Tent Buying Guide for Family Camping

This tent buying guide will help answer all of your questions concerning what kind of tent to buy. We all know that tents are an essential piece of camping equipment and that they can be a little expensive. So you definitely want to be sure of yourself before you spend a lot of money. So read this guide before you buy that family camping tent.

Question #1 - How big does the tent need to be?

If it's just you and your spouse, then you obviously don't need to get a monster tent that's made for 8 people. On the other hand, if you're camping with the Brady Bunch, then you will need a larger tent.

Also, will you need to keep any campers separated? If so, there are tents that have two or three "rooms". These tents are divided into two or three separate living areas, and they are perfect if you want to keep girls in one room and boys in another, or parents in one room and kids in another.

Another thing to consider when deciding on the size of your tent is whether or not you plan on storing any gear inside the tent. If you want to keep the cooler and other items in the tent, then get a tent that's rated for 1 or 2 more people higher than you normally would. Some tents even have a separate "dining room". This is usually a screened-in area for eating and lounging.

Question #2 - Where will I be camping?

For the purposes of this tent buying guide, we will assume you are a family / car camper and not a backpacker. Choosing a backpacking tent is a little more difficult.

So, will you be camping in the Pacific Northwest that's notorious for rain? Or will you camp in a hot, arid place that is unlikely to see rain?

If you plan on camping in the rain or snow, then choose a tent that has a fly covering as much of the tent as possible. This limits ventilation, but it sure beats sleeping in a puddle.

If you don't plan on rain, then you can get by with a tent that has less coverage from the fly. The tent will "breathe" more and keep you cooler, but if it rains hard then you might get a little damp.

If you plan on camping in a wide variety of climates, then you can choose a tent that is a happy medium - a fly with good coverage that doesn't completely block ventilation.

Question #3 - How much can I afford?

This is the final piece of the puzzle for this tent buying guide. You probably already have an idea of how much you want to spend. And you should know that if you need an 8-person tent then you are probably going to spend more than if you just needed a 3-person tent.

If you decide you want to spend between $200 and $250, then you can already rule out all of the tents above that price range. Picking a price range will allow you to narrow your search down. Since there are thousands of tents out there this will help reduce your choices to a managable level. Be patient, and stick with it until you find a tent that meets all of your needs - the right size, the right style, and the right price.

Bonus Tent-Buying-Guide Tip - The following tip is from one of our readers, Eric H. Thanks Eric!

Having been in the Scouting organization for almost 2 decades, believe me, when the tent label says two people, then that is it - forget the gear for a large part. If you want to store your gear in the tent as well, then doubling the size is a good rule of thumb. Then there is enough spare room. Secondly, if you plan to do more than just fair weather camping, make sure the tent comes with a fly that goes right to the ground or can be pegged that low, as the wind will whip up under the fly and the chill will be quite noticeable.