Tents For Camping Information - Camping Tent Types

Tents For Camping come in various designs and types, including the A frame tent, Tunnel tent, Camping dome tent, Free standing tents or Cabin tents , that all have advantages and disadvantages.

Before choosing a camping tent, consider some of these valuable points that has been helping visitors to buy there next tent or first, prepared with knowledge and confidence.

A fair few years ago you would have decided the capacity of your tent and bought a framed canvas tent with a pole in the middle of the entrance.

Now, the choices given, causes many people to become confused about which tents for camping, would be most suitable.

Your time here researching will pay dividends. Just keep in mind how many people are camping and what weather conditions you are most likely to face when camping.

Types of Tents For Camping

A Frame Tent

The A Frame is the classic tent that is usually erected with poles standing from the 4 corners and a pole across the top. These are one of the least popular tents of today. However, the most popular A frame tent is the Eureka timberlines tents, that have been sold for over 30 years to more than a million buyers and is still selling today.

Head and shoulder room is a disadvantage for this camping tent because of the slopping wall. The main height is within the centre of the tent. Many are too bulky and heavier than other camping tent styles, with too many poles for the backpackers that prefer the two-pole designs.

If family camping other styles will prove to offer more room and better access. These are sturdy no-nonsense tents with a limited amount of choice on the market today, unfortunately. We would not consider an a frame tent outside of the Eureka timberline tent.

The modified A frame tents incorporate a curved ridge pole providing more interior space.

Cabin Tents

Cabin tents are popular family camping tents. They are usually single skinned whilst using an awning for protection from weather. Removable internal dividers (curtains) allow these cabin tents to be split into rooms, if campers choose to make a separate room for children and want privacy.

The design is similar to a frame tent, that provide straight walls from the ceiling to floor that utilize space much better than a camping dome tent or an A frame tent.

Cabin tents are very generous with room , especially for recreational camping in the summer for a family wishing to create a home-from-home with camping furniture and all the kids gear. Good access is available with these camping tents, with some designs having two doors.

The cabin style tents usually needs a couple of people to assemble. The vertical walls act as a shield from strong winds, rather than the dome tents ability of allowing strong wind to breeze over it, protecting stability.

These can weigh a bit more than other tents, but there is no sacrificing much needed space.

A popular example is the Eureka copper canyon tents, that sleep from 4 -12 people. These are free standing tents, rated for 3 season camping (summer, spring, fall).

Tunnel Tent

A Tunnel tent can be used for various types of trips, from backpacking to car camping, and many will be classed as lightweight tents.

These are generally more stable than hoop tents, but geodesic dome tents usually out do the hoop or tunnel tent and any other tents for camping, for that matter. These are also known to be a little noisy (flapping about) in high winds, although this does not mean they don't stand well against adverse conditions.

A Tunnel tent is usually easy to pitch, although, guy lines will have to be staked. As the name implies the poles within the sleeves create a tunnel or hoop shape.

These will provide convenient space with the option of living space and sleeping quarters. The near vertical tent walls make this tent somewhere between a dome tent and cabin style

The strength and durability will be determined by the materials and poles used; The cheaper they are, the more they can be become a wreck flapping about.

Dome Tents For Camping

Dome tents are probably the most widely used popular camping tent of all styles. These tents for camping are a good 3 season option; Meeting adverse weather conditions well. Sizes start from a one man tent to family size tents.

Dome camping tents will not provide as much head room for a family camping, compared to cabin tents or some tunnel tents.

These tents will be easy to pitch, and many lightweight models satisfy backpacking and hiking enthusiasts. Although, backpacking tents need more consideration than discussed so far. These can also be a free standing tents that require no stakes or guy lines to stand, although they will for weather protection.

Dome tents use mainly two poles that cross over each other at the peak, that can be pitched with the inner tent first or the outer (flysheet). Pitching an outer tent first enables an inner tent to remain dry in wet conditions.

Geodesic dome tents are the strongest of these tents for camping, that have extra poles to support the fabrics against snow. These are simply reinforced tents for beating all elements not required for recreational camping or hot weather camping.

Tents For Camping - Features

The main designs; Dome tents, A frame tent, Cabin tents, Tunnel tents or Free standing tents will all need various features to become a quality camping tent.

When buying a tent, consider the various features, including tent pole's, floor type, sealed seams and ventilation. We cover these issue's within the next guide for choosing tents for camping. This is the buying a tent guide explaining features.

When choosing backpacking tents, there are many other options not mentioned above, that we discuss in the backpacking tents guide.