Camping Tents

Nearly every country has nature. This can be defined as areas that are not populated with people, where natural flora and fauna is allowed to flourish, thus resulting in an “un-touched area” and one where nature, not mankind, rules. Granted, the watchful eye of mankind is prevalent no matter where we are on the planet (with a handful of exceptions). But these untouched areas are what we seek to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And these same areas are exceptional at producing camping experiences that are truly unique.

Camping is an activity that is great at any age. Granted, hiking and fishing at 80 is not the same experience it is at 20. But you get the gist. Kids and their parents can enjoy camping in a completely different way than five best friends in their 20s would. The activities might be different, but the joy is still the same - being in the great outdoors.

There are many components that make up a successful camping trip. But, they all begin and end with the tent. The camping tent is the centerpiece. Everything revolves around your home away from home for 1 night, 1 week, or even up to 2 months. This vital piece of camping equipment will keep you warm, secure, and hopefully safe for the duration of your trip. The key factors to consider before choosing a camping tent are usability, material durability, and denier. In terms of usability, a weekend camper is much different than a trekker heading to the Himalayas, for example. Define what you need the tent for, and that critical first box is checked. Second, material durability also depends on where you will be. Ripstop nylon is popular, and the more resistant it is, the more expensive. And lastly, denier. Likely a word you haven’t encountered much. Denier is a unit of weight, and used to measure the density or fineness of a textile. Tent designers juggle with this because they want a durable fabric, but as the denier increases, so does the weight. And nobody wants a heavy tent, that’s for sure.

The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Tent is a great choice for two people. A good fit for all three seasons (not winter), the UL2 is an ultra-light tent with twenty-eight square feet of floor area. All of its seams are waterproof (uncommon for lightweight tents), and weighing just 1 lbs., 15 oz., you can’t ask for anything lighter at this quality. If you’re looking for a four-season tent, the Hilleberg Tarra Tent has won several awards in this category. Granted, because it can keep you well protected in the winter, a weight of 8 lbs., 6 oz. is a necessity. But this tent is as durable as they come, and its multiple 10mm pole intersections maintains a dome shape that is sturdy, and low to the ground – two things you want if a blizzard should come your way.

Lastly, if you’re in the market for a good family tent, look no further than another Big Agnes tent, the Flying Diamond 8 tent. Suitable for up to eight people, this tent nearly has individual rooms. There is over 112 square feet of space and the head height in the main “room” of the tent is six feet. Once you get into the latter rooms of the tent, headroom is still four-and-a-half feet. A great pick for all four seasons as well, but the weight is nothing to play around with at nearly 20 pounds.

Camping is great year-round, and with these options you can successfully disconnect from the screen and get back to nature. Never a bad idea, right?