Tent Weight and Size
The qualities desirable in a backpacking
tent are different from those
tents being pitched next to a car in a campground. The biggest difference being that the backpacking
tent will be carried with you and therefore, should be small and lightweight. Most modern two person
tents weight around four to five lbs. whereas a roomy family camping
tent can weigh twenty lbs or more. Solo or single person
tents
can weigh less than three lbs and are great if you are hiking alone.
However, if you are hiking with someone else, it usually works out
better weight wise to split the gear and take a two person
tent.
Tent Quality
The quality of the
tent is more important when backpacking because there is usually nowhere dry to go if the
tent starts leaking. While a top quality
tent is not necessary, cheap discount store
tents should only be used if the forecast calls for clear weather.
Being
tired, wet, and cold knowing the next dry place is at least ten miles
away on a rocky trail will quickly put a damper on what should be an
enjoyable outdoor experience.
Clips and Sleeves
There are two common ways that
tent poles are attached to the
tent. One is using sleeves that the poles slide through and the other is using clips that latch over the poles. Some
tents
even use a combination of clips and sleeves. In general, clip based
designs are easier and faster to set up, while sleeve based designs are
stronger and can be easily repaired with a needle and thread right at
the camp site. For most conditions, I believe the clips are plenty
strong and are generally better because of how quickly they allow the
tent to be set up and dismantled.
Free Standing and Staked Designs
Free standing
tents
seem to have become the norm. Their primary advantage is that they can
be set up without being staked into the ground. Stakes are still
important to keep the
tent from blowing around, but the stakes usually do not need to be driven far into the ground. Staked
tents tend to be a bit lighter than free standing
tents, but need to be staked solidly into the ground to hold their shape. Staked
tents can be difficult to set up or keep up if the soil is hard or rocky. I've become a convert from staked
tents to freestanding
tents after bending multiple
tent pegs beyond repair trying to pitch the
tent on hard rocky ground.
Single Wall and Double Wall Construction
Double wall
tents are
tents
that require a separate rain fly to keep out water. Although they are
slightly heavier than their single walled counterparts and take a bit
longer to set up, they are generally less expensive, warmer, and hold up
better in wet conditions. While the lower weight specifications and
small packing size of the single wall
tents make them attractive, the double wall
tents are generally a better deal economically.
Three Season and Four Season Specifications
Three season
tents are just that;
tents
designed for Spring, Summer, and Fall camping. Few people go
backpacking in the winter compared to the other three seasons, so the
vast majority of
tents sold are three season
tents. Four season
tents
are built from heavier materials in order to hold up against the winter
weather and are bulkier and harder to carry. Some manufacturers offer a
3+ season
tent if you are
camping early in the Spring or late in the Fall; but unless you are
planning specifically to camp in the winter months a three season
tent is more than sufficient without undue bulk and weight.
Vestibules
If you don't have room to keep your shoes in the
tent with you, vestibules are a great place to keep them dry and yet outside the main
tent.
Some vestibules provide enough of an overhang to allow the screen or
even the door to be open during the rain. I personally enjoy feeling
the breeze from a storm while I am dry inside the
tent. Most people probably would not consider the vestibule worth the weight, but they are a nice luxury.
Conclusions
While different individuals will select different
tents based on various factors, understanding the fundamentals differences between
tents can help you pick the
tent design that fits your hiking style and conditions.