Best Type of Tent For Long Camping Trips

No...you are not rambling...your are babbling - Camping Babble! This is the place to do that kind of stuff - and it can be fun. Certainly it isn't going to cost you anything.
Your selection has to be based on your needs and what you can manage. All my equipment can be managed by one person [me]. True, it might take a tad longer, but I don't care. It is all part of the fun. And when it is all up then I can do what I want. That is what I like about solo camping. I can do what I want [well...err...maybe mostly - you know what I mean.]

 

At least there is no urgency in purchasing immediately and you have time to explore possibilities. My problem is wanting to buy another...and the reality is that I just don't need another tent. For one thing, I'm running out of storage space. Though I have to admit those British Outwell tents get the heart beating a bit faster. The designers have managed to give people like you and people like me exactly what we want. Sadly - they are really expensive, even for an equipment junkie like me.

 

It might be better to purchase a tent that can accommodate a cot, with mattress. That's what I do and I have a perfect nights sleep. And then I build take down furniture too. So I have a night table and such for comfort.

 

Yes...I do have one [three man] that I use for canoe trips and I like it. It is the only tent that I have that actually has an opening for wires [either for solar panels or electricity]. I'm not familiar with the one that you are describing. Could I ask where you plan to purchase this tent? I would like to take a look at it too.

 

I've had an opportunity to track this tent down and from the reviews that I read the majority of the folks who bought this tent were happy with the product. Like you say it is roomy, tall enough to stand comfortably and space to move around.

The one thing that I found intriguing is the price range - $115.00 to $316.16 for the same tent [these are U.S. prices]. I have learned to shop and compare and I insist on the lowest possible price for the article I want. Of course if you have a lot of money it doesn't make any difference. But I have a set budget so I search diligently. Half the battle is to know what you want - and it sounds like you have made a good decision.

 

Opps...I did it again. I answered my own reply that was intended for you. [Next]

 

The price is okay, compared to what I saw with other stores. It seems to be a good buy in that it would be one that will meet your needs. It's kinda of nice if you can locate a local store so you can see it up close. You can ask questions too. I didn't get a chance to explore a lot of the reviews but the ones that I did said that it was an okay product.

So...if you take the plunge are you gonna buy a cot and mattress too? It keeps you off the ground and nice and warm too. And if you take an occasional nap in the warmth of the afternoon - it's great.

 

I tend to be a restless sleeper so I purchased a military cot - perfect for me. True - when I tested it I took me a heck of a time to get it set up. Now that I know how to handle it things are fine. Cots are like tents - there are a lot of them, different designs and prices. Stay away from the ones that have gizmos and gadgets - you want strength, firmness and durability.

 

That is a good question. The answer is a good tent has ventilation openings for condensation - the wetness on the inside of a tent wall. This is caused primarily because of our breathing in an enclosed space. You can actually breath out as much as a pint or more into the atmosphere and it usually lands on the walls as condensation. THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. So...to prevent a build up or prevent the same ventilation pockets are built into the tent - especially the top. DO NOT TRY TO BLOCK THEM. They are designed for your safety. They are also designed for people who disregard warnings about using heating devices or want to cook in a tent. It is added security - though not always fool proof.

My suggestion is - if it comes with a full fly - put it on and leave it on. I wouldn't bother myself with the hassle.

I hope that this was helpful.

Some tents - the ones that I have - the openings are built in under a flap as you mentioned. On the Alaknaks the side vents are under a canopy as well as the ones at the top.

 

Selecting a camp cot is like selecting a bed. A good, even a medium priced cot, with not tip or fold up. [If you have set it up according to the instructions.] It would have to be really cheap. You need to consider the size too. We had a greenhorn come to camp once with a cot - a cheap special. First of all he was 6 foot 2 inches and it hadn't occurred to him to measure the width and the length. It turned out to be a kids bed.

Again - think of your needs. Read all the reviews and select one accordingly. THEN you need to think of what kind of mattress you will want. My rule of thumb is that I never buy plastic - ever. I have a sleeping bag insert over my mattress to provide extra warmth and softness.

As you can see I have an aversion to roughing it.