Tents have been there since biblical times; it is surprising but true! For the past 5000 years in human history, people sought shelter in tents. However, types of tents have moved on leaps and bounds since then. And, gone are the days when a few handfuls of designs were available in tents, as today there are different types of tents designed for a specific purpose and come in varied shapes, sizes, and features.
Now you don’t need to place a centre pole, spread a breathable fabric over it and stake all its corners with heavy wooden sticks for pitching a tent. Neither you need a team of helpers and a 100-page instruction manual to set up a tent. These days you get instant, fast pitching tents that are easy to install/ uninstall and easy to carry.
So, when you are on the lookout for tents for sale, you will find loads and types of tents, but obviously, all of them would not be suitable for your needs. Therefore, before you step out, take a few minutes and read on, as this article talks about the most popular types of tents on offer.
Five Types of Tents for Camping
1. Dome tents
These are the most commonly found tents and are easily recognised by their curve pole structure. As such, dome tents do not need guylines or stakes to stay up; just two poles cross over each other and make a free-standing structure. Their dome shape allows the wind to move over the tent quickly and rainwater to fall off instead of pooling on the top. For this reason, dome tents are often considered an ideal choice in bad weather.
2. A-Frame Tent
As the name suggests, these tents, when pitched, look like the letter ‘A’. However, they are popular as ridge tents as well. They comprise at least two poles at either end of the tent, and a centre ridgeline pole connects these. Meanwhile, these tents are easy to pitch and are the most suitable choice for people going for fixed camping.
3. Family Tents/ Cabin Tents
Cabin tents, popularly known as family tents, often come with internal dividers separating the space into rooms. These are very spacious and offer a lot of headroom as they have vertical (or almost vertical) walls, unlike A-frame tents. So, when going camping with a group of people or your family, you can go for cabin tents, as they are the best bet for you.
4. Pop Up Tents
Yes, you probably guessed it right! These are the tents that can be pitched instantly. In New Zealand, Pop up tents come with one or two flexible poles built into the tent fabric and keep coiled up. And the moment you uncoil your tent, it will pop up into its shape. Meanwhile, these tents are inexpensive, lightweight and are spacious too. So if you are going on summer camping with a small group of people and have limited space, a pop-up tent can be a great choice.
5. Geodesic Tents
Geodesic tents are dome tents with multiple crisscrossing poles. And these are considered the most stable tents available as they can withstand extreme weather and high winds. They are stronger, have greater stability and hence are more suited to camping out in extreme weather conditions and for winter camping.
Now that you have read about the five popular types of commonly available tents for sale, you will be able to decide which tent would best suit your needs and wants. Also, remember, even if you can afford to spend extravagantly on a tent, why should you when the best-quality tents are available online at the most affordable price?