How many people will be using the tent at once? Tents, like houses, come in a range of sizes and get this part wrong and your plans of inviting friends over to stay can be squashed. So, when choosing a tent think long term. Take into consideration the possibility that your family may extend in the future and sometimes this can be an unexpected extension, such as a child that wants to bring his best friend along. Although a smaller tent may ensure that you have a get-out clause, to taking the kid’s altogether.
If you are fairly certain of you requirements then you also need to take size into consideration. A two berth tent will normally sleep two people comfortably. However, if you want extra space to stretch and keep bags and belongings consider a larger tent or at least one with a porch, like some of the Coleman tents. Now you are ready to choose, take a look at our simple mathematical equations below:
Two People + Normal Sleeping Requirements = 2 Berth tent
Two People + Normal Sleeping Requirements + Belongings = 2 Berth tent with a porch
Two People + Extra Space to stretch = 3 Berth tent
2) Type of use for your tent: myth
Often retailers affix functionality to the tent but a lot of the time this is just a marketing message aimed at increasing sales. Contrary to popular belief amongst retailers, many tents are not manufactured specifically for festivals, or trekkers or weekend trips. I say most, some are better suited to Mount Everest because of their weight, but we talking a few pounds in weight for a lot of pounds in the pocket.
Tents like houses have a purpose and in my opinion if it fails in anyone one them then it is not worthy of investing in. So, like a house your tent should be waterproof and a good insulator of heat. The tent should also be capable of withstanding strong winds and maintaining its shape. For some it is crucial that the tent is easy to pitch and take down and once down should be fairly light. Now most decent tents will do this with ease and certainly our range has been selected for these purposes alone. So, if a tent is capable of scoring in each of these crucial categories then in our opinion it would make a great tent for weekends, families, trekkers and festival goers regardless.
It is very easy to intrinsically critic products and let’s face it there are some worthy recipients. But like computers the difference is often very marginal. Does it really matter if the tent is 1.5lbs heavier than the more expensive alternative? The average meal with fluids weighs over one pound so if carrying extra weight is a concern, have a lighter lunch and save some money in the process.
3) Price
Price is important and the adages that you get what you pay for is becoming less relevant nowadays. The economic climate is tough for many industries and when it comes to product development there are no exceptions. With the ever increasing flow of information on the internet, manufacturers are critically aware of the dangers of creating a poor product. Millions of pounds are spent each month on product development so they are conscious to the fact that a few badly placed reviews on the internet can cripple sales.
This is great for the consumer because it means that we are not exposed to as much rubbish on the retail shelves, though some still creeps through. For tents its good news because as highlighted in point 2, most tents that we stock and that many retailers stock have good credentials. Certainly the Coleman, Outwell and Vango range are worthy of a few pats on the back.
So, in my opinion, stick to the brands that do the best jobs and you can’t go too wrong.
4) Let’s get technical
For those out there who would like to live, breath and understand their tents this is great place to start. So have a read and then go out and have a look around your tent to put into practice your new found learning’s. Just remember, if somebody tells you that they are not interested in hearing the details about your ripstop flysheet or storm flap, then they are clearly not as enthused as you about you fabulous new purchase.
ii. Tent shapes:
Tents come in a variety of shapes and fundamentally the shape is dictated by the number of poles used. As the poles cross this creates something which in tent terms is called a node. Generally speaking this has an effect on weight, pitching time and stability.
0 nodes
This means the tent has no poles which cross over. These are normally Tunnel Tents which tend to be very light and easy to erect. However, because there are no cross over points (or nodes), stability is reduced slightly. However the Coleman Avior Range is a good example of a tunnel tent with incredible stability.
1 node
This particular tent has one cross over and is typically described as a Dome Tent, such as the Outwell Bari 200. They are also light and quick to erect but also have better stability than tents with zero nodes.
2-4 nodes
Tents with 2-4 crossing points (nodes) are great tents and are described as Semi Geodesic. They are a little bit tricker to erect and slightly heavier but they are much more stable and are the most popular style of tent. They are also very good at holding their shape and can withstand weight that other tents would collapse under, such as from the rain and snow. An example of a Semi Geodesic is the Coleman Phad range.
5+ nodes
Having 5+ nodes means a tent is called Fully Geodesic . These tents are generally for elite campers and are very stable. This is down to the 5+ cross over points which allow them to be stable under very compromising circumstances like pitching on mountain slopes. They tend to be the heaviest of the tent family and hardest to erect. However many manufacturers now are improving this and the Coleman Phact range are an example of this and are regarded as being as simple to pitch as 0 node tents. They are also surprising light compared to tents 2 years ago.
iii. Ventilation:
To ensure your tent is suitable for different seasons you need to make sure they have a sophisticated ventilation system. If you don’t you will either be too warm at night or too cold not to mention the condensation that will ruin any trip. Also, condensation can get so bad that people often mistake it for a leak! So ideally you want a tent that has an all season system which ensures that they are suitable for summer and winter use.
Many tents now come with this technology. Regarded as one of the best is the Coleman Variflo System which reduces condensation using airflow vents which the camper controls. This is great for regulating temperature, like your very own thermostat! This fantastic feature is available on the entire Coleman Exponent range.
iv. Rain protection:
Would you like a tent which in a downpour proceeded to leak all over your belongings? I know I wouldn’t, so it’s important to get a watertight tent. Rain has an amazing ability of getting into places that are otherwise inaccessible, I suppose like an A-list celebrity could. It can access the tent through vents, via the flysheet (tent fabric) or through the ground sheet. Cover all bases and you will be laughing.
As you know LovingOutdoors.com select the best products out there because in our opinion there is no point advertising products which we wouldn’t use. Our favourite weather control system is the WeatherTec+ System on the all Coleman Exponent range which is a cleverly designed system which ensures campers are safe and dry. It features Zipper Cuffs which protect doors and create a watertight seal. All corners and floors have Welding technology to avoid needle size holes. And the most important feature is the water-repellent PU coated fabric with anti-wicking thread. This could keep hurricane rain out, but don’t quote me on that. Other tents like the Vango feature taped seams to ensure that rain is kept out permanently.
v. Wind protection:
The weather is very unpredictable so it’s important to have a strong tent that is able to withstand strong winds. Obviously you will have a good idea of which tent will have increased stability by looking at the node system above. But another important factor is the pole system. Most tents come with aluminium poles which are strong but are slightly heavier than alternatives. Most good tents will come with fibreglass poles which have flexibility, strength and are very light. It is important for a pole to bend with the wind. Similar to an aeroplanes tail fin which can bend from a 90◦ angle to a 45◦ angle, it is important to have a degree of flex. Otherwise, if it is too strong it will move the entire tent or snap. The Coleman Exponent range use durable poles that also help anchor the tent.
vi. Safety:
The most overlooked area of any tent purchase is safety. It’s amazing just how often people purchase a tent and do not consider its safety credentials. I suppose it doesn’t matter really, after all you will be in a tent with all your family and possibly in the middle of nowhere without a phone reception. What is the worst that can happen next to that lovely hot fire, good night!
We make sure that we stock tents that are fire retardant. Some of them, like the Coleman Exponents have self-extinguishing technology. So make sure yours does too.
