Exploring the outdoors is a lot of fun, but if you plan on spending the night out there, you will want a tent. Outdoor tents are great in that they make the camping experience a lot more enjoyable, but you have a lot of different options when it comes to outdoor tents. The capacity of the tent, for instance, as well as the weather it’s intended for. 3 season tents are ideal for summer, for example, but might be seriously damaged in a winter storm. Doing your research is important before you make a decision.
Outdoor Tents
Things to watch for when you are reviewing outdoor tents.- Capacity – When it comes to outdoor tents you need to buy for the right amount of people. You also need to plan ahead. You may just go by yourself the first time, but next time there may be two of you. Having several tents is one option, of course, but 2 people fit in a 3 man tent just as easily as 3 people do.
- Season – Most people stick to three season camping, which is spring, summer and fall, but if you enjoy winter camping it’s advisable to get a four season tent. You may want to consider a tent for each use, however, as four season tents can be quite a bit heavier than three season tents.
Best Outdoor Tents
A few of the very best outdoor tents for taking camping, hiking or backpacking.- The North Face Tadpole - If all you want is something basic that wont put a huge dent in your wallet, the Tadpole is an ideal choice. With room for 2 and a weight of 4 pounds 10 ounces or 2.09 kilograms it's certainly not going to break any weight records, but then you typically have to pay more to go lighter. But the interior walls are all mesh, which provides plenty of ventilation, and it has a big vestibule for transitioning from tent to outdoors and back again. Not lightweight, but certainly not lacking in any other way.
- Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3 - If you're ready to make the jump to a lightweight outdoor tent, the Fly Creek line from Big Agnes is an ideal choice. This one will fit three and weighs 3 pounds 3 ounces, or 1.45 kilograms, which is, you'll notice, significantly better than the heavier, smaller Tadpole above. It also won the 2010 Backpacker Magazine Editor's Choice award, which just helps to make it a better choice. Best of all, it comes in a 1 person, 2 person and 4 person version.
- Black Diamond Fitzroy - If you want something that will handle winter weather with ease you need a 4 season tent. The Fitzroy is such a tent. It has room for 2, and weighs 6 pounds 4 ounces, or 2.85 kilograms, but then 4 season tents are rarely lightweight. What it does come with is a number of 4 season design features, like 2 doors, a single wall design and a total of 4 poles to increase strength and stability in bad weather.
