by Teri
(Iowa)
We are in our 60's and want to start tent camping again. The tent should be lightweight and easy to set up, but tall enough for us to stand in and big enough for a queen sized air mattress. We probably won't use it in extreme cold weather (unless it's accidental) but it should be strong and able to handle rain, high winds, heat, and rugged terrain.
We won't be backpacking with it probably, but we will need to be able to carry it around some. We've read about not getting nylon sides or fiberglass poles and making sure there is adequate ventilation, as well as no-see-ums screening, but it is confusing trying to find brands that actually have these features.
We plan to be in it about a month at a time, so while we may only use it a couple of times a year, when we do, we will *use* it! Any help would be appreciated. thanks.
Answer:![]() Time to go camping WITHOUT the kids, right?! |
Hi Teri,
Thanks for writing in! And congratulations on taking up camping again. It is such a life-affirming, positive activity and I'm always glad to meet new people who are as excited about hitting the trails as I am.
You're right to be discriminating about your tent purchase. This is a big deal--buying a tent is an investment. Tents don't come cheap, so you need to make sure that the model you lay down money for has every feature you need and will last you for a long time to come.
I'm going to talk about my favorite three tents for you to look at. They all conform to your needs and you'd be a happy camper with any one of them. But first, let's talk a little bit about the most important considerations you--and all other tent buyers out there--need to keep in mind when shopping for a new shelter.
When you go out to buy a tent, you can't just pick the one that looks the coolest and be on your way. As you know, you need to do your research, take your time, and really judge a model's worth. These are 5 buying factors you cannot afford to overlook.
![]() Camping Tent Reviews' editors backpacking in Colorado |
Are there other considerations to make when buying a tent? You bet there are! Price, material, and shape are among them. But if you nail down the five factors listed above, you'll be well on your way to picking out the perfect structure.
All right, let's get down to business here! You're looking for a tent with a lot of excellent features--in both the practicality and luxury departments. For my money, there are a handful of manufacturers I will always look to first. Of those, the two you should really investigate further are REI and Big Agnes.
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These two companies are known for making safe, spacious, light, and easy-to-set-up shelters. Their wares may be a bit on the pricey side, but I guarantee you that they're worth it.
Here are three tents that fit your needs to the proverbial "T":
Each of these tents features enough interior room for your queen-sized air mattress, and their peak height range from 5'8" to over 6', making it possible for you and your missus to stand mostly upright inside--assuming neither of you are much taller than average.
Whether you pick one of these three or a completely different one, let me know what you decide! I'm always looking for new models to try out, if they're recommended to me by a trusty camper--which you certainly appear to be! Best of luck!
Have a blast!
~ Perry
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