Apr 17, 2021

choosing A Tent: Terms To Know & What To Look For!

We are getting down to the basics! First, we chatted about backpacks and now it is time to dive into tents.

Here is my post about backpacks that you may be interested in: h ow to choose a backpack that is right for you: budget, terms to know, and my recommendations!

AND, if tents aren't your jam, then here is a post ALLLLLL about hammocks that you are going to want to read: What You Need To Know About Hammock Camping

Last, if you want to see my gear choices and the pros and cons of the gear that I do have: My Big Three Picks | Pros and Cons

HOw to choose | Tents

Terms to know:

1) Bivvy: a bivouac shelter is any of a variety of improvised campsite, or shelter that is usually of a temporary nature, used especially by soldiers, or persons engaged in backpacking, scouting, or mountain climbing.

2) Free-Standing: the tent bodies can hold their shape on their own without needing to be staked out.

3) Rain-Fly: A fly refers to the outer layer of a tent or to a piece of material that is strung up using rope as a minimalist, stand-alone shelter. In basic terms, a fly is a tent without walls.

4) Capacity: this is the number of sleepers that the tent will fit.

5) Season: the season is indicative of the type of weather that the tent is built to endure.

6) Weight: how much the tent weighs.

My tips

1) Know what capacity you need!

How many people are camping with you? How many nights are you going to be on the trail? Do you want to store your backpack in your tent at night?

2) Consider the weather you will be camping in.

A good tent can impact your sleep and sleep can impact your experience on the trail. So, before you buy, you should know what type of weather you will be camping in. Will it be wet? Will it snow? Will it be very "buggy"?

3) Make a list of your deal-breakers!