Camping Tents Guide

When choosing a camping tent it is important to select the tent that is right for your needs. Camping tents can vary size, shape, weight and the season they are suited for. When comparing camping tents the two main factors are the size of the tent and the season it will primarily be used in. Tents4CampingUSA has a range of camping tents including 1 man, 2 man, 3 man, 4 man, large family tents, dome tents, lightweight tents and 4 season camping tents. We also have sleeping bags and other outdoor gear and camping equipment.

Size

How many people will be sleeping in the tent?

Camping tents are categorised based on how many people can sleeping in the tent comfortably. It is also important to consider how much extra space you will need for gear. At Tents4CampingUSA you will find the following categories:

One Man tents are designed for backpacking and so will be lightweight and have little extra room for more than one person. The height of the tent is often too low to sit up and all gear must be placed in the vestibule. One Man tents would not be suitable if you plan on spending a long period of time in the tent.

Two man tents have enough space for two people to sleep shoulder to shoulder. It may be possible to sit up in the middle of the tent but generally there is not enough extra space for gear inside the tent so it must be placed in the vestibule. If extra room is needed consider a 3 man tent.

Three man tents are designed for 3 people to sleep but do not allow for much extra space and so gear must be stored in the vestibule. 3 person tents are also ideal for 2 people to sleep comfortably with extra space for their gear inside the tent. This is often the preferred choice if spending many days in the tent.

Four man tents or more are generally designed for large family camping and range in the number of people / vestibule space available. We have a range of big tents including 4 man tents, 6 man camping tents and large family dome camping tents.

1 Man Tents >> view 1 man tents

2 Man Tents >> view 2 man tents

3 Man Tents >> view 3 man tents

4 Man Tents >> view 4 man tents

Large Family Tents >> view family tents

Season  

What time of year will you be using the tent in?

Along with the number of people the tent needs to accommodate, the season the tent will be used in is an important factor when choosing a camping tent. Typically tents are either 3 season or 4 season, with 3 season designed for Spring, Summer and Fall, and the 4 season designed for Winter use.

Three season tents are designed for spring, summer and fall use, but in places that rarely get extremely cold they can be used all year round. Three season tents are designed to vent off heat and so will have mesh screens for ventilation and a rain fly to protect from rain.

Four season tents are designed for extreme winter weather. There are more poles for added stability against high winds and snow, adding to the weight of the tent. Typically four season tents will be in a dome shape to reduce snow build up on the top of the tent. Ventilation will be kept to a minimum with a small mesh window that will have the option of being zipped shut.

4 Season Tents >> view 4 season tents

Dome Camping Tents >> view dome tents

Lightweight Tents >> view light weight tents

Camping Tents Shapes

Camping tents typically come in three main shapes, dome tents, single wall, and tunnel, with the shape of the tent affecting its weight, space and stability.

Dome camping tents are the most popular tent shape. They are aerodynamic, have good stability against the wind, have good interior headroom, and the rounded design sheds rain easily. Dome tents are free standing which means that they do not require stakes to keep the tent up.

Single wall camping tents are lightweight and do not require a rainfly, as a consequence they will have poor ventilation.

Tunnel camping tents have a rectangular tunnel shape and are popular among hikers as they are lightweight using less poles and less fabric than a dome tent.

Weight

Lightweight backpacking tents are designed to compact into a very small stuff sack and not exceed a weight of six pounds. At Tents4CampingUSA we have a section of lightweight tents that are designed for backpacking and hiking where size and weight are the most important factors. Lightweight tents will use fewer poles and will be made from aluminium instead of fiberglass.