When most people picture camping, they see a wooded area with leaves on the ground and a roaring fire alongside a cozy tent. With the emergence of glamping, times have certainly changed, but theres a place for tent camping today. No matter where you plan to set it up, your journey begins by understanding how to choose a tent, and itll be aided by our favorite Camping World tents below.
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Many still prefer the more rugged setting of camping in the woods with a tent and sleeping bag. Backpacking is popular for camping tents, although these differ slightly from your average camping tent. Lets also not forget about tent camping at the RV park. Most of my childhood memories at the campsite involved sleeping in a tent with my friends while the adults stayed in the RV.
The Best Camping Tents For Different Uses Photo by Getty ImagesNo matter what type of camping youre doing, lets review everything you need to know, from size and quality to our best Camping World tents for any occasion.
Best Couples Camping Tent: Campers Choice 3-Person Tent Photo by Camping WorldThe Campers Choice is one of the most affordable Camping World tents for novice camping couples. It features a rainfly to keep the interior dry, and it has lightweight fiberglass poles that are easy to set up and take down. The mesh walls let in cool air, and the large entry door allows quick and easy inside access.
CapacityWeight (lbs.)Rainfly (Y/N)Pole ConstructionTent Fabric3-Person6.1YFiberglassPolyester Best Tent for Car Camping: Venture Forward 5-Person Cabin Tent Photo by Camping WorldThe Venture Forward Cabin Tent is one of our must-have Camping World tents for car camping. The vertical walls provide enough headroom for even the tallest campers, allowing most to stand inside comfortably. The seams are taped for maximum water resistance, and the x-frame design makes for a fast and easy setup.
CapacityWeight (lbs.)Rainfly (Y/N)Pole ConstructionTent Fabric5-Person18.6YSteel and FiberglassPolyester Best Family Tent: North Shore 8-Person Cabin Tent Photo by Camping WorldThe North Shore Cabin Tent is one of the most spacious and comfortable Camping World tents for the whole family. The included rainfly and taped seams ensure you stay dry in inclement weather. It also has plenty of windows and a screened-in porch for ventilation when the weather is nice. When its time to get some shuteye, youll be happily secluded in your own section thanks to the built-in dividers.
CapacityWeight (lbs.)Rainfly (Y/N)Pole ConstructionTent Fabric8-Person36YSteel and FiberglassPolyester How Do I Know What Tent to Buy?Learning how to choose a tent can be overwhelming. Many things must be considered to ensure the right fit, such as size, season, material, and durability. Lets review in more detail.
Should I Buy a Bigger Tent? Photo by Camping WorldA larger tent generally offers more headroom, elbow room, and space for your gear. However, with more space, you have trade-offs such as increased weight, larger pack size, and a more challenging setup.
Most manufacturers refer to tent sizes by the number of people they can sleep (i.e., one-person, two-person, etc.). However, we recommend sizing up one size for added comfort, as most manufacturers ratings are on the smaller side.
You can also determine your ideal tent size by dividing the interior square footage by the number of people sleeping inside. This estimates how much space each person will have.
Remember that you may need extra room in one of our Camping World tents for backpacks, lanterns, and other camp tools. If youre camping with kids, a tent with a divider is especially nice. It allows you to separate your sleeping space from the kids for more privacy and a better nights sleep.
A vestibule is the covered space outside the tents main body. Some tents have one or multiple vestibules that can protect shoes, backpacks, and other gear from overnight weather.
Vestibules keep your gear covered without it taking up valuable space inside your tent. If youre backpacking, vestibule space for your pack is essential. Vestibule space is less important for car and RV camping because you can store excess gear in your vehicle overnight.
Camping tents are primarily designed for sleeping. But if you get stuck inside on a rainy day, having more headroom increases comfort. Regarding headroom, there are two tent shapes to consider: cabin-style and dome-style.
Cabin-style Camping World tents are better for family camping because of their expandable living spaces. But dome-style tents are recommended if youll be camping in less-than-ideal weather conditions.
What Waterproof Rating Should a Tent Be? Photo by Getty ImagesA tents weather resistance has much to do with the rainfly construction. A tent with a rainfly is essential if youre camping with any possibility of inclement weather. You can always remove the rainfly if youre camping in nice weather and want to enjoy stargazing once you lie down.
Youll typically find tents with a full-coverage or roof-only rainfly. Full-coverage rainflys provide maximum protection from wind and rain and some additional insulation.
Roof-only rainflies offer some rain protection but are designed for fair-weather camping.
Another feature to look for when choosing a weather-resistant tent is the construction of the tents seams. Tent seams are the most likely locations for leaks to develop. Tents with sealed or taped seams offer more leak protection than those without.
Some tent manufacturers finish their fabrics with a durable water-repellent coating. This provides additional weatherproofing if you tend to camp in areas with a higher likelihood of precipitation.
You can also determine whether tent manufacturers have labeled their tents for 3-season, 3-4 season, or 4-season use.
For most campers, a three-season tent will do the trick. But once you gain experience and want to avoid crowds in early spring, late fall, or winter, you may need to upgrade to a more weather-resistant camping tent.
Is It Warmer to Sleep in a Tent or Car? Photo by Getty ImagesI spent many cold nights lying in my tent, wondering if it would be warmer in my car. This is a very common question regarding tent and car camping. The answer is not as straightforward as you think.
Yes, car camping is typically warmer than tent camping. However, this is only true for the first few hours or so. This is because your car has more insulation and does a better job of trapping heat. Once your car has been sitting long enough and you have opened the door a few times, it will likely be at or slightly above the temperature inside a tent.
However, tent camping has other benefits. Generally speaking, youll have more space to stretch out and roll around in a tent than in a vehicle. Youll also typically have a flatter surface to sleep on as most cars, even if the seats lay flat, are not completely level.
Unlike car camping, you also have many more choices for placing your tent. Some parks can even restrict car camping.
We can say for sure that RV camping is warmer than tent camping and car camping. Thats because most modern RVs have a gas, electric, or hydronic heating system.
How Can You Tell If a Tent is a Good Quality? Photo by Camping WorldThe most common camping tent fabrics are nylon, polyester, and cotton canvas. However, different fabrics can be used for various tent components, such as the body, the floor, and the rainfly.
When it comes to evaluating tent materials, most manufacturers use denier count to denote the thickness of the individual fiber threads or filaments used to create the fabric. Tents with higher-denier fabrics generally offer more durability than tents with lower-denier fabrics.
Additionally, most camping tents have mesh panels that provide ventilation, which is critical when camping in hot climates. No-see-um mesh is a variety with thinner holes that restrict the entry of smaller pesky flying insects.
A tent with larger mesh panels will provide more ventilation to prevent condensation inside the tent. Larger mesh panels will also offer better views from the tent when you open a vestibule.
Poles are another critical component of a tents construction. Tent poles often determine how difficult it is to set up a tent and play a role in its durability. Youll most commonly find tent poles made of aluminum or fiberglass, but some tents offer poles made of carbon fiber, steel, or composite materials.
Aluminum tent poles are stronger and more durable than fiberglass. They are common in lightweight backpacking tents.
Fiberglass tent poles are common in the most affordable car camping and cabin-style tents. They are heavier and fairly flexible but more likely to crack or split when stressed.
Carbon fiber tent poles are stronger and lighter than aluminum. But they are more expensive, which makes them less common in family camping tents and more common in backpacking or mountaineering tents.
Steel tent poles are heavy but strong, rigid, and cost-effective. They are generally found on heavy cabin-style or tunnel canvas tents.
Composite tent poles are more flexible than aluminum. They flex under stress without breaking and can return to their original shape. In terms of weight and price, composite poles are comparable to aluminum poles.
While less common, there are also inflatable camping tents. These tents utilize air beams to retain their structure and come with an air pump for easier inflation during setup and breakdown.
What are the Tents Interior Features? Photo by Camping WorldInterior features like room dividers go a long way when camping with multiple people in one large tent. But other features, such as interior loops, storage pockets, and the number of doors, improve your tent camping experience as well.
The number of doors is a feature that often gets overlooked. But if youre sleeping in a large tent with a single door, multiple people could climb over you when nature calls in the middle of the night. In that case, having multiple doors is the difference between a rejuvenating rest and waking up groggy and sore.
In addition, storage pockets, loops for clipping carabiners, and a loft to store gear will help you keep your tent organized during your camping trip. Especially after the first night, phones, keys, and other small items can easily get lost amidst the sea of sleeping bags in family tents. Organizing these items in their dedicated pockets will make camp life much easier.
How To Put Up a TentYou will get efficient and thoughtful service from Changyuan.
Photo by Camping WorldTo put up a tent, you must first understand the differences between freestanding and non-freestanding tents. Freestanding tents will generally support their own structure whether or not you install the tent stakes.
Nonfreestanding tents require the stakes to be secured in the ground to keep the corners taut and provide the structure for the tent poles. There are various standard and proprietary tent pole designs out there, but most manufacturers categorize their tents as freestanding or not.
If youre new to tent camping, freestanding tents are the easiest to set up and break down. If you have enough inside the tent and its a relatively windless day, you may also get away without securing the tent stakes, which saves you a step in setup and breakdown.
Once you set up a freestanding tent, you can also move it to your ideal location before packing your sleeping bag and camping pillow. However, nonfreestanding tents are more popular for experienced backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts because they are generally lighter and more compact for carrying long distances. Some of them use trekking poles to support an even more compact footprint.
What Tent Accessories Do You Need?Some camping tents include additional accessories, but some do not. Heres a short list of tent accessories to look for when youre shopping for camping tents:
Rechargeable fan: Keep cool when camping in hot weather.
Are You Ready to Upgrade from a Tent to an RV? Photo by Camping WorldIf youre new to camping, starting with a tent is a good idea. It allows you to explore sleeping outdoors and exploring nature while saving money and enjoying a comfortable place to sleep at night.
But a natural progression leads many tent campers to upgrade to an RV. How do you know when youre ready to make that jump?
Here are a few reasons to consider shopping for a new or used RV:
If youre ready to make the transition, here are some useful buying tips to find your perfect RV:
What do you look for in a camping tent? Share your experience in the comments below!
Your tent protects you from the elements and forms years of outdoor memories. Your home in the hills, a tent is one of the biggest purchases an outdoor enthusiast can make.
When you look at the tent market, its easy to feel overwhelmed by choices. The variety of styles, types, sizes, and functions is so vast that even if you think you know what you want, you might end up paralyzed by choices you didnt know you had.
Thats totally normal. Just stay calm and remember: The right tent is out there waiting for you you just need to know how to choose it. Which is exactly what this guide is meant to help with. Follow these tips, and you should have everything you need to choose a tent that will serve your adventures, match your budget, and hopefully last for many years.
Once you know what kind of tent you want and need, check out GearJunkies guides to the Best Backpacking Tents, Best Ultralight Tents, Best Canopy Tents, Best Rooftop Tents, and Best Camping Tents. The options spotlighted in those guides are a great place to start shopping.
Step 1: Assess how you will use your tent. Be honest with yourself. Will you roll it out of the minivan? Or do you need to haul it deep into the backcountry? If so, how many miles? While a 2-pound tent is reasonable for a weekend backpacking trip, you may want to go lighter for long-distance hikes. Or, if you will only use it car camping, weight wont be a significant concern go for comfort.
Step 2: Consider the weather where you camp most of the time. If you camp mostly in the heat of the summer, ventilation is a primary concern. Even if you camp occasionally in cold weather, choose your tent based on the majority usage. Three-season tents fit most peoples camping and backpacking needs.
But, sometimes people like to camp in the snow for skiing, hunting, or cinematography in which case, a four-season tent might be necessary.
Step 3: Think about capacity. How many people will you be sharing this tent with? Each person needs at least 2 feet of elbow room. Big and tall folks will want more width and a longer tent. Will you bring a dog? What about kids? Most tents come in two- and three-person sizes. Some come in four- and six-person sizes, and there are even tents out there big enough to sleep eight or more.
Choose your tent size based on who you will share a tent with most.
At the store, even if the tent is already set up, request to set another up. Is it intuitive? Do the poles snap together easily? Will you be able to set it up in the dark, with cold fingers, in the wind or rain? Most sales associates at outdoor stores will be psyched to let you set up a sample tent and will be more than willing to help if asked.
Once youve set the tent up, crawl inside and stretch out. If your head or toes touch the ends, youll want a larger size. Try sitting up in the tent to ensure you have enough room to dress and undress in it. When you wake up in the night to answer natures call, will you disturb your tentmates when you try to get out?
Evaluate the doors and ventilation, too. Make sure the tent has adequate ventilation for the conditions youll be using it in. If theres condensation (there likely will be) consider where it will drip or pool. You need to be able to fit your party inside, in sleeping bags, without touching the walls. That will be the first source of moisture.
The camping tent is somewhere between a group hunting canvas tents and ultralight backpacking tents. This is the most popular tent style. It includes models like the iconic REI Half Dome 3 and the Mountain Hardware Meridian 2.
Many of these tents tend to be light enough to carry for an overnight or weekend backpacking trip. But theyre not ideal for long-distance hikes. Some of them will be too heavy to carry beyond a car camping site.
For those who car camp regularly but want to hit the trail from time to time, a lighter camping tent is a strong option. Two- and three-person tents weighing 4-6 pounds will work for almost anyone who just wants to drive to a campsite for an evening or a few.
If youre carrying your tent more than a few hundred feet from the car, youll appreciate something lighter than a regular car camping tent. Thats where the backpacking tent comes in clutch.
Backpacking tents prioritize weight and packability over interior space. However, forward-thinking engineering also includes pole configurations that pop out the walls, allowing more livable space than ever before.
Usually touted as three-season tents, backpacking tents balance ventilation and weather protection. These tents are ideal for most backcountry pursuits and provide nearly year-round coverage. Some will be under-gunned for true winter camping, but there are also ultralight hot tents out there like the Seek Outside Redcliff.
Look for tents weighing less than 2 pounds per person for serious backpacking. The lighter, the better. Strong options include the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Tent, which weighs less than 2.5 pounds. The MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is another strong option. It has a pole configuration designed to maximize headspace while still proving light and packable.
Hiking above the tree line, where wind and snow can unexpectedly crash your party, youll want a shelter that can withstand cold winds and winter weather.
Four-season tents are often constructed with additional poles and more durable materials, adding weight (and cost). In turn, these bastions of the high country provide more peace of mind and overall protection no matter what kind of weather you find yourself in. Theyre also great for winter campouts at lower elevations.
However, tents come in just as many shapes and sizes as other types. So, when youre shopping for one, really consider what layout will best suit your adventure needs (more on this later).
A whittled-down shelter can provide significant weight savings for those with a few miles under their belt and long miles ahead. Its sometimes a stretch to call these shelters tents. Theyll typically be your second or third tent purchase. Theyre specifically designed for long-distance, fast-paced adventures. Some are little more than a tarp with guylines and tent stakes.
A niche arrow in your backcountry quiver, these shelters often double down using trekking poles as tent poles or eschew the poles altogether. Some tents even allow users to set up the rainfly without the tent body to maximize minimalism.
Just like a mountaineering tent will be overkill for most, on the other end of the spectrum, these ultralight options can leave the unprepared exposed. But with experience, tarps, hammocks, bivy sacks, and pyramid tents can also be pragmatic and very lightweight shelters.
Perhaps no outdoor purchase has more data to sift through than tents. Jargon abounds; its helpful to understand what it all means.
While you can still find canvas tents on the market, most of todays tents employ synthetic nylon fabric. Measured in denier (grams of mass per 9,000 m of a fabrics thread), the lower the number, the lighter (and more fragile) the tent will be.
Some ultralight shelters cut weight by using specialty fabrics, like sil-nylon (silicone-impregnated nylon) and Dyneema (military- and maritime-grade fabric).
Most of the tents you see in stores or online are double-walled. Double-wall tents have a breathable inner tent overlapped by a waterproof outer rainfly. This configuration allows condensation from your breath to quickly move to the outside layer, preventing the dreaded midnight condensation rainstorm.
A few scenarios make a single-wall tent a viable option. High-alpine environments will freeze any condensation to the tent wall. Tents with enough ventilation will allow moisture to freely escape before condensing. Single-wall tents are also typically easier to set up because they only have one wall and dont require adding a rainfly.
No-see-ums are small flies that bite, though the term has become ubiquitous for any small bug that bites. No-see-um netting (mosquito netting) is often used to reduce weight and provide superior ventilation on double-wall tents. With the rainfly removed, the mesh tent can turn your shelter into a hotel room with a 1-million-star view.
Most tents have aluminum tubing poles connected with an elastic cord. The poles slide through nylon sleeves or into durable plastic clips to loft the tent. At the end of the pole, a pin is inserted into a ringed grommet.
More complex tent designs will color-code the poles with hooks and grommets for an easier setup. Some tent pole configurations come as a single piece with hinges. Others are separate poles that come together to raise the tent. As mentioned, some lightweight tents allow people to use trekking poles for a center tent pole.
(Photo/Josh Wussow)Tent stakes should come with the tent and match its purpose. Lightweight tents will have lighter-weight stakes, and heavy camp tents will have heavier-gauge stakes. Aftermarket stakes can be purchased to cut weight, add durability, and replace those you lose.
Pro tip: Look for native stakes rocks, roots, trees to tie down the tent. And if you lose a stake, look around empty campsites nine times out of ten, someone else lost one, too.
We all love the great outdoors, but the tent door is where we draw the line. A vestibule is to a tent as the covered porch is to your house its a protective awning to stow your gear and a place to kick off your muddy boots. Its a space-saving addition thats worth considering when making a purchase.
Theres nothing quite like returning to a big shady awning after a big ride or hike; (photo/Eric Phillips)The last thing you want to do en route to a midnight bio break is fumble for your headlamp. Pockets and lofts are great ways to keep small sundries and personal items organized and within reach. Many tents come with internal loops to string a clothesline to dry out wet clothes.
If theres a chink in the armor of a tent, its usually the door. A good one will have a smooth zipper, providing ample room to wiggle out while sealing out the elements. One door can work fine if it exits the front. But a pair of campers might appreciate having separate ports of entry instead of crawling over one another to get out a single side door.
(Photo/Nathan Lemin)Tents often come with a knot of cord. These are your guylines and help draw the tent taut. Some tent shapes, like dome tents, dont need guylines to keep them pitched. Other designs, like pyramid tents, often require guylines. Either way, its a good idea to sling the tent before hitting the trail to ensure that your tent will be camp-ready when you get to your site.
Pro tip: Reflective guylines are easy to spot when hit with a light at night, preventing an accidental fall. If the tent doesnt come with them, they can be purchased aftermarket. Or you can add reflective tape to your non-reflective guylines.
Weve all seen it the dome tent at the campground with the blue tarp draped over the top. Dont be like that guy. The basic function of a tent is to protect you from the elements. Many rainflies can be peeled back for a night view. Some tents, like Sea to Summits Ikos, allow for multiple different rainfly configurations (or modes).
Pro tip: Consider the color if you expect to spend several days in a tent. Sunflower yellows will be more cheery for your disposition than dark blues.
Tents are built around the physical forces of tension and compression of fabric and poles. Like most things, tent form follows function, so consider your needs and the designs will follow suit.
With their vertical walls, family tents allow campers to stand up (or at least sit up) and change, while a low-profile backpacking tent will sling low to the ground to deflect wind and rain.
GearJunkie editors enjoying the sunshine in camp chairs by the tent; (photo/Eric Phillips)Turn over a tent label and youll often see two listed weights. The packaged weight is the off-the-shelf weight cords, repair kit, extra stakes, and all. The trail weight refers to the minimum weight to erect the tent: the tent body, fly, poles, and minimum stakes.
This is the one necessary tent item usually sold aftermarket. If your tent doesnt come with one, you should seriously consider purchasing one. A ground cloth serves as a buffer between the tent and the underlying rocks and roots, saving wear and tear on the tent floor. Some brands will void their warranty on tents if a footprint isnt used with it.
Pro tip: Dont want to shell out for the brand-name drop cloth? DIY with a sheet of DuPont Tyvek from your local hardware store. Tarps can also be substituted in a pinch.
So, you pulled the trigger and bought a tent. Congratulations! Here are a few tips to ensure that it has a long life.
Many tents will come with taped seams. That means the holes caused by sewing are covered or sealed at the factory. But some tents still come with unsealed seams from the store. If yours is unsealed, apply seam sealer to the floor and inside the fly stitching before taking it to the field. Or, if your seams are sealed but theyve started leaking after years of hard use, seam sealers can save the day.
Rig your tents guylines and practice setting up the tent in a park or your yard. Figure out how to stake it out for both fair and foul weather. Check for any manufacturing flaws.
During your first trip with the tent, be sure to stake it down securely. An empty tent is a box kite in disguise putting a hefty rock, or a filled backpack inside helps weigh it down while you stake it out. Try to keep debris out of the tent.
After each use, remove the fly and let it dry out hanging on something or laying out in the sun. Before breaking camp, open the tents door and shake it out to remove debris.
At home, continue to dry the tent and store it loose (not rolled up tight). Avoid folding your tent, as the creases can wear out the fabric.
After a season, give it a once-over. Repair any small holes with seam sealer. Use mild soap and water to remove any stains. Check the poles and guylines for any damage, and store the tent in a dry area.
How do you choose a tent site?
Choosing a site for a tent is one of those things you get better at over time. The first thing you want to make sure of is that youre using a flat area. If you set up your tent on an angle, gravity will pull you down the sleeping mat overnight and youll wake up crumpled in a corner.
Some people will use a Nalgene bottle as a makeshift level, testing the ground to see if it rolls in any one direction. And obviously, look for tent sites that arent covered in rocks, roots, or other obstructions.
It also helps to consider your morning. Are you trying to sleep in? Or do you want to wake up with the sun? If your tent isnt in a shaded area, the sun will likely wake you as soon as its up. If you want to sleep in, pick a spot where youve got some good cover.
How do you choose a tent ground cloth?
Many brands sell ground cloths (or footprints) specifically made for tent models and sizes. Go to the brands website (or REI) and search for the name of your tent plus the word footprint, and the right one should pop up. Similarly, if youre buying in a store, just ask one of the sales associates, and they should be able to direct you.
You can also buy more universal or generic tent footprints on Amazon. They typically come in one-, two-, and three-person sizes and wont fit your tents shape perfectly. But they do the job, and theyre usually cheaper.
How do you choose a tent size?
If the tent is just for you, you can choose a single-person tent or a bivy. However, if youve got a partner or just want a little more room by yourself, get a two-person tent. If the tent is for you, your significant other, and your dog or child, size up and get a three-person tent. Really, this is a matter of preference.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Camping Tent Factory. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.