The ability to enjoy a wilderness experience often comes down to how well-prepared you are for wilderness survival. Things you normally take for granted, such as dry feet and clean water can make all the difference between experiencing a life-changing adventure and enduring misery. The items you place in your wilderness survival kit will vary depending upon where you’re going, what season it is and what your skill level is. Yet there are basics that every wilderness adventurer should have for proper shelter, safety and to meet basic needs.

It’s smart to research your wilderness trip environment beforehand and have a good idea of upcoming weather to help you know exactly what to put in your survival kit. While you don’t want to weigh yourself down, you do want to have the basics necessary to safeguarding your health and well-being. Use this list to help you as you prepare your wilderness survival kit.

10 Basic Wilderness Survival Kit Items

1. First Aid Kit. An official first aid kit can be purchased at a hardware or sporting goods store and will contain all you need to tend to the minor cuts and common injuries that can occur in the backcountry.
2. Water Purification System. Clean water for drinking, cooking and washing cuts is vital to wilderness survival. Although there are primitive ways to purify water, a small water purifying bottle or pump will save you time and energy.
3. Knife. A non-folding, 3 inch blade with a protective cover can help you enjoy harvest meals and snacks, cut kindling for a fire or gather materials for shelter. A good knife with a sharp blade is one of the most critical survival tools to have.
4. Water-Proof Matches. It’s wise to carry a lighter with you, but those can malfunction or run out of lighter fluid. Water-proof matches serve as a secure backup for cooking and staying warm.
5. Flashlight. A flashlight serves two purposes in the wild: providing light after dark and sending signals. To do the latter, you’ll need to know basic Morse code.
6. Compass and Map. It’s easy to get turned around in the wilderness, even if you’re familiar with the area. Keep yourself headed in the right direction and in safe areas with a compass and map.
7. Wool Blanket. The temperature can get chilly after nightfall, even during the warmer seasons. A thin, wool blanket can keep you warm and dry, while helping you get the good night’s rest you need.
8. Communication Device. It’s vital to be able to call for help, especially if you’re alone. Portable communication, such as a two-way radio can give you emergency access to the outside world if disaster strikes.
9. Mess Kit. Most sporting goods stores sell mess kits that fold nicely into one compact package for easy storage. Look for one with a basic pot/bowl, cup and utensil combination.
10. Rain Poncho. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than having to hike and sleep in clothes that are soaking wet. A long, thick, hooded rain poncho can be a lifesaver and doubles up to keep your gear dry when you’re not wearing it.

Naturally, you’ll hope to not have to use any items in an emergency scenario while on your wilderness adventure. But these foundational survival kit items will help you care for your needs and provide a sense of security should any critical situations arise. Even if they don’t, you’ll be able to stay dry and warm, take care of minor cuts and bruises, and find your way around without any problems. While this list helps you meet some of your basic needs, you’ll want to add more items to it based on the specific needs you’ll face on each adventure.

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5. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

• Visitors in 2012: 2,045
• Visitors Average in 5 years: 2,831
• Area Size: 0.02 acres (0.0081 ha)
• Location: Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is located at 301 Pine St., Philadelphia, PA, which is the corner of Third and Pine streets in downtown Philadelphia.

• How to Get There:

It can be simply accessed by car via I-76 and I-676, I-95, and US 30 (Benjamin Franklin Bridge). If you arrive in the city by bus or train, use public transportation and take the Market- Frankford subway east to 5th and Market Streets then just walk two blocks east to 3rd Street. Travel south and continue 5 blocks more to finally reach the Kosciuszko House.

• Description:

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is actually a preserved home of the Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko. The Polish hero sought refuge in this house after being released from the Czarist Russia prison due to a failed attempt to free his fellow countrymen in Poland. In this memorial home, visitors are given the chance to relive the life and see the work of the Polish patriot who is also a hero of the American Revolution.

• Activities:

Visitors can choose to attend an audio-visual program that is held on both floors of the house and narrated both in English and Polish. This audio-visual program describes the house and then tells the life of Thaddeus Kosciuszko. There are also self guided tours of the House which starts on the first floor.

Another activity to enjoy is the exhibit show (an information area and a small bookstore) which particularly highlight the heroic life of Thaddeus Kosciuszko. Throughout the year, there are also presentations conducted by park rangers wherein the NPS staff will gladly answer any questions you might have, as well as provide detailed info regarding the Kosciuszko House, Independence National Historical Park and other park sites. Since entrance fees are free, no tickets are needed on these tours/exhibits which run every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

4. Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

• Visitors in 2012: 1,393
• Visitors Average in 5 years: 4,139
• Area Size: 2,525,512 acres (1,022,038 ha). It covers 115 miles (185 km) of the 1,800-mile (3,000 km) Yukon River and the whole Charley River basin.
• Location: This park is located in the east central Alaska along the border with Canada. It covers 115 miles of the 1,800-mile Yukon River and the entire Charley River basin. The nearest city to this area is Fairbanks, Alaska.

• How to Get There:

There is no direct highway that connects to Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve; that’s why visitors are only able to access this preserve by either air travel from Fairbanks, Alaska or water or air travel from the two small towns on the road system that are near the preserve boundaries.

• Description:

With its location being in Interior Alaska, the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve offers its visitors an exciting journey into a landscape that is yet untouched. It also holds some history as the many rustic cabins and historic sites are reminders of the vital role of the Yukon River during the 1898 gold rush. The paleontological and archeological sites will let you discover how the environment was thousands of years ago. There is also an abundant display of wildlife in the rolling hills that make up the preserve but the100-mile long wild Charley river is still the most fantastic asset of this park for it is dubbed by many as the most magnificent river in Alaska.

Keep in mind though that the interior Alaskan region undergoes extremes of weather, with temperatures that can range from -50 °F (-46 °C) in winter to 97 °F (36 °C) in summertime with rapid changes in weather and temperature day to day and within any given day.

• Activities:

You can opt to simply float down the Yukon while you enjoy the natural beauty of eastern interior Alaska and the Yukon River itself, or you can go the route down the Charley River and observe its superb wildlife. There are also historic remnants of bygone eras to view if you stop along the Yukon River. Other fun activities available in the preserve include hiking, skiing, camping, fishing and sport hunting (subject to Alaskan game regulations) and dog mushing. The preserve can be enjoyed by visitors all year round (but prepare accordingly!).

3. Rio Grande Wild &Scenic River

• Visitors in 2012: 694
• Visitors Average in 5 years: 1,045
• Area Size: 9,600 acres
• Location:  For 1,250 miles, the Rio Grande serves as the boundary between the United States and Mexico. This park is located 6 miles north of New Mexico-Colorado border at Lobatos Bridge and ends at Velarde, New Mexico, 16 miles north of Espanola, New Mexico. Situated in a remote stretch in west Texas, the river creates a curve to the northeast to form the “big bend” where the wild character of the river thrives.

• How to Get There:

You can travel via land as there are some highways that will lead you to the ‘The Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River’ through Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio through Study Butte, or US 90 or US 385 through Marathon.

If you wish to fly going to this park, the nearest airports served by major airlines are located in Midland/Odessa, Texas and El Paso, Texas. There’s no public transportation available to this site but many rental cars will be available in the airports.

• Description:

Due to its terrific and remarkable scenic, geologic, fish and wildlife, and recreational values, Congress have designated this part of the Rio Grande in Texas as the’ Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River’ in 1978.  Sunny weather is flourishing the entire year on this site with relative humidity usually between 25%-40% year around. However, it can be really chilly from November through April once the cold fronts bring such freezing weather coupled with rain and snow. Also, unexpected rapid river rises during rainy seasons (which extend from mid-July through early October) can be seriously risky.

The National Park Service at the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River conserves, as well as shields free-flowing and natural and scenic conditions of the river, plus its immediate environment for the entertainment and benefit of today and future generations. Rio Grande is a quiet and secluded type of park that boasts a spectacular view of the river canyons, amazing nature and the ancient character of the Rio Grande itself. This park is open 24 hours every day, the whole year.

• Activities:

Guests can enjoy various recreational activities on the river such as picnicking, boating, camping, hiking/backpacking, biking, horseback riding and of course, wildlife viewing. Yet the best way to witness the magical beauty of the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is to explore the river in a canoe or raft; thus giving you the best scenic experience and wilderness escape while visiting this park.

2. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

• Visitors in 2012: 533
• Visitors Average in 3 years: 687
• Area Size: 5 acres (2.0 ha)
• Location: This memorial park is situated on the grounds of the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) in Concord, California, in the United States, formerly the Tidal Area of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The nearest major city to this area is Oakland, California.

• How to Get There:

You can easily get to this park via land transportation (if you are just near the area) or flying into Oakland International Airport, which is approx. 45 minutes away without traffic, San Francisco International Airport (60 minutes), or San Jose International Airport (90 minutes).

• Description:

The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is a park dedicated in 1994 remembering the 320 sailors and civilians who perished during a July 17, 1944 ship explosion in the area, as well as the vital role played by the Port Chicago, California being the main facility for the Pacific Theater of Operations during the World War II era. It was in October 28, 2009 when the Memorial became an official unit of the National Park System.

• Activities:

The memorial is only available to the public through reserved guided tours because it is still an active military base. Tours are held every Wednesdays through Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m with each visit lasting for only 1.5 hours. During the tour, all visitors will be shuttled to the memorial on NPS vehicles from the Concord Naval Weapons Station Identity (ID) Office.

Public access of the memorial is prohibited during Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and during Concord Naval Weapons Station operations. The Port Chicago Committee is currently working on expanding the memorial to cover 250 acres (1.0 km2) of the former Port Chicago waterfront which can include old boxcars from the 1940s era, railroad revetments and the existing memorial chapel with its stained-glass windows that represents the World War II operations.

1. Aniakchak National Monument Preserve

• Visitors in 2012: 19
• Visitors Average in 5 years: 32
• Area Size: 137,176 acres (monument) and 465,603 acres (preserve)
• Location: 450 miles south of Anchorage on the roadless Alaska Peninsula.

• How to Get There:

Fly through air charters from King Salmon to Meshik Lake, Surprise Lake, or Aniakchak, Amber, or Kujulik bays on the Pacific Ocean. King Salmon offers daily commercial air service from Anchorage. You can also travel through a power boat from any of the several villages along the Pacific Ocean coastline.

• Description:

Due to its remote location and bad weather, it’s no surprise that Aniakchak is the least visited National Park System in the U.S. The park is one of the great dry calderas in the world, positioned in the volcanically active Aleutian Mountain which is the Aniakchak. The crater showcase lava flows, cinder cones, and explosion pit, plus a Surprise Lake (the source of the Aniakchak River) that cascades through a 1,500-foot gash in the crater wall.

This is the park that actually inspired this post. PBS has an awesome series called Life on Fire which featured this park. I found it funny that, in 2010 and 2011, park attendance was about triple normal levels, likely due to this filming.

• Activities:

Although there are no federal facilities within the national monument/preserves, the open ash fields offer hiking and backpacking activity to its visitors. Some other activities available in Aniakchak include fly fishing, wildlife viewing and rafting.

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This list is a pretty eclectic mix – you might think they would all be located in remote areas or Alaska, but in fact many are near major population centers, and even within the city limits of some large cities! Granted, not all of them are parks in the vein of Yellowstone or the Great Smoky Mountains – one is a single building, and some monuments or historical sites are former manors or other properties preserved for their importance in history, not necessarily their natural beaty. But they are all under the National Parks system.

Below are numbers10 through 6 of least visited parks in the National Parks system in 2012. Tomorrow we’ll post the 5 least visited parks, and finally, we’ll quickly discuss the one park that had zero visitors last year (if it has 0 visitors, is it the least visited, or just not visited?) Anyway, as you think of places to visit on your next vacation, consider adding one of these off the beaten path places.

10. Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

• Visitors in 2012: 4,384
• Visitors Average (3 years): 4,127
• Area Size: 12,583 acres (5,092 ha)
• Location: The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is located in Kiowa County, Colorado. It is about 170 miles (270 km) southeast of Denver and about 125 miles (200 km) east of Pueblo. The nearest city to this site is Eads, CO.

• How to Get There:

To access the site, just follow Colorado State Highway 96 east off Highway 287 near Eads, or west off Highway 385 at Sheridan Lake. If you are near Chivington, turn north onto County Road 54/Chief White Antelope Way or at Brandon, turn north onto County Road 59. Simply follow these roads to their intersections with County Road W. You will find the park entrance along CR W a mile east (right) of CR 54 or several miles west (left) of CR 59.

• Description:

The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is an archaeological site that holds the remains of the notorious November 29, 1864 massacre where about 700 soldiers from the US military attacked a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho along Big Sandy Creek in the southeastern Colorado Territory that killed more than 150 native American Indians, most of whom were women, children and elderly.

This Historical Site was authorized by Public Law 106-465 on November 7, 2000 with the intention to recognize the national significance of the profound, symbolic, spiritual and controversial massacre in American history, as well as its ongoing symbolism to the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and the descendants of the massacre victims.

The park is open 7 days a week from April 1 to Dec 1, and Monday through Friday all other days.

• Activities:

The National Park Service offers free scheduled Ranger-led programs during hours of operation, from 9 am – 4 pm, April 1 – December 1, or by advance appointment during winter season. You can also join the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes as they hold their annual Spiritual Healing Run at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, a multi-day run held in late November.

While you are at the site, try visiting nearby museums like the Cheyenne County Museum, Koshare Indian Museum, Kit Carson Museum, Kiowa County Museum and Big Timbers Museum.

Access is free, however there are no camping or other overnight facilities here.

9. Nicodemus National Historic Site

• Visitors in 2012: 3,505
• Visitors Average (5 years): 3,009
• Area Size: 161 acres (0.65 km2)
• Location: The Nicodemus National Historic Site is situated in the northwestern Kansas on Highway 24 between Hill City and Stockton. It is located in Nicodemus, KS.

• How to Get There:

This National Historic Site is easily accessible by road. If you are driving from Denver, take Interstate 70 east to Colby, then exit on Highway 24 (east) to Nicodemus .When travelling from Kansas City take Interstate 70 west to Hays and exit at Highway 183 north to Stockton, then west on Highway 24 to Nicodemus. Take the Interstate 80 toward Kearney to exit 257 once driving from Omaha.

• Description:

Being the oldest and sole remaining African American settlement west of the Mississippi River, the Nicodemus National Historic Site preserves, safeguards and showcases the only western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War. This site, which got its name from a legendary African-American slave who purchased his own freedom, symbolizes the involvement of African Americans in the westward expansion and settlement of the Great Plains. There are 5 buildings in this historic site:

• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• First Baptist Church
• Township Hall (now home to a temporary visitor center)
• Nicodemus School District #1 Schoolhouse
• St. Francis Hotel

• Activities:

Discover and learn the history of Nicodemus and African Americans in the West by taking a tour at their Visitor Center where you can view some exhibits or watch a short interpretive film about the history of the National Historic Site and how it was built. You can also enjoy Ranger led tours, available through appointment only.

Take a walk around the area and view the 5 historic buildings (mentioned above) which denote the physical expression of the five pillars of the African-American community: church, self-government, education, home, and business. All activities, along with access, are free.

 8. Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

• Visitors in 2012: 3,383
• Visitors Average (5 year): 3,232
• Area Size: 1,371 acres (555 ha)
• Location: Alibates Flint Quarries is located in Potter County, Texas, USA, approximately 35 miles north of Amarillo, Texas which is the nearest city to the area.

• How to Get There:

This National Monument can be easily reached by car. If you are driving from I-40 in Amarillo, take the Lakeside exit north towards Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. It will be a hassle-free driving since Park Service signs will be visible. When you are travelling from Fritch, take TX 136 south seven miles and make a right turn on Cas Johnson Road.

• Description:

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is home to ancient flint quarries, with its signature flint being a rainbow hue of primarily maroon and white, with blue, brown, red, and sometimes yellow, mixed in a wrinkled pattern. This monument safeguards a mesa covered in a carpet of flint flakes which is thick enough that anyone visiting the area cannot walk without having to step on human generated flakes of the Alibates flint. Although these historical quarries were manually dug about 1,000 years ago, the gathering of flint from the mesa has been happening for 13,000 years. Take note that visiting this area requires advance reservation and will involve one mile of walking, an elevation gain of 170′ that will take about two hours.

• Activities:

Guided tours are the only activity available at this park, and are offered by park rangers throughout the year, with reservations highly recommended. Tours typically start at 10 A.M. and 2 P.M.This interpretive ranger-guided hiking involves touring of the Alibates Flint Quarries, located on the monument. During Texas Archeology Month in October, the National Monument also offers ranger-guided hikes to the Antelope Creek Ruins excavation site.

The Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument has a modern visitor contact station showcasing some exhibits, flint samples, a bookstore, and a theater, where you can watch the site’s award-winning 10-minute orientation film.

There are no fees for entrance or to go on the tours. However there is no camping nor overnight facilities.

7. Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site

• Visitors in 2012: 2,789
• Visitors Average (5 years): 2,831
• Area Size: 158.6 acres (64.2 ha)
• Location: Kuss Road in Danville, California, about 31 miles east of San Francisco, California.

• How to Get There:

Getting to Danville, CA can be done via land or air travel, depending on your location. It is just an hour away from the San Francisco airport. However, visitors are prohibited to drive using their personal/private vehicles to the site due to the location of the park. Instead, visitors must take the free National Park Service shuttle from the town of Danville to tour the historic home and grounds of the Eugene O’Neill NHS. Visitors can pick up the shuttle bus at 205 Railroad Ave, Danville, CA. Currently, due to sequestration, the shuttle operates at 10 A.M. and 12 and 2 P.M. Fridays and Saturdays.

• Description:

This National Preserve is previously home to America’s only Nobel Prize winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill.  At the height of his career, O’Neill chose to live in this historic house and isolated himself from everyone else. Within the walls of this Tao house, the famous playwright penned his final and most memorable plays Long Day’s Journey Into Night, A Moon for the Misbegotten and The Iceman Cometh.

This Tao House, which features a unique blend of Chinese and Spanish architecture, filled with Oriental furnishings and decorations, was built and designed by O’Neill himself together with his third wife, Carlotta. The winning playwright called this abode his “final home and harbor.”

• Activities:

There are two tour options available in this National Preserve:

Ranger Guided Tours – offered currently on Fridays only due to the sequestration either 10:00 am or 2:00 pm and available via advance reservation only (link to reservation info). This 2-1/2 hour tour visit is free with transportation to/from the park.

Self-Guided Tours -You can enjoy this 1¾ hours visit every Saturday.  No advance reservations are needed and shuttles leave from downtown Danville at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on a first-come, first-served basis.

All transportation, access, and tours are free.

If you are looking for a more activities in the area, you can tour the preserve’s 13-acre grounds, accessible from hiking and mountain biking trails in the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness (note that portions of Las Trampas require a hiking permit). Bird watching is another popular outdoor activity available here.

6. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

• Visitors in 2012: 2,642
• Visitors Average in 5 years: 1,849
• Area Size: 2,697,391 acres (1,091,595 ha).
• Location: The preserve lies on the northern side of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA. The nearest city in this area is Kotzebue.

• How to Get There:

Despite its large area size, the preserve has limited access and there are no roads that directly lead to it. You can use bush planes, small boats or travel on foot when visiting the preserve in the summer season.  Try checking the NPS list of ski planes operators that have permission to land in the preserve. On the other hand, snowmobiles or dog sleds can be used to access the area during winter.

• Description:

With its remote location and limited access, The Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is one of the least visited parks in United States.  This National Preserve is a historic location as it protects the ‘Bering Land Bridge’ (also known as Beringia) which archeologists believed to be the bridge that connected Asia with North America more than 13,000 years ago during the Pleistocene ice age. This is the bridge that humans used to migrate from Asia to the America.

Scenic archaeological sites and a wide array of geological features are present in the preserve. Visitors will have the chance to explore the vibrant wilderness of ancient lava flows, hot springs, the largest maar lakes in the world and of course, experience via live pictures that signs of Pleistocene ice age life.

• Activities:

The preserve offers tons of exciting activities to its visitors such as hiking, backpacking, nature observation, photography, camping, and coastal boating.  Hunting and fishing are also allowed provided you have the Alaska hunting and fishing licenses required when doing these activities. During winter, snowmobiling, dog sledding and cross-country skiing are ideal activities to enjoy in the preserve.

You can also opt to visit their visitor center in Nome, Alaska and watch some of the more than 170 species of birds in the area, as well as enjoy some wildlife watching as the preserve is home to numerous animals, including rare Asiatic species. Fly out to Serpentine Hot Springs and then spend a night or two in their bunkhouse while you hike among the huge granite tors that surround the springs and then calm yourself in the warmth of its bath house.

Lastly, discover the remains of the gold rush era and evidence of ancient Inupiaq life by exploring the preserve itself, as well as visiting its surrounding areas like the Native villages which give visitors the opportunity to study and learn their traditional lifestyles, as well as the historic reindeer herding.

Next, we’ll look at the five least visited National Parks properties, and finally the one park that had zero visitors last year.

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A-Frame Tents

A simple A-Frame tent

A-Frame tents are probably what people typically think of when they envision a tent, though there have been some improvements to the design from those you see in Yogi. For one, they typically have four sides and a floor to keep, among other things, animals out.

Modern A-Frame. The Eureka Timberline, which I believe is the same model I used in Boy Scouts.

A-frames are versatile tents, being relatively easy to set up, having a decent amount of head room near the center, and being resistant to wind and weather. They tend to be on the smaller side and it’s not common to find such a tent that can handle a family of 4-5 easily. However they are good for campers who need a tent that works well in many environments.

Dome Tents

A Dome Tent. This is a 4-pole style with an unacceptably small rainfly for most campers.

Dome tents are typically what I think of when I think of camping tents. This kind of tent is perfect for family and group campers as it provides a large space area, good head room and at times have extra spaces or porches that can serve as a gear and equipment storage room.Compared to other styles, dome tents are sturdy enough to withstand certain conditions such as snow, plus they’re free standing so you can move them easily, in case you find a tree root under with you back. Dome tents are very weather resistant and can come in rather large sizes.

Typically dome tents come with four or six supporting poles. Four pole tents allow for more efficient use of space, but they can be susceptible to heavy weather. Six pole tents have a hexagonal shape, which can be used efficiently if you store your gear to the sides, and are structurally more sound, but come at a weight and completity costs.

Pop-Up Tents

Pop-Up Tents

Also referred to as portable tents, this style is ideal for campers who are bothered by the idea of having to carry around a heavy baggage when they camp. Pop-up tents are collapsible, lightweight tents that can be simply carried on a camper’s back. The frame is composed of flexible hoops that literally make the tent “pop up” when unpacked. This means there probably isn’t an easier tent to set up, but the downside is it’s not suitable for high winds or heavy weather due to the tent’s flexiblity. It’s often bought as a starter tent, or as a tent for children to stay in.

Tunnel Tents

Tunnel Tents

Tunnel tents offer the best stability when properly pitched into approaching winds. Correct positioning of this tent is very important because when pitched the other way, it become less steady. Normally made of two or more poles running the width of the structure, this sort of shape brings a much enhanced interior space and head room than other styles of tents. However, the overall strength and durability of tunnel tents will depend on its size, poles and quality of materials; hence always choose a reliable manufacturer when getting one.Tunnel tents are usually smaller in size, for 1-2 people, and are commonly used where there are strong prevailing winds. They are compact and lightweight, and they are frequently used by backpackers.

Hoop Tents

A Single Hoop Tent

This tent is one of the most compact and lightest style available on the market today. Hoop tents have curved poles at each end and will need guy ropes be tied with pegs and staked carefully in order to retain its shape, as well as maintain its stability. Normally, they incorporate three arched frames to offer more interior space and head rooms. The drawback of hoop tents is that they cannot withstand extreme weather conditions and can rattle or flap in the wind if not staked correctly.

There are single hoop tents and multi-hoop tents available these days. Single hoop tents generally are for 1-2 people tops, while multi-hoop tents are available in a wide range of sizes. Typically storage space and headroom especially are limited with these tents.

Cabin Tents

Cabin Tents

Cabin tents, sometimes called frame tents, are often among the larger of the commonly available tents and are frequently used in family camping. This style of tent offers enough space and facilities for group/family campers.

Due to their heavy weight, large size, and frame construction, cabin tents usually take longer to set up and must be staked properly to avoid fabric sagging that can lead to water infiltration. Additionally their high, flat profile can cause them to fall over in the wind if you don’t stake them down well enough. However they offer more room than most styles of tents, particularly near the edges, and often are tall enough for adults to stand in. Plus most models come with walls that act as dividers, allowing this tent to have different “rooms.” These tents are popular family camping tents and are great if you plan on staying in the same space for a while.

Picking a Tent for Your Needs

Picking a tent that’s right for you depends on what you plan on doing with it. You may find that there you need multiple tents for your outdoors activities – for instance a cabin tent for a week-long vacation with family and friends and a tunnel tent for backpacking trips. But one thing to remember to check closely is the size. Tent manufacturers often claim a tent to be, for example, a four-person, but actually cramming four people in it would be enough to make a sardine claustrophic. When they claim a tent is for four people, they assume all your gear is being stored in the car, you don’t roll over in your sleep, you definitely aren’t using a cot, and you really like being close to the people you’re with.

A rough rule of thumb for me anyway is divide the manufacturer’s claim by 1.5-2 to get a number that can comfortable fit. Also, if the store has a tent set up, try to get your camping crew to lay down in it, or take a tape measurer to the store and plot out the floor area listed on the box to see how much space you really have to work with. Don’t forget the sloping walls with dome and A-frame tents in particular!

What type of tent do you own? Do you have any tips or suggestions on getting a tent?

More Tent Shopping and Selection Resources:

Affordable Family Camping Tents

Anatomy of a Bad Camping Tent

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Indigo Creek Outfitters Whitewater rafting in Ashland, Oregon

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If you’re thinking about escaping to the great outdoors with the family or friends sometime in the near future, any tips and advice to pick up before you go is great – especially if it’s your first time! Camping is a great way to have fun in the outdoors whilst also enjoying quality time with your nearest and dearest; but make sure you know what you’re doing. Make it a trip to remember – not a trip to forget!

2.      Set your tent up in your garden before you leave. It’s always best to do a trial run before you set off – this will ensure that setting up the tent at your chosen camping spot will go off without a hitch. If it’s left until you’re actually out there and you have no idea how to construct your chosen tent then you’ll be kicking yourself when the night falls and the weather sets in!

3.      Bring extra tent poles. Doing this will make sure that you are not left in the lurch if one of your existing tent poles unexpectedly breaks.

4.      Pack an old shower curtain to place over your tent; this will mean you remain dry if the heavens do decide to open! Most tents come with a canopy or tarp but a shower curtain can provide additional protection from precipitation. The last thing you want is to be cold and damp with no dry clothes to put on, knowing that this could have been prevented by using a cheap shower curtain.

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Indigo Creek Outfitters Whitewater rafting in Ashland, Oregon

You are seeing this along with thousands of other outdoor enthusiasts - advertising details are at CampingBlogger