Choosing the Right Tent

1 Comment | Posted By Corrina Jeffreys

Here at Gelert we know a thing or two about choosing the right tent that you can trust and will never let you down.

Here are our top ten tips.

1) Choose your budget accordingly – if you spend most of your summer camping, then invest in a mid to high value tent, if you are an occasional camper and only when the weather is good, then you can afford to pay a little less.

2) Decide what type of camper you are – These days there are plenty of tents available to suit every type of camper. Consider what your primary use will be, family, weekender, festival, backpacker, adventurer, and then choose accordingly.

3) Consider how much room you will need – don’t just thing about sleeping areas, also consider storage for wet walking equipment or a communal for all the family. Many family tents now come with removable bedroom areas, so you can plan your space accordingly.

4) Think about the conditions you are going to be camping in – If it is going to be wet or humid, think about the ventilation provided, the waterproofing qualities (demonstrated through the Hydrostatic Head Test), and a sown in groundsheet that rises up the side to protect for surface water. Dry hot conditions, you should consider a Poly Cotton tent to allow increased breathability.

5) How will you be transporting the tent? – Backpacking tents will come in one bag, family tents potentially come in 4, think about the space you have and consider weight limits. Most manufacturers will clearly state the weight tent and the size of each of the packs it comes in.

6) Consider the construction of the tent – Higher quality materials will mean your tent lasts for longer, taped seams prevents leaking and tough groundsheets will stop rips occurring due to sharp objects in the ground.

7) Consider the poles – Fibreglass poles are great for the leisure campers among us, if you are going to be braving bad weather or carrying your tent far then you will need to look for Aluminium or Carbon Fibre poles.

8) Think about the pitching – Look for tents that have been designed to pitch easily, also consider how many people there will be to pitch the tent. Picking a tent that pitches outer first will ensure that your inner tent doesn’t get wet when setting up camp in the rain.

9) Accessorise – Stock up on extra pegs, repair kits and spare guy lines. To protect the tent invest in a footprint groundsheet, and waterproof sealants. For a touch of warmth and luxury you can also buy fitted carpets and matching furniture for many large family tents, and if you need more space don’t forget to see if your tent comes with the option of additional porches and canopies.

10) Research, Research, Research – One you have found the tent you like take time to research it, there are plenty of websites with consumer reviews and you will often find reviews done by magazines that specialise in the outdoors. When buying in store ask for advice, especially in outdoor shops as employees not only have a wealth of knowledge they often have a wealth of experience too.

Follow these simple tips and you can’t go wrong.

Happy camping!