How to Choose a Tent

The best tent is the one that fits how you camp. Answer four questions and the choice gets easy.

1. How will you get to camp?

On foot for several days	Backpacking tent under 2 kg: Aero UL
Short walk or bike	Durable dome: Trail 2 or 3
By car to a campsite	Family tunnel or inflatable tent: Family Tents
Road trip, different place every night	Rooftop tent
Staying put for a week or more	Bell tent

Tent capacity means sleeping bags side by side. For comfort, choose one size up: a 3-person tent for two adults, a 6-person tent for a family of four.

3-season tents handle spring to autumn, including heavy rain. Snow, winter storms and high mountains need a 4-season tent. More in 3-season vs 4-season.

Dome	Freestanding, stable, quick to pitch; less headroom at the edges
Tunnel	Most space for the weight; needs pegging and should face the wind end-on
Trekking pole / pyramid	Lightest; needs good pitching technique
Bell / tipi	Huge headroom, stove-friendly canvas; heavy

Hydrostatic head (mm): how much water pressure the fabric resists. 1,500 mm is waterproof in normal rain; 3,000 mm+ for heavy rain; floors need more because you kneel on them.
Denier (D): thread thickness. Lower is lighter, higher is more durable.
Nylon vs polyester vs cotton: nylon is lightest and strongest but stretches when wet; polyester does not sag and resists UV; cotton breathes best and is quiet, but is heavy and must be dried before storage.