What To Look For
Lightweight tents, commonly used by backpackers and mountaineers, have one primary feature. A lightweight tent needs to be light. Some of the top-rated two- person tents weigh about four pounds. Additional features to look for include steep side walls allowing more usable floor space along the walls, large mesh areas for ventilation and viewing, and vestibules or entries for storage or cooking. Other features to consider are the ease of setup and overall durability.
Common Pitfalls
Making any object as light as possible often sacrifices durability. Anodized aluminum poles are standard in the higher quality tents and offer the most durability. Other pitfalls include tents that are exceptionally low. Interior heights of the three-man backpacking tents ranged from six feet to as little 30 inches, according to the website Backpacking.com. The actual floor space of the tents also varies widely within the same category of tent. The floor space of tents classified as two-person ranged from 28 square feet to 39 square feet. Obviously the larger tents offer more space for people and equipment when weather confines both to the tent.
Where To Buy
Quality lightweight tents are available from outdoor outfitters, camping supply stores and online. Staff at the outdoor outfitters and camping supply stores may be knowledgeable and have experience about the tents and be able to offer advice. Online stores may have a wider selection of lightweight tents. Shipping costs for online purchases should be factored in although they will not be large due to the light nature of the tents.
Cost
Costs ranged from about $140 to about $600 according to the website Backpacking as of August 2010. Size of the tent is one of the major differences in price, with the top- end North Face tent the Mountain Manor 8, capable of housing eight people, at the high end of the price scale. Two-person tents ranged in price from $140 to $350.
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