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:
The ideal tent would be one that is light to carry, but will still protect you against whatever the weather might throw at you. Ideally, you want something with enough space for you and your camping buddy, if you have one, plus all of your things- walking gear, bags and so on. It is great to have space in which to sit when you are not sleeping, so either a second room or a sheltered space outside is very handy especially in wet weather. And it should be easy to assemble- whether it is unbearably hot or you are stuck in a storm, no one wants to be struggling with tent pegs and balancing heavy poles.
However, it tends to be a trade-in between very small and light which is convenient or big and heavy which is great once it is up, but difficult to carry to the place you want to be. Lighter larger tents will be significantly more expensive, as will ones tolerant of extreme weather. When it comes to some of the best tents of 2009, it still all comes down to what you want to be using your tent for....
