Define Your Needs

Get clear about the intended use for your new tent. Do you travel solo or by bicycle? Then a simple bivy shelter and tarp may suffice. Will you be backpacking? If so, weight and ease of setup are important. Fair-weather trekkers won't want to lug a heavy, blizzard-bearing mountain tent; likewise, rugged alpine Neanderthals will trash a light-duty shelter in pretty short order. Canoeists or car campers will often trade off packability for more headroom.

Stargazer's dream

It's one thing to mull over catalog specifications and compare square footage, quite another to clamber over your partner and out the door for a midnight nature call. Be skeptical of manufacturers' capacity guidelines, which are merely an indication of how many average-sized campers can wedge themselves inside and try to sleep in a human puppy-pile. Go to some outdoor stores and check out what the sizes really mean—just because the footprint looks promising doesn't mean there's enough elbow- or headroom for your sleeping style. (Generally, a dome-style tent will give more of each.) If you're planning to spend a lot of time in your tent (say, on a wet paddle trip versus a super high-mileage hike), you may want to consider one size larger than the tentmaker's estimates.

Weather Wise

Snug and smug and out of the bugs—weatherproofness is the whole point of your shelter. If you expect lots of rainy nights, then look for a"bathtub" floor—which extends up the sidewalls—and a full-coverage rain fly. An attached vestibule, or front porch, is the place for wet boots and raingear. With a second entry and second vestibule, you have a shed to which you can banish your muddy pooch—we call it the "beastibule."

Alternatively, consider ventilation. Can you vent from one end (low) to the other (high)? Good air circulation keeps your gear drier, and you'll sleep more comfortably on steamy summer nights.

Snoop along the seams. Many tents come with factory-sealed taped seams, which saves you the nasty chore of slathering seams with sealer goop. If the seams are not bound, sealed, or taped, then read the instructions for the manufacturer's recommended seam sealer. Do the job on a dry day in an airy location, and allow the sealer to cure a full 48 hours before stowing or using the tent.

Color Counts

Some folks like to look down from the mountain summit and see their little orange, bug-size shelter far below. Indeed, there is some safety in a highly visible color. For some people, the sight of another's camp shatters their wilderness experience; therefore, low-impact, low-profile earthy colors are preferable in well-traveled areas. On one kayak/climbing trip in Sardinia, I borrowed a solo, single-wall tent in chocolate brown. Not only did I wake in a steam when the sun hit each day, but the dark, cave-like interior was hardly cheerful.

Value Judgment

Although good value is distinctly subjective, remember that even the priciest shelter costs less than an average month's rent. If you're a light-duty user, you can afford to let price be your guide. If you want enduring function and workmanship, expect to pay more, and your tent should last many years with moderate care.

Move on to Tent Care and Feeding

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