THE MOST common tent being manufactured today is the dome tent. Countless numbers of these camping tents are churned out by factories in China and sold under various brand names to the rest of the world.
Prices and quality vary tremendously, and depend on the importer’s specifications. The overseas factories can turn out good or bad. It depends on their costs… How much they are being paid to make them, and how much markup is added before it gets sold to you and me.
So be sure to closely examine several tents yourself before making a decision to buy. Check the tent’s zippers, it’s seams, the corners and all the obvious stress points. And check out the quality of the poles that make up it’s frame. Fiberglass tent poles split apart very easily. Metal poles cost more, but they are an investment. A decent tent will last for many years, as long as you mend it when necessary and pack it away dry and clean.
Dome tents are a practical and efficient design. Modern materials mean they don’t weigh much, and their light fabric also means they take up minimum storage space when packed. A dome tent is comparably spacious and comfortable inside, and that’s why it is so popular.
The hemisphere shape of these domed camping shelters means that when you are camping out in a small dome tent, you can sit up without your head touching the roof… And when you’re in a larger dome tent, you can stand up as well.
The dome camping tent in this photograph is only half erected. It is a good quality one, even though it is probably made in China. The cheapest dome tents do not have an inner and outer part, just a breathable top ventilator with it’s own waterproof cover. They sell for $20 or so, and you certainly get what you pay for. I recommend you keep well clear of these shoddy items, because these really cheap tents will let you down when you need them most. Like in a rainstorm at three o’clock in the morning. Then see how you feel!
What you can see in this picture is actually the inner tent. You can see how it attaches to the frame. It allows an air flow through it’s insect screen door and windows, and the light white cloth allows the moisture from your breath and sweat to escape. It’s a bit like a screen tent, but has no sun or rain protection — yet. Once the waterproof fly sheet is thrown over the pole frame and secured, this dome tent will be an effective shelter from all the elements — wind, rain, excessive heat and even snow.
Securing your tent means not only anchoring the four or more corners at the base, but also tying rope guys (guy lines) to the top and sides and running them down to tent pegs driven firmly into the ground. This helps keep your ‘home’ from blowing away in the wind, and also steadies the walls against twisting and bending. And if the ground is too hard or rocky to hammer in tent pegs, you may have to tie down you tent corners to heavy rocks and stretch the guys from any nearby trees or a vehicle. Even walking sticks and ice-axes have been used to hold up small tents when nothing else was available.
Many old camping books would show a sketch of a Boy Scout or some other happy camper lying down happily with a hike tent or camping tarp strung between two trees. In reality, it is is often hard to find a suitable place with two convenient trees like that. Also remember that trees have roots, and roots make for hard and uneven ground for you to try and sleep on.
At one location where I go camping several times each year, we actually camp on a hard, compacted old driveway on a mountain. The ground is so hard that one of my friends brings a large battery powered electric drill with him so he can drill holes in the dirt for his metal tent stakes.
Any tent which can be used effectively in spring, summer and fall (the autumn) is called a 3-season tent. The best quality tent construction is seen in the 4-season tent because these are built to handle winter as well. Just about any tent, tarp or shelter will handle a balmy summer night — particularly if there is no wind or rain to worry you. But don’t forget the insects! If you don’t have a mosquito net to keep the bug away, then at least take along some insect repellent.