A Couple Of Tips For Choosing An 8 Man Tent
There are many things to consider when you buy a new tent
, and if it is an eight man tent, then as they can be expensive, it is important that you should get it right. The factors to be considered are variable for different people, but hopefully this article will address some of the important issues and enable you to make a more informed decision on a purchase before clicking that 'add to cart' button.Firstly the tent's layout is a consideration. The layout can typically be a double four berth, or a double three berth with a further two berth compartment. Which configuration that you choose will depend on exactly who is going camping and sleeping within the same tent. Some people will purchase a large tent without considering the ramifications of the sleeping arrangements, and repent at their leisure (and discomfort during their hard earned break). I am not going to give advice on which layout to choose, but, however, I would stress the importance of paying due attention to the layouts on offer.
What you should also check is whether or not the tent is one of the more recent models with a fly-sheet first pitch method (read the specifications). With these tents the berthing arrangements are often optional, with many of them you do not need to stick to the 8 man configuration. You simply put up the fly-sheet, and choose whether or not you are actually going to use the full complement of sleeping compartments. You can buy one of these more roomy tents for four or even two people, the result being a spacious enclosure that should the weather turn, and you need to spend time indoors, you have a relatively luxurious space in which to relax until the clouds blow away.
Once you have decide on which type of layout you should choose, another factor that you may consider is 'windows'. Do you want your tent to be a source of shade, or do you want a good view from your tent? But remember that if you can see out, others can see in, which may or may not be an issue. There are some excellent tents available which have pretty much the whole of the communal area as an 'open conservatory'. If you want to avoid the sun then this is probably not the best choice.
If however, you are predicting the possibility of rain for your vacation, then it would be nice to have a tent that allows you to at least look at the wonders of nature outside, even if it is too wet to enjoy them fully. In fact sometimes being stuck in a tent for a couple of days forces you to relax, and perhaps get down to reading a good book. Although running about in the sunshine is physically healthy (if you are you are fully UV protected), immersion in a good book can provide invigorating psychological benefits, which is something that is missed in this hectic modern world, and if you think about it, the psychological benefits are are why most people go camping anyway - if you want to get fit you can simply go to the gym or go for a run.
A further consideration is the height of a tent. Many tunnel tents do not quite make it in the height stakes, but plenty of others do. You need to ask yourself is the height of a tent important. If you do not envisage spending too much time in your tent for your vacation, and if you do not suffer form any back problems then this need not be too serious a consideration.
If however you do have back problems, then bending continuously is unlikely to help them. If that is the case, then you should check the tent's specifications before purchasing, and the little time doing so will be rewarded with a less painful camping trip. Even if your back is in good condition, if you think that you may be 'tent bound' for any given period of time would you like your time in your tent to be likened to that of a tour of a cathedral, or trip down a pothole?
The above are just a few of the many things to consider when purchasing a tent, I hope you find them useful, there will undoubtably be more to follow, and if you have any suggestions please comment on this article.
by: Gary Brunswick