3 Person Tent Buying Guide

Buying Guide To Your Perfect 3 Person Tent

When you're looking for a 3 PERSON TENT, you need to know that what you're looking at is WHAT YOU NEED. If you intend to take your 3 person tent hiking across miles of wild terrain, then you don't want to settle for any old tent. You need to ensure that the 3 person tent you go for is going to provide you with the ADEQUATE PROTECTION that you need.

We hope that our buying guide helps you to find your ideal 3 person tent.

About 3 Person Tents

A 3 person tent is designed to house THREE PEOPLE comfortably, whether you want it for a weekend away, or to take on a hiking trip. Because of their SMALL SIZE they are a favourite among travellers. They are able to pack up into SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT packs which can easily be attached to any rucksack and carried with ease. A good tent shouldn't slow you down.

Another thing you need to consider is its EASE OF USE. How simple and easy is it to put up? If you're in the middle of nowhere and it starts raining, you need to put your tent up as quickly as possible. You don't need one that's going to take you an hour - even two - to put up. By that time you would be soaking wet, chilled, and possibly have pneumonia setting in. If you take your hiking seriously and challenge places such as the moors or mountainous locations, then your SURVIVAL could very well depend on your equipment. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of getting your choice right.

3 man tents can also be found in a RANGE OF PRICES. The cheaper ones are often ideal and a favourite for festival goers with the understanding that they may not see the weekend through in one piece.

When shopping for a 3 person tent, you need to bear in mind what exactly it is you need it for.

Berth

The berth of a tent indicates how many people can sleep in it.? A 3 person tent, or a 3 berth tent, clearly indicates that three people can sleep inside it comfortably. However, if you have a lot of LUGGAGE to take with you, you may have problems fitting it all in. Depending on the actual size of the inside of your tent, it is unlikely that you will fit in an airbed. CAMPING MATS are usually a favourite for these instead. They may not be as comfortable as airbeds, but they still take the hardness of the floor away and can help you to keep warm during the night.

Things To Look For On A 3 Person Tent

Hydrostatic Head

The hydrostatic head rating of a tent indicates how WATERPROOF it is. The hydrostatic head is measured by pressing a column of water on the material - or skin - of the tent. When it starts to leak through, the rating can then be deciphered.

The rating for a British tent to be classed as waterproof is 800mm. This means that the column of water pressed against the skin reached a highest level of 800mm before it started to leak through. This is the LOWEST level a tent should be, and you shouldn't buy a tent with a lower rating.

1000mm is enough to withstand a British summer, but it may not be enough should you find yourself in a downpour. 2000mm is adequate to withstand the usual British weather, and keep you dry. However, you also need to consider WIND FACTOR. Usually when there's a downpour in the summer, the wind isn't that strong, but as we all know, British weather is famous for its unpredictability. Wind driven rain increases the pressure on the side of a tent. But if you see a tent with a rating of 2500 - 3000mm or more, then you can be sure that it will keep you warm and dry through practically anything.

Taped Seams

With any seam on any stitched product, there are HOLES AND WEAKNESSES. This occurs where the thread weaves through. Even though these holes are tiny, they are still enough to LET MOISTURE IN THE TENT when it rains. By TAPING THE SEAMS, leakage is prevented. Taping a seam means there is a strip of plastic melted along the length of the seam. This completely seals any hole and strengthens any weakness that has been caused as a result.

Ground Sheets

A ground sheet is what separates the inside of your tent from the direct floor. Usually these sheets come separate and are simply placed inside, but this can leave a GAP running along the base of the tent. Gaps can create irritable drafts and sometimes let the water in when it rains. It can also be an open invite for nature such as bugs and small animals.

SEWN IN GROUND SHEETS can prevent all that. A sewn in ground sheet is attached to the outside skin of the tent, meaning the only way in or out is through the door. It eliminates those annoying drafts, keeps the water out, and helps to keep you warm and snug whilst inside. And because they are sewn in, it means it CANNOT SLIP and move out of place as opposed to a separate sheet.

Ventilation

EVERY TENT NEEDS VENTILATION of some kind. CONDENSATION is often an issue when camping. People have often woken in the morning to a find everything wet, and have believed that their tent has leaked. The truth of it actually boils down to the amount of condensation created during the night.

As the night creeps in, the temperature outside drops, cooling the skin of the tent. When you sleep, the air you breathe out is warm. This rises and when it hits the cooled skin it creates moisture - condensation. As the night goes on, the amount of condensation created increases, and eventually everything inside your tent becomes wet. By having ADEQUATE VENTILATION means the warm air has somewhere else to go and cool before it has a chance to condensate. A DOUBLE SKIN tent is also an effective way of preventing condensation.

Double Skin

A double skin on a tent means that there are TWO LAYERS TO THE SKIN. This can be accomplished by having a SEPARATE BEDROOM POD inside the tent itself. This dramatically reduces the amount of condensation created inside while you sleep.

The reason this works is because of the FLOW OF AIR between the two walls. The material used for the inside skin is often MESHED OR POROUS which allows the warm, moist air to flow through and disappear. This stops the build up of condensation when you sleep and keeps everything dry.

UV Protection

As a tent sits in the sun all day, it can ABSORB the heat from the suns rays, INCREASING THE RISKS FROM UV. Tents should have a UV PROTECTION to prevent the risks while inside and prolong the life of your tent.

Ease Of Use

Modern tents are EASIER THAN EVER TO PITCH but can still create confusion. Some brands have tried to make this process as simple and straight forward as possible for the camper. Some number their poles, while others are COLOUR CODED. All you then have to do is match up the colour or number of the pole with the coloured or numbered tag on the skin. Then it is just a case of feeding the pole through to the other side and attaching it. INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE SUPPLIED, but sometimes the design is so easy they are often not needed.

Some brands also take into consideration that if you're camping, you may be surrounded by other people. GUY ROPES are often UNSEEN AND TRIPPED OVER. This can not only cause injury to the person, but can also cause damage to your tent or cause it to collapse. BRIGHTLY COLOURED guy ropes ensure that they are EASILY SEEN, reducing the risk of someone tripping over them.

Types Of Tents

There are few basic designs of tent that can be evolved to cater for larger berths.

POP UP TENTS often only come in small berths due to their design. There is hardly any assembly needed for these. The poles are so flexible that they can be folded down and packed away, and when you go to pitch, all you need to do it unfold it. The tension in the poles causes the tent to automatically pop up, and because the poles are already attached to the skin, you will have your tent in seconds. They are extremely light in weight, and are a favourite for hikers and travellers.

DOME TENTS consist of two flexible poles that criss-cross each other at the top and then attach to each corner. This inevitably creates your dome shape. Smaller berths are favoured by hikers and festival goers. However, the design allows for larger berths to be created, with separate bedroom areas coming off of the main dome shape, allowing families and larger groups to enjoy.

TUNNEL TENTS consist of a row of poles curving over from one side of the tent to the other. This creates a tunnel effect. Just like the dome, these can come in smaller berths for hikers and festival goers, to larger, more complex berths for families and groups.

BELL TENTS and TEEPEES are both similar in design. Both consist of one solid pole in the centre. The skin is attached to the top end and then flows down and out, held in place by guy ropes and tent pegs to give them their famous pyramid shape. These are great for communal camping as everyone shares the one living space that these tents provide.

Camp Site Tips

Before you go camping, look into the details of your chosen campsite. You'll need to know what facilities the campsite provides you, if any at all. Is there a toilet or shower block? Is there a power facility? Do they provide a water hole where you can get fresh water?

Be aware of CAMP FEES. Some sites charge per night per tent, but others may charge for the amount of space you require. If you have a larger tent, some campsites may apply a surcharge. If you have an extremely large tent, then you may be asked to pay for two pitching fees. Dimensions of your tent may be required when you book. Make sure you find out all the information you need so that you are not surprised with a larger than expected bill.