Why The Shape Of Your Tent Can Make A Big Difference To Your Camping Experience

Back in the good old days, tents were all similar in design. They had a pole at each end and maybe sometimes a cross pole called a ridge holding up a tent-shaped roof.

Now we have tents in various sizes from a dome, tunnel, cabin or a trailor tent. They are all different and have their advantages and disadvantages.

Dome. In the UK and Europe the most popular form of tent is the 'dome', this is because they have big opening doors to the side and the ends which brings the outside inside. They can also accommodate a large indoor area, some sleeping up to twelve people.Tunnel.Tunnel tents use the same D'-shaped frames which is made up of a flexible pole with a strong strap. Tunnel tents tend to be quite sprawled out and not very nice on the eye, but they are easy to erect and again like the dome tent can accommodate lots of people. They are generally tallest at the centre and gradually get smaller as they move out. If tall it may not be suited for you.Cabin tent.This style of tent originated in America and is their most popular tent design used. This is due to large rigid poles making the tent a big square frame. They offer lots of headroom and space, but they use a rigid pole structure which to their disadvantage they are heavier compared to a dome or tunnel tent. They can take some time to put up and it is not a one man job, but they are very stable when erected. Do not worry they are not only available in America but have become very popular in the UK and Europe due to their size.Trailer tent.You could say this is the luxurious end of camping. They are called trailer tents as most of the walls are made from canvas. The fabric is pegged in exactly the same way that you erect a frame tent. When you see them on a campsite it can be difficult to tell if it is a trailer tent or a frame tent. Trailer tents are generally better suited for couples going on a camping trips rather than families as they limited with space. I think a family of four would find it rather claustrophobic.

There is so much choice now when choosing a tent, I would recommend that you visit some camping specialist so you can get a good feel for the various types of tents available, you can never tell just by looking at the pictures. You wouldn't buy a car without looking at the model now would you?

This article has been viewed 27 time(s).
Article Submitted On: November 10, 2010

View the original article here