Sleeping in the countryside, away from city lights, out under the stars on a clear night is simply spectacular. But waking up in the middle of the night during a downpour can be quite miserable. Just waking up in the morning covered with dew is bad enough. There is a solution to this problem: put a roof over your head.
Your campsite bed is made; you've geared up with pads, mats, sleeping bags, air mattresses, sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows to get a good night's sleep. Now you need to insure that cozy campground slumber with an appropriate tent to shield you from the wind, the sun and the rain and also to protect you from unfriendly outdoor pests like flies, mosquitoes and no-seeums.
Tents today come in all shapes and sizes to meet a variety of camping needs and weather situations. There are a few things to consider when purchasing a new tent. Look for a tent with a one piece floor, it's less likely to seep water than a floor with seams. Make sure the rain fly is an adequate size covering most of the tent with an extended section at the door to allow entry without soaking the inside of the tent. Make sure the tent is big enough to accommodate all the campers plus a place to stow their gear.
Particular circumstances, like snow camping, beach camping, or backpacking, may call for specialized tents, accessories or considerations. Let's look further into the aspects of selecting a proper tent.
Next page > What Kind of Tent?
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