The Best Quality Tents

The Best Quality Tents
Photo Credit tent in woods image by alice rawson from Fotolia.com

What To Look For

When purchasing a camping tent, there are a few details about the camping trip that need to be considered before even browsing the multitude of tents available. These considerations are the location of the camping trip, the possible weather for the days of that camping trip, the number of people staying in the tent, and the general time of year the tent is being used for.

Common Pitfalls

One of the most common mistakes made when purchasing a tent is choosing the correct style of tent for the trip. There are three styles of tents: Cabin tent, dome tent, and A-frame. Another common mistake that is made is choosing between a three and four-season tent. For the most typical camping trips, the cheaper, three-season tent will suffice.

Where To Buy

One of the most cost-effective and diverse selections of tents can be found at Gander Mountain. Gander Mountain offers a wide range of tents made with both canvas and cloth while offering a few odds and ends as far as tent shapes are concerned. Gander Mountain has acquired a reputation of being a pinnacle supplier of outdoor activity equipment.

Cost

Some of the most expensive tents are made from canvas material. The costs of the canvas tents have an extreme range and go from around $40 to $1,500 depending on the size and complexity of the tent. The cloth tents, however, range from $30 to $500 depending on the size, shape, and rating of the tent.

Comparison Shopping

Three-season tents are the typical tents for most campers. Most have a thin floor similar to that of a tarp. They are generally less expensive and can withstand most weather and temperatures. However, when weather becomes inclement or the temperatures drop below freezing, it is a good idea to use four-season tents. Four-season tents have thick floors that are generally about six inches thick. The tents are built to withstand heavy winds, heavy snowfalls, and below freezing temperatures. These tents are normally a dark color which enables them to absorb heat where the three-season tents are often multicolored for looks.

Insider Tips

When deciding which tent to buy, first take in the aforementioned considerations. Dome tents are by far the most durable and weather-resistant tents on the market. They are aerodynamic and are also rather spacious. Cabin tents have the most space for family camping trips. They have plenty of head room, but lack the durability of the dome tents when withstanding wear and tear. A-frame tents are small and lightweight, but are rather ineffective when camping with more than two people.

References

Article reviewed by x Last updated on: Aug 18, 2011

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