Tents for recreational use can be as simple as a tarp stretched over a rope between two trees or a multi-room, family tent with living area, vestibule and adjoining gazebo for long periods of camping at a structured campsite.
Tents tend to give basic shelter and as such must keep moisture out and prevent rapid heat loss, while being portable enough for hiking, biking or canoeing. No one wants a leaky tent after a long day hiking.
Although winter camping, motorized camping and family camping may indicate specialized gear, most tents have similar attributes: built in or exterior supports, single or double wall construction and ratings for the maximum number of occupants.
What to Look for
The number of people a tent can sleep according to a manufacturer is only an indicator of how many could feasibly lie down without personal belongings or movement. Subtract one or two from the manufacturer's capacity for more realistic tent use.
Since moisture and cold can come through the floor as easily as the roof, a sewn in waterproof barrier or "footprint" groundsheet is a must. An exterior waterproof fly or layer with an air space between the two layers will give both insulating comfort and moisture protection. Since water vapor tends to condense on the interior of a tent, some ventilation and catch points other than the occupants for condensed moisture inside are also features to look for.
Shape, weight, how difficult the tent is to put up and even color are factors to consider. Types of tents include freestanding, non-freestanding and multi-season use. Freestanding tents don't need stakes or poles for structural integrity (usually having plastic or fiberglass bending poles that fit through sleeves in the tent material). Non-freestanding tents use the more traditional pegs, ropes and poles, while multi-season varieties have a varying amount of vent flaps and windows to help regulate air flow.
Common Pitfalls
Having a realistic idea of how much use a tent will get will help greatly in tent selection. Getting one slightly larger than the space absolutely necessary for sleeping will also widen the tent's usability.
Balance is the key. There is a tendency to get too much tent or too little for the amount the tent will actually be used. Motorized camping in structured camp sites will allow large, heavy tents that may take some time to put up. But at the end of a long day of hiking is the wrong time to first learn how to put up a complicated tent or find the tent is impossible to put up in the rain or wind. As with many outdoor experiences, tagging along with family or friends experienced in tent camping to learn the ropes may be the best hedge against buying the wrong tent.
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