Backpacking Tents and Mountain Tents - Introduction

As you increase the length of your outings, a tent will be your first priority. Choosing the best backpacking tents can be difficult. Let BackpackingForBeginners.net help you with your choice. Whether renting to test products, like tents and GPS units, or buying camping equipment we can help.

There's nothing quite like hiking into the wilderness and spending the night nestled under the stars with only nature's beauty to keep you company. While venturing into the woods, lightweight backpacking gear is an absolute necessity, as it is specially made to be portable and lightweight, since the very last thing you'll want is a ten or fifteen pound tent weighing down on your back as you're trying to navigate through the terrain. A two person backpacking tent fits the bill for many situations.

For best comfort and portability, a 2 person backpacking tent should not be more than 6 lbs in weight. You will need a tent that folds into as small a size as possible, in order to leave space for the rest of your camping and personal gear. Aluminum poles instead of fiberglass are best for backpacking tents as they are not only lighter, but also stronger and less prone to bending over time.

If you'll be camping in warmer seasons or climates, check for the amount of mesh in the tent for providing ventilation. Also, the more mesh a tent has, the lighter it will be in weight, making it even easier to transport. A rain-fly with a vestibule area in front of the tent is another rather useful feature as it will not only keep the elements off the tent, but also give you an area to store gear if it's muddy or wet, as well as a place to cook if it's raining.

Mountain Tents

Mountain tents are more versatile than they sound and are becoming very popular for that reason, especially for those who go hiking in inclement weather. Mountain tents come in seasonal varieties so that they can be used across all four seasons, regardless of weather.

Mountain tents should feature sturdy clips along with pole sleeves to ensure the tent stays attached to the frame as securely as possible, as well as a "bathtub" design that keeps the seams from resting on the ground. Many mountain tents also have large, rounded entryways to make it easier to get in and out of the tent while wearing winter gear.

If you'll be hiking with your mountain tent or must carry it from place to place, you may want to choose a single-walled model to lighten the load as the double-walled variety is obviously heavier and a bit bulkier. For mountain tents that will be used while camping, opt for a lighter color to increase visibility and choose one with a canopy or rain-fly for adding extra space to the front of the tent either for storing gear or keeping things dry and out of the way. Although mountain tents are bulky, they are still considered lightweight backpacking gear in many instances.

MSR Skinny One Tent For Camping

MSR Skinny One Tent - Light one person tent. At first glance the MSR Skinny One Backpacking Tent might appear to be similar to a number of other one person tents on the market.

Sierra Designs Light Year 1 Tent

Sierra Designs Light Year 1 Tent - Great one person tent for tall people. Finding a good one person backpacking tent isn't all that hard. There are plenty to choose from, but many lack depth.

Different Types of Camp Tents And Bivouac Sacks

If your tent is not well ventilated, don't cook inside your tent. It can even spell death for you. Be sure the backpacking tent is well ventilated when you cook in it. Backpacking tents that compensate for such matters are tagged as vented for cooking.

Of course, there are many other types of tents other than mountain tents and hiking tents, and these will be introduced in further articles.

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Solo backpacking - Tips on choosing a solo backpacking tent.

Outfitting yourself for backpacking takes a different outlook if you are planning to be alone on most of your hikes. You don't have the luxury of letting the group carry some of the necessities. This article targets choosing the best backpacking tents. For more information visit BackpackingForBeginners.net.

When choosing a tent for solo backpacking there are several factors to take into consideration but I think that a couple of the main ones are size and weight. Ok so you want to find a lightweight backpacking tent simply because you have to carry it around with you all day long, so the lighter the better. But don't forget that you also have to sleep in it, often in conditions that are far from ideal e.g. wind, rain, snow, and anything else that the weather can throw at you.

There's no point in buying the smallest lightest tent possible only to find that there is no room to put all your gear, so it's left outside in the rain. On the other hand you do not want to be lugging around a heavy 2/3 man tent with you. A 3 person backpacking tent is definitely overkill for even an extended camping stay. Go here if you need more help selecting a tent.

Ok so you may think that taking a tarp and tent is a bit silly but it only adds slightly to your overall weight and its well worth it, and most people carry at least one walking pole on a hiking trip these days. Also if you are blessed with some fine weather you don't even need to put up your tent but just use your tarp on its own.
On my last backpacking trip around Dartmoor I was gone for 19 days and I had with me a small one man tent and this was absolutely fine for the type of trip I had planned, just stopping one night in any one place. But during the first week I had trouble with an old knee injury and had to find a campsite to stay for a few nights (something I try not to do as I prefer wild camping when possible.) This became very uncomfortable after a couple of nights as I found that instead of packing equipment away after each use it was easier to leave it in the tent, which soon became very cluttered, leaving less room for me and making the tent feel even smaller. So remember that an extra few ounces for a slightly larger tent can make all the difference when it comes to comfort. A lightweight backpacking tent still needs to be  the right size.

Sadly I suppose the biggest consideration when choosing backpacking tents is going to be the cost in some cases. All I can say is to buy the best backpacking tent you can with your budget and remember that you are buying something that hopefully you will have for a long time, so make sure that:

- It fits you
- You feel comfortable in it
- It's up to the job you want it for
- Lastly whatever tent you decide to buy in the end don't leave it in its bag at the back of the cupboard,

Then all you have to do is get it out, use it and enjoy it!

Lost Coast Solo Backpacking

I meet other backpacking parties as well as surfers that have setup camp there and are enjoying the long, steady breaks. I also meet the ranger I had talked to at the ranger station the day before. He is surprised I made there ahead of schedule.

Solo Backpacking And Hiking On Long Trails

Solo hiking isn't for everyone, but for those with the appropriate gear and experience, it can be a rewarding and intense experience. Here's how to stay safe, while also enjoying your backpacking trip.

Have You Ever Been Solo Backpacking?

Having done plenty of solo trips and lead a few trips, despite significant training in backcountry travel, medicine, rescue, and leadership, I'd much rather go alone and be responsible for my own health and safety than lead a group and spend most of the hike keeping their needs fulfilled.

Solo Backpacking Risks

But solo backpacking increases your risk level when you are in wilderness areas and you need to mitigate the consequences of hiking alone by taking some extra precautions in your trip preparation. The most important of these is writing down your itinerary and letting someone know when you expect to be at each location.

Mike Legg is a seasoned hiker with many years experience of solo backpacking in Europe. For more information on this or other aspects of backpacking go to http://www.buytryreview.com/category/backpacking

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