Ten Advices

There are many shapes and size of tent to choose from and your decision will depend on the type of use and number of people that will sleep in your tent. Most tents are based on five basic designs each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

The five basic designs are: dome tents, tunnel tents, traverse hoop tents, ridge tents and geodesic tents.

1. Hire before you buy
Many tents are available on a hire basis and it could be worth spending some money in hiring a tent before you commit to buying one. There is no replacement for a user test out in the field! Alternatively visit a camping exhibition to see a large array of tents designs on display.

2. Groundsheet
Check the groundsheet is constructed from tough, tear resistant, waterproof material. Avoid tents with ‘flat’ groundsheets. Select a model with a ‘bathtub’ groundsheet design (vertical sidewalls at least 10cm in height). This bathtub design prevents water entering your tent even in very water-logged conditions.

On rough ground a tough sheet of plastic slipped underneath the sewn in groundsheet can prevent expensive repairs but some manufacturers produce a tough underlay for specific tent models.

3. Ease to pitch and take down
Check how easy it is to pitch a tent and take it down before you commit to buying it. Most outdoor retailers are happy to allow you to pitch a tent inside the store in order to view the tent itself. It is no use buying a tent that requires four people to pitch if you are going camping on your own!

Remember the simplicity of a tent usually reflects its strength; more complex designs are generally stronger. ‘Freestanding’ tents allow you to move them to the best location once the tent has been constructed. Colour-coded poles (each color corresponds to a specific pole sleeve on the tent) make it easier to set-up in less than ideal conditions.

4. Inner or outer pitching first
Tents pitch either inner tent first or outer tent (flysheet) first. Inner tent first designs allow the outer to be left off in hot weather. Outer tent first allows the inner to be kept dry when pitching in the rain or the inner can be left at home and just the outer used for shelter in warmer months. Select the design that best suits your intended use but outer pitching tents are generally more ideal in the UK.

5. Choice of tent size and design
Give a lot of time to considering the size and layout of tent that will best suit your needs. If you are buying a small lightweight tent for cycling or back-packing ensure you have enough headroom and floor space. For mountaineering use, to withstand strong winds and heavy snowfall you should select a strong geodesic design.

Alternatively for family camping, using a car, you can afford to carry a far more spacious tent but make sure you can still fit everything else into the car! Think about the ideal design for sleeping arrangements too.

6. Material construction
Ensure the inner and outer fabric is durable and that the outer is waterproof. Waterproof ratings are listed as ‘hydrostatic head’; the higher the hydrostatic head number the more waterproof the material is.

Equally, think about the sunshine; hopefully you will enjoy it at some point! Polyester and canvas tents are generally tough and resistant to ultra-violet light but nylon is lighter and can be protected from UV by a silicon coating.

7. Tent poles and seam seals
Budget tents usually have tent poles made from fiberglass and are fine to use in campsites well protected from the wind. For camping in bad weather, windy conditions and exposed terrain then the extra strength afforded by aluminum poles (or carbon fibre poles for great strength at light weight) is definitely worth the extra money.

Always check that the seams on your flysheet and groundsheet have been sealed in the factory. Many tents are not seam sealed by the manufacturer as reduced manufacturing costs mean that such tents are more affordable.

If a tent is not seam sealed, you can to do at home but make sure you leave a few days for the sealant to dry before going camping! Factory seam-sealed seams save you time and are more durable.

8. Internal storage
Internal mesh storage pockets sewn into the inner tent walls are an invaluable aid to storing items inside your tent and help stay tidy and organised. Try to select a tent model that offers maximum storage space. In addition gear loops inside the tent are useful to hang torches or other items.

9. Spares
Invest a few extra pounds in some essential spares. Get some spare guy lines in case of breakages and a few extra tent pegs, which can be easily, lost, bent or broken and some duck-tape for quick repairs to tears is ideal. Tent repair kits including pieces of material and sealant are available from most outdoor stores. Finally some spare cord to repair broken tent peg loops is a must.

10. Check it!
Once you have decided which tent to buy and made your purchase, before leaving the shop, check the tent has no tears and that there are no missing poles, guy lines or pegs. It would be a bad start to your camping holiday to find out that a pole was missing once you’d driven hours from home!