Decided To Go Camping

Author: Jay Crabb

You're a real man and all you need is a sleeping bag and a tent. Choosing a tent for camping is the first task for any camper. What type of weather conditions are you going to experience? Always be prepared for the worst, rain, wind, and cold. There are several size and shapes of tents available. Four season tents which will stand a lot of wind, rain and snow are much heavier than three season tents. They tend to have more poles than three season tents to help them withstand the weather. A three season tent should be sufficient for most campers. The style of tent you want may depend on how much backpacking you're going to do and where. If you're a pack backer you know to keep your load as light as possible. A tarp tent may be the one for you, or if you're camping in summer a lightweight warm weather tent may sufficient. If you're the type of camper who likes to "rough it" at a drive up base camp area then the weight of a tent will not be an issue for you. You will probably be more concerned with how many people will be sharing your tent. A two man tent will most likely be uncomfortable for two large adults and all their gear. Camping experts say that you should have at least 30 to 35 (Approx 4’x 8’) square feet of floor space per person. If you're traveling with young children you definitely want to look into a larger model of tent. You'll want a large area inside your tent, especially as you may experience some bad weather and have the children inside the tent for long periods of time. It would be nice if they had an area to play.
Your first camping gear does not have to be expensive. It is more important that it is durable and keeps you protected from all weather conditions. Bring a piece of ground cloth with you, a piece of plastic that goes under your tent. Tuck the edges neatly underneath the tent. The first thing you must consider when choosing the tent is the size the number of campers your tent is going to house.


Before you spend your hard earned money on a tent go to your neighborhood camping store where you can actually see the tents set up. Walk around in it. Lie in it. Stand up straight in it. Make sure that the tent you choose will meet all your camping requirements before you get to your campsite. How much effort you put into adequately planning your camping trip will determine how successful your trip will be. Though some of these tasks may seem unnecessary, the more you plan, the more fun you will have.