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privacy provided by this arrangement too. A five by seven foot tent is adequate for young
kids. Teenagers should be considered as adults when sizing a tent.
The peak inside height is very important to your comfort. For most trips, try to have a tent
that is tall enough to stand in. Plan for the taller persons in your group if possible. A six or
seven foot peak height is necessary for adults, and a four foot peak is about right for kids.
Remember, the tent slopes downward at a sharp angle, so the actual spot where you can
stand up will be small. Larger spaces will be provided in tents with taller peaks.
Shape
Tents come in four basic shapes: A-frame, umbrella, geodesic (sometimes called a dome
tent), and wall. The A-frame is the common "pup" tent shape, but can also be quite large.
The umbrella is a very commonly used family camping tent, as it has lots of standing
room, with large windows and a rain fly over the top. The geodesic comes in many shapes,
but all look like combinations of connected triangles. The wall tent is like an A-frame tent,
but is generally much larger and has vertical sidewalls.
Poles
Poles are made from aluminum or fiberglass. Most tents have poles that are linked together
with an elastic shock cord. This helps when setting up the tent. Poles can bend or break, so
many tent manufacturers provide emergency repair links for you to carry along on the trip.
Fabric
Nearly all tents are now made of nylon. Coated nylon is used for waterproofing. Nylon
mesh is used for inner walls. No-see-um mesh is used for the window screens. Better tents
use thicker fabric and rip-stop fabric.
Zippers
When you are shopping, test the zippers. They should open and close freely, and should
not catch and bind on the tent fabric. The zippers should be of a corrosion proof material.
Seams
