What To Look For
When purchasing a tent there are many considerations such as where you intend to use the tent, in what types of weather conditions and how many people you hope to sleep in a single tent. If you like the backcountry and plan to pack your tent in a backpack, weight is of key importance. If you mostly car camp, you can have a heavier, larger tent. If you like to snow camp, you need a tent that can handle the weather conditions. Most tents for back-country only sleep two to three per tent to keep down the weight. For car camping, you can get large dome tents that sleep a dozen people.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest issue when buying a tent is simplicity. Many people do not look into the complexity of putting the tent together. Even if you are getting a car camping tent look for poles that are easy to assemble and store. With backpacking tents check the stitching and security of the fabric. The last thing you want is to be in the woods with a tent that leaks or rips easily. Make sure the poles are strong as well as the material. Again, seek an easy assembly.
Where To Buy
You can purchase tents everywhere from large general goods stores to sporting goods stores or specialty camping stores in your area. You can also do on-line comparison shopping. If you go in person to pick out a tent you like, also check the prices on-line. You can often get a better deal.
Cost
Tents are as inexpensive as $100 but as of 2010 cost up to $700 depending on the quality and type of tent. Four-season tents--those good in snow--are usually pricier. The light-weight tents also tend to cost more. Some sporting goods stores offer nice tents similar in caliber to name brands, but discounted from what the name-brand tents typically cost. Car camping tents usually have heavier poles made from less expensive materials such as aluminum instead of composite metals, thereby making a larger tent cost less in the long run.
Comparison Shopping
Some of the higher quality, lightweight tents include North Face and Mountain Hardware. These are known as tents that can hold up to all weather conditions and often times are the lightest for backpacking. Timberline makes some of the best car camping tents. Long lasting and roomy for big groups of people, Timberline tends to be a favorite of consumers.
Accessories
Buy ground cover for your tent. Whether you get an exact size groundcover or a tarp, this will help keep the warmth inside and protect the bottom of your tent from damage.
Insider Tips
Consider getting a tent from last season or when a company is upgrading to a new tent. Often times you can catch a deal by buying a season-old tent as the shops make room for new products.
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