What To Look At When Buying A Cheap Tent

When shopping for cheap tents the goal is to find the best quality tent possible for the lowest price possible. I’ve compiled a list of 7 questions to help you narrow down your choices when searching for a new camping tent. These questions will help you figure out just how good of a deal you are getting on that cheap tent.

This is going to be one of the most important questions you ask yourself. Obviously if you can park your car next to your campsite you are going to select a different tent than if you backpacked to your site. This question makes you consider how much you want the tent to weigh. If you are driving up to your campsite and you don’t have to lug it anywhere a 30-40 pound cabin tent isn’t going to be too much of an issue. On the other hand, if you plan on backpacking or hiking to your campsite that same 30- 40 pound tent will no longer be a good option. If you are backpacking you are going to want to find the lightest tent possible since you will be carrying it with you which would be a  lightwieght 1 man tent or a 2 man tent.

Most tents you purchase say how many people they sleep. You can get a 2 man tent, 4 man tent, 6 man tent, 8 man tent… etc. You get the point. So if you plan on having 4 people sleep in the tent but only purchase a tent that is classified as a 2 man tent you are going to end up with a couple of people camping out under the stars. Cabin tents are a great option for people and families who know they will regularly be camping together. Also, it is usually recommended that you get the number up from the amount of people your tent is going to sleep. Most manufacturers understate the amount of people who will fit in the tent comfortably and you also need to keep in mind you will have some of your things in the tent with you as well. If you plan on having that air mattress or tent cot will it fit in a small tent? Probably not, especially if there are a lot of people sharing your tent. So make sure you plan for that.

Sometimes this isn’t always the easiest factor to predict when camping. Mother Nature has a tendency to bring surprise storms when you are camping both in the mountains and deserts. Before you go, have an idea of what the general weather and climate is for your area and use this to determine which tent will be best suited for you.  You can do this on the Weather Channel's website.   If you are going to be camping in an area that doesn’t get a lot of rain, snow or wind. A 3 season tent will be sufficient. But if you plan on camping in the winter or somewhere that gets really windy and tricky weather is common,  you may want to consider getting a 4 season tent. These are made to sustain most weather conditions you will face.
Regardless of what season tent you decided to buy make sure it has a rain fly which is a cover that goes over the top of the tent. Rain flys are like umbrellas, having a good rain fly will make the difference in whether or not you and your things get soaked from rain. Also, making sure you have a bathtub style tent (this means you have to step into the tent like you would a tub) and a tent footprint might help.  The footprint goes under your tent and should not go out further than the tent walls.  Otherwise, it will have the opposite effect.

Good ventilation will ensure that you are not completely uncomfortable when camping. Windows and screen doors allow the air to get through and determine how stuffy your tent becomes and how much condensation builds up. Be aware that a rain fly will decrease your ventilation. So if you are camping and know 100% sure you aren’t going to have any weather you need protection from, taking this off will help improve your ventilation.

 If you plan on camping only a couple of times a year you probably don’t need to get the most expensive tent available. You will be able to find cheap tents in your price range that will be durable and meet your needs. You probably don’t need a $600 tent if it is not going to be used very often unless you are camping in extreme conditions.

This is an important question for almost all things you buy. Before you purchase something find out if the manufacturers backs up their product with a warranty. Also, make sure you know what exactly the warranty entails. It is not enough to just have a warranty. Most companies will cover things as long as they are not caused by weather or other similar factors. Also consider how long the warranty is going to last. 1 yr, 5 yrs 10 yrs, a lifetime. If you plan on buying a new tent every couple of years this won’t necessarily matter. However, if you want to buy a long-lasting durable tent that is going that you will have for years to come you want to make sure you have a good warranty.

Obviously, this is one of the first questions you need to ask yourself. If you aren’t going to be camping often or in adverse weather questions is paying $600 for a tent going to be a good idea? Probably not! If spending a lot of money isn’t an option there are definitely some cheap tents you can find. Smaller tents like a 2 man tent will usually be cheaper than a cabin tent.  And 3 season tents will definitely be cheaper than a 4 season tent.  Prices generally start from the mid twenties and go all the way to the high hundreds. If you go tent camping every weekend and in extreme conditions it might be well worth the $600.

Good luck in your search!

If you are looking for a place to camp or visit, here are some of my suggestions:

- Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN by Smoky Mountain National Park

- Arches National Park, in Southern Utah

-Enchanted Rock, in Texas Hill Country