How to Choose a Camping Tent: A Buying Guide

Recently, many people have been asking how to choose a camping tent. It’s actually quite simple, as many experienced outdoor enthusiasts have already compiled some great tips. Let’s break down the factors to consider when choosing an outdoor tent, and see what makes the right one for you.

First, let’s understand the different types of tents:

1. **Triangular Tents:** Mostly double-layered, they use A-shaped iron pipes as the frame at the front and back, with a horizontal bar connecting them in the middle to support the inner tent. The outer tent is then attached. They are more complex to set up but offer better wind resistance and insulation. This was the most common tent style in the past, and is suitable for mountaineering and expeditions.

2. **Dome Tents:** They use two poles that cross each other for support. They are easier to assemble and dismantle and are very lightweight, making them convenient for carrying. They are currently the most popular type of tent, suitable for leisure trips.

3. **Hexagonal Tents:** Hexagonal tents use three or four crossed poles for support, with some using six poles for added stability. They prioritize stability and are commonly seen in “high-altitude” tents.

4. **Boat-shaped Tents:** After being set up, they resemble an upside-down boat. They can have two-pole or three-pole support systems, with a sleeping area in the middle and a porch at both ends. They emphasize wind resistance with their streamlined design and are also a common tent style.

5. **Gable Tents:** They resemble a freestanding small tiled house, with four corner posts and a ridge-like structure for the roof. These tents are generally taller, heavier, and suitable for car camping or fixed outdoor work camping, hence the name “car tent.”

Essentially, a tent is a shelter in a high-altitude outdoor environment. It protects us from wind, rain, and sunshine, and provides temporary living space. Tents used in higher altitudes often offer significant insulation as well. Different shapes, materials, and applications give rise to various functionalities for tents.

Next, we’ll look at how to choose the right tent for you:

1. **Tent Size (Number of People)**

A common rule of thumb is to calculate 65cm of width per person. For example, two people would need at least 130cm wide. The length should generally be no less than 2 meters.

It’s important to consider weight if you’re backpacking. In this case, you can calculate as described above, and single-person or two-person tents are usually sufficient. But if you’re driving to the campsite, you can choose a size based on your actual needs, adding one or two people. For example, two adults could choose a three-person tent. Robust children can be factored in based on their size.

Additionally, if you’re camping with kids or pets, it’s recommended to choose a bigger size. If you have high space requirements, consider a tent with a porch or pair it with a tarp.

2. **Waterproof Coefficient (Outer Tent Waterproofing, Inner Tent Breathability)**

Outer tent waterproofing and inner tent breathability are essential for high-quality tents.

The most common tent coating is PU coating, short for polyurethane. It’s a stable, low-temperature-resistant coating frequently used on various fabrics.

The thickness and coating technology of PU coating determine the fabric’s waterproof performance. The coating thickness is expressed in mm, indicating the height of the static water column under lab conditions.

A PU800 coating means the coating is impermeable under a static water column of 800mm. PU800 coating can resist light to moderate rain.

A PU1000-1200 coating can resist moderate to heavy rain.

Coating exceeding 1500mm can be used in various environments.

Tent fabric usually uses breathable fabric. The breathability of breathable fabric is bidirectional. When the external humidity is high, moisture will also penetrate the fabric. Nylon fabric’s quality mainly depends on the quality of the nylon yarn, weaving density, dyeing technology, and weaving process. The density ranges from 170T, 190T, 210D, and higher for nylon fabric.

3. **Pole Strength and Resilience**

Tent poles must be strong and resilient. Currently, the best poles are carbon fiber, followed by aluminum alloy, then fiberglass, and lastly iron poles (which are practically obsolete except for military use).

A tent’s wind resistance depends not only on the material and diameter of the poles but also on the number of pole sets. Generally, the more pole sets, the better the wind resistance.

4. **Waterproof and Wear-resistant Tent Floor**

The tent floor needs to be waterproof and durable. Common floor materials include PE fabric and waterproof polyester fabric. PE floors are used in mid to low-end tents, while waterproof polyester fabric is used in mid to high-end tents. PE is polyethylene material, similar to low-grade plastic bags. In actual tent use, it’s double-sided PE material with a waterproof membrane, including many exported tents that use this material. The tent floor is in direct contact with the ground and prone to scratches from gravel, grass roots, and branches. Therefore, before camping outdoors, it’s essential to clear the ground of hard objects or use a groundsheet as a protective layer. Groundsheets typically use 420D wear-resistant Oxford fabric.

5. **Choose Tents with Double Doors or Opposing Windows**

Tents with double doors or opposing windows are better for ventilation, ensuring air circulation within the tent and preventing stuffiness. New quick-opening tents are designed with better ventilation.

6. **Reasonable Design**

A tent’s design should be reasonable, with enough pegs and guy ropes. Accessories like packing bags, pegs, and ropes also affect the tent’s usability. Choose a sturdy packing bag, ensure sufficient pegs, and ensure aluminum pegs are strong, while guy ropes are used for securing the tent.

Common Questions and Misconceptions:

1. **Should I Choose a Three-season Tent or a Four-season Tent?**

Three-season tents are suitable for spring, summer, and autumn, while four-season tents are suitable for all seasons. As the names suggest, the difference lies in whether they can be used in winter. However, the seasons are not the core distinguishing factor. Their difference mainly lies in their strengths.

Three-season tents excel in ventilation, with a more breathable inner tent but are less stable, making them suitable for lower altitudes with relatively stable climates.

Four-season tents are excellent for their stability and insulation in cold climates. The inner tent is more windproof, but this comes at the expense of breathability and space, making them suitable for high altitudes or winter outdoor environments.

Regarding weight, four-season tents generally have more poles, so they are 10%-20% heavier than three-season tents. If you prioritize lightweight gear, it’s recommended to consider a three-season tent, which is sufficient for most conditions without extreme snowstorms.

2. **Are Freestanding Tents Better?**

Freestanding quick-opening tents are very user-friendly for beginners. They don’t require assembly and can be easily moved if you need to relocate your campsite. Aside from the risk of the entire tent being blown away by strong winds when moving, they are almost perfect. However, if the support relies on wires, and the wires break, the tent could collapse. Therefore, it’s advisable to use freestanding quick-opening tents in low-difficulty weather conditions.

3. **What is Silicone Coating?**

Silicone coating provides waterproof protection. Both single-sided and double-sided silicone coating are for waterproofing. Another waterproofing method is PU coating. Single-sided silicon is usually one side silicon coating and the other side PU coating. Double-sided silicon is relatively more expensive and lighter. Silicone-coated fabrics typically offer lightweight, waterproof, and tear-resistant properties, making them advantageous over regular fabrics. However, they are prone to catching fire.

4. **What Do the D and T Values Refer to in Tent Fabric?**

D = g/L * 9000. This means that if the weight of 9000m yarn is 10g, the yarn fineness is 10 denier. You don’t need to memorize this formula definition. Just know that D refers to the thickness of nylon. The smaller the D value, the thinner and more expensive the fabric per unit area, but the wear resistance decreases. Many tents compromise by using 150D or 70D nylon, but some high-end tents have a D value of 30. Generally speaking, if you can afford it, you can choose a D value between 15-30, but D value isn’t the only factor. You also need to consider wear resistance and tear resistance.

T stands for Taffeta. It represents the total number of warp and weft yarns per square inch. In layman’s terms, T indicates the density of nylon. The higher the T value, the denser the fabric. Common values are 190T and 210T.

Camping Tent Buying Experience

Most people buying tents don’t care about waterproofing; ventilation and sun protection are good enough, along with quality and price. Online shopping platforms have already ranked the products. You can choose the top-rated ones, but don’t go for the cheapest option. You get what you pay for. Then, buy based on your needs. For example, if you only occasionally camp near a park, a sub-300 tent is enough. Professionals should choose differently. You can actually find usable tents for under 200, but avoid anything under 100.