Tent Camping Tips for Beginners

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Tent Camping demands a basic set of necessities, the main consideration being, of course, a tent. There are many styles out there and prices may seem shocking. You can quickly and easily select the kind of tent you need through a simple process of elimination. Our tent camping tips should help get you started!

Tent Camping Tips for Beginners

Since you’re new at this, chances are that you won’t need an expensive 4 seasons or extreme backpacking tent. The new camper generally won’t be hiking high elevations, in the wilderness, or in cold temperatures. So, forget about the $850,000 price tags or super hi-tech tents that are for experienced campers.

Prices vary but the expensive tents are made to withstand strong winds, old temperatures, and are built to last a lifetime.

 

There are several considerations to maximize comfort and your budget. You want to stay dry, keep warm if it’s chilly, or cool on summer nights. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation, and mesh screening to keep out insects. A 3-season tent should work well for new campers.

The days of camping in an A-frame canvas tent are long over. Those quaint Civil War era tents may be cute but were chilly and damp, smelled of mildew, and ignored the fact that nice weather might include insects.

Today’s tents are cozy, comfortable, and waterproof and can be found for $200.00 or less. Shop at an outdoor or discount store, talk to the salespeople, and read the packages. Hopefully, tents will be set up on display so you can get a good first-hand look and maybe crawl inside to see how it feels.

A 2-person tent may feel cramped and claustrophobic with no room to stow equipment. Splurge on a 3 or 4 person tent so there will be room to stretch out and be comfortable. If you’re stuck inside a tent during a rainstorm, you’ll want a little breathing space. If you’re camping as a group, you may want a large tent and a smaller 2-person tent.

Remember that the size of the tent will dictate its weight. A large tent is obviously heavier than a small tent.

Check the directions for ease of set-up. The new camper won’t want a complicated mess of poles and straps. The poles should be made of hi-strength aluminum or carbon fiber. Some tent manufacturers claim the tent won’t need staking but you want to stake a tent in case of wind or storms.

Make sure the tent is waterproof and has a large rain fly. A small porch or overhang in front help keep rain and debris out of the tent and is a good place to pause and remove your shoes so you don’t bring dirt inside.

 

The front flaps should fold back and tie with an inside zippered screen for warm weather. Many tents, even small ones, offer screened windows and a top vent for air circulation. A nice tent has pockets for the storage of small items. You may want to keep a flashlight handy.

Before your initial camping trip, set up the tent at home for practice and to make sure all the pieces have been included in the package. If you are taking children along on your trip, have a backyard camp out so they feel comfortable and secure in the tent.

Remember, never eat or drink in the tent, even in your own back yard. The smell of food attracts insects and wildlife even after the food is long gone.

 Do not smoke inside a tent or pitch a tent near the fire.

Try to arrive at your camp sit early so that you have plenty of daylight to pitch the tent and attend to your equipment.

Shopping for a tent will be fun. A tent is your home away from home

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