Picking up a bargain...
There is no doubt that Autumn is creeping in and that what little summer we have had this year is drawing to a close. Whilst that’s bad news for most of us tent campers who don’t enjoy scraping frost of the inside of our tents, it does also mean that there are about to be some bargains to be snapped up in the end of season sales.

So, how do you go about picking a tent? What size and shape will meet your needs? What kind of material should your ten be made of? The best way to make your choice is to go to a showroom or large shop and have a look around, but to help you with your decision, here are a few things to consider:

What shape?

Tipi Tents:
These tents are basic in design and easy to set up, with one pole in the centre and usually just one layer of waterproof fabric, making them popular with backpackers. In addition to the one- or two-man tipi tents you can buy in the shops, there are also an increasing number of UK campsites offering pre-pitched, larger 4-6 man tipis complete with wood-burners and futon beds for the ‘glamorous campers’.

The benefits:

Tipis have a high entrance and sloping sides, which means that there is more head-room in the middle of the tent and plenty of room to store your gear around the edges. If you visit a specialist campsite it can also be a more comfortable alternative to the usual tent-camping experience.

The drawbacks:

This type of tent, for backpackers, can be unstable in windy or wet weather.

Dome Tents

In the last few years these have rapidly become the most popular type of tent as new, flexible poles and better designs make them quick and easy to assemble and available in a wide ranges of styles and sizes from a two-man pop-up tent to a six-man family tent with porch.

The benefits:

The popularity of these tents means that they are usually reasonably priced and widely available. There is likely to be a size and shape that will suit your needs and they are relatively lightweight compared to the older frame-style family tents.

The drawbacks:

They can be a little unsteady in the wind and I’ve known some of the smaller ones to actually be blown flat – but that was in a gale with a very cheap tent!

Tunnel Tents

Guess what? These are shaped like a tunnel! They are similar to the dome tent in the way the poles are constructed and attached to the tent, except that rather than crossing over, the poles simply form a series of arches along the length of the tent to create a long semi-circular tunnel shape.

The benefits:

These are reasonably easy to pitch and because of their shape, they offer plenty of head-room and make spacious family tents. 

The drawbacks:

If you get caught in a strong wind, these tents tent to get knocked around a bit, so make sure you’ve got your guy ropes tightly secured.

A-Frame Tents

And guess what again? This tent is shaped like the letter ‘A’! If you were ever in the scouts or Brownies, you might remember an A-frame tent, and they were all the rage in the 60’s. Whilst the classic A-shape tent is considered a bit dated and over complicated to put up these days, there are some modern variations which are ideal for backpackers, involving little more than a sleeping bag with a couple of poles to raise the fabric off your face!

The benefits:

These can be extremely light-weight and are often build specifically for the hiker and backpacker to be waterproof and light to carry.

The drawbacks:

They can be a bit cramped and the older ones can be a little precarious in the wind, as well as being prone to letting water in if it’s raining. Not exactly built for comfort.

What size?
When you go to buy a tent the size will be given in term of how may people it could fit to sleep in it (one-man, six-man etc). However, do bear in mind that this guide is talking about people laying side to side with no room for any bags, belongings or bedding.

So, what do they really mean:

Two-man – suitable for one person with almost no gear for a festival, or, suitable for backpackers and people wanting to travel light.

Four-man – suitable for two adults and some camping kit.

Six-man – suitable for two adults and a couple of kids and some camping kit

Eight-man – suitable for a family of four plus camping gear for a week.

Ten man – suitable for a family of four plus camping gear for a week and enough room not to get on each other’s nerves!

Note: The bigger the tent, the higher the cost, the more complicated the construction and the more likely it is to be effected by the weather and the harder it is to dry at home!

Headroom

One of the most important things to consider is how tall the tent is at its highest point. If you’re 6-feet tall and you’re planning a week-long camping trip you’ll want to be able to stand up inside the tent – especially given the nature of the British ‘summer’. There should be information available both online and in the shop about the height of your tent, so make sure you check it before you buy it – if you can, go to a shop and see what the different types of tent look like when they’re assembled, have a walk around in them and decide if you’d be comfortable spending time in any of them.

The Poles
Most modern tent poles are made of thin fibreglass rods connected together with an elastic shock cord. These can and do regularly break (often to the quiet amusement of other people on the campsite) so make sure you keep a repair/replacement kit handy.

If you’re using one of the older frame tents with larger aluminium poles, it’s a great idea to use different coloured electric tape to show which end connects to which. These tents are much heavier and more cumbersome to assemble than the more modern tents, but as long as you keep the seams and zips waterproof and in good working order, they are still a great option and provide a very good sized camping area, usually with great head-room.

The most important thing you can do is to visit a shop or show-room to have a good look around and explore the different types of tents. Speak to friends, family and people on camping forums such as the camping forum – find out what they recommend and shop around for the best price once you’ve chosen your make and model.