Tent Buying Guide - The Outdoor Gear Review

For those of you who are considering buying a tent, today we are going over some of the considerations that should be made before you make your purchase.

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[trustbuster]

Good video. Solid advice. A couple tips I would add:

(1) Camping gear is kind of like buying cars - generally only suckers play the list price. Things can be spectacularly discounted. If you have time and are willing to be patient and flexible on what you are willing to buy, you can score some great bargains when stuff goes on clearance, new models come out, etc.

(2) Generally, you should subtract 1 from whatever the listed capacity is. A 3 person tent should fit 2 people comfortably, a 2 person tent will be comfortable for 1 person, etc.

(3) Condensation is a major consideration when tent shopping. When you breathe, every breath is pumping moisture out into your tent all night long. That doesn't sound bad until you realize it is all being pumped into a very small, confined space. Moisture can condense inside the tent, soak everything and make you miserable, particularly if the outside air is already humid. Tents protect you from rain, bugs and wind. Your sleeping bag and sleeping pad keep you warm, not the tent. It is a common rookie mistake to button up your tent at night to try and stay warm. Instead, you want a tent that breathes well, so that moisture cannot build up inside the tent above the level of the dew point and soak everything. Some tents are much better than others at this. Double walled tents normally handle condensation better, but they add weight.

(4) 4 season tents aren't just for winter camping, they are also for high-altitude camping. If you have to make your shelter above the tree line, you are probably going to be facing wind loads that will strain all but the very best 3 season tents. Even summer camping at high elevations can be more like winter camping. I finally broke down and bought a 4 season tent after a few high altitude nights getting beat up in my 3 season tent. When the wind is blowing 30-40 all night with no trees around to break it up, you want a tent that was designed to take that kind of beating.

[bensondeluca]

I would love to see a video of your top 5 or so tents.

[mrpaulvitti]

One more thing you might want to consider is how the inner tent is connected to the outer tent (fly). In some tents these two are connected so they will go up together. This is important when pitching the tent in wet conditions as your inner tent will remain dry during pitching. With many brands, you will have to put these two up separately.

[TheWxwookie]

The one thing that should be mentioned is tent material. I explain the best the tents come in at least 3 major versions. Cheap: Colemans, Wenzel, Ozark Trail, Magellan Outdoors. They are fine tents, and generally cost close to $20 per person size. You have to seam seal yourself, water treatment with silicon spray every year. Most are single wall which means most likely not great ventilation and will probably condensate badly if used in a humid environment. 

The next version is Affordable tents. Like Eureka and Kelty tents. They come from the factory seamed sealed and pretreated with water proofing. Generally a better quality material and sewing. Generally aluminum poles and clips over sleeves in 3-season versions. These are somewhere around $70 for one-person framed bivy, to over $100 for 2-person or higher. Depending on size, I consider these to top out around $250-300 range. 

After that you have your premium or specialty tents. Ultra-light, 4-seasons, and generally better made tents. Over $300. For that, a person is paying for high-grade materials, and/or light-weight for back-packing, or heavier duty for 4-season (winter tents). 

I hope this helps some of your viewers. I will also post on Facebook. 

Great channel, informative videos, and always enjoy any dirt-time we can get.

[pkay]

Great video. This is SO subjective and that's why I always camp in my house. Thanks for the info.

[dabj]

Also get to know your tent.
Every tent had some flaws, especially the cheaper ones. Get to know them, work around them and modify them. I have spent many weeks of rain and thunderstorm in a <50€ tent but it took a couple trips to comfortable in it.

[shcmoly]

I recommend: 1. Full rain fly, you can always take it off or tie it up in good weather. Cheap tents only the rain fly & floor are waterproof & the fly tends to be tiny - the walls will leak in heavy rain and the "bathtub" floor becomes an actual bathtub  2. Aluminum poles, stronger & last longer but more $.  3. Size & weight, are you backpacking or car camping?   Thanks Luke, hope you & the family are doing well.

[davevalencia]

I love your channel. I really pay attention to details that you speak on when it comes to gear because being outdoors in the mountains and camping is also my passion. I'm new to backpacking and light weight gear but I've been buying some stuff that I like based on the reviews you give. Even if some of it is not reviewed by you I go for certain features in tents and things that I learned from you. I've mostly car camped most of my life but I really want to start backpacking and I'm gearing up for a short trip based on the type of products that you recommend. Thank you for sharing your insight because it makes a difference in how I'm spending my hand earned money for the gear that is right for each environment and length of trip. I like 2 person tents myself. I recently bought a kelty discovery trail 2. Lots of mesh and the fly steaks out to get ventilation and less condisation. Fly covers tent well with air flow under it. Taped seams. Looks quite water resistant but I'll probably seal the seams on the outside like I learned from you and spray with kiwi. Also have a eureka solitaire AL for light weight solo . Both from my local adventure store. Got a osprey volt 65 liter pack. Very nice front loading section just like loading and unloading a suitcase. Still adding gear each paycheck until I'm ready for a hike. But enjoying car camping in the meantime. Thanks again for all your help. Dave in the high Sierra mountain range north east California.

[Randylj]

I have a 7x7 NTK Colorado purchased on Amazon that I will use for occasional car camping and when I set it up last year, I loved the excellent construction. I just listened to your Ozark Trail Alert video and sadly there’s a 12 foot rectangular one set up by a camper here yesterday. It’s February and I certainly hope it will survive this next week’s scheduled storm. Thank You for sharing important information! 😊

[richardjones]

Lots of things to think about when purchasing a tent. I mostly base camp during hunting season up north in pretty cold weather. Most of the time I plan for a ten day hunt. It didn't make sense to be cooped up in a small tent for that amount of time so this year I bought a Hilleberg Saivo which will fit the bill quite well. Lots of room for me and protection from the elements and I can store all of my gear inside out of the damps. The Saivo is a three person, four season tent and weights in at heavy 12 pounds. I don't camp very far from my vehicle so it's not a killer to carry.

[greenbear]

One thing I always consider is what if I have to stay for an extended period of time in my shelter because of bad weather or maybe even being sick or injured. In that case I definitely want some room to be able to move around in. The saying that "One is none, two is one and three is two" becomes pertinent to me. 2 man 4 season tent, hammock, water proof bivy sack. Now I've got choice and backup just incase + increased levels of comfort options.

[TRV]

Nice review. Good info. I gave up tents years ago. I only use hammocks now. No footprint. All you need are two trees. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy & be safe.

[snowplow]

Luke, Please do a follow up video showing some of your favorite choices and how the design considerations discussed apply to each tent

[IsleofWightBushcraft]

I recently bought a vango mirage 200 just for myself. It's reasonably priced, weighs in at a fairly hefty 2.9 kilos, but man I spent a couple of really rough nights in it, gale force winds with torrential rain, I was quite worried, but that tent stood up to it and some. A great tent. I managed about 12 ks a day, I had 23 kilos on my back.

[sixstring]

Just bought a eureka solitare for an economical one person bivy for overnights in the fall based on your review and set up videos. Thanks Luke!

[alexwbanks]

I have 4 shelters/tents. Cheapo 8 person for car camping with the family. An old sierra designs 2 person back backing tent that I've had for about 17 years and it was great. I'm giving that to a friend since I got a new one. I'm doing long hikes now so I lightened my tent about 1.5 lbs from that Sierra Designs and got a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2. That thing is awesome! Just over 3 lbs and sets up in just about 3 minutes. My last one is my favorite, it just doesn't protect me from the mosquitoes.   That is a plain old tarp!

[jwc]

Good advice; I've been camped on top of a mountain in Pennsylvania; and during the night the site across from us had a crew pull in, just about dark,  Within a few minutes if their arrival a thunderstorm hit us with with a fury, heavy rain, lightning, high winds.  With sunrise came break in the storm.  I stepped out, being an early riser to start a pot of coffee.  I looked over at the other site and found two motorcycles, with four people huddled under a picnic table looking miserable.  The two couples using borrowed gear looked terrible.  I called our crew and had our ladies take their two girls over the facilities to get them hot showers and change cloths, while we got breakfast started and invited out new friends.  Nice young folks who were told by the 'friends' who lent them the gear, but never showed them how to use or set it up.  After breakfast, we gave them a hand and were able to set up the tent in a few minutes and show them short cuts we found.  The equipment they were lent was good, but they had now clue how to use the stove or lantern,  They even offered to pay us for our help.  We ended up making some good friends with those bikers.  The elects I hear d from them they had used what we taught them and were camping regularly and buying their own gear and we still exchange information on equipment that easily be packed on a motorcycle.  The equipment hs to suit birth eh skill level of the user as well as the situation they plan on using it in.  I've seen the result of a cheap 'Walmart' dome tent being used for for a winter camp with a snow load, it was;t pretty and I too hate having to make room in the tent snuggle with a dude who was too dumb to buy or bring the right gear.

[ronaldcobbley]

Luke I totally agree I would rather I had a good tent especially when there is bad weather

[Glyn]

Brilliant review this just found it must have missed if looking at your channel for while now

[Homeguyx]

I do car camping... I've got an Oztent RV3 and a ARB Swag. Both are great in extreme weather and I'll be doing lots of winter camping this year with both.