best camping tents for 6 image
Anita
I have never gone winter camping and I will do that next week. I want to know how to stay warm in camping tent in such cold day. Anyone knows that?
Answer
1. Learn about heat loss and you will come to better understand how to stay warm in the backcountry. Heat is primarily lost through conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. For example heat could be lost from sitting on a cold rock, from wind chill, from not wearing a hat and heat escaping, or respiration. Besides warming up near the camp stove people can only generate heat by keeping up their metabolism, exercising and shivering if need be.
2. Layering properly is the first thing winter backpackers can do to regulate heat. This means non-cotton, moisture wicking base layers and mid-layers, insulated layers such as a down vest and jacket and down pants and weather proof outer layers. A hat and balaclava or neck gaiter is also necessary as are liner socks and socks made with wool. Down camp booties aren't necessary but make your world much more comfortable. Mountaineering or plastic boots with insulated liners are what to hike in through snow and ice and liner gloves and insulated over-mitts are what will keep your fingers moving.
3. Stay dry and pace yourself. The point of all these layers is not to wear them all at once but to control the four primary losses of heat while hiking. Staying dry is crucial. Don't let yourself get too sweaty because as soon as you stop for a break your sweat begins to freeze. Wearing things that dry easily and wick moisture such as polypropylene, capilene, synthetic or wool are the way to go whether you are hiking, snowshoeing or backcountry skiing. Keep yourself properly hydrated too, as loss of heat happens from loss of moist exhalation.
4. Make your camp in such a way that you take advantage of the elements. After anchoring your tents in the snow, dig out a 3 by 2-foot area in front of your tent door at least 12 inches into the snow. This acts as an entryway where you can sit in your tent while hanging your feet out to change out of your boots and camp booties without bringing wet snow inside the tent. One or two-wall nylon tents work fine though one-wall tents are a bit lighter. Using at least one sleeping pad is necessary for winter camping as you need to insulate yourself from the cold ground and snow. More than one sleeping pad is recommended. Either use a shorter foam pad beneath your inflatable one or sleep on your extra layers at night. This also dries them out.
5. Sleep warm. Make sure to eat a bit more than you think you can handle and have plenty of hot drinks before getting into your sleeping bag on a night of winter backpacking. Your metabolism not only has to deal with the workout you've had during the day but also has to keep you warm through the cold night. Before getting into your bag fill up a water bottle with boiling water from the stove, slip a sock or shirt over it so it doesn't burn your skin and sleep with this in your bag, sleep with two of them if necessary.
6.Make sure that you keep your sleeping bag as dry as possible, especially if it is made of down as this material loses its warmth when wet. If you are generally a cold person, get a sleeping bag that is rated at least 10 to 20 degrees colder than you think you might need. Also sleep with boot liners so they aren't frozen when you try to wiggle your toes in there the following morning. Use a small 2 by 2-foot square cut from a role of sleeping pad foam and kneel on it while cooking or taking a break, to insulate from the snow at all times.
1. Learn about heat loss and you will come to better understand how to stay warm in the backcountry. Heat is primarily lost through conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. For example heat could be lost from sitting on a cold rock, from wind chill, from not wearing a hat and heat escaping, or respiration. Besides warming up near the camp stove people can only generate heat by keeping up their metabolism, exercising and shivering if need be.
2. Layering properly is the first thing winter backpackers can do to regulate heat. This means non-cotton, moisture wicking base layers and mid-layers, insulated layers such as a down vest and jacket and down pants and weather proof outer layers. A hat and balaclava or neck gaiter is also necessary as are liner socks and socks made with wool. Down camp booties aren't necessary but make your world much more comfortable. Mountaineering or plastic boots with insulated liners are what to hike in through snow and ice and liner gloves and insulated over-mitts are what will keep your fingers moving.
3. Stay dry and pace yourself. The point of all these layers is not to wear them all at once but to control the four primary losses of heat while hiking. Staying dry is crucial. Don't let yourself get too sweaty because as soon as you stop for a break your sweat begins to freeze. Wearing things that dry easily and wick moisture such as polypropylene, capilene, synthetic or wool are the way to go whether you are hiking, snowshoeing or backcountry skiing. Keep yourself properly hydrated too, as loss of heat happens from loss of moist exhalation.
4. Make your camp in such a way that you take advantage of the elements. After anchoring your tents in the snow, dig out a 3 by 2-foot area in front of your tent door at least 12 inches into the snow. This acts as an entryway where you can sit in your tent while hanging your feet out to change out of your boots and camp booties without bringing wet snow inside the tent. One or two-wall nylon tents work fine though one-wall tents are a bit lighter. Using at least one sleeping pad is necessary for winter camping as you need to insulate yourself from the cold ground and snow. More than one sleeping pad is recommended. Either use a shorter foam pad beneath your inflatable one or sleep on your extra layers at night. This also dries them out.
5. Sleep warm. Make sure to eat a bit more than you think you can handle and have plenty of hot drinks before getting into your sleeping bag on a night of winter backpacking. Your metabolism not only has to deal with the workout you've had during the day but also has to keep you warm through the cold night. Before getting into your bag fill up a water bottle with boiling water from the stove, slip a sock or shirt over it so it doesn't burn your skin and sleep with this in your bag, sleep with two of them if necessary.
6.Make sure that you keep your sleeping bag as dry as possible, especially if it is made of down as this material loses its warmth when wet. If you are generally a cold person, get a sleeping bag that is rated at least 10 to 20 degrees colder than you think you might need. Also sleep with boot liners so they aren't frozen when you try to wiggle your toes in there the following morning. Use a small 2 by 2-foot square cut from a role of sleeping pad foam and kneel on it while cooking or taking a break, to insulate from the snow at all times.
How to choose a camping tent?
Adela
I am planing my first camping trip. I want to know how to choose a suitable camping tent. I will go camping with my family. There are four of us altogether.
Answer
I go camping a lot, often with a group, and see most people using tents that are far too large and difficult to setup for their needs. They get a huge cabin tent for eight or more people, tall enough to stand upright and walk around, and then only put 4 people inside.
When they get to camp it takes 2 people almost an hour to get the tent set-up and all their gear arranged inside. Once this is done they spend all their awake time on outdoors activities or sitting around the campfire, and just go inside to sleep. All that space, time and effort is wasted, because you're never inside a tent unless you're ready to sleep. Even if its raining or snowing, I'd rather be outside with my family or friends under a tarp or ez-up gazebo so I can see the outdoors than stare at the blank walls inside a tent.
I prefer to take the smallest size tent I can comfortably use. There's enough room for the appropriate number of sleeping bags with a little space leftover to stack our bags. Headspace isn't a concern, I don't need to pace circles inside my tent. As long as I can sit-up on the ground without hitting my head on the ceiling I'm good.
So priorities for me are a) Weather resistance, including wind and rain; b) ventilation, to avoid a build-up of humidity that leads to condensation and for cooling on hot nights; c) adequate floor space for sleeping bags and minimal gear, with the rest stowed in the vehicle; d) easy setup and pack-up. I prefer a tent with a full rain fly for weather protection and a vestibule to stow muddy boots outside but under shelter.
Determining adequate floor space can be a challenge. Most manufacturers allow 24x78" of floor space per person, which I feel is inadequate. I prefer to use 30"x80" per person, plus allow for one additional person's worth of space for minimal gear storage. By this measure a 10'x9' tent (120"x108") allows four people to sleep side-by-side with enough space at the head of each sleeping space for a bag containing clean clothing and toiletries. According to most manufacturer's specifications, this would indicate a 6-person tent would be the best selection.
On the lower-price end of the scale, the Coleman Sundome 6 fits the bill, though I'm not much impressed with the rain fly and lack of vestibules. But its hard to find fault with its $99 price tag, as long as you're not expecting bad weather.
The Coleman Instant-Tent 6 is a popular model because of it's quick and easy setup. This cabin tent also provides stand-up interior height. Unfortunately it has no rain fly whatsoever, so one would need to bring an extra tarp for rain protection if bad weather was forecast. And, of course, with no rain fly it also has no vestibule. The Instant-Tent 6 can also be a packing nightmare with its 48" long packed size, so make sure it will fit into your vehicle.
The Kelty Buttress 6 looks to me to be the perfect tent, with adequate floor space, a good fly and vestibule setup and reasonable price. If I was going to buy a tent today to sleep a family of 4, this would likely be my top choice.
If money is no object and you want the ultimate family tent that is still weather proof, easy to setup and reasonably compact to pack, look at the REI Kingdom 6 with the optional Connect Tech Vestibule or Garage. But be prepared to spend over $500 on the complete setup.
I go camping a lot, often with a group, and see most people using tents that are far too large and difficult to setup for their needs. They get a huge cabin tent for eight or more people, tall enough to stand upright and walk around, and then only put 4 people inside.
When they get to camp it takes 2 people almost an hour to get the tent set-up and all their gear arranged inside. Once this is done they spend all their awake time on outdoors activities or sitting around the campfire, and just go inside to sleep. All that space, time and effort is wasted, because you're never inside a tent unless you're ready to sleep. Even if its raining or snowing, I'd rather be outside with my family or friends under a tarp or ez-up gazebo so I can see the outdoors than stare at the blank walls inside a tent.
I prefer to take the smallest size tent I can comfortably use. There's enough room for the appropriate number of sleeping bags with a little space leftover to stack our bags. Headspace isn't a concern, I don't need to pace circles inside my tent. As long as I can sit-up on the ground without hitting my head on the ceiling I'm good.
So priorities for me are a) Weather resistance, including wind and rain; b) ventilation, to avoid a build-up of humidity that leads to condensation and for cooling on hot nights; c) adequate floor space for sleeping bags and minimal gear, with the rest stowed in the vehicle; d) easy setup and pack-up. I prefer a tent with a full rain fly for weather protection and a vestibule to stow muddy boots outside but under shelter.
Determining adequate floor space can be a challenge. Most manufacturers allow 24x78" of floor space per person, which I feel is inadequate. I prefer to use 30"x80" per person, plus allow for one additional person's worth of space for minimal gear storage. By this measure a 10'x9' tent (120"x108") allows four people to sleep side-by-side with enough space at the head of each sleeping space for a bag containing clean clothing and toiletries. According to most manufacturer's specifications, this would indicate a 6-person tent would be the best selection.
On the lower-price end of the scale, the Coleman Sundome 6 fits the bill, though I'm not much impressed with the rain fly and lack of vestibules. But its hard to find fault with its $99 price tag, as long as you're not expecting bad weather.
The Coleman Instant-Tent 6 is a popular model because of it's quick and easy setup. This cabin tent also provides stand-up interior height. Unfortunately it has no rain fly whatsoever, so one would need to bring an extra tarp for rain protection if bad weather was forecast. And, of course, with no rain fly it also has no vestibule. The Instant-Tent 6 can also be a packing nightmare with its 48" long packed size, so make sure it will fit into your vehicle.
The Kelty Buttress 6 looks to me to be the perfect tent, with adequate floor space, a good fly and vestibule setup and reasonable price. If I was going to buy a tent today to sleep a family of 4, this would likely be my top choice.
If money is no object and you want the ultimate family tent that is still weather proof, easy to setup and reasonably compact to pack, look at the REI Kingdom 6 with the optional Connect Tech Vestibule or Garage. But be prepared to spend over $500 on the complete setup.
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