Choosing the right TENT for travel.

MSR Zoid 2, US$219.95 Item 694711 at REI.com

Redesigned - Huge side doors with 4-way, pull-out vestibules provide individual gear storage; configure panels up, down or alternated to vary ventilation.

Average packaged weight 4 lbs. 10 oz. = 2.1kg
Floor dimensions 99 x 57 inches
Peak height 39 inches
Floor area 30 .3 square feet
Vestibule area 11 square feet
Packed size 5 x 16 inches
Pole material Aluminum DAC Featherlite
Number of poles 2
Doors 2

Mountain Hardwear Tri-Light 2 Tent, US$345.00 (no longer available from REI)

Large front vestibule stores gear and UVX windows in rainfly and vestibule provide a skylight effect when the weather is not so good

Average packaged weight 4 lbs. 10 oz. = 2.10kg
Floor dimensions 88 x 54.5 inches
Peak height 35.5 inches
Floor area 28.6 square feet
Vestibule area 10 square feet
Packed size 6 x 18 inches
Pole material Aluminum Easton
Number of poles 3
Doors 1

Sierra Designs Asteroid, US$199.00 (no longer available from REI)

Large Stash Door, surrounded by mesh provides good ventilation; large vestibule with window allows plenty of room to store wet gear outside tent

Average packaged weight 4 lbs. 15 oz. = 2.24kg
Floor dimensions 100 x 82 inches
Peak height 42 inches
Floor area 40 square feet
Vestibule area 10 square feet
Packed size 5 x 20 inches
Pole material Aluminum DAC Featherlite
Number of poles 1
Doors 1

Kelty Riverbend 2 Tent, US$200.00 (No longer available from REI)

Designed with large ceiling and window panels for ventilation, this two-person tent is great for three-season use

Average packaged weight 6 lbs. 5 oz. = 2.87kg
Floor dimensions 89 x 65 inches
Peak height 40 inches
Floor area 34.6 square feet
Vestibule area 8.6 square feet
Packed size 7.5 x 22 inches
Pole material Aluminum DAC Featherlite
Number of poles 2
Doors 1

The North Face Roadrunner 2, US$249.00 (No longer available from REI)

Dual doors allow easy accessibility and venting options, while the double vestibules give lots of room for gear storage

Average packaged weight 6 lbs. 6 oz. = 2.9kg
Sleeping capacity 2
Floor dimensions 91 x 58 inches
Peak height 39 inches
Floor area 35 square feet
Vestibule area 9 + 9 square feet
Packed size 6 x 18 inches
Pole material Aluminum DAC Featherlite
Number of poles 3
Doors 2

The North Face Heron 33, US$349.00 Item 732593 at REI.com

Roomy three-person tent with loads of usable area and spacious vestibules for dirty riding gear, boots and saddlebags.

Average packaged weight 6 lbs. 5 oz. = 2.86kg
Sleeping capacity 3
Floor dimensions 85 x 62 inches
Peak height 41 inches
Floor area 37 square feet
Vestibule area 14 + 14 square feet
Packed size 7 x 22 inches
Pole material Aluminum DAC reverse-combi
Number of poles 3
Doors 2

Tent accessories

For all tents, I always recommend using what's called a "footprint" or ground sheet of lightweight nylon, both as a protector, and to help keep the floor and floor seams dry. It should fit as close to the tent as possible, inside the tent fly protected area. They are available for most good tents, and run US$20-30.

Tent pegs can be aggravating, and I have found that it's worthwhile to carry a selection of pegs. I have finally - after hundreds of pegs - found the perfect peg. For most of the time! My main pegs are made from tent-pole material (Easton Aluminum) and are expensive, but have proven to be worth the money. (US$2.00 from REI, Item 358201), or from MEC 4011-921, CAD$2.00). Very strong, stiff, and at only 15gm, very light, easy to put in most ground by simply stepping on them (they won't bend easily!) and sometimes come with a string to pull them out with. Just add a string if they don't, the hole's already drilled.

I use these for the most important pull-outs, then use lightweight and less bulky aluminum wire pegs for the rest.

I also carry enough snow pegs (US$1.25 from REI.com, Item 358111) to do the main pullouts for very sandy ground. The Easton Aluminum pegs then do the minor pullouts, and the wire pegs are retired)

You should also carry a tent pole repair sleeve in case a pole breaks. Also a package of ripstop nylon tape to patch holes quickly and watertight. A suitable needle and thread should be part of your kit, and a patch of nylon and also no-see-um netting (extra fine mosquito mesh that is used on most good tents).

Inside the tent, a "gearloft" or "attic" is very handy. Watches, glasses, flashlight (torch), toilet paper etc. live there out of the way and easily accessible. It weighs almost nothing, made out of mozzie mesh, and most tents now come with attachment points. Often specific to the tent, though you can adapt many.

Swag pockets are a neat new idea.

Another neat idea is a "wing" tarp.

These are great for sun or rain shelter when cooking or whatever. Small and light.

Moss Heptawing one-person Tarp $150.00 Canadian

Dimensions are approximately 2.9 x 2.9m.
Poles are Easton aluminum, 12.4mm diameter, one 1.47m tall, one 1.12m tall.
Minimum weight (no poles) is 785g, packaged weight is 1.27kg.
Packed size of 10 x 46cm

Moss Vistawing two-person Tarp $210.00 Canadian

Dimensions are approximately 3.7 x 4.6m.
Poles are Easton aluminum, 16mm diameter, 1.82m tall.
Minimum weight (no poles) is 1.93kg, packaged weight is 2.49kg.
Packed size of 13 x 41cm

Tent maintenance

When you first get it, seam seal it immediately, before you use it, and before your sweat and grime prevents the sealer from sticking well, leaving you with having a leaky tent - forever. The seamsealer will stick best on a very clean tent. If it's used, or after years of use you need to redo it, you also need to clean the seams with a special cleaner. Lots of work. Do a good job the first time and it will last a long time. This involves a lot of time (an hour or two!) to do the job right, and the stuff isn't good to breathe, so plan on doing it outside on a nice day.

Set the tent up and smear the seam seal compound on the tent seams. A big thick dribble is not what you want, just a thin coating, no wider than you can, worked well into the threads and seam. Do the floor seams and the fly only.

Some say you don't need to do the fly, but I've watched drips coming through the fly and then through the mosquito netting - onto me! On a conventional tent with nylon roofed inner tent it's less important.

Never put a tent away wet. Great idea, but often can't be helped. So do make sure you air it out as soon as possible, or it will become moldy and mildewed, smell bad, and generally be very unpleasant. Will also damage the waterproofing coating. To remove mildew, use a mix of 1 part common white household vinegar and 5 parts water. Don't soak it for long as it is hard on the tent material. Rinse very well with soap and water, give it a little more scrubbing, and rinse well and set it up to dry.

Never dry a tent in a dryer. The mosquito mesh will melt and shrink. damhik!

To clean it, just use mild soap and a soft brush or sponge, rinse it well and air dry. Large commercial washers are okay too, on gentle cycle.

You can use silicone spray or wax sticks on sticky zipper sliders. Some tents now come with easily field-replaceable sliders. Most can be repaired with a sewing kit and some time. All use "self-healing" nylon-coil zips, which with care can be forced back together if the zip should come apart.

The tent fly IS vulnerable to sun, and will become greatly weakened over a long period. Mountaineers replace the fly regularly, as they have been know to blow apart in a storm after a few years use. Try and camp in shady spots to protect the fly.

Finally, when storing the tent at home, don't leave it squashed into it's stuff sack. Open it out and fold it very loosely, with the fly, into a large bag, preferably cotton so it can breathe. Nylon stuffed away for a long time smells really bad! Always keep the pegs separate in a nylon peg bag to prevent damage.