Sacrificing a pound or two comes with big savings - but is it worth it?
For most newcomers to backpacking the "Big 4" - Tent, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad, and Backpack, receive the most scrutiny, research and torment over which to buy. In this articles I want to cover "Free-standing" tents as these are by far the most popular with people new to the sport. It can be very hard to fathom the expense of $400.00, $500.00, $600.00 (or more) that comes with a premium tent, especially if you are trying to kit out for the first time and have uncertainty as to whether you will continue backpacking or how frequently you will go out there - but with experience I can tell you that after that initial set-up that if you continue you will likely want to upgrade, with these budget items being no exception. So lets make the assumption that you want to spend less than $200.00 for a reliable tent that will get you through a couple of trips a year for a few years, then this article is for you.
Things to consider and know
A free standing tent is one that can stand by itself using the integrity of all the components (versus, for example, a tent that requires hiking poles to stand - AKA Trekking Pole Tents).
"Apples for apples" - when looking a weight, more often than not a Trekking Pole Tent will weigh significantly less than a free standing tent, although the listed weight does not include the weight of the trekking poles required to use the tent. Nothing wrong with that! I am just pointing that out.
I personally use a 1 person tent which is very tight. A 2 person is very tight for 2 people - many couples choose a 3 Person to have a little room to spread out. A 2 Person will likely be my next purchase for this same reason.
Being stuck in a snowstorm or rainstorm is a possibility in the outdoors - speaking from experience, it is not comfortable "hanging out" in a tiny tent.
Using a larger tent, will obviously weigh more, but can be harder to find flat sites, given the larger footprint.
When comparing tents remember to check components against each other when determining weight - body, rain sheet, footprint, guy lines, pegs, poles. To determine the full weight you may be carrying, try to make sure your tent comparison takes this into account.
Insider tip: Most people inevitably swap out components to reduce weight, especially in budget tents, as these individual components tend to weigh more than premium brands - for example, I swapped out the North Face Stormbreak 1 footprint with a sheet of Tyvek, and swapped out the steel pegs with these aluminum pegs to save a few ounces.
Time of year: If you are basically a summer or shoulder season camper a 3 season tent will be adequate in most instances, but if you will be winter camping in snow/rain/wind, a 4 season tent will be needed and will be heavier.
Will you be using your vestibule for storage? Probably if you are in a smaller tent.
Ventilation - make sure sure you are looking a reviews that mention this. Tents get hot, stuffy and can fill with condensation.
For me I have a handful of things I store in my tent - watch, phone, book, wallet, etc. Make sure the tent you bay has adequate storage for you.
If you are two people using a 2-3 person tent, it is much more comfortable if you have a door on either side to avoid one person climbing over the other to get out.
A total matter of preference, but I find side doors much easier to use than top/bottom doors on each end of the tent.
Finally, make sure the dimensions will fit you and your gear, so knowing how wide your pad(s) are will give you an idea of how much surrounding space you will have. Also, height is important, as it is nice to be able to sit up in your tent if needed.
So, now you will probably set off to REI, Sports Basement, and Amazon, trying to find that tent! I have not personally used any of these, so consider this me rounding up some options for you that I found on Amazon (and had previously researched). For a budget buyer, understand that it is very difficult to find sub 4 lbs 2 person free standing tents at a budget price. Consider going 1 person to save some weight, or spending more for a lower weight, or take a look at these 4-6 lb budget options. I would offer my humble opinion that staying as light as possible in these or any other options will be a good decision. Happy Trails.
