Camping and the 4 person tent

I recently wrote a Hub about unnecessary camping supplies that was nominated for a HubNugget (still not sure what that is). What I didn’t mention in that Hub is that I am an avid camper so I thought I’d give some real product reviews of camping gear I’ve actually used, or at least researched.

When it comes to tents I’ve always found that a 4 person tent is the perfect size. You can find bigger tents out there of course but there’s a bit of the camping experience that is lost when you set yourself up in a cavernous tent designed for 8 people. What’s even worse is actually going camping with eight people and being cramped like sardines in a big tent. I can’t even think of seven other people who I’d want to go camping with. When I go camping I usually go with a couple other people so 4 man tents have always served me well. This article will show you one very affordable option for a 4 person tent, and also one on the higher price scale that I’ve slept in (but don’t actually own myself).

The only downside of this tent is that it best fits 3 people rather than 4. Other than that it comes with great features such as an extra side room for storage and a neat mesh roof that you can leave open at night to look at the stars. It’s also extremely easy to set up so it’s a great beginners tent and once you have it up it is low maintenance and dependable.

I don’t tend to camp in harsh climates so I’ve never had any problems with weather in this tent. But it promises that it can handle all sorts of weather and I don’t doubt it. More important to my concerns is how well ventilated the tent is, and I would say this tent is great for summer camping. In addition to the mesh roof, it comes with a mesh window and the tent offers good temperature protection even in the middle of the summer. I have been in rain with this tent and the dome design is pretty good at making rain slide down the sides – just make sure to close the moon roof!

I don’t know who Big Agnes is and if she’s really that big I wonder if camping is the best activity for her, but whatever the case this lady makes a nice tent. I’d say the only downside of this tent is the colour (you would essentially look like a big orange to a passing bear) but other than that this tent is great. It’s probably one of the most expensive 4 man tents out there but my buddy bought it on a whim and I’m glad he did. It seems most brands of 4 person tent are actually best suited for 3 people and I’d say the Big Agnes is no different. I guess it’s just the nature of the game. But for two people this tent is absolutely perfect and it combines comfort with great ventilation and an easy setup. Another great feature of this tent is the amount of openings that can serve as windows when the weather is right. You get much needed airflow and the visual openings make it great for summer camping since you feel like you’re staying in mini-villa. And for multi-tasking organization-obsessed people, there’s a full array of ouches that line the inside tent that make for great storage. Keep in mind this tent is quite large and sturdy, as such you won’t be able to backpack with it. But if you are a car camper like me, it fits perfectly in the trunk and is easily transportable.

These tents roughly represent both ends of the 4 person tent cost scale. Both are great in their own way so it will be up to you to decide which one fits you better. And of course there is a whole wide range of camping tents in between that you may like as well. In general just keep in mind that 4 man tents are sometimes best for three people, two people and a child, two people and a dog, or one big Agnes. Also, if you are a rainy weather camper, make sure you take extra precautions with keeping dry no matter which tent you choose. Few tents are water tight one hundred percent of the time and sometimes moisture will form inside a tent. Happy Camping!