Camping Tents

A camping tent is your backcountry home away from home, so it pays to get one that you'll enjoy spending time in. Know the essentials:

Know thy needs. A three person camping tent will feel way too spacious for a solo camper, but a true two person tent will be a tight fit for a pair. If you might spend time in the rain, be sure to get a tent with one or two vestibules – canopies formed by the rain fly outside the door – where you can stow your muddy hiking boots, backpacks, and other camping gear. Of course, you'll want to keep your sleeping bags inside the tent where you can use them.

Know thy season. Winter camping demands tents with better insulation, more wind-resistant fabrics and sturdier construction. But four season camping tents are unnecessary for most summer hikers, and comes with a weight penalty. Double wall tents have free standing inner tent and a waterproof rain fly that’s used as foul weather shield. Single wall tents have a built-in rain fly, so they are lighter, but you are sometimes stuck with less visibility and stifling walls on muggy nights. Don’t forget ventilation -- look for lots of mesh and vents, or siliconized-nylon walls to minimize soggy morning sleeping bags.

Know the players. The North Face makes cutting-edge three and four season tents that have proven their merits under extensive testing – one even withstood a 130-mph gale in wind tunnel. Mountain Hardwear makes some of the sturdiest and lightest camping tents on the market – geared toward serious users and accommodating every condition they might encounter. Legendary American mountaineer Ed Viesturs even had a hand in designing their high-altitude line. Companies that design their tents for most demanding outdoor athletes end up making the rest of us really happy campers. Sierra designs is also a leader in the industry.