Home: Tents and canopies :: camping tents

Basic Parts of Camping Tents

Camping tents vary in sizes and types depending on the number of people they are designed to accommodate and the type of season when they would be used. Tents for recreational camping are among the best-selling canvas products being offered in the market.

Generally, there are three basic types of tents offered by manufacturers. These include single skin, single skin with flysheet and double skin. Single skin tents are comprised of only one waterproof layer of fabric that makes up the roof and walls. The second type is comprised of a flysheet or rain fly suspended over the roof of the tent. This flysheet overlaps the tent roof but does not extend down the sides of the tent.

The third type of tent is the double skin. It is comprised of an outer tent that acts like a flysheet but extends right down to the ground. This outer structure can also serve as a covered living area. Aside from the outer tent, double skins have one or more inner tents that serve as sleeping areas that are smaller than the outer tent.

Some tents can have a groundsheet that serves as barrier between the ground and the sleeping bags. In double skin tents, the inner tents usually have a sewn-in groundsheet while other types have separate groundsheets or none at all. Others have footprint or groundsheet protectors. These protectors are separate flat groundsheets placed under the main groundsheet. The main purpose of the optional footprint sheet is to protect the main groundsheet, particularly in rough terrains.

Structural support for tents is provided by poles. They can be made of metal or wood, as is common in rigid poles; or fiberglass and metal alloys which are common among semirigid poles. Some poles are collapsible for easier storage and transport. Pegs or stakes are used to fasten the tent to the ground, with some being attached to guy ropes that pull the poles and fabric outward to shape the tent and provide additional stability. Pegs can be made of plastic, wood or metal.

Camping tents appear in various sizes and designs and can be made of different materials. They can be designed for a single person or for a larger number of people such as a family of five or more. Materials can vary depending on whether they would be used for summer camping or in snowy or rainy environments. The best thing to do before buying a tent for a camping trip is to know the type of environment and the likely weather condition of your destination.