Saturday, December 14, 2013

What qualities and features should I look for when shopping for a tent?

large family camping tents
 on Big Agnes King Creek 4  4 Person Tent
large family camping tents image



Mrs.Fine


I love to camp, but my poor old tent has worn out and it is time to purchase a new one. There are alot more features available now, and I want to know which ones are worth the extra money, and which ones just add more weight to my gear. It was a little overwhelming shopping at the Bass Pro shop last weekend.

Also, where is the best place to find a good deal on these tents? I only have a family of four, so an extra large tent is not needed. Just one that is relativley simple to set up.

Thanks for your input!



Answer
First, get a name brand tent. Almost everyone I know who has purchased a tent from a discount store has had problems with it very soon. Not only is this bad economics but can ruin a camping trip.

The tent that is right for you will depend on your own use and priorities. If you are car camping, you will likely accept weight and volume to have a comfortable tent. If you are bike touring, you probably want as small a tent as you can get.

Here's a few things to consider:

Self supporting - The more self supporting a tent is, the less you have to rely on stakes, but the more likely it is to have more poles and more weight. A classic pup-tent for example is simple, has only basic center poles, but needs good ground to steak it down.

Ventilation - Very important if you will be in warm weather especially. I find that having cross ventilation (two opposite doors for example) give much better ventilation than the percent of the tent body that is netting. ( I find that if the netting is completely surrounded by the fly, you won't get much wind movement anyways)

Mosquito netting - get the smaller no seeum netting. It's helpful if you can adjust this and the door rainflies without having to open the tent door (thus letting all the bugs in)

Zipper - get one with a substantial zipper on the doors. This is a point of failure on many bargain brand tents.

In my outdoor program I purchase Eureka Timberline Tents which are the mainstays of many outdoor programs. I think they are one of the best values you will find in a tent. They are well built, have good zippers, have excellent cross ventilation and are easy to set up with poles that are unlikely to break. You can adjust the ventilation from inside the tent. They are great for most general needs, but would not be my choice for activities where light weight is needed such as bike touring or light-weight backpacking. They will make more noise than a dome tent in a wind. A good source is Campmore. They also stock spare parts such as poles should you ever need them. Personally, I find myself using this tent most of the time unless I'm in the wind or snow I use a Eureka dome tent, and if I want to go light, I use a small
Sierra Designs hoop tent instead.

Help preserve your tent by shaking or sweeping out all the debris each morning when you take it down. This will make the floor last much longer. If you are not overly concerned about weight, cut a plastic ground cloth to fit, which you can always leave out if you don't want it. (Campmore sells these very cheaply to fit the timberline)

P.S. - the Timberline has a 4-person version, but it is room for sleeping only. If you are car camping for long periods of time, you may want something more roomy for a family of four.

How much does it cost to camp in the campgrounds near lake wenatchee in Washington State?







My friends and I want to go camping in July and I need to know how much it costs to use a campground for a few days. There will be at least 8 of us maybe more. Do they charge per person? per night?


Answer
The park has 155 tent spaces, 42 utility sites, one dump station, seven restrooms and 16 showers. In addition, the park provides two ADA campsites. Call (509) 763-3101 for information.

The south campground (sites 1 through 100) has parking pads 30 to 40 feet in length, with only two pull-through sites. Larger RVs and fifth-wheelers should use the north campground (sites 101 through 197) which includes42 large pull-through utility sites.

Maximum tents: one family tent or up to two 2-3 man tents.Maximum vehicles: two per site (additional vehicles may park in overflow areas).

To reserve a campsite, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

From Nov. 15 through April 1, winter camping is allowed for tent and RV campers in a designated day-use area, adjacent to the beach. There are no hook-ups available. All north campground camping and trailer dump access are closed in the winter, but the south campground will remain open. A heated restroom and hot showers are located near the camping area.

Group Accommodations:

The park offers a group camp that accommodates 20 to 50 people. Only tent camping is allowed in the group camp. Fees vary with size of the group. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

Camping fees are usually $12 for 1st vehicle; $9 for 2nd vehicle. I would certainly call first and set a reservation as they fill up fast.




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