Tents come in many shapes and sizes so making sure that your tent is the right one for you is a very important decision and should not be taken lightly, most tents will last a good few years and you don’t want to go out and have to buy another a couple of months after you have already spent money on a camping tent. Here are my top five tips when buying a tent:
Tent size and Tent Design
Tents come is a very large number of sizes and designs so getting the right one out of the bunch is going to be hard work, but if you take a moment a really think about it you will end up with the right tent. If you want the tent to go back packing with then a small lightweight tent would be perfect for you. But if you are going on a family camping trip then you are going to want to have a family sized tent so that you can fit everyone in. If you are more into camping or maybe even mountaineering then you want a camping tent that is both strong a versatile but not too heavy so maybe a little bit heavier then a tent for back packing but still not too heavy.
The interior of the tent.
When deciding on a tent take time to have a look inside the tent so that you can see if it is the right size for you, even better see if you can find a store were the tents are set up and on display so that you can actually get inside before you buy the tent. Its not just the size of the tent that matters, you are going to want to have somewhere to store all of your belonging while you are staying inside the tent, because there is no point getting a tent with loads of floor space if you are just going to clutter it up with your belongings. Look for a tent with mesh pockets on the inside so that all your stuff can be stored both safe and dry. If you can find a tent with hooks on the inside that is a extra bonus because you will have some were to put your torch and things so that they are easy to access for that midnight toilet brake.
The material of the camping tent
Another good thing to look out for when buying a camping tent is the material of the tent is made from. You are going to want to buy a tent that is tough but you also want to a camping tent that is also waterproof. Have a feel of the material if it feels flimsy and light weight then it is properly made from cheap materials, with tents you really get what you pay for.
Spare tent parts
All ways keep a few spare parts for your tent handy, you never know when you might need them, a lost peg might not sound like much but not having a replacement can mean the difference between keeping you tent on the ground and watching it fly away on a big gust of wind. Also keep a tent repair kit handy, most kits will contain spare material l and sealant for any rips or tares that may happen during a camping trip.
Test drive you tent
My last tip is that if it is at all possible try out your camping tent before you buy it, most stores will run a hire section along side there selling department, so if at all possible try to rent for the weekend and go out camping with it, nothing can beat testing a tent in the outdoors you will find all its good points and all its bad point and really it is the only way, because there are some things that you can not experience in the shop. Also as one last quick tip after you have bought your tent check and make sure that everything is there because there is nothing worse then driving all the way to your camp site to only find out that there is a missing pole and there is nothing you can do about it.
