4 Season Tents

One of the most important decisions for any camper or backpacker is "what tent do I buy?" Though the answer may not matter much in fine weather, when it starts to pour it may mean the difference between a cozy night in your sleeping bag and a miserable, drenched evening. What tent is right for you depends on how you'll be planning on using the tent. Similarly, your activities also dictate what aspects of the tent are most important to you. If you're backpacking on a long trip, then weight may be a primary concern, but if you're car camping then it's comfort and space, not weight, which will help you find the tent that's right for you.

If you're backpacking, then heavy, base camp style tents will do nothing but weigh you down. A more standard, backpacker's tent will be more suitable. Another choice still remains; do you want a 3 season tent or a 4 season tent? Generally, 4 season tents are built to withstand the worst mother nature has to offer; torrential rain, heavy snow, and howling winds. They have extra poles and tie downs to make the tent as sturdy as possible. 4 season tents are often dome-shaped in order to eliminate any flat spaces where snow could settle. The trade-off to all of this security is that 4 season tents are often heavier and bulkier than their 3 season brethren.

3 season tents are often similar to 4 season tents in general design, but they generally have fewer poles and are slightly less sturdy. However, they weigh less and pack lighter. They generally handle wind and rain quite well, but they're not designed to handle heavy snowfall. A few inches won't bother them by any means, but they are unlikely to stand up under heavy snow and are therefore not a good choice for winter camping.

Convertible tents offer a compromise between 3 season tent weight and 4 season tent security; they have poles and/or flaps that can be added in the winter and removed in spring, summer, and fall, allowing you to use the same tent in the summer than stood up to the twenty inch snow in the winter, without carrying the weight of the extra flap and poles. Though 3 season tents can handle some winter weather and 4 season tents work just fine in the summer, convertible tents can be the perfect compromise for the backpacker who wants to hike year-round but can only afford to purchase one tent.