Choosing a Tent

How long has it been since you made it up to our top floor to see our tent room? It's the largest tent showroom in the Midwest, with about a dozen tents set up at all times, along with canoes and kayaks.  Why is a tent showroom such a valuable feature for an outdoor store? Your tent serves as your home in the outdoors, so we believe you should be able to see your options before you make a decision.

There are several factors you should pay special attention to as you shop for a tent. First, find a tent that will protect you from the weather. Your needs may vary depending on what the conditions are where you plan to be camping (i.e. Kansas summer vs. Colorado winter).

The next decision you would make relates to the size of the tent. This means balancing your floor space preferences with your weight and bulk needs. If you will be backpacking, you'll want your tent to be as light and compact as possible, but this means sacrificing floor space and headroom. If you're primarily car camping, you may be able to afford extra tent space, but you still don't want a tent taking up too much room in your car.

The tents we carry are all very easy to set up, especially compared to the tents you may have used growing up as a kid. The poles are all shock-corded and easy to attach to the tent. Most tents are simple enough for one person to set up alone.

Some tents come with a vestibule or other features included, though most offer these extra features as an additional purchase. There are even some tents with an additional door.  You should also examine the floor materials and design, the ventilation system and the quality of construction, especially in the seams and stress points.

All tents are designed to do the same basic things, they just do them to different degrees. We're happy to help you find the tent that will best meet your needs.