The choice and purchase of a tent are very important decisions, because they will determine to a great extent that a trip is a pleasure or a bad time, and for that reason we have to think about the following factors in detail before buying:
a) Geography and Climate Factor where I will use it: I have to decide if I will always use it in times and places of good weather or if I want it to withstand more extreme conditions (snow, strong winds, cold).
In principle it is always good to know the climate of the place where I want to go, we can do that on the website of the National Meteorological Service, we will find records of average temperatures for all months of the year, speeds of winds, rainfall averages, etc.
Depending on this is the tent that I should use, for harsh weather conditions we should have a 4-season tent, but if I only use it in the summer on vacation then a 3-season tent will serve me well in any tourist place in the country. (read in section 3) Types of tents the characteristics and differences between 3 and 4 season tents).
Of the climatic factors, when we use it mainly in summer, the most important factor to take into account is rain: knowing how much rain to wait for where we are going and that the tent has the necessary waterproof characteristics (read section 2 with Parts and elements of a tent)
b) Tent Weight Factor: here we have to ask ourselves if we are always going to travel by car or if we want to use it for a trekking of several days and carry it in a backpack. If I know that I will always go out by car then I can not worry about the weight of the tent and choose a structural one with a good amount of space and therefore good comfort and good rest.
c) Internal space: this is one of the elements that sometimes we do not think about until it is late … regardless of the type of trip we take, a good sleep and comfort inside the tent makes the difference between getting up with a smile or badly humor. So something that must be read in detail are the measurements of the tent: width, length and height; the ideal is to try to see it armed, even if it is another tent of similar measures to be able to feel the available space well. You have to be careful with the labels that manufacturers put on a tent: when we read in a 4-person tent brochure, that generally means that 4 people enter and their backpacks or bags … with just enough.
The best thing that we can do is always to privilege comfort and rest and for that choose a tent with a capacity greater than the number of people who will use it.
d) Quality of the materials and preparation of the tent: another issue that is very important because we all want a tent that will last us several years and not only that … a poor quality tent, apart from being ruined, can ruin our trip if it touches us badly. weather. In this matter it is, in general, as with anything else that one buys, that is, cheap is expensive and if one wants good materials and quality … you have to pay for it, so if you don’t come with money, you should wait, save and buy it later but it’s worth it.
But, on the other hand, within the good quality tents there are differences, in materials and design and for this we have to learn a little. No need to be an expert, something simple that we can do is go to the websites of the manufacturers and read the technical characteristics of each tent and compare…. That is the key always! … compare !!. A decade ago, without the internet, being able to compare dozens of models and brands was almost impossible…. Today it only takes a few minutes and clicks of the hand…. take advantage of these times!
e) Assembly and Disassembly: although today the models are not very complicated and do not take as long to assemble / disassemble, plague is a factor to consider if one is going to change camping every few days, but it is still one of the least decisive factors in the purchase, compared to the others.
f) Amount of money you want to invest: This is another factor that should not be important in the purchase if you compare what you would spend 10 nights in a hotel and see that with that money you can buy a tent of excellent quality that suits you. to last for many years… then you will realize that the tent is the element in which one does NOT have to save. If you add to this that a bad rainy night can make you end up in a hotel the next day…. Then you will conclude that the money spent on a good tent is a good investment. If you still do not have the necessary amount, wait and keep saving, or if you can buy it financed, but buy a tent with the ideal characteristics for you and the outings that you plan to do.