How to choose tents

How to choose

A tent is a balance of space, weight, weather protection and price. Decide first how you will camp - from the car, on foot, or for a whole season - and most of the choice follows.

Size: the "person" rating is tight

Tent capacity assumes sleepers shoulder to shoulder on narrow pads, with no gear inside. For comfort, most people choose one size up: a 3-person tent for two adults, a 4- or 6-person tent for a family of four. Check the floor dimensions too - about 20-25 in (50-64 cm) of width per sleeper and 84 in (213 cm) of length for adults.

Season rating

3-season tents cover spring to autumn: mesh for airflow, a rain fly, and poles for moderate wind. 4-season tents add stronger poles, less mesh and a full fly for snow load and high wind - warmer, heavier and more expensive. For summer car camping a 4-season tent is usually too stuffy.

Weather protection

Look for a full-coverage rain fly, taped seams and a tub-style floor that curves up the sides. Waterproof ratings are given in mm of water column: about 1,500 mm keeps out normal rain on a fly, while floors are usually rated higher because you kneel and sit on them. Two doors and vestibules keep wet gear outside.

Weight and setup

For backpacking, the packed weight matters most - roughly 2-3 lb (1-1.5 kg) per person is considered light. For car camping, standing height, room dividers and quick setup (instant or hub-style poles) matter more than weight. Canvas and bell tents breathe and stay quieter in wind, but are heavy and must be dried before storage.

Common mistakes

• Buying by the person rating alone and ending up with no room for bags.
• Skipping a footprint or ground tarp - it protects the floor and is cheap to replace.
• Packing the tent away wet: mildew damages coatings within days.

Free planning tools: Camping packing list (Campground Planner)