The essential elements of the tent
A little vocabulary before you start:
- 1. The room: this is the space where you will sleep. It will therefore be necessary to choose it large enough to be comfortable (avoid that your feet touch the tip).
- 2. The double roof: this is the layer that serves as protection for the room. It protects you from external elements (rain, snow, wind …)
- 3. The apse: space located in front of the tent,sheltered by the double roof. It is usually used to protect bags, cook in case of bad weather.
- 4. The hoops: they will create the structure of the tent. The hoops are easily mounted and disassembled for easy storage.
- 5. Sardines: Metal elements that allow the mooring of the tent and the tension of the double roof.
- 6. Ventilation windows: facilitate air circulation and therefore prevent condensation.
- 7. Guy wires: cords that will stretch the tent to optimize wind resistance.
The different types of tents
There are tents of all sizes and very varied shapes, which makes it difficult to clearly define categories. However, they can be identified as follows:
Tents "Tarp"
These tents (or rather these "shelters") are composed of one or two straight stakes with a fine protection type "light tarpaulin". They are mainly used for a fast bivouac with favorable weather conditions,but also protect from fine rain. These tents are increasingly used by the MUL (Ultra Light Walk) movement, for their extreme lightness and quick assembly. Note that often, the 2 stakes are neither more nor less than the hiking sticks.
In the mountains, however, this type of tent is little used because protection against cold and wind is not ensured.
"Tunnel" tents
As the name suggests, these tents have the shape of a tunnel. One, two or three arches create the tubular pocket. These tents are not self-supporting, but have the advantage of being very light.
Tunnel tents are usually made for one or two people and they do not have a huge space. Sitting is often difficult, as the interior of the tent has little height.
The "dome" tents
Most of the tents on the market are "dome" tents.
Big advantage: their assembly is easy and they are self-supporting.
Protection against rain and wind is provided. The volume is quite large and these tents are therefore very comfortable. In the mountains, self-supporting "dome" tents are often the most suitable.
The "geodetic" tents
The so-called geodesic tents are nothing more and nothing less than "dome" tents to which additional hoops are added to increase stability and wind resistance.
Who says addition of material, often says greater weight. But this is the price of comfort and safety.
Besides these basic tent structures, there are a lot of hybrid tents that combine either of the above features. The goal is to mix the strengths of each of the structures used and therefore to arrive at a more robust construction.
The criteria for choosing a tent
Self-lift
The tent you are going to buy will be either "self-supporting" or "fixed". A tent called "freestanding" has the particularity of standing without sardines and guy wires.
Freestanding tents offer several advantages:
- You can move them to another location without having to disassemble and reassemble the tent.
- You can easily drain or dry them by positioning them upside down.
- you can put yourself in a place where the fixing of sardines is difficult (rocks, very fine sand)
Note that all tents, including the freestanding type, are generally anchored to the ground by sardines and guy wires, in particular to offer better stability to the wind.
The level of protection
Tents are characterized by their level of protection.
- The 4-season tents are designed to be used all year round and are able to withstand the heaviest snowstorms.
- The 3-season tents protect you from harsh conditions in summer, spring and autumn. However, they will not be able to protect you in harsh winter conditions.
- 2-season tents: perfect for use from late spring to early fall, but they are not designed for harsher conditions.
The capacity of the tent
On current models, tent manufacturers give an estimate of the exact number of people that the tent can accommodate. Beware of these optimistic estimates, because in most cases you will be tight. On our side, we are more adept at a comfort tent where we feel comfortable.
If you leave with three, take instead a tent with the indication "3+", this will allow you to be off and if necessary to keep your bags with you during the night. Of course, this choice is often made at the expense of weight.
Theapse (space in front of the tent, sheltered by the double roof) is also of extreme importance. This space will allow you to store your bags, your shoes (preferably packed in a plastic bag, you never know) or also to cook if the weather is awful. We therefore advise you to opt for a tent with an apse that offers a large volume.
The weight of the tent
One of the basic elements to take into account before buying a tent: weight. Unlike the classic campsite or a bike roaming, in the mountains you will carry your tent on your back! So prefer tents with a rather low weight, especially if you go hiking. Manufacturers have made great efforts on weight gain. You can even find on the market tents (for the lightest) at 1.5 kg for 2 people.
The lighter the tent, the more expensive it will be. It's up to you to find the best compromise for the use you make of it.
Wind stability
In the mountains, it is not uncommon to have difficult conditions (strong wind, squall). Your tent must therefore be able to withstand these conditions.
Ventilation / breathability
Condensation is a common problem. Tents with a double waterproof roof and a breathable bedroom provide better protection against condensation.
Ease of assembly
The effort required for assembly differs from one tent to another, especially in difficult conditions where this factor can be paramount. A tent long to climb with difficult handling often becomes an ordeal in the mountains.
The price
There are all kinds of prices for hiking/trek tents (from simple to fivefold). Make your choice according to your use and your means.