How to Find the Right Camping Tent for Your Family
Spending the night under the stars is one of the fascinating things when out for family camping. But do you know uncomfortable sleep can turn the adventure into a nightmare?
Imagine waking up to your kids complaining of body aches, and you can't help because you are equally feeling the same? Or, you need some privacy, but you are sleeping in the same room with your teen sons and daughters. It doesn't matter the kind of delicious food you eat or the terrains you explore; squeezing in a tent can deprive everyone of the energy needed for the next day.
A camping tent for a family is a home away from home! And, thus you need to select the best tent for your family in terms of size, type, comfort, and privacy.
If you are going for outdoor camping and hiking Camp Boss Tent is the perfect solution. It is spacious and lightweight, making it easy to carry. The tent has a rainfly that protects you from the elements, a fly door for easy entry and exit, and two screened windows for ventilation. The tent also comes with an attached ground cloth, making set-up quick and easy.
In this guide, we will help you get the best tents for families by highlighting the important things to consider.
Things to consider for the right camping tent for your family
Tent size and living space
Before looking at other tent features, you need to consider one that fits your family. Check the floor dimension of the tent and the sleeping capacity. Consider the group size going camping and whether or not you may need extra space for friends, pets, or gear.
A 4 and 6-person tent measuring 60 x 70 and 80 x 100 square feet are most common with families. A 4-person tent sleeps four people while a six-person sleeps six. However, it might not leave extra room for pets and gear. Those with additional space have a '+' after the figure stated.
Consider sizing up accordingly if there are family members who prefer more space; if you have small kids and pets, or the weather will likely dictate you spend more time in the tent.
You can always go for larger tents, e.g., one that sleeps 8, 10, 12 or even more people depending on your family size. But, ensure the packed size of your chosen tent can fit your vehicle storage space.
Tent layout
After settling on your preferred tent size, you need to check the layout. If you have young kids, buy a tent where the bedrooms are next to each other and separated by easy to zip and unzip divider. This way, you get some privacy while keeping an ear on your children and ensuring they sleep with little distraction from others.
A side-by-side tent layout is the best for families with grown-up kids. You will sleep in the middle, the girls on one side and the boys on the other. Check that each bedroom is large enough to accommodate your children comfortably.
If you have teenagers, you should look for a tent with more privacy. Consider one with a shared room in the middle and the bedrooms at extreme ends. The separating walls should not be easy to remove. You may also consider buying a separate tent for older girls and boys. However, additional tents may attract extra fees in some camping areas. Therefore, consider investing in a multi room tent as they offer privacy when camping with your family.
Tent shape
Family tents come in two shapes; cabin and dome, and each have its benefits and drawbacks. Cabin tents have more vertical walls that provide a higher ceiling for better headroom. Therefore they are good in livability as they can easily accommodate features such as awnings, room dividers, and vestibules. They are the best tents for tall people due to their ample headroom throughout the whole tent.
Dome tents have sloping walls; thus, they can resist wind much better, making them structurally sound. However, the sloping walls reduce ceiling space, making the tent uncomfortable as the headroom might not be enough.
Durability
Look for a tent that can withstand a lot as you will use it with the kids and pets. Consider one made of durable materials to resist damage and serve you longer. Focus on the following parts:
Tent poles
Consider a tent with aluminum poles as they are solid and durable. Aluminum doesn't easily break as they bend under stress. Fiberglass poles are a lighter and cheaper alternative but shatter or snap under pressure. However, fiberglass's low cost means you won't feel much pain when replacing the damaged poles.
Tent designs that use fewer poles are better options as they save your setup time. Those with clips rather than sleeves are easy to set up but maybe less stable in windy situations.
Tent floor
The floor is the busiest part of your tent and thus should be sturdy. Consider a shelter with 70 denier nylon taffeta or oxford nylon material on the floor, as they can hold up longer and withstand foot traffic than coated nylon.
The best tent floor should also have taped floor seams and reinforced corners to prevent water leakages. A few inches of bathtub floor wraps along the walls is also a plus as they help keep water and splashes away from the tent base.
Footprint
Tent Footprints are polyester or nylon sheets placed under the tent to offer extra protection on the floor. The floor is one of the essential parts of the tent that can quickly get damaged. They, therefore, need additional protection from the roots, rocks, sticks, and manufactured litter. A tent that comes with a footprint is a plus.
However, you can always purchase the footprints separately, but you should ensure they are sturdy and of the right size for your tent. Footprints that don't fit well can easily collect and channel water under your tent.
Tent walls
Tent walls are mostly made up of polyester materials of varying grades. Higher grades mean a high level of waterproofness. So, if planning to camp during the rainy season, ensure your tent has a high hydrostatic head value. Other premium expensive tents are made of poly-cotton. They are warmer when cold and cooler under hot conditions. You may want to consider them if your budget allows. Lastly, consider getting a blackout tent if you don't want to be woken up by the sunrise.
Tent weight
You can find 4 to 6-person tents that weigh 3-6 kilograms and are transportable. The weight might be a crucial or secondary factor depending on where you intend to use the tent. If your purpose is to do a lot of biking, backpacking, or hiking when camping, go for lighter tents.
On the contrary, the weight might not be an issue if you intend to travel by car and camp in the same place. In such a case, consider the volume of the tent when folded. It should be small enough to fit in your car trunk and conveniently stored at home.
Tent height
A good tent should be comfortable even when you are standing. This ensures you can move around comfortably without having to bend. Most tents are at least one meter high, but you may want to consider 1.8-2 meters if you are tall.
Price
Price and quality go hand in hand. After considering all other factors, the price might determine whether or not you can afford the tent. Quality tents that come with extra features might be too pricy. However, buying a tent is an investment, and you should be willing to sacrifice some bucks for quality, especially if you intend to use it long term.
However, if you are looking for a tent for a few weekends, a cheaper option will serve you well.
Other features to consider;
Ease of assembly
Ventilation- check for the number of windows and mesh panels
Organizational features such as tent dividers, gear lofts, and vestibules
Number of doors
Tent porches and extensions
Stowage pockets
A 'no trip' entrance
Hooks for lanterns
Weather resistance
Guylines tidies
Entrance for electric cords
Mud valance
Rainfly
Key Insights & Takeaways
The features I have highlighted above should help you pick the right tent for your family. Always think of all members' safety, comfort, and privacy before settling on a specific shelter.
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