Showing tents on Canada AM
I was on Canada AM this morning talking about tents and what to look for in choosing one. It went well, except for for a few bloopers – like my sad attempt at showing the hammock tent (I put it up wrong and I slowly lowered to the ground as the host was interviewing me. And I had a very difficult time pronouncing pinata (my nickname for the hammock tent happens to be “bear pinata”).
Here’s the detailed info on tent selection I choose and what I didn’t have a chance to go over during the interview:
Family campground tent samples
Bonnavista – $400
Features:
- huge front vestibule
- lots of head room
- climate control doors — exceptional air circulation -“meaty” #10 door zippers
- taped seams
- side doors with no-see-um netting for cross-ventilation
- heavy-duty waterproof floor
- duffle bag for packing
Northern Breeze Screen House – $450
Features:
- number one selling tent accessory
- make sure it has no-see-um netting and not mosquito netting — smaller holes will keep all bugs out, – – — including blackflies and no-see-ums
- 12′ x 12′
- light weight and portable due to aluminum frame
- also includes waterproof awning walls
- 150 D polyester splash cloth vs the usual 75 D for protection of UV rays
- 7 ft. 7 in head space
- Family interior tents
Summerwind $200 (Kevin’s personal favourite)
Features:
- double door — side door is a big plus
- full coverage fly
- generous use of no-see-um netting for good ventilation
- good size vestibule
- El Cap — two person interior
Features:
- clip to pole construction
- low ventilation system at the base of the vestibule
- easy set up
- good pole set up for wind conditions
- no pegging necessary
- Alpentlite 4 — season – $300
Features:
- high quality ventilation system — vents on side and in ceiling
- high quality zippers
- high quality poles
- V pattern roof for snow load
Solo Spitfire – $100
Features:
- light aluminum poles
- small vestibule
- lightweight but durable material
- fly goes completely over tent
- good headroom,
Hammock Tent Cryallis
Features:
- has the comfort of a hammock but weather protection of a tent
- two pole system that allows you not to sag while sleeping — meaning you can roll over and sleep on your side as well.
- two door system allows you to enter from either side
- mesh ventilation on walls
- heavier then most hammocks but provides more protection
Key Points about tent selection
- you get what you pay for — but don’t spend too much.
- you can get a good quality family based tent for $300 to $400 — under $100 you better hope it doesn’t rain
- pick a tent that suits your style of camping — meaning to choose a tent for the worst possible weather you’ll be camping in
- free-standing tents — ones that do not require to be staked down to hold themselves up — are the best — dome style does this and are the most common
- 4 season tent are not free-standing because they need a wall design to shed snow
- choose one size bigger then what it says in the box — a 3 person is perfect for 2 people
- choose aluminum poles and not fiberglass
- place shock cords on the tie down ropes to place less stress on the fly
- a full fly — reaching the ground — is needed for poor weather but ventilation becomes an issue
- look for how the design deals with ventilation — more openings the better
- UV protection polyester-nylon coating is a must
- sealed seams
- durable floor
- high quality zippers
- clips are far better then tent sleeves for the poles
- tent fly should not touch the tent body — look for how the pole system allows for that