Tents are a basic and important part of the camping experience and the outdoor life.  Although they are not completely necessary they can make a camping experience much more comfortable and allow privacy in busy campsites.  On one backpacking trip I learned just how much I valued tents and the shelter they provide.  The group I was with decided we didn’t need a tent so that our backpacks could be lighter.  It is something we ended up regretting when we woke up with a bear standing over us!  I’ve also camped in wet and rainy weather and was happy to have something keeping the water out.

The number one concern for most campers is finding cheap tents or in, other words, a high quality tent at a low price.   Obviously you don’t want to wake up in the middle of the great outdoors with a tent falling on you or with water from an unexpected rain storm coming in.  We also want to find camping tents that will last for many years.  So keeping that in mind here’s some questions to ask yourself first before purchasing something you might end up regretting.

What questions should you ask when looking for a  cheap tent? 

How much it will it cost?

I think this one is pretty obvious and I just briefly went over it.  Camping should be a great and inexpensive way to vacation with friends, family and sometimes as even ourselves if we want to venture out as a solo camper.  I think often times when we think we want something cheap we aren’t thinking about the over all extent of how long it is going to last and how long we are going to use it.  I know I often find myself buying something because it is really cheap and I need it right than and than it breaks after a couple of uses and I have to go back and replace it.  In the long run my costs were more because instead of buying something that was going to last I bought something based on price alone.  Cheap tents are no longer cheap if you have to get a new one for every camping trip.

When you think about spending money on your tent.  Don’t just think what the cost is for the next time you go camping.  Think about how much the tent is costing based on all the times it will be used.  If your getting a tent for boy scouts or girl scouts your tent might get a ton of use over the years especially if you have more than one kid.  So it isn’t just how much it costs right at the exact second you buy but how much it costs divided by all the times it is going to be used.

How many people will fit in the tent?

This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourselves and if you are new to camping or a casual camper you might not know what to expect.  When a company makes and packages a tent they almost always say it is ___ Man Tent.  You can fill in the blank.  It count be a 4 man tent or 2 man tent, maybe even a 10 man tent.  While it gives you a great starting point it often is inaccurate.  Not everyone that camps is the same size or weight. 

Here’s another point to consider that the tent manufacturer might not be.  How much stuff are you bringing and do you want it inside the tent?  Now some people are minimalists and they bring just the bare necessities with them.  I admire that but I am definitely not one of them.  I feel like I need to bring anything I need, might need, want or might want wherever I go which is the opposite end of the spectrum.  Most likely you are somewhere between and you probably know where you fall in the spectrum of how much you want to bring camping.  Just make sure you have an idea and realize that if you get a 4 man tent and have exactly 4 people sleeping in it you aren’t going to have very much extra space if any. 

Solo campers will find some great 1 man tent options.  These try to minimize weight while still giving you a lot of protection from bugs and bad weather. You can also look at tents like a bivy tent that definitely minimizes the amount of space you will need.

A lot of people also like their simple comforts of home like an air mattress or air bed.  This is great and I highly recommend it but these items take up a lot of space!  Think about it if you ever use one just for guests spending the night at your house.  They can take up any extra space that is in the room you put the air mattress so imagine now adding it in a camping tent that is much smaller than the room in your house.

How are you getting to the campsite?

New campers will be wondering why it matters how you plan on getting to your campsite.  The fact is this is extremely important!  You can have lightweight tents or really heavy tents.  When you have a campsite that you can drive right up to, get out of the car, and throw your stuff on the ground or maybe walk 10 yards it won’t really matter how much your tent for camping weighs.  However, if you are hiking and plan on backpacking into a tent site you are going to have a rude awakening if you want to use a 45 pound cabin tent.  Of course, you can distribute the weight amongst different campers if you make sure you don’t lose any parts and the instructions.  Sometimes tent companies make it easy for you by packaging a tent with a couple of bags.  One for tent poles, one for the outside covering, the rain fly or whatever.  But even if you can distribute this weight you will be bringing food, clothes and other things that will take up a lot of space and will have their own weights.  So remember to factor in how much the camping tent or backpacking tent weighs and how you will be getting it to your campsite before buying it.

Can I get a used tent?

The answer to this question is yes, you can get a used tent.  I would advise that you be extremely cautious if you do so.  You can find tents on ebay or at yard sales used but they aren’t going to be in the condition of a new tent.  You never know how the previous owner treated it and took care of it.  Some rips and holes can be so tiny that when you look it over really quick you aren’t going to see it.  In fact, a lot of times you might not see a problem area until you are camping in the rain and you wake up soaking wet in the middle of the night. 

Another problem with used tents is that some of the parts might be missing.  Most tents are pretty simple.  You have tent poles, tent stakes and some material on the outside and hopefully a good rain fly and tent footprint. You can always replace these things if they are missing but sometimes you need a very specific part that isn’t as easy to find.  When you buy a tent on ebay they might not to disclose the information.  Of course, new tents are some times defective too but you are much more likely to get a good reliable tent when you buy it new than when you buy it used.

You might be thinking, “well I don’t camp very often or I’ve never been camping before.  I don’t want to spend money on a tent when I don’t know what I want yet.”  This is perfectly fine and a great attitude.  You shouldn’t rush and purchase something when you aren’t sure what you want or need.  I recommend asking around and seeing if friends or family members have a tent you can borrow.  If they do great you can test it out and see what you like and don’t like about a particular tent or style.  Than instead of buying the tent you will have just borrowed one to help you make an informed decision when you do go to purchase one. 

How easy is it to set up?

Different camping tents are going to be easier to set up than others.  Large cabin tents are that have lots of tent poles are going to be harder to set up than a light weight 1 man backpacking tent.  Most tents are fairly simple  to set up though even if they are big especially when they have the nice shock-corded poles. 

The best way to prepare for your upcoming camping trip is to set up your tent at home in your backyard.  This way you can guage how long it will take to set it up and if there are certain aspects that cause your problems.  You should always this with a new tent.  It will be even more important if you go to pitch your tent in bad weather.  You don’t want to be figuring out how to set it up in the middle of a downpour.

What type of material is it made out of?

Tents are made out of many things including canvas, nylon, and polyester.  Canvas tents have been around for a long time yet as been able to endure.  Different materials have different pros and cons associated with each.  Some make conditions muggy and hot.  Others can block UV rays helping protect the fabric your tent is made out of.

Where can I buy cheap tents?

A lot of places sell tents cheap.  You can find them at just about any superstore, sporting goods store or outdoor store.  We’ve devoted a whole article to where to buy a tent cheap if you need more help.

What season tent do I need?

Most tents can be categorized as a 3 season tent or a 4 season tent.  3 season tents are usually sufficient for campers who don’t plan on camping in wintery conditions or in snow.  However, if you plan on doing some winter camping or know you will be facing extreme weather conditions 4 season tents will be the type of tent you want to find since they are built with these conditions in mind.

Do I need to buy anything else with the tent?

This depends on each individual tent and also on whether you are talking about ways to keep you dry or just tent accessories.  Most camping tents come with a tent rain fly and footprint.  A rain fly is a covering that goes over the top and shields the main structure against the rain, like an umbrella does.  The important thing with a rain fly is that it needs to cover the whole tent not just the very top.  The footprint is a simple ground covering that goes underneath the tent and helps prevent water in the ground from getting absorbed into the bottom of your tent.  You can even use a tarp if you have one but you want to make sure it doesn’t extend out from the edges of the tent.  It needs to be smaller otherwise the water will build up on the tarp and make a nice place for water to collect and slide back under the tent.  So depending on the tent you get will depend on whether or not those two features are adequate.

As for other accessories for your tent there are plenty of options and they generally are a matter of preference.  If you get hot easily and are worried about poor tent ventilation get a tent fan.  On the other hand, if you get really cold you can get a tent heater.  You should also get a camping lantern or tent light so that you can see at night instead of just using a flashlight.  Tent awnings and screens are also accessories that many people like to have.  Of course, a camping pad, camping bed or air mattress will also improve your camping experience and I highly recommend getting one so that you don’t have to wake up sore after sleeping on the hard ground. 

As you can see there is a lot to consider when buying a tent!  This site hopes to answer these questions even more for you and help you find cheap tents that are the best for you.

If you want some help finding a great tent, check out our post about the most popular camping tents, camping beds, and camping accessories that you can get from Amazon. It is a great starting point for your hunt for the perfect tent.