WHAT KINDS OF TENTS SHOULD I GET?
Tents can be broken up into 3 categories at their most basic: backpacking tents, camping tents, and mountaineering tents.
If you have to hike any appreciable distance to your campsite, you should get a backpacking tent. Backpacking tents are made to be light enough to carry long distances (they should ideally weigh around 2 lbs per person) and compact enough to easily fit inside a pack.
If you are driving straight to your campsite, or setting up a basecamp, get a camping tent. Camping tents throw caution to the wind when it comes to weight, often coming in around 4-6 pounds or more—with large-capacity family camping tents weighing up to 20 lbs. They are designed with an emphasis on livable space and comfort.
If you are going on a high altitude mountaineering expedition, or planning on camping during the winter, get a mountaineering tent. Mountaineering tents are often single-walled (more on that below), lightweight, and designed to withstand high winds and snow-loading.
SHOULD I GET AN N-PERSON TENT?
This is the size of a tent at the surface level—how many people.
A good rule of thumb when shopping for tents is to go up one person to maximize your comfort: 1-person tents are usually tight for one person, 2-person tents are usually tight for 2, etc.
However, if you’re backpacking, and want to save as much weight as possible, then you should try to deal with the tight space. It’s all about striking a balance between space and weight.
HOW WILL I KNOW I HAVE ENOUGH SPACE IN MY TENT?
Taking a look at two tent specifications in particular is the best way to tell if you’ll have enough space: Peak height and floor area.
The peak height is the amount of height—measured in inches—that the tent has between the floor and its highest point. This, along with your height, is an important number to pay attention to in regards to livability. It denotes whether or not you’ll be able to sit up, crouch, or (in some cases) stand inside your tent.
The floor area of a tent is measured in square feet, and is easy enough to surmise from tent specifications online. If you’re at home, you can even measure out the same area as a tent and judge if it will be large enough for you to be comfortable in. If you’re taller, make sure you have around 2 extra feet in the tent lengthwise, so your head and feet don’t touch the ends of the tent—they’ll get wet with condensation overnight.
Remember, the best way to see if you’ll have enough space in a tent is set one up and get inside.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 3- AND 4-SEASON TENT?
A 3-season tent is best for mild conditions: spring, summer, and fall. They’re not suitable for winter camping. They are almost always double-walled tents.
The term ‘4-season’ is kind of a misnomer, because 4-season tents are really only suitable for cold weather camping—they aren’t very breathable, so you wouldn’t necessarily want to use them in warm weather. They are almost always single-walled tents.
WHAT'S THE WATERPROOF RATINGS
There is a standard rating test. Ratings are provided in millimetres. The most waterproof tents you’ll find will have a maximum rating of 10,000 mm. The lowest waterproof rating is 1,000 mm. When you’re choosing your tent, ensure you know what its rating is.
This waterproof rating is obtained using something called a hydrostatic head test. Be aware this rating is only a measure of resistance to water. It does not take into account the extra water problems introduced during extremely windy conditions with driven rain.