Seasonality A 4-season designation means it's strong enough to camp in snow and high winds. A 3-season designation means good for everything except mid-winter conditions - it will be lighter and cooler. A 2-season tent will be lightweight and handle mild conditions from mid-spring to mid-fall.
Capacity Tents are designated as to the number of people they will hold comfortably (1, 2, 3, 4 or family). It's up to you how many people you want to share a tent with, but practically speaking, you'll probably get more use out of a one or two person tent. Don't take this designation for granted, though - compare actual floor areas of various tents
and try one out in a showroom to gauge the area you find most comfortable. As a rule of thumb, 20 square feet per person will be generous space, while 15 square feet will be a snug fit. Weight
This is important, since you'll be the one lugging this gear up those hills. You'll want to look for backpacking tents or ultralight tents, not the big canvas tents your family car-camped with. A good solo tent might weigh between 3 and 4 pounds. A good two person tent will weigh 3.5 to 5 pounds. There are super lightweight tents, but the lighter the weight the heavier the price tag. Conversely, cheaper tents will weigh more. It's your judgment call as to the right balance between the two. Tents are often listed with two weights, maximum weight being the weight of the tent, poles, clips and bag - this is the weight you should go by.
Windows
You'll want plenty of window space to let the air in and prevent condensation inside the tent - most of your camping will probably be done in warm weather. Window mesh should be very fine to keep out no-seeums and windows should close securely for cold weather or sandstorms.
Rain Fly Most good tents have two components: tent and rain fly. The tent is breathable and vented with windows to allow the breeze in, while the rain fly is waterproof. The rain fly is suspended over the tent across the pole superstructure; don't allow the fly to touch the tent or you may get leakage if it rains. Make sure the fly comes close to the ground. If it doesn't rain, you don't need to put up the rain fly. Of course, you won't know that until the next morning, but that's the thing about weather, isn't it?
Single wall tents, which don't use rain flys, are lighter weight, but are not as well vented and tend to allow more condensation. This style is no longer very popular.
Vestibule
This is a space outside the door of the tent but still under the rain fly (which extends beyond the footprint of the tent - see photo above), in which you can store gear to keep it out of the rain or away from prying eyes. A vestibule is extremely helpful, and there are at least two tent models (Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware) with a vestibule large enough to cover a bike.
Shape
There are many shapes and configurations of tents, such as A-frame, hoop, wedge, bullfrog and dome, which provide rectangular, tapered rectangular or hexagonal floor spaces. The choice is entirely a matter of personal preference. There are also many variations of pole configuration, all of which work pretty well - again, it's a matter of personal preference.
Material
Most tents are made of rip-stop nylon with coated nylon floor and rain fly. The thicker or denser the fabric, the heavier the tent - once again, a trade-off. Most good tents have a tub, or floor, extending several inches up the sides, which is made of much heavier waterproof material. A footprint, which is a heavy plastic sheet the shape of the tent floor and available as an option with many tents, can go under the tent to minimize damage from abrasion. You can also use a simple plastic sheet.
You should look for light weight aluminum poles, which last longer than fiberglass poles. The tent is attached to the pole structure by clips or sleeves. Clips are easier to set up and allow maximum air flow; sleeves are stronger.
Stakes
Most tents require staking, which can be difficult on rocky ground, but always helpful if you do it right. You'll need to stake the rain fly and the tent separately. Make sure the guy wires are taut, particularly on the fly, which absorbs most of the wind and shouldn't be touching the tent. Tents called freestanding can be set up without staking when necessary, but unstaked tents are unstable and tend to fly away in the wind when you're not looking. Always use the stakes when possible.
Most of the well known manufacturers offer excellent tents - the variables, such as floor space, vestibule design and weight will probably determine your choice. One popular favorite among bike packers is the Big Agnes series of super light tents (Seedhouse SL1, SL2 and SL3).
Camping Gear On-Line Retailers Back country Back Country Gear Backpacking Light Campman Campmor Eastern Mountain Sports Light Backpacker NW Backpack Peak 62 REI |
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Tent Manufacturers Big Agnes Eureka Kelty Marmot Montbell Mountain Hardware Mountain Safety Research Nemo The North Face Sierra Designs |
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