How To Choose Your First Camping Tent

Best Tips For Picking Your First Tent. This article was updated on April 26, 2024 to display some of the latest tents.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the great outdoors! This a guide to help you choose your first tent. One of the first items of camping equipment that you will want to purchase is a good tent.

The options and selections can be a bit overwhelming when you are first starting out. Camping is fun and choosing your first tent is part of the overall experience. 

Let’s look at how to pick the best tent to ensure a comfortable and safe refuge while camping. The tent is an essential piece of equipment and your experience in the great outdoors is highly dependent on the quality of your tent.

A friend once told me a story of how she went on a backcountry camping trip with a large group of friends. Two guys in the group thought they could do the two-night backcountry trip with just a sleeping bag and no tent.

Well I am sure it won’t surprise you that those guys had a terrible time sleeping on the ground without any protection from the sun, wind or the mosquitoes.

Nobody ever wants to be like those guys, so I am here to help you pick your best first tent!

Tent Size

You will have to determine the type of camping you will be doing. You don’t want a large, heavy tent if you are backpacking or portaging several hundred meters to a site.

But if you are front country or car camping (parking the car at your site) then the weight and size should not be a big deal. If you are doing a backcountry trip where you will be hiking in or carrying your gear for long distances, then you’ll want a lightweight tent.

The first and simplest way to narrow down your tent choices is to decide the tent dimension that you require. Are you buying for a large family or are you looking for a 2 to 3-person backcountry or backpacking tent?

Tents are constructed to house a specific number of people. A solo backpacker will be looking for a tent that is much smaller than a family of campers that require a roomier tent. 

Almost all tents are labeled with a description and their capacity which indicates how many individuals the tent can accomodate comfortably.

Unless you are intent on having a collection of tents in different capacity or sizes, it is wise that you think about the largest number of individuals you believe will sleep in the tent.

If you normally camp with a companion then it is wise to purchase a 2-person tent, even if this summer you are going solo.

Take a look at these 3 tips for choosing the right tent size from Bass Pro Shops.

From My Camping Experience

A 2-person tent will comfortably accommodate a solo camper plus their gear. When sleeping two people in a 2-person tent, typically your remaining gear will sit outside in the tent vestibule.

I usually go for a 3-person tent when I know two people will be sleeping in it. The extra space is usually for our bags or other gear.

Plus, who doesn’t like the extra space? When getting started, know how many people are going camping and make sure you read the description on the side of the box for all the details.

Great 4-person tent from Coleman. Click here for more details. 

Lightweight 3-person Eureka Midori tent. Perfect for backcountry camping. Click here more details.

Price

Once you have determined what size tent you require, you will then have to determine how much you are willing to spend. Set your budget and stick to it. 

When you allocate a budget before you go looking for a tent, you are more likely to spend an amount that you are comfortable with. Price is a factor for most purchases in our lives and shopping for a tent is no different.

I recommend beginning campers start out in the mid to lower price range. I know some will think that purchasing the most expensive tent right off the bat is the smart move, but there’s always the possibility that you may not enjoy sleeping in a tent.

One time my girlfriend and I were front country car camping and this elderly couple on the site next to us cut their camping trip short and gave us their 6-person Coleman tent which had only been used twice before that trip.

It turned out that the wife had really bad allergies that kept acting up every time they went camping. We tried to offer them money but they insisted that we keep the tent as they wouldn’t be camping again. Bonus for us!

You don’t want to buy a cheap piece of junk that will fall apart during your first trip, but you also don’t want to break the bank on a tent that you may only use once. I highly doubt that you will only go once though.

I have had much success with the moderately priced Coleman tents over the years. Tents do become more expensive in price when they are made with durable light weight materials that are commonly used for backpacking or canoe camping as size and weight is a priority during those trips.

Most summer time car campers are very happy with the moderately priced tents as size and weight isn’t a main priority when you are able to drive up to your campsite.

This 4-person tent from Coleman comes equipped with built in LED lights. A great pick for new campers. Click here for more details.

Check out this great 4 season Eureka El Capitan 4-Person Outfitter tent. Click here for more details. 

What Season Will You Be Camping In?

There are four tent components: the poles, tent body, rain fly and the tarp (which is a type of ground footprint or cloth to protect the floor of the tent) The 4 components vary between a 3-season and a 4-season tent.

Most typical outdoor adventures take place in the spring, summer and fall seasons. For most typical campers, a 3-season tent is what they will be looking for.

They are designed primarily to keep your gear light while offering protection from wind, rain and bugs. They are often made of lighter weight fabrics and feature more mesh on the body to promote ventilation and breathability.

Most 3-season tents are double-wall constructed meaning they are comprised of the tent body and a detachable rainfly for greater versatility and protection from the elements.

Typically, the upper sides and/or the tops of the tent body are made of a fine mesh to encourage air flow and prevent condensation.

3-season tents range from extremely lightweight models used for back country trips to heavier and warmer models that are great for front country car camping.

Winter Camping

Now if winter camping is what you are looking for then you are best suited to purchase a 4-season tent. Read these winter camping tips from MEC if you’re feeling really adventurous.

The main priority of a 4-season tent is to keep the camper safe from the extreme elements of the winter. 4-season tents are strong and sturdy to withstand the weight of heavy snow and gusts of strong winds.

Because of the cold air, 4-season tents do not use much mesh on the tent body. Some do offer mesh windows that can be zipped up to keep the elements out.

The 4-season tent is not ideal for camping on a hot summer night due to the lack of ventilation, but it will keep you warm on those cold winter nights.

This 3-person Eureka Mountain Pass tent is made for 4 season camping. Built to withstand all of the elements. Click here for more details.

Tent Ground Footprint Or Tarp

A tent ground footprint is a piece of protective material that sits under the tent. The footprint provides protection for the tent floor from being punctured by rocks or sticks.

It also acts as a moisture barrier so you won’t feel that dew or rain water on the bottom of your tent floor. Some tents do come with a ground footprint but most of the time you have to purchase one separately for the specific tent model.

Rather than purchasing a specific footprint for the tent, you can save some money and get a tarp instead. Just know that the tarp must be slightly smaller than the base floor of the tent. Having a smaller footprint or tarp floor will not allow water to sit between the tent and the footprint.

Be it a tarp or manufacturers footprint, please ensure it is not exposed to the elements. If the tarp or footprint is larger than the base floor of the tent then rainwater will find its way on top of the exposed area.

This water will eventually run down directly under the tent and sit between the footprint and the tent floor. Once this happens, the water will seep through the floor getting your gear wet.

Whether I am backcountry camping or car camping, I always lay down a tarp or footprint because it just always seems to rain on us every time.

Save some money and use a tarp like this from Amazon. Click here for more details. 

9 Things To Know Before You Buy Your Tent

Here are some guidelines in choosing the best tent for you:

1. Consider your needs. Know your particular camping requirements, such as where do you plan to go camping, what season, and what type of camping (car or backcountry)?  These answers can give you a clear idea of what type of tent you will need.

2. Set your budget. When you allocate a budget before you go looking for a tent, you are likely to spend that amount you are comfortable with.

3. Tent weight and size. How many individuals will be sleeping in the tent? The size of your tent will not really matter should you go front country “car camping”; however, if your intention is backcountry, then consider a light-weight tent. 

4. Tent features. Today, there are tent manufacturers offering a lot of features for their tents. Mesh panels allow the breeze to go into your tent and at the same time keep the mosquitoes and bugs out, shock-corded tent poles allow speedy setup, waterproof and flame resistant for safety, a rain fly for added rain protection, etc. Choose the tent that best caters to all your basic requirements.

5. Select a durable fabric tent. It will cost you more money, however this is definitely an area that is worth it. 

6. Select the proper tent color. Inspect how the color of the tent transmits light into the interior.  Certain colors generate a brighter interior, whereas others create a darker cave-like ambience. Take note that light colors are best for summer camping since they tend to be cooler, whereas dark colors are able to absorb solar energy and are great when camping in cooler or cold weather.

7. Check the tent’s coating. Remember that you must see a waterproof and shiny coating inside the floor and rain fly. If this is not visible or you can’t feel this on the tent’s fabric, then it is not thick enough to withstand heavy use. The tents I will suggest below are built to endure the moisture and rainfall that comes with camping up north.

8. Know your season. Your needs when camping in the summer are very much different compared to camping in the snow. Almost all tents available on the market have weather ratings. Make sure that you purchase a tent specifically made for a particular weather condition or season that you will be out camping.

9. Tent brands. Selecting the best tent brand is quite difficult to say. It really comes down to what type of camping, plus what you need and the features that you require. Various tent manufacturers have their unique design and name. I just want to highlight the tent brands that I know will do the job are Coleman, Marmot, Eureka and MSR. Growing up my family has always used Coleman tents for family camping. I like Coleman tents for car camping and lightweight Marmot tents for backcountry.

Comfortable 4 to 6-person Eureka Space Camp tent. There is a lot of room providing extra space for family campers. Click here for more details. 

This tent model that has options from a 6 to 12-person tent from Eureka. It is ideal for big groups. The 7 foot tall tent is perfect for those in need of the extra height. Click here for more details.

Ready To Buy Your First Tent?

Choosing the incorrect tent isn’t the worst thing, but it can send you packing off to a motel instead of enjoying all that the great outdoors has to offer. A great first tent can make or break your initial camping experience.

For that well-planned and enjoyable camping vacation, take your time and do your research when you purchase your tent. Remember, it will be your home for a few days.  Having the right tent will keep you comfortable and warm especially on rainy and cold nights. And if you are unsure about what to buy, leave me a message in the Contact Us section and I will help you with your decision.

I hope that after reading this you are ready to purchase your first tent. There so many to choose from so I would suggest narrowing it down to a handful of choices based on what you are looking for. This is an exciting experience.

If you have any questions or concerns about buying your first tent please feel free to hit this link to get in touch and I’ll be happy to help. Have a great time shopping for a new tent. 

My Top Recommendation For New Campers

The Coleman Hooligan 4-Person Tent as shown below is my recommendation for new campers. It is a dome style tent which allows for an easy set up and has a good height of 4 feet 10 inches in the center, so you won’t be crouching down too much while inside. Tents that have a higher ceiling become problematic on windy days and also get heavier in weight. The large fly provides protection from the elements while also allowing extra ventilation on those warm days. The larger vestibule area is great for providing extra storage especially on wet days. For car camping and even backcountry, I used a 4-person Coleman tent very similar to this model for over 10 years and I was always very happy with it. Click here for more details.

Have a great time shopping for a new tent!