Weight
The total weight of the tent is including the frame and other accessories.
This parameter depends primarily on the purpose (see above), and after that — on seasonality, capacity, and additional functions. For example, in trekking and expedition models, the weight usually does not exceed
5 – 7.5 kg, and the lightest of these products can weigh
2 – 3 kg or even
less, while being full-fledged tents for 2 people or even more. However, for a trekking tent, such a small weight with a capacity of more than 2 people usually means that this model is designed exclusively for the summer. For most camping tents, the weight starts at 6 kg, although among them there are also quite light products — by
4 – 5 kg,
3 – 4 kg, or even less (in such cases, light weight can also mean a purely summer specialization). And the most capacious and/or multifunctional models can have a weight of
10 – 15 kg,
15 – 20 kg and even
more; in this weight category, you can mainly find tents, camping tents for many people and fishing tents for carp fishing (see "Destination").
When choosing a tent according to this indicator, it is worth considering that it does not always make sense to chase the maximum weight reduction. Yes, the
...light tent is the most convenient to carry; on the other hand, weight reduction inevitably affects one or several other characteristics at once. So, most often, lighter models are either more expensive or smaller in size and less roomy and functional than their heavier counterparts. And sometimes weight reduction also negatively affects the security (including moisture resistance) and the overall reliability of the product. Therefore, it makes sense to specifically look for the lightest tent possible in cases where weight reduction is of key importance; a typical example is long trips, in which all the equipment has to be carried “on oneself” for a long time. And even in such cases, it is worth remembering other important characteristics. For example, for use in late autumn, when frosts are likely, it is better to choose a heavier tent with winter seasonality than a light model that is not designed for winter conditions.Body shape
—
Hemisphere. Tents with a frame of two (sometimes more) crossed arches. The main advantage of such a case is good resistance to wind. On the other hand, the interior space of the hemispheres is relatively small.
—
Half -shell. In cross section, the semi-barrel has the shape of a half circle (or more or less similar), and its frame consists of several semicircular arcs arranged in parallel. This provides a good internal volume, but the wind resistance of this type of hull is lower than that of hemispheres (which, however, is not critical in conditions of plains and low mountains, where there are no storm winds).
—
Shatrovaya. In such a case, one rack is used, located in the middle, and the tent itself has the shape of a pyramid or cone. The advantage of tents is their high height, the disadvantage is the inconvenience due to the presence of a rack inside the living space and poor resistance to wind. This form is quite rare.
—
Double. The upper part of such a body is a rib, from which two sides of the awning (slopes) diverge at an angle. To create this shape, two internal supports are usually used at the ends of the tent. This design provides additional water resistance, because. the awning is located at a large angle to the drops falling from above; at the same time, due to the inconvenience created by the
...supports located inside, and a number of other features, such tents are very rare.
— Cube. A hull shape found only in fishing tents (see "Intended Use"). Almost all such models are intended for winter use and ice fishing. At the same time, some of them do not have a bottom or are equipped with a hole in the bottom, which allows you to install an awning directly above the hole; others are closed from all sides, including from below, and fishing is supposed to be through the opening. However, among the cubic tents there are also demi-season/summer models, including advanced solutions for carp fishing.Vestibule length
The length of the vestibule provided in the tent.
See above for more details on the vestibule. As for its dimensions, the length of the vestibule is measured along the same side along which the length of the entire tent is measured; and the width of this compartment usually corresponds to the overall width of the tent, and it does not need to be specified separately in the specifications. At the same time, we note that due to such measurement rules, the length of the vestibule is often less than its width; this is quite normal in this case.
The specific ratio between the dimensions of this compartment in different tents may be different. However, in general, a longer vestibule is usually larger and more capacious than a shorter one. When choosing, it should be taken into account that a large and spacious additional compartment increases overall comfort, but it significantly affects the price and weight of the tent (not to mention its overall dimensions). So when choosing for this parameter, it is worth considering the real conditions and features of the operation of the tent. We only note that in order to organize additional beds, it is worth paying attention to vestibules with a length of
at least 150 cm — usually, they can accommodate additional places at least across, and often along the tent.
Bedroom with partition
The presence of a removable or folding partition in the sleeping compartment of the tent. We emphasize that we are talking about a part that can be installed and removed at will; non-removable partitions are not taken into account in this case.
This function is found only in large roomy tents — for 4 people or more.
A bedroom with a partition allows, if necessary, to provide the inhabitants with some degree of isolation from each other; of course, there is no talk of complete privacy, but even such a symbolic separation can play an important role. For example, a tent can be divided into male and female halves, two married couples can be separated into a “separate room”, etc. And if the tent is not 100% full, one part of the sleeping compartment can be allocated, for example, as a warehouse for bulky equipment, or as a working room (such as a makeshift first-aid post). Similar options are available for tents with separate sleeping areas (see "Bedrooms"), but a baffle is more versatile and often cheaper than two completely separate compartments (although it does not provide the same degree of isolation as is the case with completely separate bedrooms).
Sleeping quarters
The number of separate sleeping quarters provided in the design of the tent. Note that for models with 1 bedroom, this parameter in our catalog may not be specified at all, but with a larger number of bedrooms, it must be indicated.
In this case, only the main compartments, originally intended for overnight stays and best isolated from the environment, are considered sleeping quarters. Vestibules (see above) are not taken into account in the calculation, even if the size of the vestibule allows organizing an additional bed (s) in it.
Most modern tents have one sleeping area — this allows you to minimize the size and weight, and in most cases does not cause any particular inconvenience. However, there are models that have more "bedrooms"; in some cases, it can reach 4. At the same time, we emphasize that we can talk about
separate sleeping areas only when each such zone is separated from the others by a vestibule or at least a solid non-removable wall. But a removable partition (see "Bedroom with a partition") in this case does not turn one sleeping compartment into two (although it does provide some degree of insulation).
Anyway, having several sleeping areas will be useful if people living in a tent need to be separated for one reason or another. For example, inside you can separate the "male" and "female" parts, in order to avoid ambiguous situations — or vice versa, provide married couples with their own
...sleeping quarters. There are other options for using tents for more than 1 bedroom — for example, one compartment can be allocated for storage for bulky equipment, or a first-aid post with a separate closed room for examinations and manipulations can be organized.Number of windows
Number
of windowsprovided by the design of the tent. Windows provide the penetration of natural light and relieve you of the need to use additional sources of lighting during daylight hours; in addition, when properly positioned, they allow you to inspect the area without leaving the tent.
Reinforced materials (impregnation)
— PU (polyurethane). A polyurethane (PU) coating is applied to the inside of the outer tent. The protective layer of polyurethane increases the moisture resistance of the tent, at the same time, the strength of the awning fabric also increases. The main advantage of polyurethane is the ability to reliably protect seam joints. However, polyurethane protection is not the most effective, besides, the presence increases the weight of the tent. The use of polyurethane protection alone is more typical for entry-level (low-cost) class tents. In good quality tents, PU coating is complemented by other types of protection, often polyurethane is used together with silicone (Si).
— Si (silicone). The outer tent fabric is impregnated with silicone (Si). Silicone significantly increases the moisture resistance of the tent. The fabric impregnated with silicone acquires elasticity, its strength characteristics increase. This type of protection is considered the most technologically advanced and functional. The tent itself is impregnated with silicone (from the outside), and sometimes a PU coating is additionally made from the inside for better water resistance. The main disadvantage is the inability to protect seam joints. For this reason, the seams in silicone impregnated tents are glued separately.
Water resistance of tent
An indicator that reflects the ability of the tent awning to withstand moisture without getting wet. It is expressed in millimetres of water column — the height of the water column that the awning can withstand (the area of impact is out of the question, because the load per unit area under water depends only on the height of the water column and is not related to the area of \u200b\u200bits base). The significant figures indicated in the characteristics (for example, 4000 mm of water column, i.e. 4 metres) are due to the fact that raindrops can have a significant speed and, when they hit the tent, create a load at the point of impact comparable to the pressure on depth of several metres.
In general, the higher the waterproof rating, the better the awning will cope with the effects of rain and snow. Indicators up to 3000 mm w.c. Art. are considered sufficient for places where it rains rarely, awnings for 3000 – 7000 mm of water. Art. allow you not to be afraid of intense downpours, and in expeditionary (see "Destination") tents designed for extreme conditions, this figure can reach 10,000 mm of water. Art. and even more. However, more water-resistant fabrics, usually, have a significant weight, so in each individual case it makes sense to choose the option that is optimal in terms of durability and weight.
Bottom material
— Polyester. Synthetic material with good durability and waterproof performance. In addition, it is resistant to adverse effects (does not lose strength when wet, exposed to acidic and alkaline environments, temperature changes).
— Nylon. In general, the characteristics of nylon are somewhat lower than those of polyester: it tends to stretch when wet and is generally less resistant to adverse effects. At the same time, given that most owners use tents in relatively simple conditions, these points are not critical; in addition, some manufacturers use a special treatment to improve the durability of nylon.
— Polyethylene. This material is mainly used in inexpensive models of camping tents (see "Purpose") — this is primarily due to its significant weight. For other characteristics, it does not have key differences from other materials.
— Polyamide. The general name for a class of fabrics, which includes, in particular, nylon and nylon. Some manufacturers use this term for marketing purposes: "polyamide" sounds more solid than "nylon", although these materials practically do not differ in characteristics and are used in the same way — mainly in inexpensive models.