The dictionary defines a tent as 'a portable shelter usually of
canvas or other cloth stretched over poles or supports and fastened to
the ground with pegs and ropes'. That definition covers a wide variety
of structures in many sizes, shapes and styles. Whether you're looking
for family shelter on a camping trip, a pavilion for a wedding or a
beach canopy, there's a tent to suit your needs.
When choosing a
tent for camping, you'll need to consider how it will be used, how it
will be carried, how many people will be sleeping in it, and how easy
it will be to set up. The following descriptions of broad styles of tents should help you decide what kind of tent is best for your camping trip. FRAME TENTS - Frame tents
are generally regarded as an older style of tent. They use aluminum or
steel poles to form a frame over which the tent cloth, usually canvas,
is draped. The newer styles are often made of cotton or a synthetic
fabric with fiberglass frames. Frame tents can be elaborately designed
and offer a great deal of room and structure inside. The biggest
disadvantage is that they are often difficult to erect. DOME
TENTS - Dome tents are among the most popular styles. Dome construction
is used in tents as simple as children's bed tents. They generally
consist of a fabric tent and flexible fiberglass or plastic tent
'poles' that slip through sleeves in the fabric. The poles are shaped
by the fabric and give the tent its rigidity. They're easy to set up
and collapse, lightweight, and often offer a great deal of head room
and comfort. Their major disadvantage is that they may be unstable in
high winds. GEODESIC TENTS - Geodesic tents are a variation of
dome tents, modified for improved stability. They are framed and set up
the same way, but the framing poles cross and interconnect at various
points for strength and stability. The advantages are the same as those
offered by dome tents, though they may be a bit more difficult to set
up. EXPEDITION TENTS - Also known as touring tents, these tents
generally combine a ridge and dome tent into one. They are ideal
'settling in' tents, and often include a large 'porch' area for shade
and shelter. They will often have windows as well. Expedition tents are
roomy and comfortable, and designed to allow easy standing inside. FAMILY TENTS - family tents
are composite tents that usually include sleeping compartments on
either side of a central living area. The main tent area may be either
ridge construction or dome construction. The side areas allow privacy
for sleeping. FESTIVAL TENTS - For special occasions like a
wedding or large party, festival tents can provide shelter from the
weather for guests. Generally, they are rented by the day for the
event, and are often assembled by the rental company. They're available
in a wide variety of colors and styles to fit any event and most
budgets. BEACH TENTS - Beach tents come in almost as many
varieties as tents themselves. Most are lightweight, of ripstop nylon
and fiberglass pole construction. The newest are 'pop-up' tents that
store flat and open out in seconds to a full size shelter from the sun
and weather.
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