How do I choose the best tent?

Whether you’re spending the night in a farmer’s field or at a child-friendly campsite, there is a tent perfectly tailored to your camping needs . There are four elements to consider: Your activity : you don’t take an expensive trekking tent to a festival, just like you don’t take a basic pop-up tent on a weekend away with the family. Your activity really determines what kind of tent you need. The type of tent : tents come in many shapes and sizes, each with its own advantages. A dome tent , for example, has a small volume and weight. A tunnel tent , in turn, offers plenty of living and storage space. The number of people : will you go out alone or take the whole family? Weight : not only the size, but also the materials used determine the weight of your tent. This is especially important when trekking. If you travel by car, then it all matters a little less.

How can I heat my tent?

It can get very cold in your tent on spring and autumn nights. Here’s how you can keep it warm: Choose a four-season tent, a winter sleeping bag with a low comfort temperature, and a sleeping mat with a high R-value. Lay extra insulating mats or a tent carpet on the ground. Dress in layers . If it’s really cold, get into your sleeping bag a bit earlier with a heat cushion or a drinking bottle with warm water. Are you travelling by car? Then you can also take an electric heater with you, for example, and heat your tent even more. Never make a fire in or near your tent! Flammable substances and your tent fabric do not mix.

How can I keep my tent cool?

The temperature in a tent can rise considerably during the summer, but fortunately, it usually cools down again in the evening. Here’s how you can keep it cool: Choose a BlackOut tent from Coleman . The blackout tent fabric not only blocks out sunlight, it also keeps your sleeping area up to 5°C cooler during the day and up to 1°C warmer at night. If possible, do not pitch your tent until after sunset . Choose a campsite by the water or with a lot of shade , taking into account the shifting position of the sun. Point the entrance of the tent towards the wind. If necessary, hang an extra sun sheet or tarp over the tent to block the direct rays of the sun. Ventilate sufficiently: you can allow the air to circulate by unzipping two ‘doors’ or windows a little. This allows fresh air in and warm air out. On a dry night, some tents also allow you to remove the outer tarp for a fresh night’s sleep under the stars.

How do I clean my tent?

Sweep the floor regularly with a hand brush or wipe it down with a cloth. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents . First, brush over the dirty spots and then go over them with lukewarm water and a cloth. PVC tent tarps can also be cleaned with soapy water. Try to remove bird droppings as quickly as possible, as they can damage the tarp. Use water and a brush to clean up fresh droppings; use a spoon to scrape off hardened droppings. Brush the area clean afterwards. Always impregnate your tent after a thorough cleaning to make it waterproof again.

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What kind of tents are there?

Where shall we start? Tents really do come in all shapes, sizes, and weights. And your choice depends entirely on the activity you are going to undertake, what your party looks like, and the type of tent that best suits these factors. It goes without saying that a trekker does not go out with a big tunnel tent. Or that you don’t spend three weeks holidaying at a campsite in a lightweight trekking tent. We’ve summed them all up for you!

Tent type

The four main types of tents are as follows:

The dome tent: also known as the igloo tent, has two intersecting arches, around which you stretch the inner and outer tent layers. The advantage of a dome tent is that it is compact, lightweight, and suitable for unstable ground thanks to its self-supporting arch structure. You also need very little space because the tent is self-tensioning, so you don’t need storm ropes.
The tunnel tent: this tent is set up with one to four poles, parallel to each other. A tunnel tent consists of a large living area and storage space, often divided into several compartments. Handy for family holidays or if you just like a lot of space! You set it up super fast and it also just stays put neatly thanks to the storm ropes.
The pop-up tent: the tent that pitches itself as soon as you throw it in the air. A pop-up tent is often more affordable than a classic dome or tunnel tent, and its ease of use makes it perfect for a festival weekend. The downside? They aren’t that compact and putting it back in the bag is often an art form. Fortunately, you can always find people at festival campsites who have practised in their backyards for a long time and can help you out.
The lightweight tent: if you are hiking in the mountains, you need a tent that fits in your rucksack, is lightweight, and can withstand all types of weather. You take on this kind of adventure with a trekking tent made of materials that can take a beating.

Activity

If you go camping in a farmer’s field for a week, you’ll need a very different kind of tent than if you spend a weekend at a festival campsite or trek as lightweight as possible through the mountains. Your activity, in addition to the number of people, determines the right choice. Below are the most common activities:

Festival: the pop-up tent is the perfect festival tent thanks to its ease of use, but you’ll also sleep like a log in a dome or tunnel tent (and have more space). They are all easy to set up, but have limited waterproofing and are therefore less suitable for long-term use. Fortunately, a festival doesn’t go on for weeks!

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Family holidays: the most important thing during a family holiday is to have enough space for the whole family to sleep, live, and eat in the tent. If you have a dome or tunnel tent with you, you’re sure to have enough space, including for your belongings. They are a bit heavier, but that’s not a problem if you’re travelling by car!

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Weekend away: dome or tunnel tents are perfect for a weekend camping trip, a sleepover in the garden, or as an extra tent for the kids on a longer trip. They are more durable than the average festival tent and often come with an extra porch. Ideal for your gear or backpack!

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Walking or cycling holidays: weighs the least and takes up the least space. Those are your two most important criteria as a hiker and cyclist. A lightweight dome or tunnel tent for trekking and cycling is also more resistant to the weather elements than other tents!

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Number of people

There’s nothing more annoying than being so crammed that you have to use your backpack as a pillow to save space. A golden tip: always take one size bigger than the number of people sleeping in the tent. Are just two of you heading out? Then choose a three-person tent. Then you are sure to have enough room for your luggage too.

The only exception to this rule are hikers going trekking in the mountains. You definitely don’t want to lug around extra weight or unnecessary luggage. So base your choice on actual occupancy in that case!

FAQ – frequently asked questions about tents

Whether you’re spending the night in a farmer’s field or at a child-friendly campsite, there is a tent perfectly tailored to your camping needs. There are four elements to consider:

Your activity: you don’t take an expensive trekking tent to a festival, just like you don’t take a basic pop-up tent on a weekend away with the family. Your activity really determines what kind of tent you need.
The type of tent: tents come in many shapes and sizes, each with its own advantages. A dome tent, for example, has a small volume and weight. A tunnel tent, in turn, offers plenty of living and storage space.
The number of people: will you go out alone or take the whole family?
Weight: not only the size, but also the materials used determine the weight of your tent. This is especially important when trekking. If you travel by car, then it all matters a little less.

It can get very cold in your tent on spring and autumn nights. Here’s how you can keep it warm:

Choose a four-season tent, a winter sleeping bag with a low comfort temperature, and a sleeping mat with a high R-value.
Lay extra insulating mats or a tent carpet on the ground.
Dress in layers.
If it’s really cold, get into your sleeping bag a bit earlier with a heat cushion or a drinking bottle with warm water.
Are you travelling by car? Then you can also take an electric heater with you, for example, and heat your tent even more.
Never make a fire in or near your tent! Flammable substances and your tent fabric do not mix.

The temperature in a tent can rise considerably during the summer, but fortunately, it usually cools down again in the evening. Here’s how you can keep it cool:

Choose a BlackOut tent from Coleman. The blackout tent fabric not only blocks out sunlight, it also keeps your sleeping area up to 5°C cooler during the day and up to 1°C warmer at night.
If possible, do not pitch your tent until after sunset.
Choose a campsite by the water or with a lot of shade, taking into account the shifting position of the sun.
Point the entrance of the tent towards the wind.
If necessary, hang an extra sun sheet or tarp over the tent to block the direct rays of the sun.
Ventilate sufficiently: you can allow the air to circulate by unzipping two ‘doors’ or windows a little. This allows fresh air in and warm air out.
On a dry night, some tents also allow you to remove the outer tarp for a fresh night’s sleep under the stars.

Sweep the floor regularly with a hand brush or wipe it down with a cloth.
Do not use aggressive cleaning agents. First, brush over the dirty spots and then go over them with lukewarm water and a cloth. PVC tent tarps can also be cleaned with soapy water.
Try to remove bird droppings as quickly as possible, as they can damage the tarp. Use water and a brush to clean up fresh droppings; use a spoon to scrape off hardened droppings. Brush the area clean afterwards.
Always impregnate your tent after a thorough cleaning to make it waterproof again.

Choose from our many top brands

At A.S.Adventure, you will find an extensive range of tents for every type of camping trip. Choose from our many top brands - like Vaude, Jack Wolfskin, Fjällräven, Coleman - and find the suitable camping tent for your next camping trip.