When preparing to spend the night outdoors, you can choose from tents, sleeping bags, waterproof sheets, snow caves, or shelters. Tents are the most commonly used option because they are easy to set up, provide rain protection, can be reused, and can be set up anywhere. They also offer wind and sun protection, and the interior provides ample space for climbers to store their equipment. For beginners in outdoor activities, it's important to first understand the different types of tents and which type is best suited for your current travel route.
1. Tent benchmark:
First, let's understand the product. What makes a good tent? It is a combination of space, function, weight, humanization and beauty. Space: The width of the tent is based on the shoulder width of about 50 cm and the appropriate proportion is released.
1) The double space is 220cm x 135cm, and the height is about 105cm, which is a reasonable standard for a double tent. Such a space will bring comfort to everyone, without feeling oppressed. There will also be enough space for legs to put backpacks and other camping supplies.
2) Function: The function of a tent is generally reflected in windproof, rainproof, mosquito-proof and ventilation. These basic functions can help you sleep well outdoors.
3) Regarding weight: Generally, a basic two-person tent weighs around 2 kilograms, and a single-person tent is about 1.5 kilograms. These weights are generally acceptable. However, there is a trend towards lighter tents while maintaining functionality. Some products, to appear lighter, use 7.5mm diameter poles and very thin fabrics, such as those below the 15D specification. While this reduces weight, it compromises the tent's windproof and wear-resistant properties, which I find unwise. Overly pursuing and blindly following lightweight trends can compromise comfort and space. Additionally, some non-self-supporting products are difficult for beginners to handle. For example, some non-enclosed single-layer tents (such as A-tents) are primarily used for temporary shelter from rain, wind, and UV rays. However, outdoor environments often have mosquitoes, ants, and rodents, making these single-layer structures ineffective in protecting against them. Therefore, I do not recommend that beginners use these types of tents for camping.
4) Humanization of the Tent: What is humanized design? It involves fully considering the natural factors that consumers encounter during use, such as ensuring the outer tent has a door that is easy to access during the rainy season. The zipper of the outer tent door should be within easy reach. The vestibule should be expandable, and there should be sufficient auxiliary space for storing equipment. Ventilation ports should be designed in opposite positions to promote air circulation. These ports should be positioned at higher levels to allow cold air to rise, evaporating the heat generated by breathing and body heat, thus reducing condensation and frost. Additionally, small details like storage bags and lamp hanging points should be considered. The outer tent should ideally have a prominent top to facilitate water drainage at the top, and the seams of the outer tent should be tightly fastened to the frame. This ensures the tent's board shape is well maintained.
2. Types of tents
1) High mountain tent
The primary functional aspect is wind resistance, which is mainly achieved through the use of supports. Most designs feature a multi-pole cross structure, which helps to distribute the load and enhance wind resistance. However, this design has a drawback: it can become overly heavy, making it highly specialized for professional adventurers. Another key function of high-altitude tents is warmth. Modern warm inner tents are made with a resin-coated fabric that provides both warmth and breathability.
2) Four seasons account
As the name suggests, the four-season tent is designed for camping enthusiasts. Unlike high mountain tents, it does not necessarily have strong wind resistance but offers excellent ventilation and breathability. It is lighter than high mountain tents and can be used throughout the year. Typically, these tents feature a double-layer design: one layer is made of mesh fabric for ventilation in all three seasons, and the other layer is made of breathable fabric to keep warm during winter. This structure is the most distinctive feature of the four-season tent.
3) Third quarter accounts
Designed for spring, summer, and autumn, these three-season tents dominate the global tent market. This is because these seasons are the primary camping periods for ordinary consumers and are also one of the reasons why major brands have the most diverse product lines. In southern China, a high-quality three-season tent can meet the basic camping needs of an average mountain enthusiast throughout the year. These tents focus on ventilation, especially during nighttime camping in the south, where the human body releases a lot of heat and breath gases. During rainy weather, when atmospheric pressure is low, the temperature difference between the human body's exhaled gases and the outer tent can cause condensation, forming condensation water that adheres to the outer tent. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure good air circulation inside the tent. The outer fabric of three-season tents typically has a waterproof rating of 1500mm to 2000mm, which is sufficient for general rainfall. To reduce costs, more and more three-season tents in the European and American markets are now designed with a fully netted inner structure. The outer tent may not even have ventilation ports, but instead uses the full isolation between the outer and inner tents to enhance ventilation.
4) Family account
At present, self-driving cars are very popular in Europe, America, Japan and South Korea. This kind of tent has a large space and is generally designed with a main hall and bedroom, which is good equipment for family gatherings.
The space in a pointed tent is relatively limited, but it is quite fun. For example, the pyramid structure looks very impressive. It requires some technical skills from the user and needs to be reinforced with auxiliary wind ropes to enhance its wind resistance. However, due to its streamlined design, if the basic structure is well-balanced, it can be more wind-resistant than some cross-tent structures.
5) Tunnel account
The European tunnel tent is highly favored. Once you master its construction techniques, you will be captivated by its perfect space, excellent wind resistance, and spacious entrance. Tunnel tents come in two types of structure: inner hanging and outer covering. The inner hanging type allows for quick setup in harsh conditions and prevents your equipment from getting drenched, which can be embarrassing. HERRABAGE, a Swedish brand from Northern Europe, is a classic example of this type of tent. While the brand's product updates are not particularly prominent, their approach is very meticulous and rigorous. Their pursuit of detail is something many brands cannot match, with their double-sided silicone-coated fabric capable of withstanding over ten kilograms of weight. Ordinary double-silicone fabric can only withstand about eight kilograms. The method of supporting the tunnel tent is quite simple: choose a soft ground that can support the tent, first pull up the four corners symmetrically at an angle, then secure the remaining points. On hard ground where the tent cannot be supported, stones or sandbags can also be used to stabilize it. Currently, there is insufficient recognition of this technical equipment in China, so practitioners need to invest a lot of patience.
3. About the structure of the tent
The dome (DOME), spire (A tower), tunnel (TUNNEL), and frog style are common types of tents. The dome tent, often referred to as a self-supporting tent, is typically seen in a cross shape. This type of tent is easy to set up and provides ample space, making it an ideal choice for beginners. However, its wind resistance may be somewhat limited because the windward side is evenly distributed, and individual poles lack strong support points, relying instead on the tension of the wind rope and fabric for stability.
4. Points to pay attention to when choosing
Choose a tent based on your purpose, such as summer, non-snow season, snow season, or all four seasons; the number of people you want to accommodate; the space you want to have; the weight of the tent; and the price range you can afford. Manufacturers offer a variety of sizes, weights, and designs to choose from.
Whether the tent is single or double, it is important to understand the waterproof and breathable properties of the tent cloth. If it is completely waterproof, moisture will condense inside the tent and create small puddles at the bottom. This moisture, produced by the mountaineer's breath, can also soak the sleeping bag.
Cheap single-layer tents, which can only be used at the lower end of the forest and must be quite ventilated because they are completely waterproof and non-permeable, are best chosen
Different tent designs have different support degrees, so you should consider your use when choosing, especially during the snow season.
A light tent should be spacious and strong enough to cope with some special needs.
The two-person tent is the most commonly used because it is easy to carry, easy to set up a camp, and can be used by three or one people.
The tent should be in a warm color such as yellow, orange or red. When you are trapped, the bright color will be easy to spot.
PS: Cooking inside the tent should be avoided, especially using stoves that use gasoline. These stoves emit a strong odor, can easily spill fuel oil, and the fire is difficult to control, all of which pose potential hazards. Cooking in a waterproof nylon tent can often feel suffocating, and cooking can cause the inner tent to accumulate many small water droplets. If you must cook inside the tent, it is best to do so between the inner and outer tents, where there is good ventilation.
