by Ashley Raybourn

Created on: February 19, 2009

When planning a camping or backpacking trip it is important to consider what type of tent you will need. You don't want to be caught out in the elements with the wrong type of tent for your personal and environmental needs. Things to consider when choosing a tent vary from shape, structure, capacity, material, and ability to withstand weather.

The package of a tent will advertise how many people it sleeps. This number is almost always not practical and results in a lot of discomfort and crowding. You can sleep two people in a two man tent, provided nothing else is in there with with, such as your clothing or backpack. Ideally you want to buy a tent that advertises at least one or two more people than you actually intend to sleep in it. A one man tent is fine for backpackers but if it is raining outside you will want to bring your pack in, and unless you want to use it as a pillow or a bed, you might want to consider a two person tent.

Nylon and polyester are the most common fabrics used for tents. They provide good protection from the rain when treated to do so. The downside is they become brittle and dry rot over time when exposed to the sun. Canvas tents are very durable but get very heavy and sag when exposed to prolonged rain.

Different types of tents are made for different types of weather. Two season tents are good for late spring to early fall, when extreme weather is not really an issue. Three season tents will cover all of spring, summer, and fall but are not suited to harsh winter conditions. These tents will not keep you warm or withstand harsh winter winds. A four season tent is good in, well, all four seasons. They are the most durable and likely to withstand most of what mother nature throws at you on your camping or backpacking trip.

Structurally speaking, tents come in two main categories: fixed and freestanding. Fixed tents are ones that people see most often around a campground. They are staked into the ground using guy lines or ropes. This gives the tent some added stability. A freestanding tent is a bit of a misnomer. It is still recommended to use guy lines or ropes to keep it in place, but they are not absolutely necessary. Freestanding tents are a lot easier to pick up and move, thus being a good choice for backpackers.

There are a lot of different structure types for tents. They can be as simple as an A-frame or as complex as something that resembles a cabin.

An A-frame tent is most likely what you imagine when you think of camping, but are

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