Picking The Best Hiking Tent.
For 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.
The Velo tent is a good one for those looking for a small tent for one or two people. It has a vestibule; a full rain fly, a bathtub floor and the seams are taped for added protection. While this tent weights only nine and a half pounds, it may be too heavy for just one person.
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 camping tent you pick should be suited to the environment you’re going to be camping in. If you only want to go into the wilds during the summer, in pleasant weather, a lightweight tent will work just fine. These hiking tents are inexpensive and very light, but they’re not good for more than the gentlest weather. People who expect to deal with cold, lots of precipitation, or other difficult conditions should consider sturdier tents.
As you shop for the right lightweight tent, do realize that there are many brands that can help you to stay in a stylish tent. Consider the brands of Kelty, Sierra Design, Eddie Bauer and Colman, for example. Or, the brands of North Face, Wenzel and EZ Up are good options. Eureka, Sierra Design and Wenger are also popular options that many people enjoy taking with them as they camp and hike.
There are other types of tents to consider as well, including the A frame tent or Pup tent. This is a great choice for those who are okay with sleeping this close to the outdoors with little protection. The biggest drawback is that they can easily be a problem because they sag in the center. You definitely want to avoid the Cabin Camping style tent as these are very heavy sometimes weighing up to 100 pounds.
Dome Camping tents are another option, especially if you want more headroom. They are also good at keeping the elements at bad (since the rain and snow just slide right off.) The specialized designed rain fly helps this. These are free standing and have aluminum poles to keep them as lightweight as possible.
For the summer months, you need only a nice, lightweight tent offering good air circulation. They do not have a lot of features but are a good choice. For those considering a tunnel or hoop tent, these are lightweight but they do not have the strength that others do. Bivy sacks and shelters could be another option especially when you are hiking alone. They are small, with only room for you and your sleeping bag. They do weight less than three pounds, making them ideal here.
Take the time to consider each of these options. It is not an easy one to make but if you take the time to research, you are sure to find the right tent for your particular needs. Keep in mind that the weather and your budget play a role here, too. Take the time to check out the amount of weight of the tent when doing your research.
