Approximately 48 million American households took a camping trip in 2020. This is 6 million more households than compared to 2019!
The pandemic led to many families switching gears for their travels. With new opportunities to work from home, many people turned to the mountains for their getaways. In addition to the increase in family camping, approximately 80% of campers reported a positive change in their camping habits last year.
If you are taking the kids out camping this year, a family tent makes all the difference. Keep reading on to learn more about the best family tent features to look for.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
While going out camping with the family sounds like a fun time, it can be a lot of work. Having a good camping list and the right gear takes the hassle out of prepping extensively for your fun weekend.
You want to consider what time of year you are camping in. Most tents are only designed for three seasons: spring, summer, and fall.
If you are camping in the winter, you want to ensure that all of your gear is weatherproof – this usually means dropping more money on a quality tent, sleeping bag, and other gear.
However, if you are looking at camping during the milder months, then check into the destination you want to head towards. If you are staying in a full-serviced campground, some sites book out months in advance.
Plan ahead at the beginning of the year for popular destinations you want to visit. Also – don’t be afraid to get the kids involved! You can have them help you with meal planning and picking out activities to do when you’re in your camping area.
Type of Family Tent
Family tent size is critical to your camping experience. The last thing you want is an inadequate tent that squishes your whole family together – this just leads to a miserable experience.
Having a good night’s rest in the wild is already hard enough – make sure that you take the necessary steps with a giant family tent to ensure you’re all comfortable.
Tents come in all sizes from single to multi-person tents. Sometimes, a family cabin tent holds up to twelve people. First, determine how many people you intend to take camping with.
Once you lay out sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, and pads – it gets tight. The rule of thumb is to aim for one size larger than you would typically buy for extra room.
A family cabin tent provides more headspace than typical domes. These stretch up to six feet on average. Keep in mind, family tents are typically heavier and more difficult to set up.
That is okay.
Unless you are backpacking, you don’t need to worry so much about space and weight as much as comfort. Another feature to look for is the type of material that you purchase for your tent.
The last thing you want is for the rain to soak through your tent in the middle of the night. For this reason – look into waterproof features and tents with a rain fly.
Tents easily increase in price – especially if you need a larger tent. However, for a decent tent, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300.
Sleep Comfortably
Did you know that you can purchase a family tent with rooms? While they tend to be more expensive and heavier than your standard family tent, they can help you and the kids sleep more comfortably.
These tents are helpful because people get to sleep in separate areas. This eliminates potential problems with different sleep schedules. It also lets you store your gear more easily and sometimes provides a comfortable sitting area.
Additionally, if someone needs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, they won’t have to knock into other people to get to the door.
However, there are a few other factors that make sleeping in your tent more comfortable. First, pick the right sleeping bag. For this, you will need to check out the weather conditions and the type of insulation you’ll need.
Don’t sacrifice cost for quality on this. You can still find good sleeping bags within an affordable price range.
Also, if you don’t want to bring your pillow from home, then look for a camping pillow. You don’t want to spend the whole night trying to fluff a blanket or pile of clothes because you forgot a pillow.
What you sleep on is arguably one of the most important features. The best way to avoid getting cold and damp is to invest in a tent cot. These are lightweight and easy to store – better yet, you will likely get a better night’s rest than sleeping on an air mattress.
Finally, bring clothing that is specifically for sleeping in. If the weather at night is colder, then don’t forget to bring warm socks and underlayers. If it is warm where you are camping, then bring an extra pair of light clothes that won’t get sweaty during the night.
Get Out There
Don’t let the notion of bringing the whole family camping keep you from exploring the great outdoors. Investing in a quality family tent will ensure that everyone is bound to have a good time.
A family tent gives you and your family an area to hang out in and get a good night’s rest. If you are still wondering about helpful tips, tricks, and advice for your next camping trip, then be sure to check us out for up-to-date articles on all things camping.