I have written a number of articles on the enjoyment that camping can bring to a fun filled family vacation weekend. I think it brings a family closer together and really gets you in touch with the environment.
Ok so it won't make you go hug trees or anything but being outdoors and just taking it all in is really enjoyable. If you have ever gone camping then you know what I am talking about.
Enough with that let's get down to what we really wanted to discuss and that is the tent you are going to buy to use and sleep in. As I am sure you are aware there are so many brand names and varieties to choose from these days. Most are pretty good but really anything that says Coleman on it is sure to be quality. Ozark is a generic brand that is made specifically for Wal-mart and I believe Greatland is Target's version.
Regardless of which ever you choose they are sure to be adequate so you need to focus in on your needs. The first question is how big should it be? That is determined by the number of people that will be sleeping in it. If the tent says it sleeps four chances are it only sleeps two adults. So count on buying a tent that says it sleeps more than what you really need. The rule of thumb that I use is this, if you are looking for a tent that sleeps four, then add two to your number and buy a tent that sleeps six. This will guarantee you the room that you need.
Along the lines with sleeping room, what about height? Most tents are very short meaning it is uncomfortable to change in but lately they have been making more and more tents that you can stand up in. I own a tent that you can stand up in, but then again I am fairly tall and hate to hunch over when I change. The choice is yours.
Another thing to look for is ease of use in setting up. If the tent is of any type of dome construction it will be easy to set up and can be done rather quickly which is important if you arrive and it starts to rain. Although tents that are not of dome variety have other amenities that make it more attractive to buy such as more side room, keep in mind there are more steps to erecting the tent.
There are also other features on tents that could sway your decision if you are having trouble deciding between a few of them, such as smaller zippered windows that give you access to the outside of the tent, a see through roof top to look at the stars from within your tent to name just a couple. Again it all depends on what you really want.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what is involved in tent shopping and what is available to you, the best thing to do is go hit the stores and see what they have available and which tents are in your price range.
