Article updated: 2016-02-03

Tourist tents are tents designed for hiking or outdoor recreation with a moderate degree of comfort. Due to its low weight and size, it can be transported in a backpack (bag, hands, etc.). Unlike camping ones, they have a lower ceiling height, allowing you to only sit or lie inside.

There is always a great temptation to buy a tent with larger vestibules. As you know, there is never too much comfort. But it is still advisable to objectively evaluate what they will be used for. For example, for storing bicycles or large quantity equipment in a region that is troubled in terms of “borrowing” other people’s things. Then you understand that an additional 0.5 - 1 kg behind you is a necessary tribute to circumstances. In most cases, one or two medium-sized vestibules are sufficient. 70-100 cm. And sometimes you can do something more cunning - take a light three-person tent for two with virtually no vestibules and comfortably place your belongings in an empty space. At the same time, if anything happens, there will always be a reserve for placing one more comrade with you.

Materials

The materials from which tents are made is a separate huge topic, and we can talk about it for a very long time. So here we will deliberately touch on only a few of the most fundamental points. What is most important from the point of view of the average user choosing a tent.

Tent frames are made from fiberglass(fiberglass, ) – much cheaper, or aluminum- more expensive, but also lighter and more reliable. Mid- to high-end tents will almost always have high-tech aluminum poles. The cheap ones are mostly fiberglass. In principle, when used on ordinary quiet hikes, there is no big sin in fiberglass arches. You just need to understand that such a tent will be noticeably heavier than its counterpart with aluminum poles, and is intended only for mild operating conditions. The main thing where you should not take fiberglass is in the mountains, where the material quickly degrades under the influence of harsh ultraviolet radiation and begins to break, which causes a lot of trouble. In the cold winter it is also more prone to breakdowns.

Fabrics. Tarpaulin, as a material for tourist tents, has irrevocably sunk into the past. The awning and bottom of modern tents are made of synthetic fabric (polyester or nylon), onto which polyurethane impregnation (PU). The more layers of impregnation, the stronger the fabric and the better it holds water. The name of the material will contain the letters PU and the water resistance value in millimeters.

About water resistance values many spears were broken. At one time, among tourists it was considered almost one of the main criteria for choosing a tent. After all, the higher it is, the more guaranteed you and your things will be dry. 10,000mm and nothing threatens you even under the torrents of tropical downpour. But this is in theory. In practice, all manufacturers measure this value in their own way. Some indicate a figure for fabric that has just left the factory, others give a more objective value - test results after a year of using the tent. In addition, it is of great importance how it is all sewn, whether the pattern is made successfully, whether the seams are processed well, and so on. So, it is quite difficult to compare products from different brands based on this parameter or to “expose” someone in reality. And the current tent, for any even more or less sane manufacturer, is now something out of the ordinary. Like the current umbrella - outright defective and hack work. Nowadays only very cheap, low-quality things are guilty of this. Users often mistake drops of condensation on the inside of the tent for a tent leak, but this is a completely different physical phenomenon.

The only thing you can really check is questionable tents, whether its seams are taped. If not, then it is better to refuse it. During prolonged rain, water will gradually seep through such a line. And the older the tent gets, the more the fabric stretches, the more it will leak.

In lightweight tents last years fabric is actively used not with traditional polyurethane (PU), but with silicone impregnation (Silicone or Si)- . This is a much lighter material. For example, the modification is the same double tent with a silicone awning it can weigh not 3 kg, but 2.3 kg. In addition, fabric impregnated with silicone, due to the fact that the threads are not glued together, but can move freely and distribute the load, has greater tensile strength. But at the same time, it is noticeably more expensive and requires more complex sewing technology, so it is not used as often. Mainly in UltraLight and extreme series of tents.

In cheap tents, the bottom is often made, on the contrary, not from fabric, but from reinforced polyethylene(“terpaulin”, similar in appearance to the material of a shuttle seller’s bag). It has the right to exist in simple hikes or outdoor recreation. But we must take into account that such material is much heavier than fabric and stiffer, due to which the folded tent becomes more voluminous. With frequent assembly and disassembly, especially in the cold, creases may gradually form on the folds, allowing water to pass through.

Types of tourist tents

First of all, this ordinary tourist tents (they are also sometimes called “trekking” tents, from the English trekking - hike). Designed for hiking, cycling, water or simple mountain trips. They are best suited for ordinary outdoor recreation: picnics, fishing, trips to the river, etc. The most widespread type is about 80% of the assortment of any store.

Extreme(mountain, ) tents. They are made to withstand the harsh conditions of high mountains and subpolar latitudes. First of all, these are lower temperatures and strong winds, which ordinary tents most often simply cannot withstand and break. Accordingly, these are thicker fabrics, a durable frame with an excessive number of arcs, and testing of models under difficult expedition conditions. Naturally, such tents, despite the most Hi-tech, turn out to be somewhat heavier than usual. For more details, see the section on extreme tents.

Seasonality of tents

Quite often manufacturers indicate climatic conditions, based on which one or another of their products was designed. In this case, in the description you can see the words: “summer”, “three-season” (spring-summer-autumn) or “four-season” (winter, extreme). This information can be very useful, but it must be understood and interpreted correctly.

The main difference between tents of different seasons is how well their interior space is protected from the wind blowing from outside. In summer models, the inner tent is usually made of openwork mesh, which provides good ventilation in hot, stuffy weather. In three-season and winter models, instead of mesh, denser fabric is used, which somewhat reduces air circulation and blowing from the outside. In addition, many four-season models are also equipped with storm skirts, which, by covering them with snow or stones, can almost completely eliminate the blowing of wind.

But it must be remembered that from the point of view of direct thermal insulation, a winter (four-season) tent is not much warmer than a summer one. And this is understandable, since structurally, these are still the same two layers of fabric that separate us from the cold reigning outside. So, on frosty nights, all the necessary insulation should be provided by a good thick sleeping bag.

Little things

The tent is often equipped with all sorts of auxiliary little things such as pockets on the walls or shelves under the ceiling. It’s not that this is strictly necessary or necessary, but it’s quite convenient in camp life.

But a repair kit must be included in any tent. It can lie unnoticed in a bag of pegs for years, but if something happens, it can be used to repair very serious damage that could otherwise lead to a trip being disrupted.

Manufacturers

The choice of tourist tents in our stores is now simply huge. There are already more than a hundred manufacturers whose products are represented on the Russian market. New names are constantly appearing, some, on the contrary, are leaving the scene. Under these conditions, it is, of course, impossible to talk about everyone, and, moreover, to sort everyone into categories. For some reference, below is a list of brands that have been known in Russia for quite some time. But you need to understand that it is far from complete and in addition to those listed, there are many other manufacturers also worthy of attention.

First of all, several indisputable leaders industry. Those who are now ahead are actively inventing and implementing something new. They produce the most high-tech, light, durable, but also, naturally, quite expensive things:

About a dozen more manufacturers mid-level, quite widespread in our country (the list, I repeat, is far from exhaustive):

From relatively cheap tents, almost every store sells something different. The most popular ones include:

It should be noted that Russian tents against the general background they look very competitive. In terms of workmanship, they are comparable to what Western manufacturers make for the same money. Including, in addition to the traditional trekking and extreme tents for our country, we are also starting to see good examples of ultra-light equipment.

How much does a tent cost?

The price range for tents is quite wide. For example, a double room can cost either 2,000 rubles or 20,000 rubles. And the point is not that some manufacturer is very greedy, but someone almost pays us extra from their own pocket. The price of the tent well reflects the quality of the materials and the technical level at which it is made.

The design of an expensive top-end tent has been developed over the years, experimenting, the right materials are selected, the nuances of assembly and ventilation are thought through, and complex technological processes of sewing and sealing are used. The result is a very high quality, lightweight and reliable item. It’s not scary to go on a long expedition with her, far from civilization, where if something starts to break, you can get seriously into trouble.

At the same time, its Chinese counterpart from Auchan is, as a rule, a copy of some well-known model, but significantly simplified. Simple zippers, fittings made of cheap, not very reliable plastic, the fabric is not the one that the creator carefully selected during the design, but the one that fits within the strict budget restrictions, the cheapest possible frame. Such a tent may also have a right to exist, especially somewhere on a simple two-day trip to nature. But, of course, you need to be prepared for “surprises” and not expect miracles from it such as low weight and long years of service.

Ultimately, everyone chooses for themselves. Based on your goals and budget, which you are mentally prepared to splurge on. As a guide, the price of an average (that is, not very expensive, but not the cheapest) tourist tent:

average price tents">

	average price of a tent
Relevance – Feb. 2016
2-seater	7,000 – 12,000 rub.
4-seater	10,000 – 16,000 rub.

1. First of all, decide on type tents. For hiking Lightweight trekking models are perfect. Spacious camping tents provide a high level of comfort. Mountain climbers should take a closer look at the storm category.
2. When determining the optimal capacity It is important to consider the duration of living in nature. If the trip lasts for several days, then part of the space will be occupied by things and a table. Therefore, it is better to take a tent that can accommodate more than the expected number of campers.
3. An important selection criterion is seasonality. Summer models are made from the finest materials. Spring-autumn designs are made from denser fabrics. Winter tents have maximum strength and high thermal insulation qualities.
4. Pay attention to the following parameter: waterproof. It is expressed in millimeters of water (mmH2O). In summer, a tent with a water capacity of 1500 mm can cope with short-term rain. Art., and for holidays from spring to late autumn it is better to choose more waterproof tent models (3000-4000 mm). It is also worth finding out if the tent has a sealed bottom.
5. Modern tents are equipped with many useful options. It is convenient to use the internal pockets, a comfortable microclimate is provided by the ventilation system, and mosquito nets will help protect vacationers from annoying insects.

How to choose a camping tent? Among the huge variety of different shapes, sizes, capacity and water resistance, you want not to get lost and choose the one that is best suited for your trip. In order not to make a mistake and not to regret making a hasty choice during a hike, far from civilization, it is worth spending a few minutes and carefully studying the presented tents based on several factors. So which one better tent? Let's try to figure it out point by point and make the right choice.

Tourist tents today are quite widely represented on the market and differ from each other both in performance characteristics and in price range. Below are a number of considerations that will help you navigate and make the best decision.

Manufacturer. Tourist and camping tents from well-known manufacturers are more expensive than the average, but we should not forget that such companies value their name and therefore cannot afford to offer the buyer low-quality products. Brand reputation is a guarantee of product quality and reliability. After all, your safety depends on the quality of your equipment!

Until recently, a camping tent was a heavy canvas structure, the installation of which required certain skills. Today, any novice tourist can easily cope with this task. It's not just the fastening systems that have become more advanced. The fabrics of modern tents have high performance characteristics, have water-repellent and fire-resistant properties, and weigh very little. Some models, when folded, are small 3-5 kilogram packages that easily fit into a hiking backpack.

You need to choose the appropriate option based on the expected number of vacationers, as well as the conditions in which the tent will be used. The most popular are trekking and camping designs.

We have compiled a list of the best camping tents based on expert assessments and reviews from real customers. Our recommendations will help you make a choice that suits your needs and desires. There are many competitors in the global technology market, but we have selected the best manufacturers and recommend paying special attention to them:

1. NOVA TOUR
2. Trump
3. Maverick
4. Alexika
5. Greenell

Camping Trekking Double-layer Number of seats: up to 4 Winter For fishing

*Prices are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.

Tents: Camping

*from user reviews

Minimum price:

Main advantages

• A four-person camping tent is designed for comfortable outdoor recreation in any weather.
• The skirt, stitched with a webbing, and the sealed material of the outer dome protect from rain and wind. The seams are additionally taped with heat shrink tape
• The main feature of the model is its design. The spacious vestibule is ideal not only for storing things, but also for eating. A camp table and chairs can easily fit here
• Oxford 150D bottom material withstands heavy mechanical loads and does not allow cold from the ground to pass through
• The sleeping compartment is equipped with a window, the opening of which is protected by a mosquito net and an external curtain. Thanks to a well-thought-out ventilation system, the tent is not stuffy, even with high humidity outside

Double-layer / Camping / Number of seats: up to 4

Main advantages

• Four-person tent for a comfortable stay at any time of the year. Wind-resistant, with thoughtful ventilation and reliable fastenings
• This tent has a spacious vestibule that can accommodate all your camping gear. There are three entrances to the vestibule, protected by mosquito nets.
• The seams are welded with a special heat-shrinkable fabric, which makes the tent 100% airtight and waterproof
• The attachment points are reinforced with additional inserts and seams. The fabric does not stretch or tear, so the tent will last for many years even with intensive use
• Fire-resistant impregnation ensures maximum safety while relaxing

Show all products in the category "Camping"

Tents: Trekking

Number of seats: up to 4/ Tracking / Double-layer

Main advantages

• Double-layer trekking model designed to comfortably seat four people
• 10 adjustable guy ropes ensure the tent remains stable in any wind. And Polyester 190T PU fabric with external impregnation with Water Repellent protects from rain and snow. Heat shrink tape ensures the tightness of the seams
• Thanks to a well-thought-out ventilation system, it is always easy to breathe inside the tent, and a special valve protects against atmospheric precipitation.
• For storing things there are two spacious vestibules, the entrance to which is closed with a zipper. If it rains, you can additionally close the moisture-proof valve
• The storage bag is compressible, so you can place a wet tent in it and pull it down to a compact size

Double layer / Number of seats: up to 4/ Trekking

Main advantages

• The tent is designed for three adults. It is quite spacious, with a large vestibule in which you can leave your equipment
• The tent has two layers: a breathable bottom layer and a waterproof outer layer. In hot and dry weather, you don’t need to put on the top awning, so the tent will maintain a comfortable temperature and optimal air parameters
• The upper awning is made of polyurethane fabric and is 100% moisture resistant. All seams in the tent are sealed. Even in heavy and prolonged rain it will be dry
• The arches are made of fiberglass - a composite material that combines strength, lightness and durability. It is many times stronger than aluminum, while weighing much less
• The tent has a mount for a flashlight, internal pockets for various small items, and a mosquito net at the entrance. Such details ensure the most comfortable stay

Double layer / Number of seats: up to 4/ Trekking

Main advantages

• An excellent automatic tent that even a beginner can install. detailed instructions sewn to the cover, you can always see how to set up the tent correctly
• The umbrella mechanism, which ensures ease of installation, is designed for 1000 folding and unfolding cycles
• The tent has a well-thought-out ventilation system. Special windows provide a constant flow of fresh air, but they can be closed if necessary
• The model is two-layer, the upper awning protects from rain and wind, and the lower one, made of breathable fabric, allows you to rest comfortably even in the heat
• The floor is made of dense material laminated on both sides. This ensures 100% moisture resistance in any weather