Camping Tent Reviews

I have read lots of camping tent reviews and have spent the greater part of my life going through countless different makes and models in the search for the best camping tent. In the end, there are a few that come out on top, but it’s up to you to decide what you need out of your camping tent. Check out my own camping tent reviews below and then decide which might be right for your needs. I’ve given a review of the best I’ve encountered out of different categories of tents, so go ahead and jump through the camping tent reviews to the one you are looking for.

If you’re planning on doing some leisurely camping with a group, the best family dome tent I’ve come across is the Columbia Bugaboo II 12-Foot-by-9-Foot 4-Pole 5-Person Dome Tent. This bad boy is sturdy enough to keep five people safe and dry inside during a storm but well ventilated as well. The color-coded poles make it a breeze to set up. At the time I wrote these camping tent reviews, this tent is going for $149.88, which in my opinion is much more than worth it.

If you're planning a group camping trip, which I highly recommend, it will be infinitely more comfortable with a multi-room tent and the two room cabin tent I’ve recently fallen in love with is Eureka! Copper Canyon 1312 Eight-Person 13-Foot by 12-Foot Family Tent. It has that killer combination of great ventilation but full rain and weather protection. It’s easy to pitch and pack up and has lots of extra space for your equipment. You’ll generally find this tent for just under $300, but I feel it’s a very worthy investment as large family and group camping trips are just the stuff of life.

For the backpacker’s camping experience, you’re going to need a lightweight backpacking tent that won’t weigh you down as you’re out trekking. My favorite tent in this category by far is the Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent. It’s an ultra lightweight camping tent with lots of space that actually manages to keep you completely dry even in extreme conditions which is rare for the backpacking tents out there. It’s easy to set up and is only about three pounds, which is the main reason this tent is so expensive. It runs for about $329 but if you can afford it, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re light on your feet while backpacking.

The last of my camping tent reviews goes out to those backpackers who are on a tighter budget and are need of a lightweight camping tent. The Eureka Timberline 2 Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tentis a two-person backpacking tent that’s extremely sturdy but easy to set up. It has some nice storage inside and a vestibule for extra space. It weighs about six pounds which is manageable and a great deal for the price, which is generally about $110. Small price to pay for a fantastic camping experience!

Camping Ideas

If you’re like most people who’ve never been camping before, you’re probably wondering what on earth you’re even going to do out there in the wilderness for all those days without television and internet and all those things we normally fill our time with. Well, let me say, you’re in for a treat, and don’t worry, I have lots of camping ideas that will help you have the greatest trip of your life!

First of all, any leisurely recreational activities you can think of to do outdoors, you can do camping, so let’s skip things like bicycling, canoeing, fishing, hunting and hiking and go straight to the slightly less conventional camping ideas. There are some things that are just tradition and these camping ideas have made for some of the best camping stories!

Camping is all about relaxing and exploring. Try taking a camera with you and seeing what you can find. I often find I get lost in the searching and come back with few pictures to show for my own blissful contentment. But on the rare occasions that I’ve gotten lucky, I’ve accumulated some great shots of animals, insects and gorgeous scenery.

When thinking up camping ideas of your own, you can surely put the least energy into planning your nights. If you ask any camper their greatest camping memories, you’re likely to hear lots of stories about exciting nights camping under the stars. You’re sure to have a great time even with no pre-planned camping ideas, but here are a few suggestions to get you going.

Have a BBQ and share some great conversation over your delicious grilled meal. Sit and do some star-gazing. See if you can't pick out some constellations or invent ones of your own! If you or someone on your trip plays guitar, have a campfire sing-along. Sounds cheesy, I know, but I promise you it’s a great time. Bring along joke books or ghost stories to tell around the fire. Play silly games like truth or dare or twenty-one questions. Go on a midnight walk and explore in the dark – be careful with this one! Of course some of these camping ideas have a known association with the consumption of a few drinks, but the twinkling night sky and the crackling campfire can be just as intoxicating on its own.

To top up this quick camping ideas list, I have to end with one of my favorite camping activities. Get out there and go for a midnight lake swim. Clothing optional!

Camping Clothes

So your trip is set and you’re thinking about what kinds of camping clothes to bring? Very smart of you! Camping clothes are one of those key elements that can make or break your trip. There is nothing worse than being cold and wet or having camping clothes that are uncomfortable and hard to move in. The general rule to follow is that the camping clothes you choose should work for you – you shouldn’t have to think about them! Now, let’s get into some of the types of things you will need to get your hands on before you set out on your camping trip!

You need to think about where you’re going, what the weather will be like, and what you’re planning on doing when preparing for your camping trip. Obviously if you’re camping in the mountains in the snow, you’ll need very different camping clothes than if you’re camping in the desert in the summer! No matter where you’re going and what you’re planning on doing, you need to find the camping clothing that will offer you protection from the elements you’ll be facing.

You’ll need to find clothing that’s more sturdy and durable than your average everyday wear. Out in the wilderness, it’s inevitable that you’ll get yourself the random scrape, sunburn or insect bite. If you’re going to be in an area where this is likely, make sure to cover your skin wisely. A quick encounter with a poisonous plant can often turn your trip into something of a nightmare, but if you’re smart, your camping clothes can prevent such mishaps.

If you’re going to be camping in cold weather, find yourself thick yet breathable clothes. You want to stay as light as possible, and camping clothes made from breathable materials allow any moisture to escape but still keep you warm inside.

If you’ll be camping in warmer weather, look for loose camping clothes that help to keep a lot of air circulating. Make sure you find out what you’ll be up against in the area you’ll be. Don’t make the mistake of wearing shorts just because it’s hot if you’re planning on trekking through a wooded area.

If you’re not positive what the weather will be like, the smartest thing you can do is to layer. You just need to make sure you find camping clothes that are lightweight so that they don’t become a burden. Choose wisely, and you could have the greatest camping trip of your life!

Camping Recipes

If you’re looking for a true outdoors camping experience, there is no better way to find it than by sleeping in a camping tent.  Staying in an RV or finding a lodge on a campground is great fun too, don’t get me wrong.  There’s just something about braving the elements in a tent.  Before you set out on your adventure, you’ll need to sift through the multitude of camping tents out there to choose the best one for you.

Camping tents are made to provide protection from wind, rain and other unpleasant weather conditions so it’s important to choose your tent wisely.  The first thing you need to choose between is a camping tent with an internal frame and one with an external frame.  Camping tents with internal frames tend to be a bit easier to pitch where camping tents with external frames are usually sturdier and therefore more wind-resistant.  Decide first what type of camping you’re going to be doing before shopping for camping tents.

If you’re planning on doing any serious camping, when shopping for camping tents, make sure you choose a fully enclosed one with zippered entries and roofs.  You do not want rain water seeping into your tent because if the temperature drops, you could be in serious danger.  And of course, if the temperature doesn’t drop, you could be in serious danger… of becoming very annoyed at your leaky roof!

One mistake I made when I was a beginning camper was buying camping tents according to the number of people it advertised fitting.  In other words, I bought a four-person tent for me and my three friends.  When we managed to stuff all our belongings inside the tent to keep it dry, there was barely room for two of us!  It’s a good rule to almost double the amount of space you think you need.  Your equipment can really add up and the last thing you need is to be cramped inside and sleeping on top of your backpack!  But choose the right camping tents and your trip can be unforgettable!

Camping Tents

If you’re looking for a true outdoors camping experience, there is no better way to find it than by sleeping in a camping tent. Staying in an RV or finding a lodge on a campground is great fun too, don’t get me wrong. There’s just something about braving the elements in a tent. Before you set out on your adventure, you’ll need to sift through the multitude of camping tents out there to choose the best one for you.

Camping tents are made to provide protection from wind, rain and other unpleasant weather conditions so it’s important to choose your tent wisely. The first thing you need to choose between is a camping tent with an internal frame and one with an external frame. Camping tents with internal frames tend to be a bit easier to pitch where camping tents with external frames are usually sturdier and therefore more wind-resistant. Decide first what type of camping you’re going to be doing before shopping for camping tents.

If you’re planning on doing any serious camping, when shopping for camping tents, make sure you choose a fully enclosed one with zippered entries and roofs. You do not want rain water seeping into your tent because if the temperature drops, you could be in serious danger. And of course, if the temperature doesn’t drop, you could be in serious danger… of becoming very annoyed at your leaky roof!

One mistake I made when I was a beginning camper was buying camping tents according to the number of people it advertised fitting. In other words, I bought a four-person tent for me and my three friends. When we managed to stuff all our belongings inside the tent to keep it dry, there was barely room for two of us! It’s a good rule to almost double the amount of space you think you need. Your equipment can really add up and the last thing you need is to be cramped inside and sleeping on top of your backpack! But choose the right camping tents and your trip can be unforgettable!

Big Sur Camping: Know Before You Go!

So you’re planning a Big Sur camping trip? Great choice! Big Sur camping is some of the best I’ve ever experienced. If you’re there at the right time and plan your trip wisely, you’ll see some of the most astounding beauty nature has to offer and a great variety of it.

When planning for Big Sur camping, you need to decide what you want to do and see depending on how long your trip will be. If you can spend a few days, I recommend trying to do both some streamside camping as well as some ocean-side bluff camping. Big Sur is so beautiful and it’d be a shame not to see all sides of it.

As someone who has done a lot of Big Sur camping, I can tell you that there is nothing like spending the day deep within the forests, surrounded by towering redwood trees and enjoying a swim in the crisp, cool river before hiking down to the beach to soak up some sun and listen to the waves.

If your legs are up for it, Big Sur offers some of the best hiking out there. Check out Andrew Molera State Park for meadows, mountain ridge tops with ocean views, and gorgeous beaches. Try Pfeiffer State Park for gorgeous redwood forests and a view of the Big Sur valley. Or go to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for the spectacular 60-foot waterfall that falls down onto the beach.

There's so much to see, so many sites to camp, so many trails to hike that Big Sur always remains one of the places on earth I find myself returning to again and again. I try to hit two new trails each time I go in addition to my favorite standbys. It's a good idea to take a guide book with you so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel and blaze old trails anew, so to speak. I like to use this one, which I've now worn nearly to dust:

Hiking & Backpacking Big Sur: A Complete Guide to the Trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness (Hiking and Backpacking)

One thing that’s great about Big Sur camping is that you don’t have to worry about bears. You’re likely only to come across raccoons, squirrels, deer, birds, foxes, bobcats and coyotes. These animals are still a threat to your food supply, but at least you don’t have to take the normal precautions when bears will be in the picture! Also, if you happen to plan your Big Sur camping trip for wintertime, you’ll catch the trout migration on their way up the Big Sur River which makes for fun catch-and-release fishing west of Highway One.

I’ve talked way too much here but can you blame me? I’m just fantasizing about my next Big Sur camping trip now!

Camping Foods

When planning your camping trip, one very important consideration you’ll need to plan well for is your camping foods.  Well thought-out camping foods can become the highlight of your trip and make for a real outdoors adventure!

There are several reasons camping foods are unique and challenging.  First of all, you won’t have the luxury of being able to carry much weight with you and secondly, you might not have access to electricity which means you won’t be able to bring perishables.

If you will have access to a camping stove, grill or cooker, you most likely won’t be able to bring along much cooking fuel, so you’ll want to choose camping foods that cook fast.  If you are going to be cooking over a fire, you might consider camping foods that can be cooked by simply adding boiling water.  The only problem here is that these foods tend to lack the quality and nutrients you’ll need for a more intense camping trip.

If you are going to be camping for a long period of time and engaging in rigorous physical activity, you might want to consider camping foods such as tuna to provide you with the high nutritional value you’ll need to get you through the days.  If you will be hiking for long periods of time, a great source of energy is nuts and dried fruits.

If you’re planning a more leisurely trip for a shorter period of time and will be able to take perishables with you, consider the classic camping foods like foil-wrapped meats and vegetables cooked over a fire, hamburgers, hotdogs and s’mores.  No camping trip is complete without delicious treats like these!  Figure out the type of camping you’re going to be doing and plan your camping foods accordingly.  Bon appetit!

California Camping Trip

So you’re looking to plan a California camping adventure?  Well, let me tell you, you’ve chosen one of the best places in the world for camping.  Not only are there amazing state parks, but there are some gorgeous tucked away little spots just waiting to be explored.

California is truly a state that has it all, which makes you very smart for considering a California camping trip.  Because of the variety in the terrain of the state, you can find yourself in the presence of beautiful lakes, mountains, streams, coastlines, forests, beaches and deserts.  First you need to choose exactly where you want to go and what you want to see.  The time of year and season should greatly influence your decision as the mountains can make for an extreme California camping trip in the winter, as can the desert in the summer.

Some of my favorite California camping trips have been at the campgrounds in California’s state parks.  Depending on the park you choose and the type of campsite, you can have a variety of different camping experiences.  I’d like to share a few tips I have when it comes to California state park camping.  I recommend thinking about reservations early.  Many of the popular campgrounds can book up fast so if it’s a gorgeous time of year or a holiday weekend or season and there’s great camping weather, don’t leave making your reservation to Friday like everybody else.  I always try to get ahead of the crowd and start booking as soon as I can.

Most campgrounds will have amenities that will make for a lovely stay, but make sure you find out ahead of time as some sites leave you on your own.  Don’t worry, though… Some of my favorite California camping trips have involved me alone against nature!  So what are you waiting for?  The great outdoors is waiting for you, so get cracking on planning that California camping adventure!

Camping Equipment

One of the most important elements of planning of a successful camping trip is choosing the right camping equipment.  The equipment you’ll need will depend on what kind of camping trip you’re taking.  For example, if you’re camping because you’re on an expedition to climb to the top of Mount Everest, you’ll need much different camping equipment than if you’re heading out to your local woods to spend a peaceful night under the stars.  Let’s look at some of the typical camping equipment you’ll need for a camping trip.

Before I even begin, let me tell you the most important piece of camping equipment you’ll need.  No, it’s not a tent, it’s not a flashlight and it’s not even proper shoes.  It’s a first aid kit.  Even if you’re not planning on putting yourself in any danger, being outdoors always brings this risk.  Don’t worry, I’ve never had anything serious happen to me or anyone I know in all my years of camping, but I have utilized my first aid kit on more than one occasion.  Alright, now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at some of the other camping equipment you’ll need for your trip!

You’ll need some sort of tent for shelter and along with this, a hammer to get your tent stakes down firmly, a sleeping bag and possibly blankets for warmth, a pillow and some people like to bring some sort of sleeping pad to put under their sleeping bag just to cushion and protect them from the ground.  This is particularly nice if you’re going to be camping somewhere very cold.  In addition, if you know you’ll be in a place where it will rain or snow, it can help to have a tarp for extra protection while you sleep and also a bit of shelter when you’re eating and lounging around waiting for that storm to pass.

General tools and items that come in handy when camping are lanterns or flashlights; hatchets, axes or saws for cutting firewood; a fire starter or lighter for starting your campfire; ropes for stringing a clothesline and tying up a tarp; and trash bags with handles to tie up high if you’re in an area with dangerous animals.

The clothes you pack for your camping trip depends on where you’re going and what the weather will be like, but specific camping clothes like raincoats or ponchos and hiking boots often come in handy.  You may also need things like sunscreen and insect repellant.  Of course, you’ll want to bring your own personal care products and towels.

Some people like to bring a cooler for perishable foods and drinks.  If you’re going to a campsite where there will be electricity, you could bring a grill, portable stove, electric frying pans and slow cookers.  If this is the case, you might also consider pots and pans, dishes and eating utensils.

Make sure to bring lots of water if you’re going to be in a hot, dry environment or an area where you might only have access to unclean water.  Alright, enough talking about camping equipment.  Time to get packing!