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

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