Table of Contents
- • Dome tents- Best for backpacking or car camping in all weather conditions
- • Cabin tents- Best for family or group camping
- • Tunnel tents- Best for camping in mild weather
- • Geodesic Tents- Best for Expeditions and camping in winter
- • Pop up tents- Best for beach camping and festivals
- • A-frame Tents- Best for ultralight backpacking
- Conclusion
There is a difference between the normal tents and family tents. Family tents come in when you require extra rooms that can carry more people and the kids. This comes at a cost, though, which means that you have to plan carefully. Family tents will be heavier, bulkier, and trickier to set up. All the same, they are very practical and they will work for large groups and families. In the past, there used to be 4 types of camping tents which include dome, A-frame, teepee, and tunnel tents. The design of tents has however come a very long way in the past decades. We are now breaking down these tents into different types depending on the setup or shape.
It is very crucial to know about the different tent types since that helps you to choose the best tent with a lot of rooms for your family. Some tents remain best suited for camping as compared to others. Again, some will have ample space which is one of the things that you will definitely have to consider when making that choice. Have a look at the options below:
• Dome tents- Best for backpacking or car camping in all weather conditions
These ones comprise 2 poles crossing over one another to form the tent structure. The pole ends go to the tent’s floor which creates a freestanding structure with no need for stakes to remain firm on the ground. You can also add a waterproof layer at the top to shield you from the rain. The good thing about these tents is that they are very easy to set up.
The shape of the tent makes the wind easily move over the tent. Water will similarly fall off the tent as opposed to accumulating at the top. This is the reason why some tents are not ideal for use during the bad weather. The disadvantage of this tent is the fact that the walls are curved. This implies that the ceiling height is also low in most parts of this tent.
• Cabin tents- Best for family or group camping
These tents have vertical or almost vertical walls. They will therefore resemble a cabin once they are set up. Since the walls are vertical, it simply means that the tent’s interior is spacious with plenty of headroom. These are the best tents for guys who wouldn’t wish to hunch over in their tent. The good thing about these tents is the fact that they come in different sizes which include family sizes. At times, they come with room dividers and some have several rooms.
The disadvantage of these tents is the fact that they are bulky and big. Their big footprint implies that you cannot just pitch them anywhere. Again, they are freestanding and will therefore require being well-staked out to keep them to the ground. They are therefore recommended for mild weather camping.
• Tunnel tents- Best for camping in mild weather
These ones are comprised of 2 or more curved poles which are connected by the fabric of the tent. The design of the pole is what creates a tunnel that has a consistent overhead height. Some of these tunnel tents have a large storage area in the middle with several rooms off to the side. The design of this tent however does not suit more than 6 users. If the number of campers is more than this, you will be forced to cram people into the tunnel’s end. This, therefore, means that you will have to crawl over one another when getting in and out.
Setting up this tent is pretty easy. However, they are not freestanding which means that you have to stake them out. If you are therefore camping in sandy soils, this tent might disappoint you. It is also not very resistant to strong winds which disqualify it for use during windy weather.
• Geodesic Tents- Best for Expeditions and camping in winter
This type of tent comes with several poles that overlap one another. This overlapping design is what creates a very stable structure. They are however not the most freestanding tents around. Given that they are round in shape, they will allow rain, snow, and wind to move over the tent. All the same, these tents come in other shapes as well. The only thing you might not like about these tents is the fact that their setup is a bit complicated. You can easily get confused by the crisscrossing poles.
• Pop up tents- Best for beach camping and festivals
These types of tents normally have 1 or 2 poles that have been built in the tent fabric. The poles are generally flexible and remain coiled up. Upon uncoiling this tent, it will pop into shape. We agree that these tents are very easy to set up. However, they come along with so many downsides. One of these downsides is the fact that they aren’t stable and will easily get blown away by the wind. The other disadvantage is that they come with a single layer which creates condensation.
These are not the tents that you carry with ease also. If you are also interested in tents that have storage features, this one is not your best bet. Even with all these downfalls, they are the best bets for beach camping in nice weather.
• A-frame Tents- Best for ultralight backpacking
You are familiar with these tents if you like cowboy movies. Their construction basically involves 2 poles (minimum) that support the rear and the front of the tent. These poles are basically connected by some center ridgeline pole. This, therefore, means that you will be having slanted walls. Even though these tents are more spacious, the headroom is not enough. They are also one-layer which means that condensation is likely to happen.
Conclusion
There you go! These are some of the tents you will find in the market. Here, we recommend the cabin tents as the best tents for family owing to the fact that they are spacious. You will therefore be able to have room for you and your kids if you will be carrying them with you.
Leave a Reply