Backpacking tents

I remember the camping tents that we used to use in my Boy Scout troop as a kid. They were big and heavy, with solid tent poles that were difficult to assemble, and a heavyweight canvas fly that must have weighed a ton! Backpacking tents had not really evolved very much in those days. Back then, the cutting edge wasn't much better than what we were using. It was so bad, as a matter of fact, that one of the boys would have the sole duty of carrying the backpacking tent. Carrying more than a little weight in addition to the heavy tent was too much for us ten-year-old outdoorsmen!

It is amazing how far technology has come since then. It has always struck me as a strange paradox that outdoor recreation has benefited so much from technology. When we are hanging out in the city, we can use any kind of clothes, bags, or blankets, and it won't matter. By contrast, on the trail where every pound and every cubic inch counts, high-tech camping gear can make a world of difference.

When I was growing up, all backpacking tents were pretty much the same. If you were going somewhere warmer, you wouldn't put on the rain fly. If you were going to be camping somewhere colder, you would bring extra blankets. That was about it. Nowadays, however, back packing tents are pretty specialized equipment. Not every tent will do in every situation, so it is best to ask the help of an experienced outdoorsman.

For example, If all you do is camp out in warm summer weather, you can get an extremely lightweight backpacking tent. Not only will this save you from having to carry the extra weight, but it will be more comfortable as well. Heavy winter backpacking tents can feel stifling and stuffy when you are using them in hot weather. Even with the vents open, they don't provide as much ventilation or cooling air as the light light-weight summer varieties do.

Of course, If your idea of a camping trip is pulling off the road into a campsite, you might want to consider one of those family camping tents. They are bigger and more comfortable, quite an advantage when you don't have to carry the tent several miles before you get to the campground. Because they are not as complex or compact as most backpacking tents, they are often more affordable as well.

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