Backpacking Tent Reviews for Newbies. A Guide on What to Look for in a Backpacking Tent
Summer is the best season of the year. It provides the opportunity to experience great adventures, especially for people who love the outdoors. You can choose to spend your day strolling at the beach or even go hiking.
For some, summer is the time of the year to go backpacking. Yes, backpacking has become a trend now not only to youngsters but also to adults who are in the prime of their lives.
If you are too stressed with work, a few days of backpacking will help you find inner peace and regain your balance to be able to come back home feeling a lot more refreshed and energized. Read on to find our guide on how to chose the best tent for your backpacking needs as well as our top recommendations for tents that fits on a backpacking camping trip.Use the links in the Contents section to jump ahead.
Contents:
Why Backpacking?
Today, most people are into backpacking because it provides the opportunity to have a well-deserved vacation without draining your bank account. It is both adventurous and exciting, making it the best vacation for people who want to escape the notorious and repetitive cycle of everyday life. To add to the low-cost travel, it is now becoming a trend for backpackers to bring their own backpacking tent.
Yes, backpacking tent is the best option if you want to experience the wilderness at its finest. To top it off, not only do you get the most genuine backpacking experience but you also save on lodging expenses on all your trips. There is no need to stress out in looking for a hotel where tourists flock, making it too crowded which eventually makes the vacation not as quiet and peaceful as you planned it to be. Having your own backpacking tent provides you peace of mind, knowing that no one can bother you while you rest under the moonlight.
Before you get excited on taking that backpacking trip, keep in mind that there are certain things you need to know first in order to successfully find the best backpacking tent that you will need to bring on your next backpacking adventure. If you are not familiar when it comes to choosing the right backpacking tent that will fit your needs, don’t get anxious because we have the information you need in order to successfully find the best backpacking tent, so keep reading on.
If you are eager to read our recommendations for tents, click here.
Backpacking Tent Basics
Weight – First thing you need know is the general weight requirement for a backpacking tent. Of course, you don’t want to be bringing an awfully heavy tent on your backpacking journey as this will strain your back and will prevent you from enjoying your trip. What you need to look for is a backpacking tent that generally weighs about 2.5 pounds. This is the recommended weight for a tent if you are planning to carry it on your own. However, if you are backpacking with a group, you will need a bigger tent that will weigh a lot heavier. There is nothing to worry because you can split the poles, tent, and rain fly among each backpacker so you don’t bear the entire tent on your own.
Price – Price is the second most important thing that you should consider when looking for your first ever backpacking tent. Remember, price does not necessarily define the sturdiness and quality of a backpacking tent. When in doubt, ask around. Don’t be afraid to ask the sales person or someone you personally know that is fond of backpacking tents to find out the cheapest and durable one that fits your budget. A typical backpacking tent that fits 2 persons would cost you about $19 to $59, depending on the brand and materials used.
Material – Next thing you should consider when buying a backpacking tent is the material. Nylon is probably the cheapest and most durable material for a backpacking tent. It is strong and has proper ventilation on the inside because of the gaps in in between the fibers of the tent. This, however, becomes a problem during rainy days because water can pass through the gaps of the woven fiber. Therefore, it is highly suggested to use coated nylon with polyurethane so that you keep yourself dry during heavy rains.
If you plan on backpacking during summer or to tropical destinations, backpacking tents made with polyester fabric is highly proposed as it blocks UV rays from the sun, keeping you cool inside the tent during the hottest days. For poles, the choices are endless. From aluminum to fiber glass, the options depend on how much you are willing to shed from your wallet. Poles made of fiber glass are more durable as compared to those made form aluminum, but keep in mind that it will also cost you more.
Size – You will also need to think about the size of the tent you want to purchase. Are you planning on backpacking alone or do you plan to bring that special someone with you? The sizes of backpacking tents differ, which makes it essential to choose the right size for you. You don’t want to sleep inside a cramped tent so you better check which ones would best fit your body type. If in doubt, go to your local camping/outdoor store and try going inside the tents that they have set-up in their store. This way you get a feel on how you can fit inside helping you decide if the size of the tent is just right for you.
Remember, you don’t have to compromise the quality of your sleep just because you are staying in a backpacking tent. There are many out there that provide space and comfort in the same way a regular room can.
Ease to Put Up – Another thing to look for is the ease of putting up your backpacking tent. This is an essential criteria for newbies in backpacking. You don’t want to end your tiring day getting even more stressed in putting up your tent for the night. Stay away from complicated backpacking tents and go for the freestanding ones. These freestanding backpacking tents are quite handy because you can just pitch them anywhere without having to follow complicated steps. Freestanding tents have a fixed pole system that can be pitched with relative ease. Some of them even have pre-attached poles that you can just extend and secure.
Doors – The doors on your backpack tent is also important, especially if you are to share your tent with a friend or loved one. If you plan to do so, a 2-door tent is important because it provides two separate entry and exit points for you and your friend. You don’t have to wait on each other because you can both have a separate door on your own. You can go in and out at your own convenience without disturbing the other person you are sharing your tent with.
Color – Lastly, carefully choose the color of your tent. You may think that this is not as important but it surely is. You don’t want to attract too much attention outdoors by pitching neon colored tents. It is always safe to go for earth colors like brown or gray, and even camouflage so you blend well with the outdoors. This will prevent the curiosity of wild animals because your tent blends well with the wilderness.
We also have a more thorough guide on how to chose a backpacking tent here
Now that you have an idea what to look for in your first backpacking tent, let me introduce you to some of the products available – from the cheapest to the most popular ones and even those that are used by the pros. Keep on reading on to find out.
Backpacking Tent Reviews
The Cheapest
The cheapest backpacking tent you can go for is the one sold by Vicona, which is available on Amazon. This is the most ultra-light backpacking tent, you can get for below 100$ (at the time of writing). It is quite a bargain because the poles are made of Shock-corded aluminum alloy, providing you with a flexible and sturdy frame that won’t let you down on windy days. The tent material is also made of polyester, which is also waterproof. Always look at your local conditions before venturing out. This backpacking tent is definitely a great buy because it can be used during rainy and summer days.
You won’t get stressed even if there was a sudden change in the weather because you are well-protected from the harshest weather.
Aside from the impeccable material used, the tent is quite spacious for a backpacker as it has a dimension of 6 x 4 x 5 feet (W x H x D).
It also has a large door for easier access inside and outside the tent as well as a double zipper for extra protection. This type of backpacking tent can typically fit 2 adults and a child without feeling too crowded.
Choose this tent if you are just starting out in your backpacking “career” and want an affordable option, a light weight and easy to set up tent with space for two adults.
Or check our Wildzilla Store for more details here.
The Most Popular and Highest Rated
Now, let’s talk about the most popular backpacking tent. So far, the one I can find in Amazon with the best rating is the Eureka! Timberline 2-tent. This is popular basically because it is a 3-season tent. This can withstand the occasional summer storm and gust of wind. The fabric is a combination of nylon and polyester, making it the best backpacking tent out there. If you are after a four-person tent, then you are in luck because the tent also comes in a family model with space for four persons.
There are great reviews about the Eureka tent because it has proven its dependability to the camping public since 1970. A lot of people are quite impressed with the Eureka tent due to its durability and comfort. Some even testified that it will last you a decade as long as it is properly taken care of.
It is not only lightweight but also spacious. The Eureka! Timberline is quite spacious (7′ 2″ by 5′ 3″ floor; 38 square foot area) and weighing in at a little more than five pounds (see illustration below). 
The strong feature of the Eureka! Timberline tent is that is can withstand a lot of rain, but keeps you ventilated because of the material and construction.
To sum up: This is more of an old fashioned tent – also; did you see the A-frame? So classic! – but made for duration and long time use. It’s a bit heavier than the average backpacking tent, but that is more than made up for by sturdyness and practical use.
Or check or Wildzilla Store for more details about this particular, and very classical tent.
What Pros Recommend
If you are thinking about doing backpacking on a regular basis, it is essential that you look for backpacking tents that are recommended by the pros. This is because these types of tents can withstand the repetitive use over time and are dependable on all types of severe weather conditions.
Backpacking tents for the pros are quite expensive; that is why it is recommended that you spend a little more time in doing research to find out the best one that will fit not only your needs, as well as your budget.
A 4-season tent is suggested by the pros in backpacking because it fundamentally can stand the heat of the summer, the hardest rain, and the heaviest snow fall.
One of the best backpacking tent for pros is the Big Agnes Copper Spur Backpacking tent. Big Agnes is a popular brand when it comes to outdoor gears and accessories, which is probably why they offer the best backpacking tents. They are considered experts when it comes to creating the best backpacking tents for pros because they are knowledgeable when it comes to creating the tent that will fit the overall needs of a backpacker. Their Big Agnes – Copper Spur Backpacking Tent is so far the best reviewed tent for pros because it is lightweight at only 5 lbs. for the four person edition and spacious with a floor area of 28.3 ft2. The design is well thought out with a nod to the needs of being able to kneel and move around. The shape is not the classic A-shape, but a more domelike shape which is very resistant and streamlined. To set it up and pitch is quite a breeze, making it the best tent for serious backpackers and hikers alike. The only con for this Big Agnes is that it is quite expensive but given the durability, the price is quite acceptable. No tents from this brand comes cheap.
Or check more details in our little shop.
Final Word
Now that you have an idea on what to look for in a backpacking tent, the decision to find the one that suits your needs is now in the palm of your hands. Make sure to go for quality backpacking tents. Look around and check several backpacking tents so you can compare them, making it easier to choose which one fits you. It is also essential that you are well-aware on how to properly safekeep your backpacking tent in order to keep it in its prime condition and last for a longer time. Make sure you clean and dry it off before storing in a dry place because the fabric material will easily deteriorate when stored wet.
Everything you need to know about backpacking tents is now all covered. The only thing that you need to do now is choose the one that will best suit your needs and interest. Don’t just look at one or two tents, explore and get wild. There are infinite backpacking tents out on the market and one of them has your name on it. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and explore the beauty of backpacking today.
source http://www.wildzilla.com/blog/backpacking-tent-reviews-for-newbies-a-guide-on-what-to-look-for-in-a-backpacking-tent/
Comments
Post a Comment