How to Choose a Tent

Laura: So I need to buy tent and many of you like out there I have so many questions to ask about various kind of tents but I just do not know quite specifics I need to focus in. I know somebody who has the answer to that—hey you come on over here! Let us go up, so I need to know the absolute fundamentals when buying a tent Dick: Okay. Laura: What do I need to know? Dick: There are four of them, number one is size, number two is the structural form, number three is the weight and the other one is the bulk, because if you carrying it the car that is one thing, or on a horse, but if you get it at your back weight and bulk became extremely important. Laura Right Dick: So know here, we are looking structurally a form called an A frame and you can see that from the way the poles go here. It is very rugged tent, it is traditional and much less expensive to produce than many of the more current forms. So, it is still on the market, a still good adequate tent Laura Okay, now this on the ground Dick: Right Laura What is that? Dick: That is a fly and if you just help me put that on, I point out to you here first, this is breathable material which of course with soak through with the rain, so the fly which is water proof solves that problem and then it also, when it is latch in place, gives you an air space between the fly and the tent itself which then keeps it warmer when it is cold, keeps cooler when it is warm. Laura: That is great! But there is other kinds of tents other than the A frame? Dick: Absolutely Laura Okay, can we go check those out? Dick: Yes. Laura: Okay. Dick: Now Laura, in terms of size, structure, weight and bulk we are looking everything here is minimal. Structure as you can see is like a cocoon it is supported by two simples bows which of course collapse to form a very small package. This is a tent for somebody like alone cyclist, maybe a climber, maybe somebody going up hunting high in the mountains, looking for absolute minimum in everything, it has a fly that goes with it to give you final protection from cold, wind, rain, snow, whatever it maybe. And when you break it down, it is goes into a package about that big, weight is about a pound and a half and almost put your back pack, but I got something a little bit more luxurious to show you. Laura: This is huge, Dick. Wow! Dick: Right it is very roomy but lets take a look the room that we are in right here which is best of you we were store gear, dirty boots and cook it in when weather is bad. So that adds a lot to this interior phase which can be a very luxurious—two man tent or a three person tent. The other things we are going to talk about when we get outside or we can see them a little better Laura: Okay. Dick: Okay Laura, follow we going take a look at the structure of this tent and see what kind the advantages it might have. Now the best of you that we mention before is a place for wet clothes, dirty boots, gear or cooking in when the weather is really lousy. Laura: Okay Dick: Now here we are looking at the structure, you can see how the frames defines the six sides to this hexagonal dome Laura: Yeah Laura: And the dome also spills wind very well and carry snow load very well, so that for three to four season-tent, you have some serious advantages here Laura: Right okay, so in summary then we got four main areas that we should be looking at where questioning the purchase of a tent. Dick: Right Laura: The size, which is … Dick: Well for two men, three men, four men and how much space you want when you are in there Laura: Okay right, structure … Dick: And of course we look to the A frame first, going from that, to hexagonal structure with the advantages that they offer. Laura Okay weight … Dick: And weight again of course depends on whether it is going to be on your back or is going to be horse, on the canoe, in the car. Laura: And the last one … bulk. Dick: Bulk. And so, again if it in your pack, you want a minimal size. In the other situations, it is not that important Laura: Right. So it seems to me like I got a lot my questions answer, I hope you have too, I am off to buy my tent now Dick: Al right lets go. Laura: Come with me? Dick: Yes.