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Introduction
It can be difficult to figure out which type of tent suits your needs especially if you’re a beginner at camping or even if you’re simply looking to upgrade your current tent. Traditional A-frame canvas tents and their heavy wooden poles requiring an army of people and a 100-page manual to assemble are a thing of the past. The tent industry has been transformed by various innovations that have made tents convenient and technologically advanced, all of which can be found at theexpertcamper.co.uk. However, it is difficult to figure out which to buy due to the multitude of options, compelling some campers, especially prospective ones, to land up with unsuitable tents, or even worse, give up on the idea altogether.
Stick it out, campers. There is a myriad of options to choose from and we bring you through the types available below.
Major Types of Tents
Before you dive right into the overwhelming number and types of tents, it is important to get an idea of what major shapes of tents are available and assess their advantages and disadvantages, which will also enable beginners to gauge what sort of camping you will be doing.
Common tent shapes include ridge, dome, tunnel, geodesic, cabin and pyramid-shaped tents. It’s advisable to view the various tent shapes available before you begin to choose the specific type of tent for your needs.
Ridge/A-frame Tents
The first image that comes to mind when you think of a tent is what is called a Ridge or A-frame tent, which aren’t as common these days as one would think. These have a straight pole over which a thick canvas is stretched and attached to a perpendicular pole at both ends. They rely on special types of knots and guylines, and how stably they’re set up to be secure.
Ridge tents have improved with advancements in the industry and nowadays use metal poles and waterproof polyester or nylon outer sheets. They are usually suitable for two people.
Dome Tents
Alongside tunnel tents, these tents are the most commonly used types of tents. They consist of two bendable poles that intersect and bend over to make the dome. The poles, which may be outside of the outer sheet but are usually inside it, are anchored at opposite ends on each of the dome’s corners and an internal tent is attached to the bottom surface of the poles.
Although dome tents are available in a multitude of sizes, they are most suitable for around four people because it’s important to keep in mind that the larger they are, the more unsteady they become.
Tunnel Tents
Tunnel tents are best suited for families and large groups as they have a lot of height clearance and adequate livable space. They have many bendable poles that curve from one end to the other to make a tunnel, which the rainfly attaches to. Their stability is dependent on guylines, and as compared to dome tents, they endure bad weather well.
Geodesic Tents
The result of the innovation by designers to make tents stronger and more weatherproof is the geodesic tent. Simply put, this is a dome tent just with additional poles. Logically, the more poles that intersect and bend over to make the dome, the more steady and secure is the tent. Thus, geodesic tents are more suited to handle camping in the wild, especially in winter times. However, due to their better quality and increased efficiency, they may be higher priced. They are most suitable for around four people.
Cabin Tents
These tents consist of aluminium poles fixed together to create the frame of a cabin, which is then encased by a waterproof sheet made of polyester, nylon, or canvas to make the walls and roof. Cabin tents provide lots of livable space with adequate headroom. Such tents are best suited for family camping as they often come with internal walls which divide them into rooms.
They are usually moderately cheap, but may be of lower quality and do not deal well with bad weather, thus making them ideal for camping in clear weather.
Pyramid Tent
The pyramid tent has the simplest shape—comprising of just one pillar with a sheet draped over it and anchored at the ends. Their stability can be owed to stakes and guylines, and the larger their size, the more unstable they get.
Recently, there have been new designs that are lightweight and modern, but they were traditionally made of heavy canvas and thick wooden poles like bell tents or tipis.
Types of Family Tents, For Festivals And Car Camping
If you prefer the luxury of car camping over traditional camping and spend the summer weekends settling into life at camp, it is advisable to get a decently sized family tent that has more than one room.
However, if you find yourself at festivals often, you should go for a smaller and cheaper tent such as an inflatable one. The tent types below will more often than not fall under one of the aforementioned tent shapes.
Multi-room Tents
Multi-room tents are ideal for families or camping in larger groups. It is especially a good idea when camping for a longer duration, even if camping in a small group. For example, families of four may choose a tent that sleeps eight to ten people for the privacy of members.
Inflatable Tents
Inflatable tents are relatively newer in the industry. They may not be suitable for all scenarios but are perfect for family camping and festivals when there is less time for pitching as they are small and easy to pitch and pack up.
Types Of Tents for Camping and Hiking In The Wild
If you hear the mountains calling your name, you’ll need a stable and weather-proof tent to accompany you on your camping trip.
Backpacking Tent
Backpacking tents are made to be carried and lived in for many days deep in the middle of the wild. For this purpose, they are required to be light, comfortable, and spacious yet strong and weather-proof (totally not a big ask for a tent). They are often easy to put up and take-down, though the trade-off is their smaller size.
Bivy Tent
Bivy tents are ideal for solo campers and hikers who want to carry very little weight. They provide adequate shelter from nature for you to stay dry and lay low, that is, they’re great for covert camping.
Hammock Tent
A hammock tent is simply a bivy tent hanging in the air. Its design is suitable for campers staying in forest areas when resting on the ground is not recommended due to swamps or rocky surfaces. It is also known for providing relatively more comfort for those looking for relief while camping.
Conclusion
So, that’s it. These were the various types of tents that can suit every situation and requirement. Whichever one you choose, we hope it helps you have many fun nights of camping under the starry night sky and make the most of the outdoor world.
We hope you have a great time camping!