Choosing The Best Backpacking Tents
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.
Lightweight camping and hiking gear provides a greater degree of safety than traditional backpacking. With a lighter pack on, a hiker is much less likely to lose his balance and fall, or if he does, it is likely to be a much softer fall. Where a traditional backpacker might get caught in a storm like in the previous example, a lightweight backpacker would have a better chance at getting to shelter before it hit.
Some of the well known names in the backpacking and outdoors industry are: Patagonia, Gregory and Black Diamond design, which help the camping aficionado to find an ideal backpack, with side mesh pockets and zippered pockets to hold items that are needed throughout the trip such as water, snacks and first aid supplies. When planning longer stays, your choices in backpacking camping gear are even more important.
