How To Choose The Best Hiking Tents
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009For an extended hiking trip, one of the worst things you will want to deal with is a heavy tent. How can you have a great trip without all the work? Take the time to comparison shop for the right size tent for your specific need, based in part on what else you are bringing with you and the number of people in your group. Even when you have a lot of items to deal with, you can still get a light weight tent to fit the bill. Let’s consider some specifics here.
For a small size, try the Velo, which is ideal for those who are solo hikers or two people. This style of tent comes with a vestibule. It also has a full rain fly, bathtub floor, and the seams are taped. It only weighs about nine and a half pounds so is easy to take with you.
For a medium sized tent, try the Kelly Gunnison, which is a four-person tent that offers a full rain fly. At nearly nine pounds, you and someone else may wish to share carrying this one. Still, it features DAC aluminum poles, which are lightweight and still provide a good amount of durability. It features taped seams as well as a bathtub floor and vestibule. There are storage pockets. Another option in this line is a bit smaller ideal for a solo backpacking trip or even a hike. It has all the same features but is only five pounds, eleven ounces in weight.
The Kelty Crestone 2 is another option to think about. Here, there is room for up to two people who have hiking gear with them. There are two convenient entrances, vestibules and it also features aluminum poles to keep it light. And, it is at only four pounds and twelve ounces in weight.
Three and four season tents are popular choices when hiking. The more protection offered by your tent, the heavier it will be, but it can also be a real lifesaver in a bad storm or in cold weather. Pay attention to the amount of waterproofing your tent has, to tell you how much rain or snow it can withstand. This will usually be rated in PSI, or pounds per square inch.
How much space do you need? Bigger tents can be more comfortable if you’re traveling with others or if you need a place to put your gear, but they’re also harder to carry. A smaller tent will also heat up more quickly in cold weather. Think hard about how much space you and your possessions are going to take up.
If you’re considering one of the extremely small hiking tents that conform to a human body, remember that you’ll need some space between your face and the ceiling of the tent to prevent condensation problems. These tents are very light and very portable, but for some people, they’re just too small. If you’re not sure, try one out. See if someone you know has a tent like the one you’re thinking about buying before you check out tents for sale.
In the summer you may want something that is very light weight and also offers a good amount of ventilation. Summer time tents do not have a lot of features but they can work well in some situations. The other option is the tunnel or hoop tent, which are very lightweight options. The only drawback here is that the tents often have only limited support, which can cause a problem. The Bivy sack is another option, especially if you are hiking and camping by yourself. They are too small for much else than you and the sleeping bag you are using. They only weigh a few pounds, which make them a good choice for lightweight.
As you take the time to consider the right lightweight tent to use, keep in mind that there are many brands and styles available. The weather, your budget and the number of people play a role in which you choose, as should the weight, of course.