CHOOSING THE RIGHT HIKING TENT

Hiker 1: “Let’s go hiking!”

Hiker 2: “Yes! But what about hiking gear?”

Hiker 1: …

Are you going on a hike? Wait a minute! I know you are excited to wander around the majestic slopes of wherever you are planning to visit but calm your horses first! Do not wander around the woods without going unprepared. Let's start our journey by planning your hiking and camping trip — from the gear and all the things you need to know for a pleasant and memorable expedition!

If you are here, we are guessing you are planning a hiking and camping trip. Well, if that is the case, you are on the right track! When we think about hiking, the first thing that comes to mind apart from the destination is our hiking gear, which includes hiking tents, tent poles, tent stakes, trekking poles, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and other outdoor equipment. We want to ensure that aside from having fun, we can have at ease along our trip. And speaking of which, there is no better way to feel safe when you are outside than knowing you have a protected shelter, such as a hiking tents, that will guard you at night, especially with inclement weather conditions such as cold environments and heavy rains. It will be our temporary home during our vacation, so it is a must that our tent should feel like an extension of our house where we can relax but with the views of mother nature. 

Wait, do not tell me that you do not have a hiking tent yet? Oops! How will you be able to saunter nature for days without it? You cannot call it a camping or hiking trip without a tent! And you do not wander around stores and pick a tent. Of course, it takes a whole lot more than that! But fret not. We are here to help you find the perfect tent for your camping trip. If you do not know where to start, we will guide you about what you need to know and consider before buying your next tent for your thrilling expedition!

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Hiking Tents

There are several things to consider before you buy a hiking tent; as we have said, it takes much more than just going to stores and picking a tent that suits your desired colour. We are here to help you figure out what are the things you need to keep in mind when buying a tent:

I. Capacity: The Total Number of People

First and foremost, define how many people will stay in a tent. Determining the number of occupants will make it easier for you to narrow down your tent options. If you are going out with a couple of people, then you should consider the space it will accumulate in your tent, including the backpacks and slumber bags. To give you an idea, the capacity represents the number of people that can accommodate in a hiking tent. Most tents are usually described using two numbers such as single-person tent, two person tent, three person tent or four person tent. Generally speaking tents are categorised to fit the number of people who will be using them.

Common sense tells us we would not want to lug along the unnecessary weight of a 3 man tent on your shoulders when you are hiking solo, unless you deliberately want more interior space. But as weight matters a lot during hiking, the capacity of the tent is an important factor to consider. If we are planning to go for a long walk, contemplate the weight of your tent first, as it may result in trials and tribulations. I mean, why would you bring such a large tent if you are the only one who will use it? We should consider this thoroughly as carrying a lot during a trip may cause derailing. Along with the tent, there are other things that we will also be bringing with us. So if you want to enjoy a long journey, pack light, hike light!  

The majority of hiking tents are usually categorised according to their size. The capacity of hiking tents tends to usually range from one to four people. Moreover, hiking tents usually have the capacity written in the name itself. 

For example, the Cloud Up 2 1.8kg Ultralight Hiking Tent has a capacity of two people clearly specified on it. This means that it is designed to accommodate only two people at once. Adding another person may cause problems since it is beyond the desired requirements. However, this one is also ideal for a person travelling alone if you are looking for extra space without carrying too heavy equipment.

There is no industry standard measurement that defines the measurements per person so the size of a two man or three man hiking tent can be different from brand to brand. That is why we also suggest looking for the specifications before purchasing the product to know the accurate size of the tent, making sure it is the right size you need. These tents need to be lightweight so they are usually packed tightly, the ultralight backpacking tent models like the lightweight tent above tend to be packed extra tightly. Always remember that if you are a lone traveller, packing light is crucial but the best option since it will help you preserve your energy and avoid causing any shoulder injury as you walk for miles.

II. Seasonality: Type of Tent According to Weather Conditions

This is where you ask yourself the question “In what season am I going to go to my hiking destination?”. A month or two before your trip, plan everything, including the weather condition, as this will help you decide on the proper tools you need to bring along with you. You may be able to bring the right tent size, but is it suitable for the weather you are about to embark on? Other than coming in different sizes, tents also come in different types:

Three Season Tents: This is by far the most popular choice and best backpacking tents among hikers when it comes to type. They are very lightweight tents and are designed to stand mild climate conditions during summer, fall, and spring. They seem to be a perfect tent for hiking. Unfortunately, this is different from the type of tent you need during extremely harsh weather conditions where heavy high winds and snow are our concern. But if you will go on months with clement weather, this one is ideal already. 

A great example of this three-season tent would be the Mongar - 2.3 Kg Ultralight Tent 15D, which is considered the best backpacking tent among other tents. It is a luxurious and spacious enough two-person tent with a three-season sufficient rating to provide comfort and protection to campers and hikers alike during windy weather, hail storm, and sandstorm. In addition, the double-layer fabric helps keep out the water during the rainy season.

Four Season Tents: These tents provide great weather resistance and purposefully contrived to withstand the harsh extreme weather conditions during winters such as strong winds and heavy snowfall but due to this they are muggier and have less ventilation. When compared to 3-Season hiking tents they have more poles, heavier fabrics, and the shape of a dome that can hold up against heavy winds plus not allow snow to collect on top of the tents. The Illumina X 1.55kg Ultralight Hiking Tent is one of our best sellers for ultralight hiking tents under 2 kilograms with a four-season rating. It is ideal for beginners and seasoned professionals who go hiking and camping despite any weather conditions, whether dry, snowy, or stormy. It is suitable even when trekking on a cold summit or outdoor tour during the summer.

III. Weight: The Cost of Less KG’s

When going on a hike, the lighter the weight, the better. Packing light will help you move freely. Since you are going on hiking, expect that walking for hours will take up a lot of stamina, and it is vital to do everything to preserve your energy. On the other hand, bringing heavy equipment you do not necessarily need may only cost you delays and disappointments later. So, practicality speaking, getting a new tent for your trip is better. Buying a new tent gives you a great opportunity to reduce your overall tent weight as over-time tents have gotten more advanced and will probably way less than 1.5 KG per person. Although it may not seem wrong to assume that a heavier tent generally means it will be sturdier, we need to remember that there are ultralight materials and designs today that are just as strong. Nowadays, establishments such as Novapro Sport use the most advanced tools to create a tent that can withstand any condition. But rest assured, these tents are just as sturdier as those you once had, but this time, they are lighter and easier to pick up.

Thus the tent’s seasonal rating is the best way to measure its sturdiness as the seasonal rating of the tent tells you in what bad weather conditions does the hiking tent serve you best. Since we plan to pack minimal and light, we must consider the weight of the tent we are about to bring and the seasonal rating it comes with. Here is what you need to look for when calculating the weight of your tent:

Minimum Trail Weight: This is the pure weight of the tent without ANY of its accessories. It is best used for comparisons because it allows you to know the exact weight of the tent if you were to just go hiking with the bare minimum accessories required to ensure the backpacking tent fulfills its purpose.

Weight: This is the weight of the tent with all of its accessories included. The weight you usually carry will be between this weight and the minimum trail weight. To give you a better understanding between trail weight and packed weight. In trail weight, we are talking about the importance of the tent body, rain fly, and poles alone. While for the packed weight refers basically to how much the entire tent package weighs, including the tent body, fly, stakes, poles, stuff sacks, guy lines, patch kits, and pole repair sleeves.

Packed Size: With accessories, you need to ensure that the pack is able to carry everything. This relates to the volume of the package, i.e. how much the package can contain. The volume that a pack can convey directly relates to how easy it is to carry. In the case that you are not able to bring everything in one pack, it is always viable to pack them into two separate packs. Let's say you handle the tent body while your partner takes the rainfly and poles. Doing this will make it much easier for you to fetch all the essentials for your trip.

Ultralight tents, as the name suggests, weigh even less. They are usually smaller, lacking in features or less sturdy which is compensated by more premium materials. If you want to maintain the same level of comfort as a regular tent you buy an ultralight tent that is one size bigger than the total number of people in your group. That will help you reduce the total amount of weight as well as ensure comfort. Just take a look at Cloud Up 2 - 1.58 Kg Ultralight Hiking Tent 20D which is ultralight and has the ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. It is exceptionally ultralight that can accommodate two-person while maintaining a light weight of just 1.4 kilograms with a total pack weight of 1.58 kilograms, excluding footprint. On top of that, it is a double-layer tent designed to withstand stormy weather! Or the Cloud Up 2 - 1.3 Kg Ultralight Hiking Tent 10D. Another ultralight hiking tent from Novapro Sports is spacious enough for a two-person, with extra space to store two backpacks and two sleeping bags in vestibules. The total packed weight only weighs 1.3 kilograms (talk about lightweight, this one is the best!), and it is compact enough to fit inside its gear storage bag.