Family Tents
The idea behind family tents is that the whole gang is going to want to sleep together when out in the wilderness. In theory this is a good idea. In practice you can just imagine the problems that this type of arrangement will bring with it.
Camping with your family is more an art then a recreational activity. What makes it different then camping with your friends is that you already live with your family and normally would like to get away from them during your vacations. But some people enjoy their families and even want to sleep with them in the same tent. And that is where family tents come into the picture.
When looking for a tent that the whole family can fit into you won’t find too much of a selection amongst the cheap tents. When shopping for outdoor equipment you really do get what you pay for. Inexpensive camping equipment, whether it be tents or camping chairs, just won’t do very well. You will end up paying more in the long run because of quick wear and tear and poor workmanship.
Cheap family tents will always make your vacation a more miserable experience. Untimely rips and tears, water leaks, and poor wind protection can make a family bonding opportunity into a family insanity gathering. This is not what you want your camping memories to be filled with.
Large family camping tents really do offer some advantages for people that believe that family vacations should be experienced with family members. They give you the opportunity to have all your loved ones in one large space so that you can enjoy the outdoor experience together. Of course the large size will enable you to bring along and protect all the necessary supplies and equipment in one centralized location. There will always be somebody around to talk to and much easier to recruit helpers for any chores that need to be done.
Of course camping isn’t all about work, equipment, or even cooking around the campfire. There are fun outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, exploring, photography, rafting, and so much more. For younger children these experiences are much easier to experience if they are surrounded by their family. Their comfort level will rise dramatically if they are sleeping in the same tent as mom and dad, brother and sister, and even the family dog. Instead of being scared and having nightmares they will see it as a sense of adventure and be able to dream up pleasant memories.
I remember when I was younger my family had a car tent. For those of you not familiar with what a car tent is let me explain to the best of my memory. Basically this type of tent is one that literally attaches onto the back of your car. The main advantages is that there is easy setup, a solid support structure (the car) that prevents the tent from folding at the wrong time, and close proximately to your get away vehicle if some unwanted visitors (bears?) happen to show up.
They do make extra large family tents. They can be used for more than just a place to sleep. They are great for a party location, meetings, and of course large family reunions. Some of these tents are truly massive and take many people to set up correctly. Tents of these sizes allow each member not only to bring along and store as much supplies as they wish but also allow for people to sleep on a cot inside the tent, have an entertainment area, and more than one cooking area.
Now of course you really don’t need a family to enjoy the benefits of family size tents. The main advantage to a large tent is….well the size. If you and your pal, friends, or group want to stay in one tent that offers lots of room to do many different things “inside” then these types of tents might just be what you need.
In direct contrast to family tents are what is known as a backpacking tent. These types of tents are normally folded or rolled up small enough to carry on your backpack. They are normally only large enough for one person. They are very handy if you are going to be hiking to your camping location that is off the beaten path and can’t be accessed by a vehicle. They are lightweight and easy to assemble. You can’t fit a lot of “things” into one of these tents but you wouldn’t be able to carry a lot of “things” with you anyway.
A great advantage of family dome tents is that they offer the very convenient feature of a smokestack opening. This of course allows you to cook inside without asphyxiating everyone in the family. So now when you go out and catch dinner, maybe that largemouth bass, you will be able to cook it inside. The pleasures of roughing it never cease.
The best family camping tents allow for easy setup, sturdy construction, plenty of room, and protection from the elements. To set a family tent up takes some work. You will be happy that you have your family with you to help. Unfortunately none of these tents are inflatable tents. You will have to unfold, stake, and lift the tent up. Water drainage will have to be dug around the perimeter to prevent flooding in the case of rain. But in the end you will end up with a solid structure that will protect you from the elements and provide you with a sturdy place to sleep.
Large family tents certainly do have their place. Not everybody wants to sleep on the ground with barely enough room to turn or sit up. The best family tents have enough room to make sure that everybody is comfortable and that there is enough room inside the tent to store all provisions and everything that is needed for your adventure.
Have you ever gone camping and spent some time in a canvas tent while it was raining? If you have then you are probably aware that the tent will more or less remain waterproof as long as you don’t touch it. But once you touch it, even with just your finger, the water will start dripping in at the point of contact. I’m not sure why that occurs but it does and it is something you should be aware of.
If you idea of a tent is just a place to sleep then instead of something large and elaborate maybe a simple pop up tent will suit you better. They are normally small and lightweight. They set up just about anywhere and they take no special skill or additional people at all to set properly.
Family cabin tents are just another model of family tents. They are spacious, sturdy, and able to comfortably accommodate lots of people. They will normally have high vertical walls so that you can stand up inside of them.
There are many options when it comes to family tents. But in the end when looking at family tents make sure that the one you choose is the one that your family will be happy with.