Camping Tents

Camping has long been a tradition of many families and groups of friends, where the destination is less important than the very act of being together out in nature. For some, tents are dismissed in lieu of RVs or campers, which are thought to be much roomier and more comfortable, especially when trying to accomodate an entire family. What many people may not realize, however, is that there are a multitude of tents on the market that range in size, some of which are made specifically for multiple campers. Simply look at how many people each tent is intended for, and you will find that they are made to shelter anywhere from two people all the way up to eight or more! Of course you want to make sure that each person has a little bit of elbow room while inside of the tent, so as an example if your family consists of five people, you may want to consider purchasing an eight person tent to ensure everyones' comfort. There are even dome tents which offer slightly more floor space.

A common misconception about family-sized tents is that they are not durable and prone to rips and tears, and that the possibility of leaks during rain and bug infestation is greater. In actuality, however, most family tents manufactured today have been designed to withstand the elements and provide added protection from insects. Tents with thicker screens, double-stitched seams and reinforced grommets will prove to be much more durable than tents with wobbly poles or paper-thin fabrics. Make sure that the tent you are considering will meet the requirements of accomodating four to five people before purchasing it.

Family tents come in a variety of shapes in sizes, however the most popular consist of three basic shapes. The first is considered an "A-Frame", which is your typical triangle-shaped tent with a flat front and back. For a large family, this construction probably won't do, as the sloped peak offers minimal head room when standing up. Then there are "wall tents," which are boxier and have a slightly-peaked roof, and poles that support the ends and sometimes the middle. This type of tent proves to be better suited for large families, as there is much more space and often includes a "curtain" of sorts to divide the tent into seperate rooms for privacy.

But the best type of tent to consider for family camping is the "dome tent." With its aero-dynamic construction, dome tents are sturdier and more secure than any other type of tent on the market. They provide even more room than wall tents, and without the pole in the center you can often add on more rooms for extra personal space.