Likewise, 2 people can sleep in a 2-person tent, but some 2-person tents will feel very cramped for 2 people. If you want to store your gear inside the tent it can become even more crowded.
To find the right tent for your adventure, consider the importance to you of all the most common tent features when choosing the right tent for your backpacking adventures:
- Length and Height
- Doors and Windows
- Vestibule Area
- Durability and Protection
- Setup and Use
- Weight and Portability
- Budget
Even if you don't mind having to duck down to get into the door, the length of the sleeping area is more important for your comfort. You'll want to take your height in to consideration so that your feet and head aren't squished up against the sides of the tent.
How important it is to you to be able to stand up inside of your tent? Even if getting in the door requires you to duck, the peak height of the tent may or may not allow you to do much more than lie down or sit up. The more lightweight you want to keep the tent, the less standing up you'll be doing inside the tent.
Depending on the layout of the tent, and the number of people that you're sleeping in it, having more than one door may be your preference. It can be nice not having to crawl over another person while they're sleeping.
Tent windows can be unzipped to reveal a mesh covering, which is helpful for airing out the tent, while still keeping the bugs out. Some tents even offer a skylight which may or may not be uncoverable. A skylight is a great feature for not only ventilating the tent but also for viewing the stars above while you're lieing in the tent.
A vestibule area is a sheltered area outside the main sleeping area of the tent. It's a great place to leave your bags, or your shoes. Depending on how many people and how much gear you are bringing, this may or may not be a requirement for you.
The environment you'll be camping in will determine how important a heavier duty design is. Warm summer nights in dry areas are different from cool, wet, stormy, and windy conditions.
There are 3-season and 4-season tents. A 3-season tent won't be suitable for winter camping so if you're looking for colder climates make sure you're looking at tents that are rated for winter camping.
Weatherproofing features are also very important if you're camping anywhere that the possibility of rain could happen. Some tents include a rain cover, but it's also a good idea to spray your tent with a waterproof treatment.
In addition to how quickly and easily you can get the tent unpacked and set up for sleeping, other things to consider are the layout, zippered door and windows, bug netting, rain cover, footprint, and vestibule access.
A lightweight tent is often preferred since a tent is usually the biggest and heaviest piece of gear that backpackers need to pack and carry.
Keep in mind that going ultralight means you'll be be sacrificing some level of shelter protection from heavier wind, sand, or rain.
With so many tents for all budgets, it's possible to find the right balance between features and keeping the cost down.
