How to choose a tent for outdoor recreation?

Outdoor recreation is the best cure for stress. An indispensable attribute of tourist travel and camping are tents. They protect tourists from wind, cold, rain and other negative environmental factors.

Before you buy a suitable model, it is necessary to get acquainted with its characteristics. The shape, weight and design features of the product will determine the quality of recreation in nature.

Types of products for outdoor recreation

There are several types of tents depending on the purpose:

Camping. These are tall models with a vestibule for storage and windows. The main advantage of the product - capacity. People can move around inside the tent and stand in it full-length. It is advisable to buy such models for tourists who have a personal car. It will be difficult to carry such sleeping bags in their hands. Another disadvantage of the product - poor warming.

Trekking. They are chosen by tourists planning long hikes in the mountains. They are easy to transport and do not take up much space. The disadvantage of the products is a small capacity.

Assault. Used for extreme travels. Models are lightweight, easy to assemble and resistant to winds. The main disadvantage of design - low capacity. It is designed for only one person.

Beach. Products do not have a separate entrance. They are a tent, fenced on three sides. They are chosen by fishermen and hunters who go to nature in the summer. It is advisable to use beach tents only during the warm season, as they are poorly protected from the cold and wind.

Before you choose a tent for outdoor recreation, you should pay attention to its seasonality. According to the criterion under consideration models are:

Summer. They are not suitable for outdoor recreation in strong wind or cold. Sleeping bags of this type are characterized by a high level of air permeability.

Three-seasons. Designed for any time of year. Manufacturers make such models from dense and durable fabrics. They are resistant to strong winds and heavy rain.

Winter. Equipment is purchased for travel in difficult climatic conditions. Winter tents can be used in the summer, but they will be hot and stuffy in the extreme heat.

How to choose a tent according to different criteria?

The quality of travel and useful life of the product will depend on the right choice of tent. When buying pay attention to the following parameters of the product:

• form;
• size and capacity;
• weight;
• watertightness;
• number of layers;
• frame and bottom material;

Choice depending on shape

The shape of tents can resemble a hemisphere, a half-box, a house, a tent or a coffin. Experienced campers are better to choose tents in the form of a hemisphere (dome) or a house. Their main advantages of the hemisphere:

• capacity;
• resistance to strong winds;
• the ability to move to places without reassembly;
• the ability to use on any surface.

Experienced travelers will have no problem disassembling the structure. For beginners, however, this procedure may seem complicated. It is not worth choosing a tent in the form of a hemisphere for tourists who travel on foot for long distances. This is due to their heavy weight.

Tent in the form of a house is considered a classic. But it is also not recommended to choose it for beginner hikers because of the problems in assembling. Experienced travelers should use such products in the spring or fall, when there is a high risk of precipitation. Moisture will run off the walls of the tent without being absorbed into the material.

Half-box tent has arcs arranged in parallel. This increases the internal space of the sleeping bag. It has special vestibules, where tourists can store their belongings and shoes. Half-boots are recommended for summer vacations in the countryside.

The structure can collapse due to strong gusts of wind, observed in winter and in the off-season. The half-box is suitable for camping in a flat area, but for hiking in the mountains it is better to choose another (more stable) option.

Marquee tents are designed for a group of people. They are taken with them on winter hikes in order to install a stove in the center of the sleeping bag, heating the entire space of the tent.

A sleeping bag is often taken with you on extreme camping trips during the warm season. For outdoor recreation in winter, a small tent is not suitable, because you can not stand or sit in it. The advantages of such a product include:

• small size;
• ease;
• wind resistance;
• increased durability.

According to the number of layers

All products are divided into one-layer and two-layer. This criterion should be considered before choosing a tent for family vacations.

Single layer sleeping bags are characterized by increased lightness.

They are made of moisture-proof materials. If such a sun lounger is not designed ventilation system, the whole family will be uncomfortable to be in it. Because of the accumulation of condensation is very likely to get wet clothes.

For family vacations are better suited two-layer tents. The outer part of the product will protect people from rain and wind, and the inner part will provide a sufficient flow of oxygen. Such models are better air permeable and more effective in protecting hikers from cold, wind and rain.

In terms of water resistance

The main criterion for choosing the right outfit is water resistance and resistance to deformation. The manufacturers may specify the following indicators:

• 1500 mm Hg. - light rain;
• 2,000-3,000 mm Hg. - heavy rain;
• 6000 mmHg. - downpour.

The minimum level of water resistance is 1500 and the maximum is 7000. It is necessary to choose the outfit with a wetting index of 2000-3000 mm Hg.

By bottom design

When choosing a tent you should pay attention to the design of its bottom. It is important that it does not absorb moisture and provides campers with protection from insects. Preference should be given to models whose bottom is made of polyester, nylon or structured material. Another important point regarding the design of the bottom of the tent is the sealing of the seams.

By frame.

Arcs in the beds are made of the following materials:

Aluminum. It is desirable to choose designs made of anodized alloy. It is lighter, more durable than conventional aluminum and costs less.

Fiberglass. Fiberglass frames are cheaper than aluminum frames, but they are less durable. Fiberglass deforms under the influence of temperature and becomes even more brittle.

Steel - the most durable material for the tent frame. The only disadvantage of products with a steel frame is the inconvenience of carrying because of the heavy weight.

By capacity

For family vacations choose the double tents or products of the format 2 +1. If you go to the nature alone, it is better to give preference to the same option.

The difference in weight between a single and a double sleeping bag is no more than 1 kg. Modern imported models in general weigh no more than 2-3 kg.

Selection criteria depending on the type of vacation

Handkerchiefs for extreme, trekking and camping trips differ in their basic characteristics. For each type of hike you need to select the optimal model.

Tent for extreme tourism should be light, low. The optimal shape is a hemisphere. There are other criteria for a tent for extreme tourism:

• water resistance - from 4000 mm;
• coating material - polyester;
• frame material - aluminum.

Trekking Tent Designed for 1-2 people and is most often made in the form of a hemisphere. The main requirements for the product:

• weight - up to 6 kg;
• water resistance - from 3000 mm;
• frame material - aluminum or polymer;
• coating material - nylon impregnated with polyurethane.

The perfect shape for a camping sleeping bag half-box or Hemisphere. Characteristics the product must meet:

• height - not less than 1.8 m;
• weight - up to 20 kg;
• water resistance - from 40000 mm;
• coating material - polyester;
• the material of the arcs is steel or aluminum.

How to buy the right tent?

Purchase your outdoor tent at major outfitters or online. The travel stores that specialize in the sale of outfitters employ experts in this industry.

They can recommend the right tent for a particular occasion. Specialized stores do not order everything in a row. They offer customers only quality and functional models.

It is better to define your wishes before you talk to a consultant. So it will be easier for the salesperson to choose a particular model or suggest another, more suitable option. The main ideas before ordering can be written down in a notebook, and then present them to the consultant.

It is important to be careful when studying the weight of the tent. The instructions usually write the minimum weight of the product excluding stakes, packing and repair kit.

Results

To choose a tent for recreation should be approached responsibly. The product is purchased taking into account the number of campers, the peculiarities of the hike, the time of year and other criteria. A good tent should meet the following basic requirements, regardless of the scope of application:

• ease;
• impermeability;
• reliability;
• durability;
• high level of protection from snow, wind and rain.