- 1). Determine the coldest temperatures your tent will have to protect you against. If you do not need your tent to protect you from temperatures colder than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a low quality or "summer" tent should be fine. Small A-frame or tube tents are suitable, though you may want to make sure that the skin of the tent is nylon to prevent accidental ripping. Three-season tents with stronger construction and thicker fabric are better for camping in cold spring and fall seasons, and four-season tents are the minimum for camping in the coldest temperatures. Check the description of the tent to determine how many seasons it is suited for.
- 2). Determine the rigidity requirements of your tent by deciding upon the windiest elements your tent will have to withstand. For very windy conditions, you ought to purchase a tent with a greater proportion of poles, 12 or more stitches per inch, aluminum rather than fiberglass poles, and a tent which does not require tent pegs in its erection. Compromises can be made for areas with less wind.
- 3). Decide the degree of moisture and precipitation your tent will have to withstand in order to determine the waterproof requirements of your tent. If you want your tent to endure very wet conditions, you should settle for nothing less than polyether treated fabric. All tents come with waterproof treatment, but polyester is often used on tents which are not expected to protect you against very wet conditions.
- 4). Determine what amount of snowfall your tent will have to endure in order to decide what shape the roof of your tent should be. To prepare for snowfalls of 3 inches or more, you ought to purchase a tent with a steeply sloped roof in order to ensure that snow does not built up on the roof and collapse the tent.
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