Choosing a Tent for a Late-Summer Camping Trip
By Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic
Camping is one of North America's most popular outdoor activities. And with only a few more weeks of summer left, it's time to head outside and pitch a tent! Here's what to look for to ensure you and your family stay warm and dry.
The first consideration is where you'll be using the tent. Will you be hiking to your campsite at the top of the peak? Then you'll want something lightweight. If you're more likely to drive up to the lake in your SUV to set up camp, you can sacrifice weight for space.
Three-season tents are suitable for most camping expeditions, but they don't hold up well under heavy snowfall.
We like freestanding tents. Yes, they have more poles than tunnel tents, but they are easier to set up and move around. They are also usually more spacious. Tents with guylines can be tough to pitch in unforgiving locales, like sandy beaches.
Be sure to set up the tent in the store to find out how easy or difficult it is to erect. Most outdoor supply shops will provide a space. And crawl inside to check out the living space. Most manufacturers measure capacity by how many people can sleep side by side, but they don't factor in baggage.
Check the ventilation. We like tents with windows or doors at both ends.
Aluminum poles are light, strong and durable. Carbon fiber poles are even tougher, but they are more expensive.
If you're camping in rainy territory, a rain fly is a must. Make sure it covers the entire tent so that the water drains off straight onto the ground, not onto the tent flaps.
Ripstop nylon that is polyurethane-coated repels water well. And check the seams. They should be taped for extra protection against leaks.
(Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic host The Shopping Bags. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
| 
)
