Robens tent buying guide - which tent is the right one for you?
Time to choose your perfect tent and these are the questions to ask:
- How many people will be sharing the tent?
- How will you be travelling with the tent?
- Where are you headed?
- How often will you have to take the tent down and re-erect it during your adventure?
- Will your tent be used a great deal?
- How many people will be sharing the tent?
- Manufacturers of trekking tents have agreed on a standard width of 55cm per person. Will that be enough, or do you want a more spacious tent? Naturally, a three-person tent offers two people considerably more space, so long as you don't mind coping with the greater volume and extra weight.
How will you be travelling with the tent?
While you are in a car, the size and weight of the tent package will not matter very much, but as soon as you try carrying it on your back, or on a bike, motorbike or canoe, the difference will become much more significant. With their boots and leathers, motorcyclists often need more storage space for their luggage than a person on foot. A lightweight tent will generally weigh between 1 and 2kg per person.
Where are you headed?
Some types of tent will suit you better than others, depending on where you are going and the climate. In bad weather areas, where you may need to erect your tent in the rain, having the poles on the outside means that it will stay dry inside. In hot weather, tents with openings at both ends are easier to air. Where the weather is generally good, a domed tent will usually be adequate, and if it is warm at night you may only need the inner tent. Domed tents are generally cheaper than tunnels.
How often will you have to take the tent down and re-erect it during your adventure? Will your tent be used a great deal?
Over a lengthy tour you may sometimes have to erect the tent in bad weather, in which case you will be better off choosing a tent with the poles outside. Fast and easy erection is also important. There are tents available with hooks that enable the poles to be fastened very quickly. If you will be using the tent in all weathers, a large porch can be very important. In poor weather it serves as your lounge as well as kitchen and dining room.
Once you have these answers clear in your mind, the following descriptions of the available designs and materials will help you decide which type of tent most closely meets your requirements.