to three curved tent poles spaced along the tent's length to provide a relatively roomy interior, and pyramid tents are minimalist shelters supported by one vertical tent pole in the center of the tent. Some hikers further lighten their load by substituting a trekking pole or walking stick for the pyramid tent's vertical pole.
Function
You can also classify tents according to what sort of conditions they're expected to keep you relatively comfortable in. Three-season tents are well-vented and have a full rain fly to keep you comfortable in a variety of spring, summer and fall conditions. Four-season tents are designed to withstand the rigors of winter use, with vents that close completely, multiple guy points and aerodynamic body shapes.
Weight
According to Dick's Sporting Goods, ultra-light one-person tents may weigh as little as 1 or 2 lbs., a two- or three-person three-season tent will weigh between 4 and 9 lbs., while a large expedition tent may weigh 10 lbs. or more.
Care
A quality tent is a sizable investment that will last a long time---if you take proper care of it. Never store your tent when it's dirty or wet, and never wash it in a conventional washer or dryer. Instead, hand-wash the tent in a tub of cold water with a non-detergent cleaning agent, then leave it to dry in a well-ventilated area, out of direct sun. Once your tent is clean and dry, store it packed loosely in a cool, dry place.
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